Politics – Page 9 – The Singapore Post

Slovenia shifts its office in Taiwan from China

29Jan

By News DeskNo Comments

Slovenia shifts its office in Taiwan from China

Ljubljana, Slovenia: "Lithuania and Slovenia are members of NATO and plan to set up their own representative offices in Taiwan, a close US ally. Their move has left China shocked and fuming," reports The Singapore Post. Ahead of winter Olympic games Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansa disclosed his plans to establish a representative office in Taiwan, the newspaper reported. The Slovenian prime minister stated that he had visited Taiwan four or five times, and that Taiwanese should have the right to determine their future. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. However, Taiwan considers itself as an independent state.

27Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Business, China, Conflict, Politics, World

Trying times ahead for Thai leadership

Trying times ahead for Thai leadership Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, centre, is surrounded by a crowd while attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a monument honouring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great at a memorial park in Bangkok on Dec 5. AFP In the Year of the Tiger, three prominent issues will determine Thailand's future and its position in the region and among the international community. These three are the leadership crisis and political developments on the homefront, Thailand's perceived regional role, and its pro-active engagement with great powers. For more than a decade, domestic factors have dragged the country down. Day-to-day political meddling and brinksmanship by leaders continue without any real prospect for tangible reform or progress in sight. Interna...

25Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

China, Conflict, Politics, World

Cambodia: Asean’s spoiler or saviour?

Cambodia: Asean's spoiler or saviour? This handout from the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) taken and released on Dec 7 shows Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, left, listening to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. (Photo: AFP) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will be the Tatmadaw's first guest of honour in Nay Pyi Taw this weekend. Whatever the outcome of his two-day trip, it will have both intended and unintended consequences for the future of the Asean process, especially the five-point consensus (FPC). For nearly a year since the coup on Feb 1, Asean has assumed the role of peacemaker, going strictly by the book to ensure that the crisis in Myanmar would come to an end through the grouping's agency and good practices. After Brunei ha...

Locals recall HM King fighting with troops

24Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Locals recall HM King fighting with troops

Soldiers hold pictures of HM the King fighting alongside the army at Bang Khao Mak Khaeng in Loei in 1976. photos by the royal Thai army The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will upgrade Ban Mak Khaeng Thed Phrakiat Park in Loei to honour HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on his 70th birthday this year. The army will build a sculpture of the King, and open a museum to portray the historical moment when the King, who was Crown Prince at the time, fought alongside troops against communist rebels in Ban Mak Khaeng, said Lt Gen Chanvit Attatheerapong, director of the Army Tourism Promotion Agency (ATPA). The army has surveyed the landscape of the park in preparation for major improvements on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King Rama X's 70th birthday on July 28. The park...

Ousted Myanmar leader Suu Kyi faces 5 new corruption charges

20Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Ousted Myanmar leader Suu Kyi faces 5 new corruption charges

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-installed government has filed five new corruption charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in connection with granting permits to rent and buy a helicopter, a legal official said Friday. Suu Kyi, who has been detained since last February’s military takeover, is already being tried on five other corruption charges. Each is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine. She has also been charged with other offenses, and has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions. Her supporters and rights groups say the cases against her were contrived by the military to justify its takeover and prevent her from returning to politics. The govern

Toronto council backs fight against Quebec’s Bill 21, calling it ‘contrary to the values of Torontonians and Canadians’

15Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Toronto council backs fight against Quebec’s Bill 21, calling it ‘contrary to the values of Torontonians and Canadians’

Toronto is joining Brampton and other municipalities morally and financially supporting a challenge to the Quebec law that has banned a hijab-wearing teacher from her Grade 3 classroom. City council approved by a 25-0 vote a Mayor John Tory motion that stated: “This law diminishes rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights of Freedoms and stands contrary to the values of Torontonians and Canadians — values this council has been vigilant in protecting and upholding.” It calls on other Canadian municipalities “to affirm their opposition to Bill 21 and provide financial contributions to support the legal challenge” and pledges $100,000 from Toronto toward the legal fight against the controversial law. Earlier Tory tweeted: “I stand with Brampton Mayor (Patrick) Brown and Brampton C

China plans peace envoy for conflict-riven Horn of Africa

15Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

China, Conflict, Politics, World

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

14Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, Singapore, World

CP chief upbeat despite inflation fears

CP chief upbeat despite inflation fears Mr Suphachai believes 2022 will be a good year for Thailand, which has the capacity to serve as a regional hub. The head of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) says Thailand is on a quest to become a regional hub in several sectors despite concerns hyperinflation could affect the nation's economic growth in 2022. Hyperinflation worries stem from a combination of factors including US-China geopolitical tensions, the global food and energy crises, a potential cryptocurrency bubble, and massive ongoing capital injections into the world economy to keep it afloat during the pandemic, said CP chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont. But after weighing the pros and cons, Mr Suphachai believes 2022 will be a good year overall, especially for Thailand, as the king...

2021 Notebook: A closer look at unrest in Myanmar

12Jan

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Asia, Politics, World

2021 Notebook: A closer look at unrest in Myanmar

THE BACKGROUND: Myanmar had another rough year in 2021. On Feb. 1, the army seized power and prevented Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party from a second term in office. That day, Suu Kyi and top party and government colleagues were detained by the military just before the new session of Parliament was to convene. Elections had been held in November 2020, and Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory. In early December, she was convicted on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to four years in prison — a sentence that was quickly cut in half. February’s seizure of power was met by nonviolent nationwide demonstrations, which security forces quashed with deadly force. They have killed about 1,300 civilians, according to a detailed tall

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