World News Thread & Breaking News!!

[Miragedriver]

China plans for North Korean regime collapse leaked

China has drawn up detailed contingency plans for the collapse of the North Korean government, suggesting that Beijing has little faith in the longevity of Kim Jong-un’s regime.


Documents drawn up by planners from China’s People’s Liberation Army that were leaked to Japanese media include proposals for detaining key North Korean leaders and the creation of refugee camps on the Chinese side of the frontier in the event of an outbreak of civil unrest in the secretive state.


The report calls for stepping up monitoring of China’s 879-mile border with North Korea.


Any senior North Korean military or political leaders who could be the target of either rival factions or another “military power,” thought to be a reference to the United States, should be given protection, the documents state.

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One thing to take from the report, it makes mention of readying for sudden collapse of government from Internal or external invasion and the need to setup the camps to hold refugee's and also providing special separate camps for key government heads and military leadership..

But one thing that is interesting is not that they are saying they will be providing separate camps for the government and military leadership, but that steps will be being taken prevent armed old regime resistance movement forming that could be organized and run from the Chinese side of the border which signals the strongest distancing of China in relations with current regime in DPRK and at least from what has been leaked of the plans is that while there is talk of moving units to secure the border there is not mention of sending aid to back the government and keep it from being overthrown.

I am seeing the leaking of this report as an outright warning by China to Kim and warning him not to start any trouble because if he does they will let him get removed and not let him drag China into a war but will provide shelter to government heads and military leadership which would mean the government would topple even faster if they see an out on the other side of the border that would provide safe haven once the dominoes start to fall.

 

[plawolf]

I wouldn't get too excited. That's in all likelihood only one off dozens of different kinds contingincy plans with a wide spectrum for the level of involvement and support China might lend NK.

The 'leaking' of this document to Japanese media is also extremely suspect. If the Chinese government wanted to send a message to NK, they would have leaked the document to HK or SK press. The Japanese would be hands down the last place on earth the Chinese would choose to leak anything to.

Seems far more likely that the documents were 'leaked' by Japanese or American intelligence, as a means to try and pressure the North Koreans and drive a wedge between China and NK. I would also be suspicious of its authenticity. Choosing to leak the material to a Japanese outlet could easily be a means to hide the true source of the material by giving it to a publication the true source knows won't ask any awkward questions about the providence and authenticity of the documents.

 

[solarz]

I wouldn't get too excited. That's in all likelihood only one off dozens of different kinds contingincy plans with a wide spectrum for the level of involvement and support China might lend NK.

The 'leaking' of this document to Japanese media is also extremely suspect. If the Chinese government wanted to send a message to NK, they would have leaked the document to HK or SK press. The Japanese would be hands down the last place on earth the Chinese would choose to leak anything to.

Seems far more likely that the documents were 'leaked' by Japanese or American intelligence, as a means to try and pressure the North Koreans and drive a wedge between China and NK. I would also be suspicious of its authenticity. Choosing to leak the material to a Japanese outlet could easily be a means to hide the true source of the material by giving it to a publication the true source knows won't ask any awkward questions about the providence and authenticity of the documents.

Notice how these Chinese "military leaks" are always reported by the Japanese media? Yeah, no credibility issues there...

 

[Miragedriver]

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I don’t know if I should feel sad for Iran for this “stupid” demonstration or to laugh because is so comical.

Iran will target U.S. aircraft carriers based in the Persian Gulf if a war were to ever erupt between both countries, an Iranian naval chief warned Tuesday.
"Aircraft carriers are the symbol of America's military might," Adm. Ali Fadavi, according to the Fars news agency. "The carriers are responsible for supplying America's air power. So, it's natural that we want to sink the carriers."

Fadavi is naval chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and made the remarks as Iran completes a large-scale mock-up of a U.S. carrier. Iran is currently building a replica of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, which will be used in future military exercises.

The Revolutionary Guard’s navy has already targeted mock-up U.S. warships, Fadavi said, adding it took only 50 seconds to destroy one of them.

A U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf dismissed Iran’s warnings.
"Whatever Iran hopes to do with the mock-up, it is likely to have zero impact on U.S. Navy operations in the Gulf," Cmdr. Jason Salata, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, told the Associated Press.
These moves come as diplomats prepare for a new round of talks over Iran’s nuclear program next week in Vienna.

Negotiators are expected to draft a final nuclear deal this month. They hope to strike a final deal by mid-July, which is when the interim deal reached last November expires.

 

[AssassinsMace]

Because of the Arab Spring, Edward Snowden's revelations, and reluctance from the US to put troops on the ground, we're into an era of disinformation in order to instigate regime change. The US believes China's support is keeping the North operating. They want to cut that support. Are reports true that the North distrusts Beijing like never before? This story is obviously aimed at driving a wedge. Just like the uncle being executed because he was too close to Beijing is aimed at China to drive the wedge from that end. That being said China shouldn't trust the North. Beijing is stuck supporting the North because of the negatives of a collapse. The US refuses to take into account China's concerns over what happens with the sanctions they want followed where China will have North Korean refugees flooding in. China doesn't want South Korea in control of the North when all that means is American bases on its borders. They don't address these concerns. What's the best solution for China? Take over the North if the government collapses. I remember reading about a South Korean politician wishing that to happen because the North is so unstable that is a preferable alternative. But China shouldn't hand over the North to South Korea afterwards.

 

[AssassinsMace]

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I'm beginning to believe Google was working with the NSA during all their whining about how they should dominate China meaning the NSA would have easier access to China. It is quite odd Google would make all those complaints about government interference in China while they were helping the NSA do everything they were accusing.

 

[plawolf]

Just like how the US distrusts Huawei, China could not, and should not trust any Western, and especially American, company no matter how pretty their mission statement, because when the chips are down, you know where their true loyalties lie.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Four terrorists arrested in Cuba from Miami
Posted in: Cuban Five , favorite terrorist United States , Terrorism against Cuba
In this article: Cuba , United States , Luis Posada Carriles , Mafia of Miami , Miami , Osvaldo Mitat , Santiago Álvarez Fernández Magriñá , Terrorism , Terrorism against Cuba
May 6, 2014 | + |

Cuba against terrorismNOTE INFORMATION OFFICE

On 26 April, the Interior Ministry forces detained citizens and residents of Cuban origin in Miami, United States, Ortega José Amador, Obdulio Rodríguez González, Santos and Pacheco Raibel Monsoon Felix Alvarez, when executing planned terrorist acts on the territory national.

Detainees recognized that intended to attack military installations with the aim of promoting violence. For these purposes, since mid-2013, three of them had made several trips to the island to study and model execution.

Further stated that these plans will have been organized under the leadership of terrorist Santiago Alvarez Fernández Magriñá, Osvaldo Mitat and Manuel Alzugaray, who reside in Miami and have close links with the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.

The necessary arrangements will be made with the relevant U.S. authorities to investigate these incidents and prevent the timely performance of elements and based terrorist organizations in that country endanger the lives of people and security of both nations.

Havana, May 6, 2014

Taken form a Cuban news service, I got it from @fidelCasto on twitter

U.S. delegation urges talks to free American jailed in Cuba

Mon, May 5 2014
By Daniel Trotta
HAVANA (Reuters) - Four U.S. lawmakers visiting Cuba on Monday urged President Barack Obama to authorize negotiations with the Cuban government about freeing jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross.
The visiting Americans, who met with Gross in his hospital prison, also expressed hope those talks would cover other issues such as the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba and the case of three Cuban spies serving long prison terms in the United States.
Gross, 65, is serving a 15-year sentence over his 2009 arrest and 2011 conviction for attempting to set up an Internet service for Cuban Jews while working as a subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Cuba considered his work a subversive program that used illegal, undercover and noncommercial technology.
Cuba has said it is willing to engage in negotiations about Gross without preconditions, while U.S. officials have disregarded the offer as an attempt to exchange Gross for the three Cuban agents.
"It is time that both countries make a serious commitment to engage in negotiations with no preconditions and we will communicate that to the White House upon our return," Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, told reporters.
She was joined by three other Democrats from the House, Gregory Meeks of California, Sam Farr of New York and Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, on a mission sponsored by the Center for Democracy in the Americas, a group dedicated to changing U.S. policy toward countries in the hemisphere.
All four representatives have long supported the normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba.
The congressional delegation met with Gross at his hospital prison and also with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday, and they were briefed by American officials before departing the United States.
About a year ago, Cuba began offering to enter talks without preconditions, according to Gross's lawyer, Scott Gilbert.
Cuba previously had more directly sought to link Gross's incarceration to the cases of the so-called Cuban Five, unregistered agents who were caught spying on Cuban exile groups in Florida that opposed the communist government in Havana. Two of the five have been released.
The United States has rejected any trade of the Cuban agents for Gross, and no formal talks have taken place.
(Editing by Ken Wills)

 

[ManilaBoy45]

Tensions Surge in S. China Sea as Philippines Seizes Chinese Boat

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MANILA/BEIJING Wed May 7, 2014 3:52am ED

(Reuters) - Philippines police seized a Chinese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, the latest flare-up of tensions in the oil and gas-rich waters that are claimed wholly or in part by six Asian nations.Chief Superintendent Niel Vargas of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group said a maritime police patrol apprehended a Chinese fishing boat around 7 a.m. on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal.The boat has 11 crew and police found about 500 turtles in the vessel, some of which were already dead, he said, adding that a Philippine boat with crew was also seized, and found to have 40 turtles on board. Several species of sea turtles are protected under Philippine law.Maritime police are now towing the boats to Puerto Princesa town on the island of Palawan where appropriate charges will be filed against them, Vargas said.

 

[A.Man]

Vietnam tries to stop China oil rig deployment

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FILE - In this May 7, 2012 file photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, CNOOC 981, the first deep-water drilling rig developed in China, is pictured at 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Hong Kong in the South China Sea. Vietnam warned China on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, that it would take all necessary measures to defend its interests in the South China Sea if Beijing does not remove the large oil rig from waters claimed by both countries. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Jin Liangkuai, File) NO SALES

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FILE - In this May 7, 2012 file photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, CNOOC 981, the first deep-water drilling rig developed in China, is pictured at 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Hong Kong in the South China Sea. Vietnam warned China on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, that it would take all necessary measures to defend its interests in the South China Sea if Beijing does not remove the large oil rig from waters claimed by both countries. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Jin Liangkuai, File) NO SALES
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HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnamese naval vessels and Chinese ships collided Wednesday in the South China Sea as Hanoi sought to prevent Beijing from setting up an oil rig in an area claimed by both nations, a Vietnamese government official said.






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The official said no shots were fired and there were no reports of injuries in the incident, the most serious in years between the two countries at sea. If neither side steps down, clashes could break out between the two navies in what has long been regarded as a possible global flashpoint.

China's stationing of the oil rig over the weekend has been seen as one of its most provocative steps in a gradual campaign of asserting its sovereignty in the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

Two foreign diplomats said Vietnam dispatched up to 29 armed naval and coast guard ships to areas near the oil rig when it became aware of China's intentions. Citing a Chinese diplomat, one said the Vietnamese deployment was meant to be a "show of force" to get Beijing to withdraw the rig.

All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

China moved the giant deep-sea oil rig to an area close to the Paracel Islands on May 2 accompanied by a large flotilla of naval vessels. It also announced that no foreign ships would be allowed within a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) radius of the $1 billion rig.

Vietnam immediately called the deployment illegal and demanded China withdraw the rig, around 220 kilometers (140 miles) off the Vietnamese coast.

The Vietnamese official said Vietnam's ships were outnumbered by the Chinese flotilla escorting the rig.

He said the ships were trying to stop the rig from "establishing a fixed position" at the spot where it wanted to drill.

China's assertiveness along with its growing military and economic might is alarming many smaller countries in the region even as they are aware they need to keep relations open with a vital trading partner.

The United States, which is undertaking a military and economic "pivot" toward Asia in part to counter Chinese influence, shares the concerns of the smaller nations. In a strongly worded statement in Washington on Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called China's action "provocative and unhelpful to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region."

Vietnam has limited leverage in dealing with its giant neighbor and vital economic partner. It can't afford damaged ties with Beijing and has no hope of competing with it militarily. While it is no longer as isolated as it once was, the country can't expect much diplomatic help from powerful friends.

"China seems intent on putting down its footprint squarely in contested waters and force Hanoi's hand. It appears a critical juncture has occurred and one would expect Hanoi to be weighing its options," said Jonathan London, a Vietnam expert at the City University of Hong Kong. "Hanoi's back is against the wall, though China's policies — which according to virtually everyone except China are baseless legally — have brought about this situation."

China occupied the Paracel Islands 40 years ago, and 74 U.S.-backed South Vietnamese forces died in a subsequent military clash. The Vietnamese and Chinese navies clashed again in 1988 in the disputed Spratly Islands, leaving 64 Vietnamese sailors dead.

In 1992, China awarded a contract to U.S. energy company Crestone to explore for oil and gas in the Spratly Islands. Vietnam protested the move. Two years later, Vietnam's navy forced the company's oil rigs to leave the area.