Holders of Singapore and Japan passports can travel without a prior visa to 192 destinations.PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE - Singapore and Japan have the most powerful passports in the world, according to the latest update of a global index.
Holders of passports from the two countries can travel without a prior visa to 192 destinations, it noted last week.
This is a change from April, when Japan outstripped Singapore in having the world's most powerful passport, with Japanese passport holders able to travel to 193 destinations without a prior visa, while Singaporean passport holders had such access to 192 destinations.
In the latest update, South Korea and Germany are tied for second place, with such access to 190 countries. The two countries had been tied for third place in April, with access to 191 destinations.
Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain are in third place, with access to 189 nations; while Austria and Denmark are in fourth, with access to 188 countries.
The index, administered by Henley & Partners and updated throughout the year, ranks passport power according to how many destinations their holders can travel to without a prior visa.
The global citizenship and residence advisory firm noted that the gap in travel freedom is at its widest since the index was started in 2006, with Singaporean and Japanese passport holders able to visit 166 more destinations than Afghan citizens, who can travel to only 26 nations worldwide without acquiring a visa in advance.
Britain and the United States have been facing eroding passport strength since they held the top spot in 2014. Both remain tied in seventh place, but have a score of 185, down from 187 in the first quarter of the year.
Egypt is ranked 97th, with its citizens having access to 51 countries without a prior visa, while Kenya is 77th, with access to 72 destinations visa-free.
Meanwhile, Singapore will be allowing vaccinated travellers to travel to nine more countries and return without quarantine, the authorities announced last Saturday (Oct 9).
From Oct 19, vaccinated travellers from Singapore will be able to fly to Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the US.
The scheme will be extended to South Korea from Nov 15, it was announced last Friday.
These are in addition to Brunei and Germany, which Singapore had already approved for quarantine-free travel for those fully vaccinated.
In total, there will be 11 countries that Singapore approves for quarantine-free travel.
More on this topic
Based on data from the International Air Transport Association, the index showed that countries in the global north with high-ranking passports have enforced some of the most stringent inbound Covid-19 travel restrictions.
On the other hand, many countries with lower-ranking passports have relaxed their borders without seeing this openness reciprocated, it noted.
Henley & Partners chairman Christian Kaelin said: "It is pivotal that advanced nations consider revising their somewhat exclusive approach to the rest of the world, and reform and adapt to overcome the competition and not miss the opportunity to embrace the potential."
This paves the way for more economic activities to resume although
it may not be a full recovery, matching that of pre-covid times.
Analysts are positive on this as the high vaccinationrate is a leading indicator that economic activities should recover faster in Malaysia as compared to most countries in Asean.
Several pictures
and videos of the young girl lifting heavyweights have gone viral on
social media with many praising the young girl's ability to lift. year-old who can lift 80 kg ...indianexpress.com
Sure-fire, get-in-the-best-shape-of-your-life-or-your-money-back fitness fads have been around for thousands of years.
Just in my lifetime, I’ve seen boot camps, Bowflex, CrossFit, hula hooping, Insanity, Jazzercise, kettle bells, P90X, Pilates, pole dancing, spinning, Tabata — and that’s by no means a complete list.
Over the years — centuries really — one method won’t ever show up on a list of fads, but, despite the lack of hype, it may very well be the most beneficial of the bunch: good, old-fashioned weightlifting. Let’s take a look at some of the proven benefits of weight training.
Testosterone
In excessive quantities, testosterone can be problematic. But in normal quantities, it motivates us, gives us energy, helps us take the initiative and gives us a sex drive (women have testosterone, too).
Below-normal levels of testosterone have been linked with depression, lack of drive, concentration problems, fatigue, irritability, physical weakness, diminished or absent sex drive, sleep problems, trouble coping with stress, your overall risk of mortality and more. Strength training boosts the body’s natural testosterone production.
Overall health
Weight training has been shown to increase bone density (thereby reducing the risk of fractures in older adults), improve balance (which reduces the risk of falls that might cause fractures), reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 40%, lower blood pressure (some studies show that two weight-training sessions per week is as effective as blood-pressure-lowering meds), strengthen the heart, reduce diabetes risk and cance, and improve longevity.
“The greater your muscle mass, the lower your risk of death,” said UCLA researcher Dr. Arun Karlamangla. “Thus, rather than worrying about weight or body mass index, we should be trying to maximize and maintain muscle mass.”
Physical performance
Strength training helps offset the half-pound of muscle mass we lose every year after about age 30. It also increases your strength, flexibility and endurance. That makes us less likely to get injured doing other athletic activities. Strength, flexibility and stamina are also quite helpful to maintaining your sex life.
Theoretically, we spend about 30% of our life sleeping. But in reality, many of us are chronically tired. Regularly getting less than 6 hours of sleep is associated with a host of serious health risks, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, mental illness, car accidents and general cognitive impairment.
Researchers Patrick O’Connor, Matthew Herring and Amanda Caravalho found that people with sleep problems who did regular strength training for 8-10 weeks had a 30% improvement in the quantity of their sleep. Older adults who did regular weight training reduced the number of times they got up at night compared to those who didn’t do any exercise.
Mental health
By changing the shape of your body in a good way, weight training may improve your self-esteem. It also training triggers a release of endorphins, which help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
A little anxiety is a good thing— it keeps us aware, makes us focus, and gives us the energy to run away from dangerous situations. But too much anxiety can ruin your sleep, cause physical pain, and have a negative effect on your whole life.
O’Connor, Herring, and Caravalho found that people who did weight training and cardio three times per week experienced less depression than those who didn’t get that exercise.
Cognitive function
Strength training builds strong brains as well as strong muscles and bones. People who lift weights tend to have a larger hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps with verbal processing and memory.
According to O’Connor, Herring, and Caravalho, resistance training is especially beneficial to older adults, especially in memory and memory-related functions. Other researchers have found that weight training improves executive function, which is the brain’s capacity to keep us organized and on task.
Social status
Like it or not, we’re animals. And like most other animals, we have a social structure that in many ways operates out of our control. Here’s how it works: physically strong men tend to be more confident. Confident (and muscular) men tend to be more respected by others, are seen as better leaders and more competent in general.
As a result, they’re able to motivate others to work harder, they get more promotions, and they make more money. They’re also seen as more attractive than their less-confident (and less-muscular) brothers.
“Studies have demonstrated that people assign positive personality traits to drawings or photographs of mesomorphic (muscular) men and mostly negative traits to nonmesomorphic men,” said researchers Timothy Judge from the University of Florida and Daniel Cable from the London Business School.
For example, traits ascribed to mesomorphic men were very positive (i.e., best friend, has lots of friends, polite, happy, helps others, brave, healthy, smart and neat). By contrast … ectomorphic men were described with a different set of negative traits (i.e., nervous, sneaky, afraid, sad, weak, and sick).”
Future of the species- For the men
Besides making men more attractive to the opposite sex, weight training can have an influence on future generations. Weight training gives our DNA an improved capacity to repair itself. That keeps our genes healthy. And since our children get half of their genes from dad, at least some of our healthy genes will be passed on to our children, thereby making them healthier too.
In addition, a 2004 study of Danish men found that muscular men had more semen volume, a greater number of healthy sperm and were more fertile than either skinny or obese men.
Easy implementation
Tapping into the benefits of weight training isn’t all that complicated. While cardio exercise, almost by definition, can take a lot of time, many experts say that 30-60 minutes of weight training per week is plenty.
By Armin Brott | Armin Brott is the author of “Blueprint for Men’s Health,” “Your Head: An Owner’s Manual,” and many other works on men’s health. Visit him at HealthyMenToday.com or send questions or comments to armin@healthymentoday.com
China holds a commemorative meeting to mark the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends the meeting and delivers an important speech. #1911Revolution
Will China Mainland Unite With Taiwan Before 2025?
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https://youtu.be/QvXEc7oaKgI
Xi: The best way we commemorate Sun Yat-sen is to carry forward his lofty spirit
Xi stresses peaceful reunification, calls Taiwan secessionists 'serious threat' to national rejuvenation
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a commemorative meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 9, 2021.Photo:Xinhua
At a gathering marking the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Taiwan question will be resolved along with national rejuvenation and warned that secessionists are a serious threat to that mission, and that those who betray the country will face the trial of history.
Analysts from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan told the Global Times that Xi's remarks sent a clear and strong signal to the secessionist group within the island and foreign forces who are supporting or encouraging Taiwan secessionism - the national reunification of China will and must be realized and no one can stop the process, the Chinese mainland has both strength and unshakeable determination to realize this common hope for the whole Chinese nation.
The Communist Party of China (CPC), who inherited the 1911 Revolution leader Sun Yat-sen's idea and unfulfilled mission in national rejuvenation and reunification, wants to address Taiwan question by peaceful means, but whether the question to be solved peacefully or not, the secessionists who betray and try to separate the country, will eventually be punished, commentators noted.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
The Revolution of 1911, which was initiated by revolutionists represented by Sun Yat-sen, ended the 2,000 years of imperial rule in China and paved the way for profound social changes and ideological emancipation. Sun is hailed as a great national hero, patriot and a great pioneer of China's democratic revolution, according to Xi's speech.
The aspiration of national revitalization that was deeply held by Sun, longing for a bright future for the Chinese nation that was cherished by the pioneers of the Revolution, and the great dream that the Chinese people have aspired and striven toward in modern times have all become or are becoming a reality, Xi said.
He noted that the 1911 Revolution commemoration will inspire national rejuvenation endeavor.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Chinese communists were the most steadfast supporters, loyal partners and faithful successors of Sun, Xi said, noting that the complete reunification will be realized along with the country's national rejuvenation.
Huang Chih-hsien, an attendee from Taiwan who witnessed Xi's speech at the Great Hall of the People and an expert on Taiwan affairs, told the Global Times on Saturday that "it was truly touching when I saw the mainland is sincerely commemorating Sun and the 1911 Revolution, while the Taiwan authorities are trying to forget or stay away from Sun and his political ideals, some of them even trying to cut off ties with the Chinese mainland and Chinese nation."
Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a commemorative meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 9, 2021.Photo:Xinhua
Sun is the founding father of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Republic of China (1912-1949), and after Sun's death, his successor Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution and Sun's policy to work with the CPC, and launched massacres and a civil war against the Communist Party of China (CPC). Eventually the KMT was defeated by the CPC and escaped to Taiwan in 1949.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Warning to secessionists
National reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including compatriots in Taiwan, Xi remarked at the gathering.
"Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should stand on the right side of history and join hands to achieve China's complete reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
It has become a common practice for the Chinese mainland to solemnly commemorate the Revolution of 1911 at its decadal anniversaries such as the 100th and the 110th anniversaries, but this time, Xi delivered very strong and sharp remarks with a clear message to "Taiwan independence" secessionists, Yok Mu-ming, former president of the pro-reunification New Party of Taiwan, told the Global Times on Saturday.
"If those secessionists don't stop, the mainland will take relevant measures," Yok said. Yok even predicted that the Taiwan question "will be resolved within two years."
He also mentioned on his personal social media accounts earlier that the deadline for solving the Taiwan question will be 2024. "Hopefully, we'll embrace the reunification and the national rejuvenation together."
A commemorative meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 9, 2021.
A Beijing-based expert on Taiwan affairs who asked for anonymity said the CPC and the Chinese mainland have repeatedly shown great patience and sincerity in solving the Taiwan question peacefully, and that Xi's latest remark is also signaling to compatriots in Taiwan, as well as the international community, that the mainland's sincerity and policy remains unchanged so far.
But unfortunately, the current situation is like an old saying in China, "the trees prefer stillness but the wind will not cease," he said.
"There are some forces, especially the separatist ruling Democratic Progressive Party on the island and the US that are encouraging the DPP to seek secession, are trying to challenge the mainland's sincerity and patience by increasing the degree of provocation, including strengthening military cooperation and diplomatic interactions," said Li Fei, a professor with the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University.
"All of these dangerous acts have challenged the bottom-line of the mainland and seriously offended the Chinese people, the US and the Taiwan secessionists are trying to hijack the people on the island to seek their own interests under the risk of war," Li said.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Xi sent severe warning to the secessionists at his speech that, "Taiwan independence" secessionism is the biggest obstacle for the national reunification, and also a serious threat to national rejuvenation. "Anyone who intends to betray and separate the country will be distained by the people and judged by the history," he said, receiving rapturous applause from the audience.
Three long rounds of applause sounded through the Great Hall of the People when Xi mentioned Taiwan question and sent warning to the secessionists.
The anonymous expert in Beijing said this is a strong signal and warning to agitators on the island and leaders of the DPP and other secessionists - whether the Taiwan question to be resolved by peaceful mean or non-peaceful mean, secessionists will be judged and punished eventually.
"Maybe there is no need to wait that long, some of them might get punished during the process of the national reunification. We, the mainland, have enough strength and determination to make them pay for their crime of secessionism," he said.
Huang who hails from Taiwan said the political parties on the island today should also be loyal to Sun's idea, but unfortunately, they have failed to inherit the mission, and some of them even try to forget Sun, to betray his dream of national rejuvenation and reunification and to serve US hegemony to contain mainland and seek secessionism.
The DPP and the authorities under its control even "try to stop and threaten the people from Taiwan from attending the gathering for commemorating the 1911 Revolution," Huang said, stressing that "this is truly laughable," urging people in Taiwan to "wake up" and see "who is walking on the path started by Sun and who has betrayed Sun's ideals."
Vessels in the Taiwan Straits, July 20, 2017. Photo:CGTN
Destined to be reunified
The ceremony was held amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Straits after US media reported that there were two dozen US troops secretly deployed on the island of Taiwan, helping to train local troops while the secessionist DPP has been colluding with external forces in escalating the confrontation by engaging in salami-slicing tactics.
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Xi emphasized that the Taiwan question is a Chinese internal matter, which can't be interfered by any external forces. Nobody should underestimate Chinese people's determination, will and capability in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of the Chinese nation and will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality, Xi said, noting that the historical mission of achieving complete reunification will be realized and must be realized.
Li said with the increasing of China's national strength, the difficulties in realizing national reunification or resolving Taiwan question will be reduced day by day, whether for peaceful solution or the non-peaceful ones.
"Although the US is still being vague on its policy on the matter and trying to use Taiwan question as a card to contain China, one day, when the mainland decides to solve the question once and for all, Washington will abandon the Taiwan secessionists and run away, just like abandoning the former Afghan government and Hong Kong rioters and separatists," said the anonymous Beijing-based expert.
Root cause of tensions
Mainland's high-profile commemoration of the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution sparked slanderous comments from DPP authorities, which called the commemoration "distortion of history."
In response to such comments, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Saturday that the DPP's provocation in seeking secession is the root cause of current tensions across the Taiwan Straits, and biggest threat to regional peace and stability.
"Taiwan independence" secessionism is a dead end, and has nothing to do with so-called "democracy and freedom."
"DPP authorities insist on their secessionist stance and gang up with foreign forces to betray the interests of the Chinese nation. These behaviors are completely against the spirit, moral integrity and unfulfilled wishes of Sun Yat-sen. What qualification do they think they have to make comment on Sun and 1911 Revolution?" Ma said.
Secessionist DPP cannot abduct will of 23 million Taiwan compatriots
Tsai Ing-wen Photo:VCG
One day after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Taiwan secessionists and stressed that the Taiwan question will be resolved along with national rejuvenation in his speech on Saturday marking the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen continued to deceive the international community and Taiwanese people by hiding the truth that secessionist authorities on the island are the root cause of cross-Straits tensions.
Held under the theme "Forming a democratic alliance and collecting friends from all over the world," this year's Double Ten Day, a public holiday in the island of Taiwan originally meant to commemorate the Chinese Revolution of October 10, 1911, has been seen by observers across the Straits as yet another farce staged by the ruling secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its leader Tsai that serves to promote their desinization agenda and daydream of a "two-state theory."
In an obvious betrayal of 1911 Revolution leader Sun Yat-sen's idea and unfulfilled mission of Chinese national rejuvenation and reunification, the DPP leaders including Tsai herself and Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" leader Yu Shyi-kun did not mention Sun's name or spirit even once on Thursday morning, and Tsai referred to the region with the awkward term "Republic of China Taiwan."
Sun is the founding father of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Republic of China (1912-1949), and after Sun's death, his successor Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution and Sun's policy of working with the Communist Party of China (CPC), and launched massacres and a civil war against the CPC. Eventually, the KMT was defeated by the CPC and fled to the island of Taiwan in 1949.
On Saturday, at a high-profile gathering marking the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi said the Taiwan question will be resolved along with national rejuvenation and warned that secessionists are a serious threat to that mission, and that those who betray the country will face the trial of history.
Xi emphasized that the Taiwan question is a Chinese internal matter that no external forces can interfere with. Nobody should underestimate the Chinese people's determination, will and capability in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
In Sunday's speech, Tsai didn't state the fact that this year's Double Ten Day mark the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution during her speech on Sunday morning, but only stressed how the "country" had advanced from poverty to prosperity in the past "72 years" (since the Republic of China regime fled to the island of Taiwan in 1949), and it was the faith in "ensuring the sovereignty and guarding the homeland" that was the key to supporting the island of Taiwan's survival and fostering of democracy.
Chang Ya-chung, the president of the Sun Yat-sen School in Taiwan and a member of the KMT, Taiwan's major opposition party, viewed Sunday's farce by Tsai and the DPP as an extension of their long time agenda of cutting off the history of Taiwan from the Republic of China's, in denial of the "one-China principle," in order to promote the idea of "two nations."
Tsai also stated Sunday that it is imperative to conduct so-called equal conversation to resolve cross-Straits differences, which is an apparent change of her wording from last year when she called for the Chinese mainland to have "peaceful dialogue" with the island in 2020.
Observers said such changes indicate nothing more than another step further into Tsai and the DPP's secessionist path, which is a dead end. As Tsai refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, jeopardizing the political ground on which the two sides can conduct any talks, the Chinese mainland authority would never accept such proposal of "equal conversation", Chang told the Global Times on Sunday.
Tsai said she hoped for eased ties between the two sides across the Straits, and claimed the island would not make any rash advance, while emphasizing that it would not surrender to pressure either.
She vowed to continue to hone the island's defense capability, display self-defense determination, and make sure no one can force them onto a path laid out by the Chinese mainland.
The DPP leader also outlined plans to make an amendment to the "constitution" that would serve to protect so-called freedom and democracy on the island.
What Tsai and the DPP are trying to achieve here is to destroy the essence of the "constitution", Chang said, noting that Tsai would only follow the steps of previous secessionist leaders such as Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian to accumulate small changes toward an eventual qualitative change.
Although Tsai has not disclosed details of these "constitutional reforms" on the island, the act itself would open a Pandora's box and lead to steps toward making Taiwan secessionism legitimate, allowing the ruling party to make adjustments at will, Zhang Wensheng, a deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Sunday. "She is rashly advancing secessionism despite claiming a willingness to maintain the status quo with unwavering kindness."
Zhang criticized Tsai's Sunday speech as being filled with resentment against the Chinese mainland and for suggesting the latter was an enemy state, which fully shows the DPP leader's secessionist nature and its agenda of promoting the "two-state theory."
Picturing Taiwan as the front of the Western democratic and free world against the expansion of authoritarian in order to win the support and sympathy of the international community is a complete provocation, Zhang said.
If the DPP authority continues such provocative acts, the mainland will have no choice but take it to the battlefield, he warned.
China's internal affair
Tsai's speech advocates "Taiwan secessionism" and incite confrontation between the two sides of Taiwan Straits, distorting facts and holding the Taiwan public hostage in the name of "consensus and solidarity", while colluding with foreign forces to provoke the mainland and seek secessionism, Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Sunday night.
"Our crackdown against Taiwan secessionists is targeting the DPP and secessionist forces, rather than Taiwan compatriots. The DPP cannot fool the Taiwan public or the international community by creating bad blood and obscuring the facts," the spokesperson said.
Ma slammed the DPP authority, saying that ever since taking power, it has shown no political ability other than creating conflicts between people and dividing Taiwan society. Trying to package secessionist populism as so-called democracy and freedom, and claiming Taiwan is becoming better and better, the DPP has greatly underestimated the intelligence of the Taiwan public.
The future of Taiwan should be decided by all Chinese people including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots. The DPP cannot abduct the will of 23 million Taiwan people, let alone stop the major trend of historical development, Ma concluded.
The self-deceiving Tsai and other DPP leaders repeatedly hailed the so-called support from the "great democratic allies" and lauded the "helping hands" from countries including the US, Japan, Australia, Czech and Lithuania.
Tsai's failure to handle cross-Straits relations properly is the root cause of the current tense situation and labeling the island as the frontline of the so-called democratic world is self-deceiving and a desperate attempt to fool the 23 million compatriots living on the island so she can extend her political life and benefit the DPP, Chang noted.
How many of the 23 million people living on the island would blindly follow Tsai to fight a war with the Chinese mainland, on what grounds, and how many of its so-called allies could Taiwan really rely on if a cross-Straits war breaks out, said Yang Lixian, a research fellow at the Beijing-based Research Center of cross-Straits Relations.
Two Su-35 fighter jets and a H-6K bomber fly in formation on May 11, 2018. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force conducted patrol training over China's island of Taiwan.Photo:China Military
Strength matters
As part of the Sunday event, the armed forces on the island of Taiwan showcased some of its weapons in a parade, including Apache helicopters, F-16V fighter jets and Hsiung Feng III missiles.
Also on Sunday, aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) approached the island of Taiwan again, media outlets on the island reported, citing open radio broadcasts and flight path records.
Three PLA aircraft - two J-16 fighter jets and a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft - entered Taiwan's self-proclaimed southwest air defense identification zone on Sunday, the island's defense authorities said later in the day.
The defense authorities on the island have reported 150 PLA aircraft flying into the island's self-proclaimed air defense identification zone between October 1 and Thursday, the National Day holiday in the Chinese mainland, breaking the record in terms of scale three times in the process.
Also on Sunday, the mainland's China Central Television published a report introducing a recent PLA amphibious landing exercise. The drill, organized by the PLA 73rd Group Army in a sea area south of East China's Fujian Province, which is close to the Taiwan Straits, featured troops conducting beach assaults with charge boats, drones and laser engagement systems, with the aim of comprehensively honing the forces' skills in carrying out such tasks.
The PLA activities again demonstrated the overwhelming advantages the PLA has over the armed forces on the island of Taiwan, which is now also being acknowledged by many on the island, a Chinese mainland military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.
The island's display of its warplanes, armored vehicles and missiles in the Sunday event, on the other hand, exposed the fact that its best weapons are no match for the Chinese mainland's, when people compare them to what the PLA has displayed in events such as the Airshow China 2021 and the National Day military parade in 2019, the expert said.
Resisting reunification by force will only bring doom more quickly to Taiwan secessionists, the expert said.
The Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP), the ruling party on the island of Taiwan, has been bribing
some Somaliland politicians and families for a long time in exchange for
support to
China And America Had A Talk In Zurich, Will There Still Be A Cold War?
https://youtu.be/KBOXR-HFX8w
China does not make principled concessions and insists on doing its own thing well. This fundamental strategy is getting results: Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin #HuSays
https://youtu.be/hhY5J0iUa_s
'Constructive' China-U.S. Talks: An Icebreaker?
Yang Jiechi (1st right), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Wednesday with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (1st left) (Photo: Xinhua)
On Wednesday, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan for six hours of talks in Zurich, Switzerland. The press releases issued by both sides were more positive in their respective contexts. This suggests that the meeting was productive.
Both sides have talked about implementing the spirit of the phone call between Chinese and US heads of state on September 10. There were no negative descriptions and accusations against the other side in both public press releases. There was only more subtle language about the differences between the two countries. US officials told the media that the two sides also discussed the possibility of a video meeting between the two heads of state by the end of this year.
However, if we compare the press releases from both sides, there are serious differences between the two countries that can still been seen. Yang stressed that China opposes defining China-US relations as "competitive." He advocated that the US side should have a deep understanding of the mutually beneficial nature of the bilateral relations and correctly understand China's domestic and foreign policies and strategic intentions. However, Washington's press release mentioned "competition" twice in the US' usual context. It has also used the wording of "responsible competition" as in the US' several recent statements and emphasized managing risks.
It is obvious that Washington's strategic definition of the China-US relations and the basic thinking behind their policy toward Beijing remains the same. The State Department's press release emphasized that it will continue to invest in US national strength and work closely with allies and partners. This is the same as the US' oft-repeated theme of speaking "from a position of strength" and strengthening the alliance system to compete fiercely with China.
However, the US side has recently talked less about "confrontation" along with competition and cooperation. It has been repeatedly emphasizing that it does not want to see a "new Cold War." It wants to prevent competition from escalating into confrontation. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai also said that the US does not pursue decoupling, but is willing to a "recoupling" on a new basis. In addition, it is also obvious that the US side's attitude toward China has been adjusted. Examples include the release of Meng Wanzhou and Washington getting ready to restart the China-US economic and trade consultations and other actions and positive statements.
China's fundamental strategy of not making principled concessions and insisting on doing its own thing is taking effect. The US side always says it wants to speak "from a position of strength," but its strength is far from sufficient to achieve its ambitions to contain China's development. The US has been hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic, which has killed more than 700,000 people so far. It has not only plunged the US economy deeper into abusing stimulus mode, but also exposed the fundamental weaknesses of the US system and weakened its global influence.
By strengthening its alliance system, the US has mainly roped in Australia and Japan. In the past, Canberra and Tokyo used Washington's power to intimidate other countries. But now, it seems to be the other way around. The US' comprehensive offensive against China has quickly shown signs of fatigue.
To some extent, the reality has taught Washington a crisp lesson. The US has to alleviate some conflicts with China which are out of its ability. It also adjusted the pace of its China policy. At a time when anti-China public opinion is rampant in the US, the room for such adjustments is limited. Public announcements will be particularly restricted by domestic US politics. Therefore, Chinese people should not have illusions about the Biden administration's change of course. We should use our own solid actions to increase our firm leading power in China-US relations.
It must be noted that we have strong endurance in sticking to the current path toward the US. The US strategy toward China is very imaginative, but it cannot be supported by its ability. While the US is repeatedly discussing infrastructure construction, China's infrastructure construction has taken another step forward. The US' alliance system is becoming more and more complicated. For example, Paris, its traditional ally, is angry with Washington. Berlin is still going against Washington's will on the Nord Stream 2 deal. The US' failure in Afghanistan has made all of Washington's allies bitterly disappointed.
The US cannot achieve these deeds effortlessly. However, China can accumulate strategic initiatives by doing its own things well. China follows a pragmatic and reliable path.
We hope to see China-US relations find constructive changes. However, there are still many obstacles for the two sides to move closer in terms of their perceptions and expectations toward each other. The US has a deep hegemonic mindset, and it won't engage in reflection unless it fails. China must, by doing its own things well, make the US realize that ultimately it is impossible to contain China's development. By sticking to this approach and direction, US' China policy will gradually adapt to reality. The US will seek maximum interests by exploring coexistence and cooperation with China
China expresses grave
concern about the accident involving US submarine USS Connecticut
hitting an unknown object in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Friday, urging the US to
clarify more details about the accident, its purpose of cruising in the
area, and whether it has caused a nuclear leak that has damaged the
local marine environment.
` ` MAN and nature are running out of time. That’s
the core message of the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
...
Moral vacuum at the heart of modernity, now embodied in US laws!
` In short, historically it was the Church that gave the moral blessing
for colonisation, slavery and genocide during the Age of Globalisation.
The tragedy is that the Doctrine of Discovery is now embodied in US
laws.
So long: Volunteers and staff members leaving short notes on a board in
the foyer on the last day of operation of the vaccination centre at
Spice Convention Centre in Bayan Baru.
— ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
It’s an indication that vaccination programme is working, say experts
PETALING JAYA: Interstate travel is on the agenda following the declining number of Covid-19 infections that had once peaked at 24,599 on Aug 26.
Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 9,380 cases. Health experts described this as a positive sign and an indication that the vaccination programme was working.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the downward trend was “real and very encouraging”.
“This is a positive impact of the vaccination drive.
“I believe the Covid-19 cases in Category One to Three will still be with us in big numbers but people should not be alarmed as we see a reduction in severe cases as well as deaths,” he said yesterday.
To prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases, he urged those who have yet to be vaccinated to do so and the public to strictly adhere to the SOP.
He said they should also self-monitor if they feel unwell, adding that the government must continue surveillance for new clusters and variants.
Universiti Malaya Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine’s Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming said the drop in cases was a “very good sign”, adding that it showed that vaccines worked in preventing the virus transmission although not completely.
“The rates of hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) usage and deaths are also coming down.
“We are moving in the positive direction via the emphasis on the vaccination drive,” she said.
Dr Moy said the government had used various methods such as setting up of vaccination centres, engaging general practitioners (GPS), having outreach programmes for the vulnerable groups, and walk-ins for the elderly followed by adults and the migrant workers, both documented and undocumented, to boost the vaccination rate for the adult population.
As of Oct 5, 88.4% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated while 94.5% have received at least one dose.
“We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The cases were below 10,000 for the past few days. We hope with the adolescents getting fully vaccinated, the number of daily cases can reduce further along with the rates of hospitalisation, ICU usage and deaths until these rates are no more a burden to our healthcare system,” she said.
To ensure recovery continues, Dr Moy said people would still need to be compliant to the SOP such as mask wearing, hand hygiene and physical distancing.
“Once people’s mobility is increased with all sectors open, chances of increased Covid19 transmission will be there. In order to ensure the recovery continues, everyone should play their role and help to ensure another wave of Covid-19 transmission does not happen,” she said.
She said the relevant authorities should monitor the Covid-19 situation closely, and to take a proactive action when it started to diverge from the projected path.
New infections have hit four-digits three days in a row with 9,066 cases registered on Oct 3, followed by 8,075 (Oct 4) and 8,817 (Oct 5).
The number of Covid-19 patients in ICU have also gradually fallen since Aug 31, with similar trends seen in hospitalisation and ventilated patients rates.
The death rate has also slowly decreased since Sept 1, registering a new low of actual deaths of only three on Tuesday. But the country registered 117 Covid-19-related deaths as it includes backlogged cases that were previously unreported.
The infectivity rate (R0) nationwide has been falling since last month.
On Sept 1, the R0 was 0.99. It tapered off to 0.87 for the past three days, which is a new low since March 19.
Universiti Putra Malaysia medical epidemiologist Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman believed that the R0 for the entire country needs to be interpreted with caution as it covers large areas with different sets of backgrounds, pre-existing number of cases and sociobehavioural patterns.
“In my opinion, based on R0 only, it would be very difficult to interpret the real situation. But the decreasing pattern gives some hope that the situation is getting better,” she said.
Dr Malina hoped that the R0 would further decrease to less than 0.5 or if possible near 0.
Mothership.SG.
Source: Centre for Strategic & International Studies, Aminvestment Bank
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
Vessels in the Taiwan Straits, July 20, 2017. Photo:CGTN
Highlights of Xi's speech at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT
