August 10:
In a visit to China, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo downplayed recent strains in Sino-Filipino relations and described the bilateral relationship as stronger than ever, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. A corruption scandal had scuttled the $329-million National Broadband Network deal between China’s ZTE Corp. and the Philippine government less than a year ago, and the so-called NorthRail project stalled after Chinese contractors withdrew as a result of disagreements in “engineering and construction standards.” During this visit, however, Chinese officials said they planned to resume the NorthRail project if Manila was amenable. The Philippine delegation, meanwhile, revealed that Manila had not signed the Joint Marine Seismic Understanding (JMSU), an agreement among China, the Philippines and Vietnam to explore for oil in the contested Spratly Islands.
The meeting also comes amid increasing Philippine condemnation of Chinese support for Burma and calls for an ASEAN-China dialogue on how to handle the reclusive regime. Japan’s Kyodo News Agency reports that dozens of members of the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines picketed the Chinese embassy in Manila. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, a coalition of 51 various Asian organizations led by Khun Myint Tun, an exiled Myanmar lawmaker and member of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, said: "China's role in Burma is undeniably crucial as China is known for being the number one supporter of the military regime of the State Peace and Development Council," the Philippine Star reports.
August 11:
At least 11 are dead after Kuqa, Xinjiang was rocked by a series of 12 homemade pipe bombs that simultaneously hit a public security station, the industrial and commercial administrative office, a local department store, a post and telecommunications office and a hotel. According to eyewitnesses quoted in Hong Kong’s Apple Daily at least three attackers threw the bombs from a moving car before they charged into the public security station killing one security agent, wounding two police officers and two civilians, and destroying two police cars. Within hours the police raided the suspects’ hideout, killing four and capturing two. One suspect blew himself up and three remain at large. The police also seized dozens of homemade pipe bombs and gasoline canisters in the raid.
[Editor’s Note: Although scuffles during protests are common in rural China the number of casualties and the boldness of recent attacks against authorities in Xinjiang has Chinese experts particularly concerned, Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po reports. Most disturbing is that this dramatic upsurge in violence comes amid a recent security crackdown that has reportedly uncovered “12 cells developed by foreign terrorist separatist organizations” operating in Kashgar resulting in 66 arrests, “five terrorist cells in Urumqi,” lead to the arrest of “82 people alleged to have committed acts of terrorism, and destroyed 41 training camps that had been engaged in illegal proselytizing and the training of jihadists.”]
August 13:
The Indian and Chinese armies will hold their second joint exercise in December on Indian territory, the Islamic Republic News Agency reports. A high-level Chinese military delegation will visit New Delhi later this month to finalize details of the joint exercise, which officials say will be much larger this year. India and China conducted their first ever joint exercise code-named 'Hand-in-Hand 2007' at Kunming Military Academy and in Yunnan province from December 21 to 25 last year with the spotlight on anti-terrorism. As many as 103 troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and an equal number from People's Liberation Army took part in that first joint exercise.