Muslim Militants in Xinjiang Arrested

Muslim Militants in Xinjiang Arrested

Resistive region must join fight against terrorist group, party boss declares

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong, April 9th Cindy Hannon

Militants from Xinjiang who had joined the Islamic State have been arrested upon returning to China, Xinjiang Communist Party boss Zhang Chunxian said yesterday.

Islamic State forces are fighting in Iraq and Syria to create an Islamic caliphate in the region, and their cause has attracted Muslim militants from around the world. China has expressed concern about the rise of the Islamic State, nervous about the effect it could have on Xinjiang, the Uyger Autonomous Region in northwest China. Uygers are of Turkish descent and are predominantly Muslim. The Chinese government has been tightening control over the region since Uyger separatists began fighting for an independent state and resorting to terrorist attacks in recent years. These included a knife attack at a Kunming train station in Yunnan last March, which was reportedly carried out by a group of Uyger terrorists, leaving 29 dead and 140 injured.

"I believe there are extremists from Xinjiang who have joined Islamic State. We have recently placed multiple groups under arrest and are investigating further," Zhang stated without elaborating.

China's special envoy on Middle East Affairs, Wu Sike, announced that about 100 Xinjiang Muslim militants had travelled to the Middle East for training and that some had remained to join the fighting. Zhang said Xinjiang would take measures to fight against Islamic State's influence in the region and to prevent more Uygurs from joining it.

“Xinjiang is the frontline against terrorism,” Zhang said. However, he would not give an answer when asked about the hundreds in southern Xinjiang who have died in recent years in the fight against terrorist groups.

Southern Xinjiang has suffered from some of the worst ethnic tensions in the region between the largely Muslim Uygur ethnic minority and majority Han Chinese. Exiled Uygur groups and human rights activists say the government’s repressive policies in Xinjiang, including controls on Islam, have provoked unrest. This unrest may account for the growing number of Ugyurs seeking training under the Islamic State.

US Military Presence in Philippines Increases with Celebration for Subic Bay Reactivation

US Military Presence in Philippines Increases with Celebration for Subic Bay Reactivation

NBC News

Victoria Solis.

As May 24th approaches, so do the preparations for the annual Filipino-American Celebrations. This year the celebrations fall on Memorial Day as a way to commemorate the reactivation of the Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines, outside of Manilla.

Amongst the growing number of members from the Filipino community, the celebration plans are attracting many other guests to the area, including a large turnout of WWII Veterans, the American Ambassador Phillip S. Goldberg, and others from around the world, including U.S. Head of Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Locklear and the Filipino Chief of Foreign Affairs.

The celebration will also be highlighting the 16th Anniversary of the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement. The Visiting Forces Agreement is a bilateral treaty that clarifies the terms and conditions under which the U.S.’s military is controlled in foreign nations such as the Philippines. Events will be held throughout the weekend to promote the union between the two nations and promote a cultural celebration of both.

The mission of the annual Filipino-American Celebrations are to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, considering the increasing U.S. military presence in the Philippines.

The final day of the weekend-long celebrations will end with a ceremony honoring past veterans and the official reactivation of the naval base.  The signing of the The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement by President Obama in April allows U.S. forces and contractors to operate at Subic Bay in the Philippines for at least 10 years.

The new AEDC  will support and defend the operations in the Philippines. The “Access Agreement” portion of the AEDC would allow the United States Navy to dispatch more ships to the Subic Bay bases, as well as store supplies that would be useful in case a crisis were to arise.

This Memorial Day weekend reinforces the bond between the Philippines and the United States. By attracting a large number of visitors to the Filipino-American Celebrations, in addition to the reopening of the Subic Bay bases, will provide a boost in economy for residents in the area. Through the planned reopening of Subic Bay, the American military will also be able to assist the military in the Philippines to establish more sound and organized military practices, especially at sea in it’s current disputes with China.

China Establishes Air Defense Zone to Protect National Territory Envied by Hostile Powers

BREAKING: China Establishes Air Defense Zone to Protect National Territory Envied by Hostile Powers

People’s Daily
Alex Billaud Curvale

The People’s Republic of China announced today its intention to enforce an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over its possessions in the South China Sea. This policy, quite widespread around the world since the United States established the first control zones in the 1950s, emanates from China’s sovereignty and right to self-defense on its sea territory, which encompasses the Nansha (Spratly), Xisha (Paracel), Huangyan and Zhongsha Islands.

The SCS-ADIZ forces will assess any unidentified aircraft flying over the zone to control its identity, thus allowing defensive reactions if necessary. Planes will be required to state their position and flight plans in order to be authorized to pursue their flight.

In concordance with China’s strict compliance with international rules, this measure will not affect civilian flights. Furthermore, it will increase their security on this vital air route, without making any discrimination based on their country of registration.

This decision is a consequence of provocative military moves from revisionist powers. The SCS-ADIZ is expected to restore definitive stability over China’s territory.

Philippines Experiences Increase in Tourism

Philippines experiences increase in tourism
Lisa Buckner

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – A report by the Filipino Department of Tourism announced last week that the number of foreign tourists to the country in 2014 experienced a 5% increase compared to 2013 levels.

In response to the ASEAN Tourism forum held in January in Bangkok, the Philippines has continued to devote funding to its tourism industry in order to recoup from Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the archipelago in 2013.

The Department of Tourism has named 2015 the ‘Visit Philippines Year,’ aiming for 5 million foreign visitors in 2015 alone.

A number of other ASEAN countries have seen similar increases in tourism, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

Tourism agencies from all four countries note the continuous increase in Chinese and South Korean tourists, overtaking an industry that has traditionally catered toward Japanese, Taiwanese, and Australian visitors.

The Department of Tourism reports that the recent increase in Chinese tourists has largely fueled the industry, contributing as much as 60% of the profits from tourist-related activities in the Philippines.

MILF’s Recruitment Campaign Backfires in Philippines

MILF’s Recruitment Campaign Backfires in Philippines

The Onion Lisa Buckner

In response to the recruitment campaigns successfully implemented by ISIL, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines has attempted to drum up similar support by utilizing American pop culture - highly enjoyed by Filipino youth - to demonstrate how ‘MILFs’ are incredibly sought after in other parts of the world.

Promotional videos announced how pursuing a lifetime with ‘MILF’ is an honorary title to be conferred onto young men. In response, militant training camps were flooded by middle-aged women seeking to serve as jihadists for the Islamic cause. This came as a surprise to the young male recruits, who were suddenly overwhelmed by unfamiliar erotic feelings.

During a summit with a representative of the Filipino government, MILF’s leader Hadji Murad Ibrahim was asked whether he had “Googled their group’s name,” to which he replied that he did not. Ibrahim stated that he has not had Internet connection for several weeks due to a dispute with Comcast Inc., who purportedly pushed for an ‘all-inclusive sports and adult entertainment package.’ A spokesperson at Comcast Inc. has denied these allegations.

MILF’s futile recruitment campaign, which nevertheless failed to enlighten Ibrahim to the sexual nature of his group’s acronym, will likely be disastrous to the terrorist organization’s longevity. MILF faces increasing scrutiny by other Islamic organizations, which tend to highlight the way its name may attract Western recruits. A prominent ISIL leader was quoted last month saying “we are trying to instill terror and fear into our Western enemies; our goals won’t be achieved if we evoke memories of f****** Mrs. Robinson.”

Malaysia Announces Interruption of Searches for Missing Flight MH370, Outrage Erupts in China

Malaysia Announces Interruption of Searches for Missing Flight MH370, Outrage Erupts in China

CNN Alex Billaud Curvale

More than a year after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 a press secretary of the Malaysian government announced on thursday that in absence of any new tangible element, funding for the searches with be withdrawn within the next month. “The research teams have tried everything within existing means”, said a senior American official, “Now the the investigations seem to be slowing, with no clear resolution in sight”.

Flight 370, a Boeing 777 with 239 persons on board, disappeared from the radars over the South China Sea on March 8th 2014. In spite of the most expensive searches in the history of flight, no part of the plane has been found yet by an international Joint Investigation Team, looking as far as Australia. Inquiries on the crew’s background proved equally inconclusive.

Since 152 of the 227 passengers of flight MH370 were Chinese citizens, the initial Malaysian response, or lack thereof, sparked vocal discontent in China last year.  Some Malaysian declarations had been perceived as insensitive and contradictory.  Calls for boycott, often endorsed by celebrities, provoked a major drop in Chinese tourism to Malaysia.

Thursday’s announcement was followed by an eruption of outrage in China. On Weibo, China’s social network, angry reactions dominated by far the discussion. The calls for boycott were renewed with strength, and reached even a broader audience according to Berkeley Chinese studies Professor Adam Steingler.  “A mobilization of this extent”, Mr Steingler affirmed on phone, is “exceptional for China, and would be on the front pages for several days in a democracy”.

A largely followed blogger going by “Uncle Fu” called the Malaysian decision “an act of enmity towards the people of China”. His post was shared more than half a million times. Many users went even further, spreading popular conspiracy theories that the plane was in fact shot down by a foreign aggressor. These assertions were often associated with “patriotic requests” for the Chinese government not to cede any square foot of the contested Paracel Islands to the “murderers”. By the end of the day, the most offensive keywords were unaccessible on Weibo. The Chinese government issued no statement.

A crowd of more than a thousand also gathered in February of this year in front of the Malaysian embassy in Beijing with signs calling for Malaysia to “say the truth or face anger”. Some of the slogans criticized a supposed role of the United States in the Malaysian withdrawal, before the police dispersed the demonstrators.

According to Tim A. Long, a Chinese foreign policy expert at the National University of Hong Kong (NHU): “It remains very unlikely that one of China’s regional concurrents was involved in any way in the MH370 disappearance. If that was the case, however, public reactions would certainly lead Beijing policy-makers to radically toughen their stance in the South China Sea showdown.”

China-U.S. Economic Ties Weaken, as China-led AIIB Grows

China-U.S. Economic Ties Weaken, as China-led AIIB Grows

People’s Daily English Edition

Cindy Hannon

BEIJING, April 14

America has gained much from its relationship with China over the years, and Americans stand to benefit even more if the two countries can find new ways to work together.

However, the refusal of the U.S. to join the AIIB is weakening China-U.S. economic ties.

The AIIB was proposed by China to finance infrastructure projects in Asia, and is regarded as a rival to other multilateral development banks like the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Most Asian countries have joined the bank, as have European powers like Britain and Germany.

“With widespread support, the bank will not only directly benefit economies that plan to develop infrastructure, non-regional countries will also benefit from their investment by tapping into the vast potential of Asia’s future development,” Yuan Gangming, a research fellow at Tsinghua University, said.

However, the US reportedly lobbied allies, including Australia, South Korea, and the UK, to oppose the AIIB over fears of transparency. After all of these countries applied for founding member status with the China-led AIIB, US and Japan continue to resist. But with over 40 founding members so far, transparency and credibility have greatly increased. China remains open and would welcome them as AIIB members.

U.S. and China have the most critical bilateral relationship in the world, and it serves America’s national security, economic health and environmental well-being to keep it strong.

Exxon Reaches Agreement

Jason Flick Thanh Nien News

Exxon Reaches Agreement

DA NANG, VIETNAM – In one of Vietnam’s largest port cities, reports have been made that ExxonMobil has settled on a new agreement with representatives of Vietnam. The agreement will allow Exxon to explore natural gas fields in the Spratlys Islands. According to a representative from ExxonMobil, the company plans to conduct oil and gas exploration activities, particularly in central and southern regions of the country, as well as in Vietnamese territory in the East Sea. Members of ExxonMobil and the Vietnamese community are firm in believing that the deal will be successful for both parties. Details of this contract also identify awards given to Gazprom of Russia and Petronas of Malaysia.

This deal has significant economic implications for a number of countries in Southeast Asia. Domestically speaking, Exxon has provided funding for pediatric emergency care equipment and related medical practitioner training in key coastal cities, including Da Nang. Just to the north, China is experiencing a rapidly growing economy and population. If estimates of growth are indeed correct, China will require significantly more natural resources. A large portion of the Chinese population has called for these resources to be claimed from disputed territories in the Spratlys Islands. Along with the claim to natural resources, the Spratlys also hold access to a key shipping routes and major fishing grounds in the region.

The Spratlys Islands lie in the East Sea, just off of the southern tip of Vietnam. Portions of the island contain military forces from the People’s Republic of China (China), the Republic of China (Taiwan), Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Although the dispute over the Spratlys has been ongoing for a number of years, the largest disputes today have been seen from China against Vietnam. Vietnam has continually disputed China’s historical accounts over its sovereignty in the region. Generally speaking, a large number of China’s claims are not backed up by its own historical records. These disputes have ranged from minor conflicts, such as Vietnamese officials refusing to stamp Chinese passports which included a map which claimed that disputed areas in the East Sea belonged to China, to potential conflicts of international merit, such as standoffs between Chinese and Vietnamese ships.

On this day in Da Nang, a crowd formed to mourn the losses of Vietnamese ship crew members who fell victim to unjust attacks from Chinese patrols in the East Sea. In the coming days, all eyes will be on the response of the Vietnamese and Chinese people in response to Exxon’s agreement with Vietnam.

Welcome to the S|CON 2015 News Blog

On behalf of the S|CON 2015 Secretariat and Staff, welcome to our humble News Blog.
Articles regarding the latest developments prior to and during the weekend will be posted here, along with public Press Statements from individual delegates and Cabinets.
A dedicated team of journalists and reporters will be contributing to this newsfeed, coordinated by your Assistant Director of Simulations, Cassie Lynch. To reach the contributing reporters, please find their emails here. To contact the Editor-in-Chief, please email ados@uw-mun.org.

We hope to serve you well on your endeavors this weekend.

Alvin Loong
Secretary-General, S|CON 2015
sg@uw-mun.org