Weekly News 24 - 31 January

24/01/2011

- (MOFA Vietnam 26/1) Viet Nam asks China to remove wrongful data in its SBSM map service - (Manila Bulletin 29/1) The joint US-China commitment: plus or minus for Philippines? - The above summary comes from the Joint US-China Statement at the conclusion of President Hu Jintao’s State Visit to the US last January 20. So – how did the encounter between these two global giants really turn out? - (ZeeNews 29/1) China gives glimpses of its 1st aircraft carrier - People's Daily, the official organ of the ruling Communist Party of China, carried a brief video showing the ship undergoing sea trials. - (Brudirect 29/1) Brunei's Peace Efforts In Asean Lauded - it [Brunei] could play a role in peacekeeping efforts, that is, "to be more active in the deliberations with other countries in the South China Sea to seek the best ways to transform the conflict potential in the South China Sea into a potential for cooperation among them.",  the Indonesia Ambassador to Brunei Handriyo Kusumo Priyo said. - (Jamestown Foundation 28/1) The Snow Dragon Moves into the Arctic Ocean Basin - In a warming and changing Arctic, China is stepping up its activities in the Arctic Ocean Basin. While China’s interests and policy objectives in the Arctic Ocean Basin remain unclear, Beijing is increasingly active and vocal on the international stage on issues that concern the region - (The Manila Times 28/1) US enters Spratlys standoff - Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said that the US government believes that it is important for the Philippines to “develop confidence level” in maritime issues, especially those pertaining to territorial claims over the Spratlys. - (The Canadian Press 28/1) Facing more assertive China, US and Japan push back in Pacific power tussle