Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

AC to Host 'Cartography and Psychological Warfare: China and the South China Sea'

Details
Category: News @ UP Asian Center

The Asian Center and the Third World Studies Center, University of the Philippines Diliman, are inviting you to Cartography and Psychological Warfare: China and the South China Sea, two public lectures that will be held on Friday, 25 April 2014, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Seminar Room, Hall of Wisdom, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman.   

Bill Hayton, a British journalist from the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), will look at how Chinese cartography has shaped Beijing’s claims on the South China Sea; in his second lecture, he will examine how Chinese media employ ‘psychological warfare’ strategies vis-à-vis Philippines and the United States.

Lecture 1: The Origins of China’s South China Sea Claim (10 a.m – 12nn)

Broadly describes the story of how, between 1909 and 1947, the U-shaped line came into being and was drawn and redrawn by different cartographers; how translation errors from British maps created misunderstandings; how the Beijing government didn’t know where the Spratlys were in 1933; and how the ‘Nansha' moved around the sea. 

Lecture 2: The Power of ‘Enemy Work’ (2:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

Illustrates how Beijing is making use of deliberate psychological warfare strategies towards the Philippines and the US through the use of ‘hawks’ in the media. This paper will show how these hawks are directly connected to military propaganda departments and ponder on what role they play in China’s overall strategy towards the South China Sea.

Bill Hayton has been with the BBC since 1998. The author of South China Sea: Dangerous Ground (2014, forthcoming) and Vietnam: Rising Dragon (2010), he has reported on the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Hayton has also been a trainer and a media consultant for various news organizations in Myanmar, Georgia, and Vietnam. He maintains a website at www.billhayton.com.

Please confirm your attendance by filling out this Google Docs form or by emailing Janus or Kat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You may also call 981.8500 local 3586. Kindly note that registering does not entail a seat reservation; seats are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch will not be served. For directions to the Asian Center, please view a vicinity map here.