GEOPOLITICA DEL MONDO MODERNO

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Luca Marchesini - page 7

Luca Marchesini has 74 articles published.

In China the pollution emergency continues

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The Paris summit Cop21 climate finished and delegates feverishly worked to find a final agreement that does not result in a mere declaration of intent. China was heavily involved in the debate, since it was suspended between the requirements of industrial development and the need to cut emissions and greenhouse gases, for the good of the planet and of its own citizens.

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China, despite some slowing, is still growing at a fast pace and feeds its industrial development with a high consumption of coal and other polluting fuels. December 2nd, at the Paris summit, Beijing has announced its plans to cut the main pollutant emissions over 4 years. By 2020 they will be cut by 60% and, at the same time, it should be a reduction, for industry, of 180 million tons of CO2 each year. It remains to understand what China means by “major pollutants” and if, among them, will be considered greenhouse gases.

Beyond the skepticism expressed by some, it seems that Beijing wants to redesign its growth model, reducing the use of coal and betting on forms of clean and renewable energy. The environmental issue is not only about the near future of the country. Even the present is heavily involved, because air pollution has reached alarming levels both in Beijing and in other major cities in China. Earlier this week, in the capital has been proclaimed the red alert, after that smog levels far in excess of the permitted range have been recorded, with harmful consequences for the health of citizens.

The emergency measures, which included the closure of schools and construction sites and a sharp reduction in private circulation, have proved effective, and the sun has returned to make its appearance in the skies long obscured of the megalopolis. The red alert now ceased, but the problem was just postponed. The warning pollution does not afflict only Beijing. In the big cities of northern China the authorities did not adopt measures whatsoever and tens of millions of people continue to breathe extremely toxic air, with values ​​of harmfulness even higher than those that led to the paralysis of the capital.

As reported by The New York Times, in Anyang, Henan Province, the air quality index showed a value of 999, three times higher than that registered in Beijing earlier this week. In the city of Handan, Hebei Province, it has been slightly better, with the indicator stopped at 822. For instance, a value of 300, the United States, is already considered dangerous to human health. Much of the pollution that grips Beijing is not produced from the drainpipes of cars, but comes from the north where, to meet industrial needs, are burned every day huge quantities of coal.

The central government and the provincial governments are therefore called upon to take prompt action to protect the health of their citizens, requiring the adoption of emergency procedures standardized in all regions of the country, involving also construction sites and factories. Once past the emergency, it will be necessaire to quickly understand how to balance the demands of industrial development which led China’s GDP to exceed the American one, with the imperatives of public health, in China and elsewhere. The commitments announced by the Chinese delegation to the climate conference in Paris seem a step in the right direction, but the claims will have to be followed by concrete action. In a very short time.

 

Luca Marchesini

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In Cina continua l’emergenza inquinamento

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Il vertice Cop21 di Parigi sul clima volge al termine e i delegati lavorano febbrilmente per trovare un accordo conclusivo che non si risolva in una mera dichiarazione di intenti. La Cina è fortemente coinvolta nel dibattito, sospesa com’è tra le esigenze dello sviluppo industriale e la necessità di tagliare le emissioni ed i gas serra, per il bene del pianeta e dei suoi stessi cittadini.

La Cina, nonostante un certo rallentamento, cresce ancora a ritmo sostenuto ed alimenta il proprio sviluppo industriale con un elevatissimo consumo di carbone e di altri combustibili inquinanti. Lo scorso 2 dicembre, al vertice di Parigi, Pechino ha annunciato l’intenzione di ridurre drasticamente le principali emissioni inquinanti, nell’arco di 4 anni. Entro il 2020 dovranno essere tagliate del 60% e, nello stesso lasso di tempo, si prospetta una riduzione, a livello industriale, di 180 milioni di tonnellate di CO2 ogni anno. Resta da capire cosa la Cina intenda per “principali sostanze inquinanti” e se, tra queste, verranno inseriti anche i gas serra. Al di là dello scetticismo manifestato da alcuni, sembra che Pechino voglia ridisegnare il suo modello si crescita, riducendo l’uso di carbone e puntando maggiormente su forme di energia pulita e rinnovabile.

La questione ambientale non riguarda solo il futuro prossimo del paese. Anche il presente è pesantemente coinvolto, perché l’inquinamento dell’aria ha già raggiunto livelli decisamente allarmanti sia a Pechino che nelle altre grandi città della Cina. Ad inizio settimana nella Capitale è scattato l’allarme rosso, dopo che si erano registrati livelli di smog di gran lunga superiori ai limiti consentiti, con ricadute nocive per la salute dei cittadini. Le misure di emergenza, che prevedevano la chiusura delle scuole e dei cantieri edili ed una netta riduzione della circolazione privata, si sono rivelati efficaci e il sole è tornato a fare la sua comparsa sui cieli a lungo oscurati della megalopoli. L’allarme rosso per ora è cessato, ma il problema è stato solo allontanato.

L’allerta inquinamento non riguarda la sola Pechino. Nelle grandi città della Cina settentrionale non sono state adottate misure di alcun tipo e decine di milioni di cittadini continuano a respirare aria estremamente tossica, con valori di nocività sono persino superiori a quelli che avevano portato alla paralisi della Capitale. Come riportato dal New York Times ad Anyang, nella provincia di Henan, l’indice di qualità dell’aria ha fatto segnare un valore di 999, tre volte più alto di quello registrato a Pechino ad inizio settimana. Nella città di Handan, nella provincia di Hebei, è andata leggermente meglio , con l’indicatore che si è fermato a 822. Per intenderci, un valore di 300, negli Stati Uniti, è già considerato pericoloso per la salute dell’uomo.

Buona parte dell’inquinamento che attanaglia Pechino non viene prodotto dai tubi di scarico delle auto, ma proviene dalle regioni del nord, dove per soddisfare il fabbisogno industriale vengono bruciati quotidianamente enormi quantitativi di carbone. Il governo centrale e le amministrazioni provinciali sono dunque chiamati ad intervenire tempestivamente per proteggere la salute dei loro cittadini, imponendo l’adozione di procedure di emergenza standardizzate, in tutte le regioni del paese, che coinvolgano anche i cantieri e le fabbriche.

Superata l’emergenza, si tratterà di capire rapidamente come conciliare le esigenze di uno sviluppo industriale che ha portato il PIL cinese a superare quello americano con gli imperativi della salute pubblica, in Cina e non solo. Gli impegni annunciati dalla delegazione cinese alla conferenza sul clima di Parigi sembrano un primo passo nella giusta direzione, ma ai proclami dovranno seguire azioni concrete. In tempi molto brevi.

Myanmar: Suu Kyi and peaceful transition

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For the new Myanmar of Aung San Suu Kyi is the time of “peace talks”. After the victory of the National League of Democracy (NLD) in the election three weeks ago, the leader of the movement, historical activist for human rights in the former Burma, met President Thein Sein, head of the government that, in 2011, marked the beginning of the democratic transition of the country, after 49 years of military dictatorship.

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The meeting lasted 45 minutes, during which they discussed the terms of a painless handover between the outgoing executive, with a civil profile but supported and appointed by the Junta, and the new government of the NLD, which won the elections of November 8 with an overwhelming majority.

Eight out of ten voters voted for the party of Suu Kyi, even if the know that the Nobel Prize for peace could not directly exercise power, because of constitutional restrictions prohibiting anyone with children of foreign nationality to become prime minister. But Aung San Suu Kyi immediately made clear its intention to play a leading role in the new government. The name of next Prime Minister has not yet been made public, but the most important decisions for the future of the country will be taken by her.

In the role of de facto leader, the Burma ”Iron Orchid ” met, on Dec. 2, the outgoing President Thien Sein and the Army Chief, Min Aung Hlaing. The meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw, the city 320 kilometers from Yangon, which in 2005 was elevated to the role of capital. In the talk, which lasted less than an hour, Suu Kyi asked the representatives of the old power bloc to ensure a peaceful and painless handover. Sein and Hlaing offered their commitment, ensuring that there won’t be attempts of interference in the way of transition.

The concerns of the leaders of the NLD are dictated by the fact that the military retain a quarter of the seats in both houses of Parliament of Myanmar and, with them, the power of veto over constitutional reforms and key positions in the main ministries. Caution is required in consideration of the dramatic experiences of the past. The party of Aung San Suu Kyi won the election even in 1990, but the result was ignored by the military junta and, since then, Suu Kyi was under house arrest for a total period of 15 years. Confidence, since then, has become a rare commodity.

The victory of the NLD in the elections has generated excitement and new expectations on the path of democratization of the country, especially at international level. According to Miemie Byrd, professor of Burmese origin of the ‘Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, interviewed by Al Jazeera, however, optimism is excessive.

” My concern is that the international community’s reaction and interpretation (about elections) could exacerbate the conflicts and challenges inside Myanmar”,” she said, adding that the country still has a long way to go. “Whomever is at the leadership of the new government will be limited by the above challenges to quickly advance the reforms and progress. You just can’t get the bullock cart to go as fast as an automobile. ” The international community, she concluded, must “exercise patience and have realistic expectations” on the speed of the transition process.

 

Luca Marchesini

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Myanmar: Suu Kyi e la transizione pacifica

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Per il nuovo Myanmar di Aung Saan Suu Kyi è giunto il tempo dei “colloqui di pace”. Dopo la vittoria della Lega Nazionale della Democrazia (NLD) nelle elezioni di tre settimane fa, la leader del movimento, storica attivista per i diritti umani della ex-Birmania, ha incontrato il presidente Thein Sein, Capo del Governo che nel 2011 ha segnato l’inizio della transizione democratica del paese, dopo 49 anni di dittatura militare.

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L’incontro è durato 45 minuti, durante i quali sono stati discussi i termini di un passaggio di consegne indolore tra l’esecutivo in uscita, di stampo civile ma sostenuto e nominato dalla Giunta, ed il nuovo governo della NLD, vincitrice dalle elezioni dello scorso 8 novembre con una maggioranza schiacciante.

Otto elettori su dieci hanno votato per il partito di Suu Kyi, pur sapendo che il premio Nobel per la pace non avrebbe potuto esercitare direttamente il potere, a causa delle restrizioni costituzionali che vietano a chiunque abbia figli di cittadinanza straniera di diventare primo ministro. Aung Saan Suu Kyi ha però fin da subito chiarito l’intenzione di svolgere un ruolo di guida per il nuovo governo. Il nome di chi ricoprirà il ruolo di primo ministro non è ancora stato reso pubblico, ma sarà lei a prendere le decisioni più importanti per il futuro del paese.

Nelle vesti di leader de facto, l’”Orchidea di acciaio” della Birmania ha incontrato, il 2 dicembre, il presidente uscente Thien Sein ed il capo dell’esercito, Min Aung Hlaing. L’incontro ha avuto luogo a Nay Pyi Taw, la città a 320 chilometri da Yangon che nel 2005 è stata elevata al ruolo di capitale. Nel colloquio, durato meno di un ora, Suu Kyi ha chiesto ai rappresentanti del vecchio blocco di potere di garantire un passaggio di consegne pacifico e indolore. Sein e Hlaing hanno offerto il proprio impegno, assicurando che non ci saranno tentativi di disturbo sulla via della transizione.

Le preoccupazioni della leader della NLD sono dettate dal fatto che i militari conservano un quarto dei seggi nelle due camere che compongono il Parlamento del Myanmar e, con essi, il potere di veto sulle riforme costituzionali e ruoli chiave nei ministeri di maggiore peso. La prudenza è d’obbligo anche in considerazione delle drammatiche esperienze del passato. Il partito di Aung Saan Suu Kyi vinse le elezioni anche nel 1990, ma il risultato venne ignorato dalla giunta militare e, da allora, Suu Kyi fu costretta agli arresti domiciliari per un periodo complessivo di 15 anni. La fiducia, da allora, non è diventata una merce rara.

La vittoria della NLD alle elezioni ha generato entusiasmo e nuove aspettative sul percorso di democratizzazione del paese, soprattutto a livello internazionale. Secondo Miemie Byrd, professoressa di origine birmana dell’ Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, interpellata da Al Jazeera, l’ottimismo è però eccessivo.

“Temo che la reazione e l’interpretazione della comunità internazionale (circa le elezioni, ndr), possano esacerbare i conflitti e le sfide attualmente in corso in Myanmar”, ha detto, aggiungendo che il paese ha ancora molta strada da fare sulla via del cambiamento. “Chiunque sarà a capo del nuovo governo sarà limitato dalle sfide precedenti e non potrà procedere velocemente verso le riforme e il progresso. Non puoi prendere un carro da buoi e farlo andare veloce come una macchina”. “La comunità internazionale – ha concluso – dovrà esercitare la sua pazienza ed avere aspettative realistiche” sui tempi del processo di transizione.

 

Luca Marchesini

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Dispute between the US and China for control of the South China Sea goes on

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During the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Summit in Manila, which ended last week, President Barack Obama reiterated the US position, calling on China to stop the construction of artificial islands and new infrastructure in the area of ​​sea dispute. The answer wasn’t long in coming. At the summit of the ASEAN countries, held in Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, through the Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, accused Washington of wanting an escalation and defended the construction activities at sea, launched in 2013 and still in progress today.

First Obama, at the opening of the APEC summit in Manila, last Wednesday, pushed the issue of the South China Sea on the political agenda of the 21 leaders. After meeting with the President of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III, Obama spoke to the press urging Beijing to cease all military activity in that part of the sea and to accept international arbitration to reconcile differences with its neighbors in South-East Asia.

“We agree on the need for bold steps to lower tensions – Mr. Obama said – including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea,”

Without taking a position on the front of the territorial claims made by the involved countries, the United States consider free navigation on the waters of the contended area as a vital point. For this reason, they confirmed their commitment to the side of the South Asian governments who oppose Chinese expansionism, and ensured the Allies a contribution of $ 250 million for military spending.

Beijing’s response came on November 22, during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin asserted the legitimacy and legality of Chinese government initiatives, reiterating that China has no intention to terminate the building of new facilities off its southern coast. Zhenmin then replied to the American accusations, denying that Beijing is proceeding to a progressive militarization of the area. From Chinese prospective, Washington should instead halt its provocations after that, last month, an American navy ship crossed a maritime area that Beijing regards as part of its territorial waters.

“Building and maintaining necessary military facilities, this is what is required for China’s national defence and for the protection of those islands and reefs,” Deputy Foreign Minister said, adding that Beijing intends to “expand and upgrade” civil infrastructure ” to better serve commercial ships, fishermen, to help distressed vessels and provide more public services.”

The two main contenders positions are, therefore, very far and nothing portends, at this time, a change of course by the Chinese battleship.

USA-Cina: ancora scontro su Mar Cinese Meridionale

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Durante l’Asia-Pacific Cooperation Summit di Manila, conclusosi la settimana scorsa, il presidente Barak Obama ha ribadito la posizione americana, chiedendo alla Cina di interrompere la costruzione di isole artificiali e di nuove infrastrutture nella zona di mare contesa.

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La risposta non si è fatta attendere. In occasione del vertice dei paesi dell’ASEAN di Kuala Lumpur, in Malesia, Pechino, attraverso il vice ministro degli esteri cinese Liu Zhenmin, ha accusato Washington di volere una escalation ed ha difeso le attività di costruzione in mare, avviate nel 2013 e ancora oggi in corso.

Era stato Obama, in apertura del summit APEC di Manila, mercoledì scorso, a spingere la questione del Mar Cinese Meridionale al centro dell’agenda politica dei 21 leader riuniti. Dopo aver incontrato il presidente delle Filippine, Benigno S. Aquino III, Obama si era rivolto alla stampa sollecitando Pechino ad interrompere ogni attività militare in quel tratto di mare e ad accettare un arbitrato internazionale per ricomporre le divergenze con i vicini del sud-est asiatico.

“C’è bisogno di intraprendere passi coraggiosi per abbassare la tensione – aveva detto Obama – impegnandosi ad interrompere ulteriori rivendicazioni, ogni nuova costruzione e la militarizzazione delle aree contese del Mar Cinese Meridionale”

Pur senza prendere posizione sul fronte delle rivendicazioni territoriali avanzate dai paesi coinvolti, gli Stati uniti considerano vitale la libera navigazione sulle acque dell’area contesa. In tal senso hanno confermato il proprio impegno a fianco dei governi dell’Asia meridionale che si oppongono all’espansionismo cinese, ed hanno garantito agli alleati un contributo di 250 milioni di dollari per le spese militari.

La replica di Pechino è arrivata il 22 novembre, in occasione del vertice ASEAN di Kuala Lumpur. Il vice-ministro degli esteri cinese Liu Zhenmin ha affermato la legittimità e la legalità dell’operato del proprio governo, ribadendo che la Cina non ha intenzione di interrompere le attività di costruzione di nuove infrastrutture al largo delle sue coste meridionali. Zhenmin ha poi rispedito al mittente le accuse americane, negando che Pechino stia procedendo ad una progressiva militarizzazione dell’area. Sarebbe invece Washington a dover interrompere le provocazioni, dopo che, il mese scorso, una nave della Marina americana aveva attraversato un braccio di mare che i Cinesi considerano come parte delle proprie acque territoriali.

“La costruzione ed il mantenimento di infrastrutture militari sono necessari per la difesa nazionale della Cina e per la protezione di quelle isole e di quelle barriere coralline”, ha affermato il vice-ministro, aggiungendo che Pechino intende “espandere e rafforzare” le infrastrutture civili “per servire al meglio le navi commerciali e i pescatori, soccorrere i battelli in difficoltà e fornire maggiori servizi pubblici.”

Le posizioni dei due principali contendenti restano dunque molto distanti e nulla fa presagire, al momento, un cambiamento di rotta da parte della corazzata cinese.

 

Luca Marchesini

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North Korea announces the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party

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North Korea announced that the next year it will be hold the seventh unitary Congress of the Workers’s Party. The event is meaningful, in consideration of two elements: the last congress organized by the Communist Party of North Korea dates back to 1980, over 35 years ago; on this occasion, Kim Jong-Il, father of current President Kim Jong-un, made his political debut with an appearance that marked his preeminent position on the succession line. The transfer of power was realized only a few years later, in 1994, with the death of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung.

The seventh congress should take place in May 2016, as reported last Thursday by KCNA, the regime’s news agency. Officially, the plenary meeting has been called to reflect “the demand of the party and the developing revolution.”, in the aftermath of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party of North Korea, with magnificent military parades that took place a few weeks ago. In fact, the news has generated a wave of speculation on the part of international and South Korean analysts about the real implications of the event.

The Congress could reaffirm the central role of President Kim Jong-Un in the management of power, and serve as a stage to announce economic reforms or new diplomatic relations, to reduce the country’s isolation on the international scene. It could also lead to a reshuffle in the party, with the replacement of some officials with others closer to the dictator. A second hypothesis concerns a possible shift in the internal balance, with a transfer of power by the army in favor of the Party, in a country always marked by a military-political dualism in which the

Socialist armed forces have the fundamental role of economic engine. In this case, the President may decide to eliminate the system of “National Defense Commission,” which has always played a key role in state affairs, transferring its functions from the Army to the Worker’s Party.

In any case, it is possible to speculate about significant changes that could even affect the theoretical physiognomy of Juche, the self-sufficiency and nationalism based theory on which the north Korean communism has built its specificity, In opposition to Marxist-Leninist internationalism.

South China Sea: big dispute for its control

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The main players in this story are four: China, the Philippines, the US and Japan. The stakes are enormous: the control of the waters of the South China Sea, at the crossroads of the interests of the powers involved.

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For months now, the US is engaged in a verbal escalation with China. Beijing, in fact, does not hide his expansionist aims on the portion of ocean that flow through its southern coasts and it is building artificial islands to move forward to a few tens of kilometers the limits of its territorial waters. A forced widening of the borders that is putting in turmoil Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia as well, since they advance their own claims on that same sea segment.

China has repeatedly asked the US not to exacerbate the mood flying over the artificial islands with its aircrafts and bringing the ships of its fleet to sail near their coasts. The United States has responded sharply, appealing to international maritime law, and securing to its regional allies the cooperation of the US Navy for the control of Chinese positions.

It should be borne in mind that, in this area of ​​the world, water control and the ability to put a national flag on even very small portions of landmass is not just a symbolic goal. In fact, the patrolling of certain maritime communications, through the construction of military bases, gives the direct control of shipping trade and access roads to economic and strategic fundamental resources. The control of an isolated rock or a stretch of reef may have serious repercussions in terms of economic growth and political stability.

For China is, first and foremost, a matter of regional sovereignty, with inevitable global repercussions. For the United States, the main concern is represented by the freedom of navigation in the Pacific rim, where the US has built its own supremacy, after the end of the Cold War, with the help of regional allies, primarily Japan and South Korea. However, China is now questioning this assumption, emerging as a new power in the South China Sea and making explicit its hegemonic ambitions over the area. A redefinition of the balances that Washington sees as a serious problem.

Supremacy on the water has always been a fundamental element of American global strategy. Control over the seas, assured by the military supremacy of the US Navy, guarantees fast and secure trade routes for goods going to or coming from US ports and allows to quickly move large amounts of troops in case of need, even at a great distance. But these same necessities have now become vital for China, a global power whose economy is increasingly focused on export and therefore require more control over maritime trade routes, especially in the South China Sea, rich in fishery resources and natural gas. China is therefore trying to reshape the status quo, taking advantage of the weakness of regional adversaries, unable to cope with the Asian giant on the military level, and the uncertainties of American rival, who seems unwilling to use the force of weapons to contain its expansionist ambitions.

However, the Chinese construction activities in the middle of Southern Sea provoked the strong irritation of the Southeast Asia neighbors, primary the Philippines who claim sovereignty over many of the small islands cemented by the Chinese construction activities. China, however, think that is possible to control the countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, acting directly on the organization at the political level and operating its economic and military levers against the single states involved. Beijing also trust to be able to manage the reactions of Washington, in the belief that the US will avoid any escalation, fearing a direct conflict in the waters of the South China Sea. The facts, so far, proved China is right.

It remains to understand what is the position of Japan within this puzzle. The power of the Rising Sun is perhaps the only opponent that China really fears, right now. For the first time in decades, Japan seems determined to take a more active role in the Pacific and the South China Sea. Tokyo recently has signed new agreements with Manila and other ASEAN countries to conduct joint operations and to facilitate the supply of its fleet and its aircrafts. In return, he offered to the Philippines and Vietnam ships and aircrafts for the Navy and the Coast Guard. Japan has also reached an agreement with the US to carry out joint patrol operations in the South China Sea, starting next year.

Why this new activism? Japan is an island, with few natural resources. Tokyo must therefore necessarily safeguard its own interests on the seas, to ensure the subsistence of the Japanese economy, and it has realized that the new Chinese expansionism is a threat that can not remain unanswered.

From the point of view of Beijing, the new policy of Tokyo is a serious problem, especially if Japan acts in synergy with the United States for the creation of a joint force in the South China Sea. The answer for now is diplomatic. Through various channels, Beijing is trying to persuade Washington not to engage in the side of Japan, suggesting that Tokyo would be pursuing only its own interests in the area. Looking ahead, China also suggest that the conflict could lead to a possible military escalation with the Philippines, supported by Japan, for of the disputed islands control. A scenario that would oblige the US to make a difficult choice: whether or not to intervene on the side of its ally, with all the military and political consequences that the decision would generate.

 

Luca Marchesini

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Thailandia-Giappone: intesa sul terrorismo

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Lunedì 16 novembre, nell’ambito dei colloqui bilaterali al margine del Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum di Manila, il Ministro degli Esteri thailandese Don Pramudwinai e il suo collega giapponese Fumio Kishida hanno raggiunto un accordo preliminare di cooperazione sul fronte della lotta al terrorismo internazionale. L’intesa giunge in risposta agli attentati che hanno insanguinato Parigi nella notte di venerdì scorso e all’attacco subito dalla capitale tailandese nell’agosto di quest’anno, costato la vita a 20 persone.

 

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“La comunità internazionale – ha detto Kishida – dovrebbe essere unita nel condannare risolutamente gli atti di terrorismo”. I due ministri hanno dunque promesso una più stretta cooperazione tra i rispettivi paesi nella lotta alla minaccia terrorista.

4500 imprese e società giapponesi operano in Thailandia e sono oltre 60 mila i cittadini nipponici che vivono e lavorano nel paese. Il Ministro degli esteri Kishida ha dunque chiesto al governo thailandese di fare il possibile per garantire la sicurezza dei suoi concittadini e per proteggere gli investimenti nipponici. Al contempo, ha confermato il supporto del suo governo per lo sviluppo di nuove infrastrutture nel paese del sud-est asiatico, a partire dalla rete ferroviaria.

Il colloquio ha toccato anche il tema del Mar Cinese Meridionale e delle tensioni che coinvolgono le potenze dell’area, per il controllo delle vie di comunicazione marittime. Keshida auspica che l’ASEAN, l’Associazione delle Nazioni del sud-Est Asiatico, lanci un appello congiunto in occasione del prossimo vertice di Kuala Lumpur, per chiedere maggiore stabilità nella regione ed il rispetto dello stato di diritto.

Il Giappone, infatti, è direttamente interessato alla disputa. Benché non abbia rivendicazioni sul fronte territoriale, ritiene cruciale per la sua economia la libera navigazione lungo le acque del Mar Cinese Meridionale e sta esercitando pressione sui paesi del sud-est asiatico per creare un fronte congiunto che possa limitare l’espansionismo cinese. Un obiettivo difficile da raggiungere poiché Pechino agisce parallelamente, sul fronte diplomatico, per rafforzare le proprie posizioni e disinnescare le rivendicazioni dei paesi dell’ASEAN.

Anche le borse asiatiche hanno inizialmente subito gli effetti degli attentati di Parigi, con perdite consistenti all’apertura dei mercati, lunedì scorso. La paura, sulle piazze finanziarie, è durata poco e già da martedì i principali listini del continente sono tornati in territorio positivo, con guadagni superiori al punto percentuale, dopo che le borse europee e americane avevano fatto segnare un primo rimbalzo.

 

Luca Marchesini

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Thailand-Japan: together against terrorism

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Monday, November 16, as part of the bilateral talks at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum of Manila, the Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida have reached a preliminary agreement for cooperation in the fight against international terrorism. The agreement comes in response to the attacks that have bloodied Paris on the night of Friday and to the attack suffered by the Thai capital in August, which killed 20 people.

 

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” The international community – said Kishida – should be united to resolutely condemn the terrorist acts”. The two ministers then promised closer cooperation between their countries in the fight against the terrorist threat.

4500 Japanese companies operates in Thailand and over 60,000 Japanese citizens live and work in the country. Foreign Minister Kishida has therefore asked the Thai government to do everything is possible to ensure the safety of its citizens and to protect Nipponese investments. At the same time, he confirmed the support of his government for the development of new infrastructure in the country of Southeast Asia, starting from the rail network.

The meeting also focused on the South China Sea issue and tensions involving the powers of the area, for the control of maritime communications. Keshida hopes that ASEAN, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, launches a joint appeal at the next summit in Kuala Lumpur to demand greater regional stability and respect for the rule of law.

Japan, in fact, is directly interested in the dispute. Although Tokio has not territorial claims, It considers crucial for japanase economy to ensure free navigation on the South China Sea waters and is putting pressure on the Southeast Asia countries to create a joint front that could limit Chinese expansionism. A difficult goal to achieve since Beijing is acting in parallel, on the diplomatic front, to strengthen its positions and weaken the ASEAN countries claims.

Even the Asian stocks initially suffered the effects of the Paris attacks, with substantial losses on Monday, when the markets opened. Fear was short-lived, on the financial markets, and already on Tuesday the main lists of the continent were back in positive territory, with gains over 1%, after the European and US stock markets recorded a first bounce.

 

Luca Marchesini

[/level-european-affairs]

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