US Admiral Assures Philippines of Help in Disputed Sea. AFP, Feb 19, 2014 www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-14/a ... isputed-sea/5259304
(US chief of naval operations Jonathan Greenert told students at a state defence college during a visit to Manila, "Of course we would help you. I mean we have an obligation because we have a treaty." Admiral Greenert said that he wanted to send a "clear signal... that aggressive behaviour outside of international norms is contrary to good order." His remarks are among the strongest US declarations of support for the Philippines)
Note: Cobra Gold
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra_Gold(military exercise held in Thailand every year since 1982 (inclusive); table: 7 members (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and US); 10 Observers (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste))
section 5 Cobra Gold 2014: "During the field training exercise, forces from Thailand, the United States and the Republic of Korea will conduct training designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional relationships. In other locations, military personnel from Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the People’s Republic of China will participate in humanitarian and civic assistance projects designed to improve the quality of life and local infrastructure for the Thai people, as well as to share medical best practices with the local population.作者: choi 时间: 2-13-2014 16:11
Contrast (3) with (4). It is confusing, to say the least.
"US Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Asia this week for talks with Chinese and South Korean officials. But he will not be visiting Japan, which is moving closer to Russia and India amid uncertain relations with Washington.
"Beijing benefits from uncertainty between Tokyo and Washington according to Michael Auslin, director of Japan Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. 'We send a message to other allies that if a 50-year-old alliance can become undone fairly quickly over these issues and the two sides now have taken, certainly on the Washington side, to publicly shaming and criticizing the partner, for example over the Yasukuni issue, that all alliance relations can be similarly upset,' Auslin said.
My comment: Well, it is a reporting error. There is nothing in Washingtonpost.com. In fact, the news appears in another newspaper.
Josh Chin and Alastair Fale, Obama to Visit East Asia Amid Crackling Tensions; Trip comes after Beijing, Tokyo clash over air-defense zone. Wall Street Journal, Feb 13, 2014
online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304434104579379790179147348
Quote WSJ:
"The White House said Wednesday [Feb 12] that Mr Obama would visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. * * * China isn't on Mr. Obama's itinerary, but Beijing's territorial ambitions and growing regional clout are sure to figure in talks at every stop.
"The US for the first time openly challenged the nine-dash line earlier this month when Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Danny Russel told Congress that China's claims appeared to be illegal. China called the comments 'irresponsible.'
"'In China, some people will see Obama's visit as encouraging to the Philippines to challenge China more on the South China Sea issue. But the purpose of Obama's visit might actually be to urge the Philippines to be more careful,' said Jia Qingguo, professor of international relations at Peking University.
Note: US State Department official Danny Russel indeed has only one L letter in the surname. Russel is a (rare) variant of the English surname Russell.