US Archives - Page 8 of 17 - The Singapore Post

India successfully gains allies while confronting China

26Aug

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

India successfully gains allies while confronting China

"Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak”. This is exactly what China seems to have put in action now. China's weakness was highlighted when it failed to effectively handle the outbreak of coronavirus in its initial stages and was caught on the back foot with the U.S., Australia and other countries blaming it and seeking an investigation.So, rather than adopting a remorseful demeanor, China portrayed itself as "strong" by displaying an aggressive attitude. Not only did the Chinese diplomats turn into "wolf warriors," but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime also came down harsh on Hong Kong, displayed belligerence in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and East China Sea, and engaged in land border clashes with India.But this time, China seems to have gone too far

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces new threats from militancy

23Aug

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces new threats from militancy

Ever since its launch in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been facing a lot of cynical scrutiny, with the United States cautioning that CPEC projects are neither transparent nor cost-efficient, and warning Islamabad that it is subjecting itself to expensive loans under China’s Belt and Road Initiative – through which Beijing has pledged more than US$60 billion so far.However, supporters of the project, including the Pakistani government, say that Islamabad will not end up being a client state of Beijing’s, and that the CPEC is its best shot at economic development.Indeed, the CPEC has not progressed as planned, with several large projects shelved and others still uncompleted. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to slow things down further, even though Pakistan has approved

Beijing’s actions along LAC jeopardised Indo-China relations: Chinese dissident

22Aug

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Beijing’s actions along LAC jeopardised Indo-China relations: Chinese dissident

Chinese dissident and son of a former Communist Party leader, Jianli Yang has stated that Beijing’s recent actions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have severely jeopardised the cordial relationship that India and China had built over the past years.“The cordial relationship that India and China had built consequent to summit meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wuhan in 2018 and Mamallapuram in 2019 has been jeopardised due to China’s actions along the Line of Actual Control,” said Jianli, who is also the founder and president of Citizen Power Initiatives for China.“In its anxiousness to appear strong, China revealed its ugly, untrustworthy side to India. In response, India adopted a string of measures in various spheres–diplomacy,

Why Ecuador was angered by a Chinese flotilla near its waters

21Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Why Ecuador was angered by a Chinese flotilla near its waters

At the end of July, Ecuador was on alert as a flotilla of 260 Chinese fishing vessels was sighted near the Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose aquatic species such as manta rays and sharks have been endangered by commercial fishing.Every year, Ecuador faces the challenge of protecting its natural habitat from Chinese vessels.Ecuador’s Defence Minister said the situation is repeated every year, when ships reach the outer limit of the archipelago, outside the country’s exclusive zone.The flotilla, which also consisted of some Liberia and Panama-flagged vessels, was detected in an international water corridor situated between two areas of Ecuadorian jurisdiction – 200 miles away from both the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador.In 2019, 245 Chinese fishing vessels we

Time for China to stop its unsustainable fishing practices: Pompeo

21Aug

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Time for China to stop its unsustainable fishing practices: Pompeo

Extending support to Ecuador, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has slammed China for incessantly violating the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states."It is time for China to stop its unsustainable fishing practices, rule-breaking, and willful environmental degradation of the oceans. We stand with Ecuador and call on Beijing to stop engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing," Pompeo said in a Twitter post.Pompeo's recent remarks came after Western media reported on 260 China-flagged vessels fishing nearing Ecuador's Galapagos marine reserve, which was seen as causing environmental degradationIn a separate statement, the US Department of State said: "The People's Republic of China subsidizes the world's largest commercial fishing fleet, which routinely violat...

American people overwhelmingly back India over China: Survey

18Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

American people overwhelmingly back India over China: Survey

A survey by an Australia-based think tank has found out that American people overwhelmingly back India over China and prefer the US government to support New Delhi in possible Indo-China military and economic conflict. Lowy Institute.The survey published by Lowy Institute explores US public views on potential military or economic strife between China to India.The web survey was conducted on a sample of 1,012 American respondents on July 7. The respondents were randomly assigned one of two versions of a prompt --- ‘If India and China were engaged in military conflict, would you support the US aiding India, China, or neither side?’ or ‘If India and China were engaged in economic conflict, would you support the US aiding India, China, or neither side?’According to results published by the thi

Condemning ‘tragedy’ of citizen’s killing, US urges Pakistan to pursue reforms

18Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Condemning ‘tragedy’ of citizen’s killing, US urges Pakistan to pursue reforms

The US State Department has called on Pakistan to take immediate action after an American citizen was killed in Pakistan's courtroom.Tahir Ahmad Naseem, from the minority Ahmadi community, was shot dead in a courtroom in Peshawar. He was was arrested two years ago on blasphemy charges."Condolences to family of Tahir Naseem, an American citizen who was killed today inside a courtroom in Pakistan. We urge Pak to take immediate action and pursue reforms that will prevent such a shameful tragedy from happening again," Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, US State Department said in a TweetThe assailant, identified as Khalid Khan who managed to get into the court amid tight security was arrested later.Ahmadis, a four million-strong minority group in Pakistan, have faced death, threats, ...

17Aug

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China, the artless dodger

Indulging in aggressive behaviour along the Line of Actual Control with India might have brought immediate tactical territorial gains to China, but it has lost a lot more strategically in terms of trust and goodwill. Beijing's responses have also reinforced the fact that its leaders are perennially unrepentant.This is evident in the comments that come from China over the border confrontation on 15 June in Ladakh. Four days after the clash in which both sides suffered lost their soldiers’ lives, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "China hopes that India will work with us, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and strengthen communication and cooperation on properly managing the curren

US’ University under FBI probe over China’s attempt to steal Covid-19 research

17Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

US’ University under FBI probe over China’s attempt to steal Covid-19 research

America’s University of Texas whose work has contributed to some promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates has been contacted by FBI over allegations that Chinese consulate in Houston had sought to obtain such research.As per reports, the University told faculty and research staff in an email on July 27 that it was notified of the investigation by the FBI. FBI agents would contact university researchers about the alleged role of the consulate and "efforts by the Chinese government to illegally procure research from American universities, including coronavirus vaccine research", according to the emailRecently, the US ordered China to close its Consulate General in Houston over allegations of espionage. In retaliation, China ordered US to shut down its Consulate General in Chengdu.The US State D

US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’

17Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’

In another setback for China resulting out of its aggressive behaviour in claiming the South China Sea, the United States and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese intimidation.The MOU, which aims to strengthen Vietnam's fisheries management and law enforcement capabilities, came after the US released statements affirming its stance in supporting Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam in disputes with China at sea."Beijing uses intimidation to undermine the sovereign rights of Southeast Asian coastal states in the South China Sea, bully them out of offshore resources, assert unilateral dominion, and replace international law with 'might makes right'," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.China and Vietnam have been lock...