Written by Trần Đình Hoành
Translated into English by Nguyễn Hà Huyền Vân
Dear Everyone,
Our relationships – between us and our friends, lovers, wives/husbands, partners, comrades, brethren… or just anyone – are always a matter of risk taking. When we say “I love you and I trust you wholeheartedly”, that is a romantic feeling from the bottom of our heart, and also is a matter of risk taking.
Life is impermanent, and so are people. This is the truth, neither optimistic nor pessimistic. It is a truth of life just like the rain or the sun. As long as we are alive, we change in every ksana. And our emotions or relationships also change – a couple may live together till old age or may divorce after 5 years due to a myriad of different reasons. We need not delve into the causes here, but only need to know that where there is convergence, there is divergence. Where there is connection, there is separation. Hence, every time we decide to tie our affection to someone, we are accepting the risk that the relationship may someday be broken or severed.
I have read many articles on the politics and law of the South China Sea, some short and pithy and others long and complex. I now have read what I think of as the best introduction to the issue of conflict, politics and international law in the South China Sea. It is an article titled “Three Disputes and Tree Objectives: China and the South China Sea.” by Peter Dutton, director of the China Maritime Studies Institute at the US Naval War College. Peter has written knowledgeably and well on maritime issues of southeast Asia before. In this article he provides a structure through which he lays out separate strands of the issues and then examines each on its own. While not a short article, I doubt there is a better one from which to gain an understanding of one of the ocean hot spots in which the Law of the Sea Convention plays a critical role in protecting interests of the US and our allies and in providing the mechanisms for avoiding direct maritime conflict. If you want to engage in informed debate on the maritime issues in the South China Sea (SCS), this is a great starting point.
Millions suffered deformities as a result of the herbicide sprayed over Vietnam
HONG KONG — Appropriately, the meeting straddled the anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen massacre. Defense ministers and top brass from the United States, China and a host of lesser regional powers were in Singapore for meetings known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. Just as June 4 in Beijing ended many illusions about the nature of the Communist Party of China, so events of the past year have stripped away many illusions about the country’s “peaceful rise.”
Thank you, John, for that kind introduction.
Đọt Chuối Non 