Mynamar's rare earth: China's monopoly May 28th, 2012 

Yangon - China enjoys a monopoly on rare earths, controlling over 95 percent of the worldwide trade.

The world is also looking at Myanmar to have an alternate source of this precious commodity.  Myanmar is known to have rare earth like Xenotine, Monazite, Columbite and Tantalite.

EU, U.S., Japan seek WTO steps on China rare earths - Yahoo ...  [June 28th, 2012]

And guess who just discovered tons of it? 

Japan hits rare earth motherload - Business ... June 30th, 2012

Japan discovered enough to supply its hi-tech industries for more than 200 years, a scientist said Friday.

Around 6.8 million tonnes of the valuable minerals in  

its seabed.  Containing a substantial amount of dysprosium- a rare earth mineral used in the engines for hybrid cars, he said.

“Specifically on dysprosium, I estimate at least 400 years worth of Japan’s current consumption is in the deposits,” University professor Yasuhiro Kato.  He said mud samples were taken from an area near Minamitorishima island, a far eastern Japanese island.

But to the chagrin of Japanese authorities, they'll soon realize-  

The United Nations' Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf  Apr. 29th, 2012-  The term "continental shelf" describes a nation's oceanic territory including seabeds and everything lying below the water's surface, and generally extends out to the geolographical continental shelf or 200 nautical miles from shore.  The Minami-Torishima Region and the Mogi Seamount Region were not recognized within Japan's continental shelf because the U.N. commission judged the areas are not contiguous to Japanese territory and do not meet the requirements for an "extended continental shelf."

Continental shelves are significant, as a nation has the right to exploit natural resources, such as petroleum, found in its waters. 

 

Confrontation is coming, probably timed around the confederacy of Arab states verses the state of Israel, Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 conflict. -

US navy: Pivot to Asia won't hurt Mideast presence Jan 10th, 2012  The Obama administration unveiled a strategic defense review that seeks to enhance the U.S. presence in Asia because of the region's economic importance and China's rise as a military power.

It all comes amid stiff budget cuts that could leave the U.S. Navy weakened.

The Obama administration’s “rebalance” to Asia sees particularly the South China Sea area as a potential regional flashpoint. "The South China Sea is quite simply the throat of international commerce," said author Robert Kaplan, who contributed to the report. He said about half of the tonnage of international trade passes through these resource-rich waters.

As tensions with China have risen, the Philippines and Vietnam have sought to shore up ties with the United States.

The U.S. has five aircraft carrier strike groups based in the Asia-Pacific alone.    

What did the U.S. do to try and prevent the 1967 war Israel faced with antagonistic arab neighbors?  

The United States tried to prevent the war through negotiations, but it was not able to persuade Egypt's President Gamal Nasser, or the other Arab states to cease their belligerent statements and actions. Still, right before the war, U.S. President Johnson warned: "Israel will not be alone unless it decides to go it alone."

Then, when the war began, the State Department announced: "Our position is neutral in thought, word and deed."

Moreover, while the Arabs were falsely accusing the United States of airlifting supplies to Israel, Johnson imposed an arms embargo on the region (France, Israel's other main arms supplier also embargoed arms to Israel).

Guess what, there was another strait being closed then also-

 

On May 22nd 1967, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to all Israeli shipping and all ships bound for Eilat. This blockade cut off Israel's only supply route with Asia and stopped the flow of oil from its main supplier, Iran.

President Johnson expressed the belief that the blockade was illegal and unsuccessfully tried to organize an international flotilla to test it. At the same time, he advised the Israelis not to take any military action. After the war, President Johnson acknowledged the closure of the Strait of Tiran was the casus belli (June 19, 1967):

If a single act of folly was more responsible for this explosion than any other it was the arbitrary and dangerous announced decision that the Strait of Tiran would be closed. The right of innocent maritime passage must be preserved for all nations.

On June 5th 1967, Israel was indeed alone.  And we're watching it all over again.  Obama's/China rivalry distracts. 

 Ecclesiastes 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

I still believe the earthquake causing the Temple Mounts Rambam Gate renovation is the trigger.

 

Mid-Point - March 21st 2013

God Bless,

Gail