Proxy war and gunboat diplomacy

Overheard over the radio, some pundit’s comments on how diplomacy is currently working to avoid any conflict in the South China Sea. Diplomats are actually using rhetorics, doublespeak and play of words. As if the world, especially the media are being taken on a whirlwind ride on what to report and to believe from the statements coming from the different camps involved in the issue surrounding the SCS disputes. If that is how the “game” is being played, are we going to get along with it as long as we know how to benefit from it? We wrote last May 2 (Testing the Water Might Lead to Its Boiling Point which can be read from www.ericksanjuan.blogspot.com) of the so-called visit of the two senior US senators and how the different sectors of our society have speculated the possible return of the US bases, particularly in Subic. Accusations from the various sectors came out of how the visit was shrouded with secrecy of its real motive. In the recently concluded 2+2 meeting in Washington attended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates with their counterparts, Japan Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and Japan Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, they reaffirmed their commitment to the Guam military buildup and extended a 2014 deadline for the completion of a new air station needed to "the earliest possible date after 2014." (Source: www.guambuildupnews.com) But from now until that "earliest possible date after 2014", Washington had to realign around 30,000 forces from Afghanistan throughout Asia Pacific. Even the Nato is wondering why the urgency? And where else do we think they will deploy such big number of US forces? Your guess is good as mine. This is the basis of the Olongapo mayor, need we say more? Actually, the planned Annual RP-US Mutual Defense Board (MDB) meeting (tentatively set in the middle of August this year) in Hawaii will tackle the review of the Mutual Defense Treaty and the US access to its former Philippines-based military bases at Subic and Clark which the US abandoned in 2001 after Manila refused to renew a lease deal with Washington. Now economic zones, Subic and Clark boast US-built ports and airports which could be of strategic importance both amid mounting tensions with China over the Spratly Islands and Washington's wider aim to contain China's strategic rise. (Source: US-Philippines flex collective muscle by Al Labita @www.atimes.com) As we are experiencing more of Uncle Sam’s rhetoric of its intention to modernize our AFP, translation – disposing decommissioned military junks to AFP, and the so-called “soft power” of Beijing (but actually engaging in “gunboat diplomacy”), we have to be very wary. If we are going to play both US and China cards, we have to play it well or else we will be shortchange again, and worst, be the pawn in their proxy war. (culdesac0002@yahoo.com.

Diplomacy Board Game Review | Sequence Board Game

Easy enough for a young person to learn but complex enough to keep adults intrigued and challenged for years, Diplomacy is quite probably the very best strategy board game on the market. Unlike most other games of this type that, at best, provide limited encouragement for dealmaking and balancing of when to make and break truces, that process is at the very heart of Diplomacy. Also, where other games involve heavy doses of chance (a legitimate choice, since combat always includes some degree of luck - good or bad, but ultimately unsatisfying at times), Diplomacy has no random elements except the players themselves. No dice, dials, or spinners, just the meta-game of players jockeying for advantage and balancing their immediate interests against the utility of breaking agreements for short or long-term gain. Diplomacy the game returns for Avalon Hills 50th Anniversary! Newly updated and good looking you will enjoy this game for many years. At the turn of the 20th century prior to World War I the seven Great European Powers engage in an intricate struggle for supremacy. Military forces invade and withdraw shifting borders and altering empires with subtle maneuvers and daring gambits. Alliances are formed and trust is betrayed as players negotiate and outwit one another in a delicate balance of cooperation and competition to gain dominance of the continent. Diplomacy challenges players to rely on their own cunning and cleverness not dice to determine the outcome of this game of conspiracies and conquest. New artistic treatment to game components. First time back in print since 1999. Social interaction interpersonal skills and negotiation make up an essential part of the game play. Classic negotiating game in existence since 1959. Game board measures 30L x 20W. Includes 315 army navy and national...

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