Category Archives: Symphony

Pacific Daily Times’ Editorials

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, December 20, 2021

America is clearly divided. Democrats get vaccinated, Republicans don’t want to. Now, vaccine demands are rising for a virus clinically proven to cause no harm 40% of the time. Two in five people with the Omicron variant of COVID won’t have symptoms. When Democrats hear that, they fear the virus more because lack of symptoms makes it more sneaky. When Republicans hear that, they fear the virus less because lack of symptoms is lack of real threat. The same virus invokes opposite reactions.

Republican states argue to block vaccine mandates over technicalities. Democratic-controlled governments argue “science”—when “40% asymptomatic” means 40% zero risk of harm. Neither side presents the strongest case in their own favor. Republican states should argue lack of symptoms and Democrats should argue that workforce hubs do matter.

Our response to the virus is not the problem; our polarity over any response is devastating. The virus hasn’t torn the country apart; our division has. As the saying goes, it’s all in the mind. The strange part is that a billionaire’s daily 40 minutes of meditation is making headlines in a nation that mostly doesn’t see the contradiction of its own thought life. But, some do, enough to make headlines about mind time worthwhile to the ever changing news industry.

Trump

House oversight committee releases report detailing efforts of Trump administration officials to ‘undermine’ Covid-19 efforts in US // CNN

Think & Grow

Billionaire Ray Dalio credits his success to 40 minutes of meditation per day — here’s how he does it // CNBC

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Why Are So Many Prominent Journalists Abandoning Journalism? // Reason

Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech

Jack Dorsey Got Bored of Twitter Too // The Atlantic

Pandemic

Retiring NIH director Francis Collins warns of enormous omicron wave // NPR

Omicron cases double overnight: Variant is now confirmed in 44 states // Daily Mail

NY governor plans to add booster shot to definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ // The Hill

Court rules Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers can take effect // Guardian

Over 91% Democrats vaccinated, while only 60% Republicans have taken one shot, data reveals // Guardian

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Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 13, 2021

China responds with propaganda. A lot more keeps happening more. It’s too much for China to track. But, when the US pontificates about democracy, China leaps to opine first. The problem is the vibe. It’s not about what we say, but about the vibes created by our actions.

Perhaps both the US and China labeled it wrong. It’s not democracy that won; it’s freedom. Freedom in the market, freedom in speech, freedom in religion, freedom in family—all these are valued by one country and despised by another country. So, the free country gets hate from the opinionated country.

As for other zingers China can’t track, Guatemala, Honduras, and now Germany plan only stronger ties with Taiwan. Nicaragua switched for China this week, making it a three for one to the Confucian Communist team.

You see, that’s the sneaky thing about China’s own problems. Russia is simply Marxist to the core. China always has and always will ever love Confucius more than Marx. Confucius was the greater hater of freedom. That’s why Russia poses a real threat while China just threatens and poses.

Indo-Pacific

Nicaragua embracing China to shield against sanctions, US official says // Taipei Times

Trade & Tech

Taiwan and US unveil new tech trade framework // Taipei Times

China

Four disrupt AIT official’s speech at Uighur forum // Taipei Times

China’s Overwrought Response to Biden’s Democracy Summit Is Telling // Foreign Policy

Taiwan

Bundestag votes to expand Taiwan ties // Taipei Times

Honduras ‘to keep Taiwan relations’ // Taipei Times

Guatemala backs Taipei: president // Taipei Times

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Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, December 13, 2021

Six states were hit by tornadoes: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee. While the nation grapples with disaster, and families look for refuge and loved ones—many lost—Jeff Bezos posts about his latest space flight.

Greed is growing, but not just within American borders. Tensions with China rise, with the now-known Taiwan as the main poster boy. But, Russia looms in the background exploiting China’s self absorption as a distraction to take Ukraine. If Russia hit Ukraine, the US promises to respond. But, that would happen alongside a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The US would have its hands full and the Communists of the East know it—Russia and China.

China wouldn’t be so provocative without backing. Russia is the real threat. Or, is the threat that America’s financial leaders are aloof? Or, is the threat that we got ourselves here?

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Chris Wallace to Leave Fox News // Mediaite

Monopoly, Corptocracy & Big Greed

Tornado update – Jeff Bezos slammed for celebrating Blue Origin space trip after Amazon warehouse collapse that killed 6 // The Sun

Natural Disaster

Mayfield, Bowling Green, candle factory: tornado mass casualties // WHAS 11 ABC Louisville, KY

Six States Grapple With ‘Largest Tornado Outbreak in Our History’ // MSN News

At least 70 DEAD in Kentucky tornado: Fears up to 100 people could have been killed // Daily Mail

NATO Focus

Russia edges closer to war as new arms arrive on Ukraine’s border // Guardian

Biden warns Putin of ‘strong measures’ amid Ukraine invasion fears // BBC News

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Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 6, 2021

This week, Slovokia cozies up to Taiwan. This is dangerously close to the Czech Republic. Formerly, the two were “Czechoslovakia” until 1993. Pacific Daily Times has some dark information about Taiwan’s poor treatment of a Czech citizen. As calls to different levels of Taiwan’s government have gone unanswered or refused, Taiwan could face major challenges while cozying up to Eastern Europe, but refusing to redress a laundry list of egregious mistreatment of foreign visitors. An exclusive PDT interview is in the works.

Ironically, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said this week, “A stronger Taiwan, a thriving Taiwan, and a Taiwan that guarantees freedom and human rights are also in Japan’s interests. Of course, this is also in the interest of the whole world.” Abe doesn’t know that his statement is an indictment against Taiwan with Czech as witness.

For too long, the Times has sat on the darker side of Taiwan. The world doesn’t know what it is getting into as the West paints Taiwan as the adorable poster boy. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen’s words were correct in 2020, that Taiwan is a vibrant democracy worth saving. But, it is up to the government of Taiwan to make the necessary amends to repair decades of unreported hatred fostered among foreigners who visit Taiwan. And, it is up to the Taiwanese people to become both aware and concerned enough to compel their own democratic government to make such amends.

Meanwhile, Bret Baier asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for his thoughts on China’s incursion of Taiwan’s airspace. Austin publicly said that they look like “rehearsals” for war. Baier asked directly what the US would do if “China invades Taiwan”.

Chinese invasion of Taiwan is being asked openly and simply. This is a major turn of events, that the Western press believes questions about Taiwan can be asked without needing to re-educate the public about Taiwan’s history with China. Taiwan is on the map, namely as China’s first invasion target. All eyes of the world may soon turn toward Taiwan, like eyes of the universe turned toward Arrakis in the fictional story Dune. But, the bigger news will be how Taiwan decides to change its treatment toward visitors from the world when that happens.

Indo-Pacific

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru: At least 14 dead after volcano erupts // CNN

Japan, US ‘could not stand by’: Abe // Taipei Times

Trade & Tech

Elon Musk Needs China. China Needs Him. The Relationship Is Complicated. // WSJ

Trade between Taiwan and Singapore surges 36% // Taiwan News

Taiwan

Video interview:
Lloyd Austin says increased China activity near Taiwan ‘looks like rehearsal’ // Fox News

Chinese military flights near Taiwan look like ‘rehearsals’- Pentagon chief // Yahoo News

Pentagon chief says China ops near Taiwan resemble ‘rehearsals’ // France 24

Delegation from Slovakia arrives to bolster ties // Taipei Times

 

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Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, December 6, 2021

This week, Slovokia cozies up to Taiwan. This is dangerously close to the Czech Republic. Formerly, the two were “Czechoslovakia” until 1993. Pacific Daily Times has some dark information about Taiwan’s poor treatment of a Czech citizen. As calls to different levels of Taiwan’s government have gone unanswered or refused, Taiwan could face major challenges while cozying up to Eastern Europe, but refusing to redress a laundry list of egregious mistreatment of foreign visitors. An exclusive PDT interview is in the works.

Ironically, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said this week, “A stronger Taiwan, a thriving Taiwan, and a Taiwan that guarantees freedom and human rights are also in Japan’s interests. Of course, this is also in the interest of the whole world.” Abe doesn’t know that his statement is an indictment against Taiwan with Czech as witness.

For too long, the Times has sat on the darker side of Taiwan. The world doesn’t know what it is getting into as the West paints Taiwan as the adorable poster boy. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen’s words were correct in 2020, that Taiwan is a vibrant democracy worth saving. But, it is up to the government of Taiwan to make the necessary amends to repair decades of unreported hatred fostered among foreigners who visit Taiwan. And, it is up to the Taiwanese people to become both aware and concerned enough to compel their own democratic government to make such amends.

Meanwhile, Bret Baier asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for his thoughts on China’s incursion of Taiwan’s airspace. Austin publicly said that they look like “rehearsals” for war. Baier asked directly what the US would do if “China invades Taiwan”.

Chinese invasion of Taiwan is being asked openly and simply. This is a major turn of events, that the Western press believes questions about Taiwan can be asked without needing to re-educate the public about Taiwan’s history with China. Taiwan is on the map, namely as China’s first invasion target. All eyes of the world may soon turn toward Taiwan, like eyes of the universe turned toward Arrakis in the fictional story Dune. But, the bigger news will be how Taiwan decides to change its treatment toward visitors from the world when that happens.

Indo-Pacific

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru: At least 14 dead after volcano erupts // CNN

Japan, US ‘could not stand by’: Abe // Taipei Times

Trade & Tech

Elon Musk Needs China. China Needs Him. The Relationship Is Complicated. // WSJ

Trade between Taiwan and Singapore surges 36% // Taiwan News

Taiwan

Video interview:
Lloyd Austin says increased China activity near Taiwan ‘looks like rehearsal’ // Fox News

Chinese military flights near Taiwan look like ‘rehearsals’- Pentagon chief // Yahoo News

Pentagon chief says China ops near Taiwan resemble ‘rehearsals’ // France 24

Delegation from Slovakia arrives to bolster ties // Taipei Times

 

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Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, December 6, 2021

At 98 years old, Bob Dole is dead. He ran for president against Clinton in 1996. After losing, Clinton awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Chris Cuomo, also known in some food establishments and to the late Rush Limbaugh as “Fredo”, has been fired from CNN.

Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack from Japan. Today, things are very different as Japan looks together with the US toward defending against China. Seeing China as Japan’s adversary, however, has not changed. Bitter roots remain between the two, and those roots will sprout if China tips the apple cart by invading Taiwan.

Big in the West is that naming “Taiwan” fits more in Western news than it did even a month ago. And, Japan is also involved, as it was 80 years ago, when Bob Dole was 18. He went off to war, as many young Americans may do soon.

Russia is amassing troops near the Ukraine. In the context of China’s aggression toward Taiwan, we can expect Russia not to come to China’s defense, but to bust a move while the world is distracted with poster boy “Taiwan” more than with forgotten poster boy “Ukraine”.

This global mayhem is easier to sustain with two variants of COVID, with lockdown, quarantine, and vaccine requirements increasing. It is in this worldwide situation of sustained chaos and control that China and Russia are ready to bust a move. That will awaken the West.

Republicans

Bob Dole, giant of the Senate and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, dies // CNN

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Lawyer: Chris Cuomo accuser was disgusted by ‘hypocrisy’ // AP

CNN fires Chris Cuomo // CNN

Pandemic

More omicron detected as hospitals strain under delta surge // AP

America and Europe choose divergent pandemic paths as Omicron spreads // Axios

COVID-19: Vaccines mandatory in some sectors // Taipei Times

Australia Confirms Community Transmission of Omicron Variant // Bloomberg

COVID live updates: Queensland to drop quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated interstate travellers from December 13 // ABC News Australia

Australia news LIVE: NSW COVID cases grow, Victoria COVID cases grow, Omicron variant cases grow, TGA approves Pfizer vaccine for children, Gladys Berejiklian considers Warringah seat run at 2022 federal election // Sydney Morning Herald

NATO Focus

Russia planning massive military offensive against Ukraine involving 175,000 troops, U.S. intelligence warns // MSN News

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Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, December 6, 2021

At 98 years old, Bob Dole is dead. He ran for president against Clinton in 1996. After losing, Clinton awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Chris Cuomo, also known in some food establishments and to the late Rush Limbaugh as “Fredo”, has been fired from CNN.

Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack from Japan. Today, things are very different as Japan looks together with the US toward defending against China. Seeing China as Japan’s adversary, however, has not changed. Bitter roots remain between the two, and those roots will sprout if China tips the apple cart by invading Taiwan.

Big in the West is that naming “Taiwan” fits more in Western news than it did even a month ago. And, Japan is also involved, as it was 80 years ago, when Bob Dole was 18. He went off to war, as many young Americans may do soon.

Russia is amassing troops near the Ukraine. In the context of China’s aggression toward Taiwan, we can expect Russia not to come to China’s defense, but to bust a move while the world is distracted with poster boy “Taiwan” more than with forgotten poster boy “Ukraine”.

This global mayhem is easier to sustain with two variants of COVID, with lockdown, quarantine, and vaccine requirements increasing. It is in this worldwide situation of sustained chaos and control that China and Russia are ready to bust a move. That will awaken the West.

Republicans

Bob Dole, giant of the Senate and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, dies // CNN

News Media, Journalism & Free speech

Lawyer: Chris Cuomo accuser was disgusted by ‘hypocrisy’ // AP

CNN fires Chris Cuomo // CNN

Pandemic

More omicron detected as hospitals strain under delta surge // AP

America and Europe choose divergent pandemic paths as Omicron spreads // Axios

COVID-19: Vaccines mandatory in some sectors // Taipei Times

Australia Confirms Community Transmission of Omicron Variant // Bloomberg

COVID live updates: Queensland to drop quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated interstate travellers from December 13 // ABC News Australia

Australia news LIVE: NSW COVID cases grow, Victoria COVID cases grow, Omicron variant cases grow, TGA approves Pfizer vaccine for children, Gladys Berejiklian considers Warringah seat run at 2022 federal election // Sydney Morning Herald

NATO Focus

Russia planning massive military offensive against Ukraine involving 175,000 troops, U.S. intelligence warns // MSN News

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Symphony

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 29, 2021

China faces a very serious and very real boycott at the Olympic Games. The Olympic Committee awarded China as the host country and claims that politics isn’t its business; other governments need to handle that. Boycotts are under serious consideration in the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and the European Union via Lithuania. If athletes can’t compete against the countries that snatch up many of the gold medals, that pretty much reduces any remaining medalists to winning a “Nerf war”.

While the West rallies hatred against China for the political issues leading up to boycotts, few look at indications of deeper machinations. Try this on for size: the Olympic Committee didn’t ignore China’s human rights issues; China was set up for embarrassment. But because of China’s addiction to flattery, the Chinese Communist Party would never suspect for one instant that anyone who bows to their Confucian demands would do so to indict.

The swelling conflict with China was well-planned.

And, the rest of the world can’t stop lauding Taiwan more each day. This isn’t just a global trend of justice against China’s disparities. This isn’t just a human trend from Heaven’s choice to put Taiwan on the map. Trends are true, but they never tell the whole story. Powers in the West are up to something. There’s always more going on.

China

Here’s The Growing List Of Countries Weighing A Diplomatic Boycott Of The Beijing Olympics // Forbes

Peng Shuai: IOC defends handling of rights concerns before Beijing Games // SCMP

Taiwan

Taiwan ‘force for good’: US delegate // Taipei Times

US draft bill seeks to boost Taiwan’s global standing // Taipei Times

German mention of ‘Taiwan’ lauded // Taipei Times

US urges Honduran candidates over Taiwan // Taipei Times

Taiwan confirms US summit attendees // Taipei Times

Arms procurement budget bill passes // Taipei Times

China warns firms on backing Taiwan independence // Taipei Times

China accuses US of ‘mistake’ after Biden invites Taiwan to democracy summit // Guardian

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Encore of Revival: America, November 29, 2021

This Thanksgiving, Jesus series, The Chosen, is taking off. A box office movie is on the way. Dallas Jenkins, the director, is making headlines. TMZ and the Wall Street Journal ran stories on it. Season 3 is in progress.

This is a big deal because films about Jesus are rarely done with a quality that can compete with film standards we have all come to expect. But, this is well done. Camera work, writing, acting, and character development make the story feel alive. The audience can relate to the characters. Dallas’s whole concept was that we can understand Jesus by understanding the people who knew him.

Meanwhile, economy doomsayers sound the horn and the global COVID pandemic continues. Israel just added travel restrictions over the new Omicron variant. Dallas Jenkins thinks that binging on Jesus is the best way to pass time when holed up at home. May financial supporters and fans from around the world seem to agree.

Election

Marjorie Taylor Greene lays out demands for GOP House speaker vote if Republicans retake majority in 2022 // CNN

Monopoly, Corptocracy & Big Greed

Famed investor Jeremy Grantham says the next decline will be ‘bigger and better’ than anything in US history — here are 3 of his safe haven stock picks // Yahoo Finance

A Chipotle general manager and 4 of his employees quit after a surge of to-go orders drove them to their breaking points // Yahoo News

Pandemic

Israel bans foreigners from entering country to stop Omicron variant // Jerusalem Post

Fresh doubts over China’s ice hockey team for Beijing 2022 // SCMP

Biden restricts travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday // CNN

Music & Entertainment

Dallas Jenkins Says Jesus Show is Just the Ticket During Pandemic // TMZ

Fans Pour Funding—and Faith—Into a Hit Drama About Jesus // WSJ

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 22, 2021

Now, China is being demanded answers about an athlete who went missing after accusing a Communist Party big wig of sexual harassment. The UN wants to know her whereabouts.

It won’t matter how China responds. If the Confucian Communists running China give the UN a satisfactory answer, then CCP would have just given in to international demands. That’s not something that the Chinese’s cocktail of crazy would do under normal circumstances. If China does actually give a satisfactory answer, it will build a mentally-destabilizing resentment deep within China’s leadership.

Either way, China feels backed into a corner.

Then, Taiwan flaunts ever-growing stronger ties with the States. Newly upgraded F-16s were commissioned this week, and both governments keep calling for more relations. That’s not out of the question because Taiwan just opened its office in Lithuania, an office named for “Taiwan” instead of the usual “Taipei”.

So, during all the great friendship happening between Taiwan and the rest of the world, not only is China uninvited; China is given a summons by the UN begging questions of sexual harassment and possibly murder.

Trade & Tech

TSMC Gets Billions in Pre-Payments for Fab Capacity // Tom’s Hardware

The White House has rejected Intel’s plans to increase chip production // TechRadar

China

UN asks China to prove missing tennis star safe // Taipei Times

Work on ‘Chinese military base’ in UAE abandoned after US intervenes – report // Guardian

Biden, Xi try to tamp down tension in long virtual meeting // Yahoo News

Taiwan

Taiwan, US to hold second economic partnership talk // Taipei Times

US lawmakers urge support of Taiwan’s Interpol bid // Taipei Times

Taiwan opens ‘de facto’ embassy in Lithuania // Taipei Times

Upgraded F-16s tell of US bond: Tsai // Taipei Times

US advisory body calls for Congress to ensure its defense of Taiwan is credible // Taipei Times

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Encore of Revival: America, November 22, 2021

The world is not responding well to the so-called “plandemic”. The important thing is not whether the global disease, as said by Judy Mikovits to have been developed under the supervision of Fauci, was actually intended to do all this. The public thinks it was because governments haven’t work carefully to earn public trust. Even without public trust, if chaos was the goal, opposing the so-called “plandemic” also achieves the same goal. So, the result is the same—almost everywhere except in peaceful Taiwan.

It’s not just the virus that was the problem, but our reaction to it. It’s amazing what a little peace and calm could do.

But, virus violence isn’t the only over-reaction where America is concerned. We have the ancient issue of guns—the one reason Russia and China have not already invaded. The best-kept secret from gun-owners is the threat of invasion that guns hold at bay. The Right makes the issue about gun owner rights. The rest of the world looks in and mocks America for having guns, but no one answers with a real reason why.

All we need is for things to get a little worse, like a broken nose, for people to see the wisdom that waited for us all along.

Republicans

Trump Just Released New Message Telling Americans Exactly How to Defeat Dems // YouTube @ The Next News Network

Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism

Verdict magnifies divisions in an already-polarized country // Greenwich Time

A unanimous jury leaves the nation still divided // MSN News

What we know about the 3 men who were shot by Kyle Rittenhouse // NPR

Pandemic

Dutch police arrest 7 amid unrest in The Hague // AP

NATO Focus

US seeks balance as fears grow Russia may invade Ukraine // AP

US patrol boats sent to back up Ukrainian Navy near Black Sea // Jerusalem Post

 

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 15, 2021

Taiwan is a peaceful island of peaceful people. The Taiwanese calm demeanor often plays tricks on the minds of Americans and Chinese. Every day, Taiwanese put up with enormous nonsense and harassment, yet manage to carry on with an authentic smile. They don’t just putt-putt forward, they charge forward with energy, even in the face of disquieting conflict. Their solution to conflict is to “ignore” it away; and that is the Taiwanese daily story.

And, that should put fear into any enemy with half a brain.

When roused to anger, the Taiwanese are more fierce and more dangerous than Americans. That is admittedly a large claim, but the world is about to witness. Their strength and willingness to fight can be seen in schoolyard spats. The calm, carry-on manners are enforced only by a monstrous willpower. Once peace is rejected by an opponent, that same great monster that held near impossible peace rages to war. That someone has the stamina to maintain peace so long should terrify anyone with half a brain.

But, it doesn’t even phase the Chinese. There’s your investment clue.

Nonetheless, Silicon Valley continues to seek investment in China, despite unified opposition from the two most controversial Republican and Democratic presidents ever, Trump then Biden. Even the US Chamber of Commerce lobbies for American companies to invest more money into China, according to Wall Street Journal.

It seems as the US brings manufacturing back home, China offers more candy to hypnotize the children of the Valley. Without any parents around it seems like it would work, were it not for Uncle Sam.

Indo-Pacific

Xi warns against new ‘cold war’ in Asia-Pacific region // Taipei Times

China THREATENS Australia if forces defend Taiwan after remarks from Defence Minister Peter Dutton // Daily Mail

Trade & Tech

TSMC’s global expansion will chip away at its edge // Taiwan News

U.S. Companies Aid China’s Bid for Chip Dominance Despite Security Concerns – Exclusive // WSJ

White House Spurns Intel Plan to Boost Chip Production in China // Bloomberg

TSMC stock jumps on news Meta buying AMD chips to power metaverse // Taiwan News

China

US extends ban on PRC military-linked securities // Taipei Times

China’s new high-tech aircraft carrier could launch as soon as February 2022 // CNN

Taiwan

‘Australia would help US defend Taiwan’ // Taipei Times

Representative says the US would not risk Taiwan in its contest with China // Taipei Times

US delegation signals ‘clarity’: expert // Taipei Times

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Encore of Revival: America, November 15, 2021

America’s divide is staggering. Neither Trump nor Biden divided America; our difference in values did. We were divided since the Pilgrims arrived and signed a Compact where Christians and non-Christians would work together. But, both overreached and tried to boss the other—both tried to force their values on everyone—whether classic Bible-wielding Christians, those who believe in no god, those who believe in every god, those who believe in one kind of marriage, and those who believe in any kind of marriage.

For many years, we worked in peace to make it through our differences together. But having grown up, we now see our true colors. Many of us grew up in families and circles that go against our true values. People switch loyalties. After the last two presidential elections, fewer people think of themselves as independents, and many Democrats and Republicans hopped to the other side of the fence.

We can’t blame leaders for our division. Instead, we must look to lines of thought that promote peace. America does not need to help Taiwan as much as America must absolutely learn from Taiwan. That island nearly half the size of Lake Michigan with a population larger than Florida hosts the most peaceful and yet resilient people in the world. COVID theatrics—either way—never worked on the Taiwanese, who calmly stood together through it all. Now, safety restrictions are lifting and life is nearly back to normal without a problem.

As America unites against the self-made enemy known as China, Taiwan is plopped in the limelight. While some Americans will see another poster boy on whom to lavish messiah complex -driven “compassion”, some may see the peaceful people whom America can still become like.

Trump

Jan. 6 probe threatens fragile Trump-Pence peace // The Hill

Trump White House records can be given to Capitol attack panel, judge rules // Guardian

Washington as Usual

Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism

‘Unfortunately, the correct answer here may very well be that it is not terribly unlikely.’
Would America survive a civil war? // UnHerd

GOP silence deafening as post-Jan. 6 threats of violence escalate // The Hill

Markets, Economy & GDP

Legendary investor Jeremy Grantham warns Tesla stock is in a bubble, rings the inflation alarm, and predicts an epic market crash // Markets Insider

Elon Musk sold about $6.9 billion in Tesla stock this week // CNBC

Pandemic

Oklahoma Guard goes rogue, rejects COVID vaccine mandate after sudden change of command // Air Force Times

Federal appeals court halts Biden administration’s vaccine requirement, delivering policy a major blow // MSN News

NATO Focus

Ukraine says Russia has nearly 100,000 troops near its border // Yahoo News

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, November 8, 2021

China tripped the alarm. Revelations of a US aircraft carrier -shaped target in China’s Taklamakan Desert doesn’t exactly resemble a friendly trick-or-treat visit. Congress is upset, calling this the closest we’ve ever been. Washington tries to use calm rhetoric, saying they don’t foresee problems until 2024—it used to be 2025. But these days, they leave more and more room to avoid being wrong should a scuffle go ballistic in the Pacific.

The tech industry certainly is paying attention. Intel is building at five sites, three in the US, one in Ireland, and one in Israel. At the same time, the US government is questioning chip makers about their supply chains. One of those is TSMC, in Taiwan. Now, Congress wants to spend $52B on subsidies for chip makers inside the US. The message is clear: America is getting ready for a China-initiated disruption in the chip supply chain, the largest part in the world of which goes through Taiwan.

By the look of it, 2025 is the year when China will both be militarily dangerous and, for the chip industry, will no longer matter. While some news outlets cast China’s economy in a positive light, others show deep reasoning to sound the economic alarms. It looks like China is getting into a tighter and tighter pinch, and China’s economic response is the same as its response to political disfavor: marketing.

This week, the EU says it has unanimous support to strengthen relations with Taiwan—specifically because of China’s aggression.

Trade & Tech

TSMC Withholds Customer-Specific Data in Answering U.S. Request // Yahoo Finance

How Intel plans to catch Samsung and TSMC and regain its dominance in the chip market // CNBC

China

Is It Really a Bear Market for China Stocks? // Morningstar

Xi Is Running Out of Time // Foreign Affairs

China Builds Missile Targets Shaped Like U.S. Aircraft Carrier, Destroyers in Remote Desert // USNI News

China triggers growing fears for US military // The Hill

China trade: export growth above expectations in October // SCMP

China urges families to store basic supplies in case of emergency // BBC News

Locking Guests Inside Disneyland Shows China’s Extreme Covid Tactics // MSN News

Taiwan

‘EU agrees on cooperation with Taipei’ // Taipei Times

Bill seeks US-Taiwan disease center // Taipei Times

Japan

 

 

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