Conflict – Page 3 – The Singapore Post

China plans peace envoy for conflict-riven Horn of Africa

15Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

China plans peace envoy for conflict-riven Horn of Africa

MOMBASA, KENYA (REUTERS) - China said on Thursday (Jan 6) it would appoint a special envoy to foster peace in the turbulent Horn of Africa and wanted to shift focus on the continent to trade over infrastructure. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the comments in Kenya, which has been active in diplomatic efforts to halt war in Ethiopia since late 2020 between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's federal government. He also visited Eritrea, which borders the northern Tigray region and has been an ally of Mr Abiy in a conflict that has killed thousands of people, uprooted hundreds of thousands, and spread hunger. "To share political consensus and to coordinate actions, China will appoint a special envoy of the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs for the H...

EXPLAINER: Why didn’t China send troops to aid Kazakhstan?

14Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

China, Conflict, Politics, World

EXPLAINER: Why didn’t China send troops to aid Kazakhstan?

BEIJING (AP) — China gave strong verbal backing to Kazakhstan’s leader for his deadly crackdown to quell violent unrest, but stood aside as Russia sent in special forces troops. Resource-rich Kazakhstan, on China’s western border, has economic and strategic importance for Beijing and is an important link in its “Belt and Road“ infrastructure initiative to expand its global trade and political influence in rivalry with the U.S. and its allies. China’s response to the crisis underscores how it prefers to influence outcomes with verbal assurances and offers of assistance, without committing troops. “The growing closeness between Russia and China means we can expect more rhetorical support for Moscow’s overseas ventures, particularly when they go up against Western geostrategic aims,“ said

Book banning is a mark of societies losing their minds

14Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Conflict, World

Book banning is a mark of societies losing their minds

At a school board meeting last month in what I choose to call Bumf--k, Virginia, elected officials dropped all pretence of rational debate by outright calling for the immolation of books they deemed offensive because of sexual explicitness. “I think we should throw those books in a fire,” declared one councilman. A marginally less combustible colleague chimed in about wanting to “see the books before we burn them so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.” The books under the gun were “Call Me by Your Name,” which focuses on a gay relationship, and “33 Snowfish,” about three homeless teenagers. Both have been critically acclaimed by people who actually, you know, read books for a living. This week, the town’s sheriff’s and fire departments were in at

Anger as Cambodia’s Hun Sen meets Myanmar military leader

13Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Conflict, World

Anger as Cambodia’s Hun Sen meets Myanmar military leader

BANGKOK (AP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar seeking to revive peace efforts after last year’s military takeover has provoked an angry backlash among critics, who say he is legitimizing the army’s seizure of power. Hun Sen is the first head of government to visit Myanmar since the military takeover last February. The authoritarian Cambodian leader has held power for 36 years and keeps a tight leash on political activity at home. In his role as the current chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he met with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, plunging Myanmar into violent conflict and economic disaster. In their meeting, Min Aung Hlaing told Hun Sen that Myanmar had extended a ceasefire with all ethn

Kim’s first decade: 3 US meetings, 2 dead relatives, 1 nuclear arsenal

13Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Conflict, Singapore, World

Kim’s first decade: 3 US meetings, 2 dead relatives, 1 nuclear arsenal

Kim's first decade: 3 US meetings, 2 dead relatives, 1 nuclear arsenal Unlike most of his counterparts, with no concerns over elections or term limits and age on his side, Kim Jong Un can expect to remain in office for decades. SEOUL: After 10 years in power, North Korea's once youthful Kim Jong Un is now one of the world's more experienced leaders, and will look to defy the West for decades to come with his nuclear arsenal, analysts say. Unlike most of his counterparts, with no concerns over elections or term limits and age on his side -- he is only in his late 30s -- Kim can expect to remain in office for decades, as long as his health holds up. It is a far different perspective to a democratic politician worrying about headlines every day, and Kim already has more experience in powe...

Tsai Ing-wen protested against Chinese intrusions in her New Year address

8Jan

By News DeskNo Comments

China, Conflict

Tsai Ing-wen protested against Chinese intrusions in her New Year address

Taipei, Taiwan: President of Taiwan in her new ear’s address called China to resolve its differences peacefully. Tsai Ing-wen strongly protested against China’s military intrusions and asked China to discuss and solve the problems. Tsai said Chinese authorities "should not misjudge the situation, and that they should stop the spread of military adventurism within their ranks," reported NHK World. Tsai added that "the use of military means is absolutely not an option" for resolving the differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. She warned that military clashes would deal a blow to economic stability. Further, Tsai also brought up the recent arrests of people in Hong Kong in connection with an online media outlet known for its critical stance against the Hong Kong

TAIWAN UNIFICATION & PLA MODERNISATION: GOALS TO WHAT END?

8Jan

By News DeskNo Comments

Asia, China, Conflict, Politics

TAIWAN UNIFICATION & PLA MODERNISATION: GOALS TO WHAT END?

Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a mobilization order for the training of the armed forces for 2022 sparking off speculation about the fate of Taiwan, even as he addressed the nation on television hoping for reunification with Taiwan under his long-term vision to realize the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The mobilisation of the armed forces is the first order of the new year by the Central Military Commission of which Xi is the chairman. There was a similar order last year as well as part of the modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army forces. The order says the entire rank and file of the armed forces are required to resolutely implement the plans and instructions of the Party leadership and the CMC, and accurately understand the changing landscape of na

28Dec

By News DeskNo Comments

Asia, Business, China, Conflict, Singapore, World

Chinese spies in Taiwan’s military

TAIPEI: Hong Kong business man, Xie Xizhang is accused of espionage in Taiwan for China. For more than 20 years he has been doing this. On one trip in 2006, Xie met a senior retired Taiwanese navy officer, Chang Pei-ning, over a meal, according to official documents accusing the pair of espionage. Chang would become one of Xie's agents, the documents allege, helping him penetrate Taiwan's active military leadership as part of a long-running Chinese operation to build a spy ring among serving and retired military officers. The Taiwanese officers and their families were allegedly lured by Xie's offers of all-expenses-paid trips abroad, thousands of dollars in cash payments, and gifts such as silk scarves and belts for their wives. In June 2019, counter-espionage officers moved ...

Digital sanctions are latest Pakistani tools for persecuting Ahmediya Muslims

10Dec

By News DeskNo Comments

Asia, Conflict, Opinion

Digital sanctions are latest Pakistani tools for persecuting Ahmediya Muslims

Pakistan’s religious intolerance against Ahmediyya Muslims has graduated to another level with state institutions clamping down on the community using digital tools and sanctions. Ahmadis number about 4 million in Pakistan, but the community has been forbidden to call itself Muslim since 1974. Ironically, it is the only country to label them as non-Muslims. Here, Ahmadis are not even allowed to call their houses of prayer “mosques,” while basic religious practices associated with Islam are forbidden for them. The followers are subjected to different forms of discrimination including hate speech. Institutional apathy is matched by societal hatred on ground which is reflected in frequent incidents of killing of the Ahmadis on the ground. Motivated by lopsided interpretation of Islam in f

Chinese jet in Taiwan Air Defense Zone for 159 times

7Dec

By News DeskNo Comments

China, Conflict

Chinese jet in Taiwan Air Defense Zone for 159 times

According to the Agence France-Press data, the Chinese plane has entered 159 times in Taiwan’s Air Defence Zone in last month which counts second highest. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in 2016. Over the past 14 months, the sabre-rattling has reached new peaks after Beijing began sending an increasing number of warplanes into the zone, which Chinese military aircraft had previously largely avoided. The escalatory moves have heightened fears among Western allies that China could order an invasion of Taiwan, even if they consider it unlikely for now. On Tuesday, the Pentagon unveiled plans to reinforce deployments and bases directed at China, upgrading and expanding military facilities in Guam and Australia. In Ta

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