November, 2011
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How China can defeat America
How China Can Defeat America
The New York Times, Op-Ed Contributor
By YAN XUETONG
Published: November 20, 2011
It was perhaps the greatest period for Chinese thought, and several schools competed for ideological supremacy and political influence. They converged on one crucial insight: The key to international influence was political power, and the central attribute of political power was morally informed leadership. Rulers who acted in accordance with moral norms whenever possible tended to win the race for leadership over the long term.
- Times Topic: International Relations
WITH China’s growing influence over the global economy, and its increasing ability to project military power, competition between the United States and China is inevitable. Leaders of both countries assert optimistically that the competition can be managed without clashes that threaten the global order.
Most academic analysts are not so sanguine. If history is any guide, China’s rise does indeed pose a challenge to America. Rising powers seek to gain more authority in the global system, and declining powers rarely go down without a fight. And given the differences between the Chinese and American political systems, pessimists might believe that there is an even higher likelihood of war.
I am a political realist. Western analysts have labeled my political views “hawkish,” and the truth is that I have never overvalued the importance of morality in international relations. But realism does not mean that politicians should be concerned only with military and economic might. In fact, morality can play a key role in shaping international competition between political powers — and separating the winners from the losers.
Singapore pledges S$50m to narrow ASEAN gap
The IAI aims to help member states such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam narrow the development gap to achieve the vision of an ASEAN Community
by 2015. Giving an overview, Mr Lee noted the global economy remained vulnerable with problems in the European Union and the US economy still weak with low growth and
low unemployment. He said ASEAN must cooperate to weather the storm. He said this can be done in three ways – achieving the vision of an ASEAN Community by 2015, enhancing ASEAN connectivity and strengthening links with the rest of the world.
Singapore pledges S$50m to narrow ASEAN gap
By S Ramesh |
BALI, Indonesia: Singapore announced an extension of its contributions to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) for another four years from 2012 to 2015,
totalling S$50 million.
Revealing this during the plenary session of the ASEAN Summit in Bali, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this will be the country’s fourth pledge to the IAI.
CAMBODIA: Something is happening among Cambodians on which democrats can build
FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-051-2011
November 15, 2011
An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission
CAMBODIA: Something is happening among Cambodians on which democrats can build
In my column in this space in August, “A look at the future of Cambodia’s youth and education,” I posited that, “If youth is the future of the country and education is a sine qua non element of a country’s development, without change in the status quo ante, Cambodia’s future will be anything but bright.” In my concluding sentence, I suggested that, “Broad-based application of Buddhist values and principles can help Cambodian society make its way to a future those on the current path may never find.”
Then last month, in my column, “Perhaps Cambodians’ soft power will advance their struggle for rights and freedom,” I noted with relief that I may have overlooked what could be a promising trend in Khmer behavior.
The 2000-year-old Khmer tradition in “smoh trang, korup, bamroeur, karpear” (“to be loyal to, to respect, to serve, to defend”) the divine leader (king) that has boxed in Cambodians’ creative thinking, has not disappeared. Rather, more Cambodians are developing self-awareness; find ease in speaking openly, even if what they say is not popular; and are demonstrating analytical, rational, and thoughtful voices in their writing.
I noted this apparent “new trend” stands opposed to the existing profane “free expression” that has polluted public discourse among Cambodians. In my September article, I referenced an e-mail from a Khmer reader, Samreth, who is disgusted at the lack of civility and rational discussion in the contemporary Cambodian environment. He suggested that in order to rebuild a respected and respectable society Khmers need “individuals with quality thoughts.” Samreth sees what is and contemplates on what ought to be.
American children who are taught in their own history of the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness do not hesitate to fight against any threat to those inalienable rights, whether a Republican or a Democrat is in power. Why do Cambodians seem not to have the capacity to transfer the 2,000-year-old diktat of duties and responsibilities of citizens to the divine leader or god-king to ideas, ideals, principles and concepts of rights, freedom and democracy? Man dies. Ideas, ideals, principles don’t die.
Tha Sophat received gifts from generous Cambodian-Canadian in Calgary through Marilyn of Calgarian
GIFTS for Tha Sophat, a toddler who suckled milk from cow’s nipples directly because of his parents who have migrated to work in Thailand since he was a young baby. Tha Sophat was left with grandparent and he imitated the calf to suckle milk. Thank you very much Marilyn for her kindness to help teach Cambodian children and took her time to deliver those gifts from Cambodian-Canadian Community and the Khmer Youth Association of Alberta to reach Tha Sophat directly.
Dear Lok Kru,
Attached you will find some pictures of the trip that Lok Kru Loung and I took out to Ta Sophat’s village on Thursday November 10th.
I would not have been successful without Loung’s help.
First we went shopping at Psala Market to buy some things which we thought that Ta Sophat’s family might need. We bought 
clothing (3 pairs of shorts and T-shirt) for Ta Sophat and a T-shirt for grandfather; a sleeping mat; cooking supplies (cooking oil, noodles, sauce and tea, sugar and milk) and some milk bars for Ta Sophat (which he really liked)( Photo679); toiletries such as soap and shampoo and baby powder. We spent $40.00(USD) on supplies and the remaining $110(USD) I changed in to riels to take to the family.
We went on Loung’s motorbike (photo 655). 
We travelled along Route 6 and then turned north about 10 km. beyond Pouk to reach Nokor Pias 2 Village.The roads were washed out in places, very bumpy and dusty. By the end of the day we were both covered in red dust.We would not have reached the village by tuk-tuk or car (Photo 660) as some palm bridges would only take the weight of bicycles or motorbikes. Outside of Siem Reap the rice harvest is underway although there is still a lot of water in the fields and the canal by the road was quite high. (Photo 658).
After many bum-numbing hours on the moto we reached the village (people kept telling us “Only two km. more”, but it was a lot further than that) and Ta Sophat’s house….only to find that the family had gone to cut rice. However we had the company of many children who seemed to magically appear.(Photo 661)
Eventually Ta Sophat, his grandmother and grandfather arrived back from the rice fields.The grandfather showed us the cow that Ta Sophat drank from. (Photo 673) He explained that Ta Sophat was very hungry and crying one day when he saw the calf drinking from the cow and he did the same. He does not drink from the cow any longer.
Ta Sophat was quite shy around strangers and his grandfather said he was not happy on the day of our visit as his parents had returned from Thailand (where they work as gardeners).Ta Sophat was confused because he knows only his grandparents as family and could not understand why a lady he did not know (his mother) was crying because he did not know her. The parents have returned to Thailand but there is not a lot of gardening work at the moment due to the flooding.I wonder how many Cambodian children do not know their parents as family because the parents work away from their village.
Ta Sophat is a well built, healthy child and appears to be developing well. He was experimenting with trying to walk backwards and he says a few words. The grandparents hope that he will go to school and eventually graduate from High School.(We did notice some schools along the road to the village.) As you can see from the photos his grandparents seem to love him very much (Photo 683)
I presented the gifts and money from the Calgary Canadian -Cambodian Association.Both grandparents 
were very grateful and gracious. Grandfather asked if there were many Cambodian people in Canada.They sent their thanks to the Cambodian people in Calgary.(Photos 676,679)
We stayed for about one hour, but needed to leave so that we could get back to Siem Reap before it was too dark because I did not feel safe on the back of a motorbike at night.
We said our farewells (Photos 686, 688, 689) and drove back past the fishermen in the rivers and the people in the rice fields, reaching Siem Reap just after dark.
I was honoured to deliver your gift to this family and hope that it helps them raise this young boy who seems to hold great promise for the future. It was an experience that will remain in my memory always.
I hope all is well with the Cambodian community in Calgary. Best wishes to you all,
Marilyn
