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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 28-Apr-2014
28-Apr-14 World View -- Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China

Web Log - April, 2014

28-Apr-14 World View -- Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China

MERS virus spreads more rapidly in the Mideast

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China
MERS virus spreads more rapidly in the Mideast

Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China

Philippine army soldiers

Philippine army soldiers

America and the Philippines are about to sign a major agreement to permit a large-scale return of U.S. military forces to bases in the Philippines. The agreement is part of the larger "pivot to Asia" that President Obama announced in 2011. For the Philippines, it will boost the 120,000 man Philippine military as China becomes more aggressive in annexing other countries' territories.

The U.S. has had military bases in the Philippines since the early 1900s, following the Spanish-American war, and the bases played a crucial role for America in World War II and the Vietnam war. Subic Bay and Clark became America's largest military bases outside the U.S., but due to a substantial growth of anti-Americanism, The Americans were thrown out in 1991. An agreement in 1999 permitted temporary visits by American forces.

Not all the details have been announced, but this appears to be a major policy reversal by the Philippines, triggered by China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea. China has already annexed the Philippines' rich fishing grounds around the Scarborough Shoal, and has announced its intention to annex by military force territories belonging to all the nations surrounding the South China Sea.

The arrival of a big American military base in the Philippines is unlikely to cause China to back down. To the contrary, it will make the Chinese public to become even more nationalistic, vengeful and warlike, and the Chinese military to become even more bellicose and aggressive. The probability of an accident or miscalculation spiraling into a larger war is increasing. Philippine Star and AFP

MERS virus spreads more rapidly in the Mideast

The MERS virus is spreading more rapidly than had been expected. Saudi Arabia has confirmed 26 more cases of MERS-CoV (the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) in the last week, with 10 more deaths. At the same time, Egypt confirmed its first case of MERS in a man who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

A recent study shows that the MERS had been common in camels for at least 20 years, without spreading to humans. It was first diagnosed in Saudi Arabia about two years ago, and it's suspected that the virus mutated at that time to permit spreading to humans. The fact that it's spreading more rapidly may mean that there's been a further mutation.

MERS is similar in type to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that spread across Asia in 2003, infecting 8,273 people, killing 9%. MERS is thought to be deadlier, but more difficult to transmit, although the recent spike in cases may mean that it's spreading more easily. Russia Today and AFP

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 28-Apr-14 World View -- Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (28-Apr-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 28-Apr-2014 28-Apr-14 World View -- Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China

Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China

MERS virus spreads more rapidly in the Mideast

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 28-Apr-2014
28-Apr-14 World View -- Philippines agrees to major return of U.S. military to counter China