China’s plan to hold a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II is not about presenting militarism, but to offer a somber reminder of China’s will and capacity to sustain world peace. Beijing feels a responsibility to defend the post-WWII world order by upholding the justice of anti-Japanese aggression and anti-Fascist warfare.

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III analyzes the historical and political contexts that have increased the strategic importance of the South China Sea (SCS) for the Philippines and China. Despite the obvious clashes in the SCS positions of the two countries, avenues for collaboration remain open.

The peaceful desires of most Japanese people and the powerful trends of economic globalization and world multi-polarization do not in any way support the strengthening of the US-Japan military alliance. In fact, they are harbingers of its disintegration.

The recent agreement hammered out by major powers, the UN and Iran set a powerful example for resolving regional and international problems. The hard work is far from over, as suspicion lingers in Washington, Tehran and some Arab capitals, but the success so far shows that difficult issues can be resolved through negotiation when all parties are sincere about achieving a result.

The Philippines manipulative and dishonest actions in the South China Sea have tried Beijing’s patience too far, and perhaps that of the United States as well.

Washington’s cozy-up with Japan’s military suggests the US has a short memory about its wartime experience, and Japan’s ultimate intentions should be re-examined.

In the South China Sea dispute, the US position has been inconsistent with itself and with norms of international law, breeding misunderstanding and suspicion. The result has raised the political temperature in the region, and could lead to undesirable results for all parties.

The new Pentagon strategy is a throw-back to Cold War thinking and contrary to the world view of America’s founding fathers. It may pose a new barrier to developing new major-power relations in a multi-polar world, unless all sides seek a cooperative approach.

The most fundamental driving force for the pact is the profound and deepening development toward a multipolar world. Economic globalization has closely integrated the interests of all countries, and the conception of a community of common destiny for all mankind has taken root, replacing the sort of unilateralism most recently practiced by the United States.

As the South China Sea’s most promising near-term developable gas field in the South China Sea, Sampaguita could offer a solution of cooperation, peace, and legitimacy to Chinese claims near the Philippines.