Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, January 24, 2022

COVID seems to be taking backseat headlines for Russia, which has become a big topic in Europe. A German vice-admiral resigned with Germany’s Defense Minister over some seemingly spineless friendliness toward Russia. He speculated about the buildup at Ukraine, that Putin probably just wanted respect and that Russia was a necessary Western ally against China. With Russia, Iran, and China beginning joint naval exercises in India’s backyard pool this week, the vice-admiral’s comments were obviously absurd. Germany’s PR fumble is a big deal.

A hand full of European nations want to move NATO military assets into the Ukraine. Because of technical complications, Germany must also sign off on the transfer, but has been hesitant from any military backing of Ukraine so far. With this seemingly wimpy statement from the German vice-admiral, Germany can’t keep riding the fence.

On smaller headlines like COVID, Taiwan had a whopping 82 new domestic COVID cases on Saturday. Urgent health measures go into effect, which are soft-handed and calm-minded compared to the bipolar reactionism throughout America, where COVID problems are much worse. American companies even hold optimistic speculation for Taiwan. Maybe some will figure out that the calm way is the higher way. Until then, it isn’t exactly a bad thing that something finally booted COVID from American top headlines.

Indo-Pacific

Iran, Russia and China hold joint navy drill in Indian Ocean // Yahoo News

Iran, Russia and China begin joint naval drill in Indian Ocean // Times of Israel

Biden speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida about Ukraine, North Korea // CNBC

Security, China dominate Biden’s talks with Japan’s Kishida // Aljazeera

China

And in Taiwan
PRC targets Taiwan with new disinformation ploy // Taipei Times

Australia, UK to ‘fight back’ against hostile states in cyber – minister // Yahoo News

EU letter slams China over Lithuania // Taipei Times

China hires western TikTokers to polish its image during 2022 Winter Olympics // Guardian

China is still ‘three or four generations’ away from developing latest semiconductor tech, IDC says // CNBC

Taiwan

US seeks speedier F-16 delivery: sources // Taipei Times

William Lai to attend Honduras event // Taipei Times

US companies expect growth in Taiwan
AmCham survey shows optimism // Taipei Times

Slovenia to establish office in Taiwan // Taipei Times

Bill to lower the voting age to 18 passes review // Taipei Times

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Cadence of Conflict: Asia, April 13, 2020

The global case against China is marching forward in force. Typically the West doesn’t care about human rights violations—they care, but never enough to do anything until it involves themselves. Two million Uyghurs missing in Xinjiang doesn’t matter to the West. But, if Americans and Europeans are afraid of catching a pneumonia-cold that most people don’t know anyone who died from, but they have to stay home without toilet paper—well, now it’s time for a war. Who do the papers blame?—China.

Anti-Chinese sentiment is no joke. Taiwan is being painted as a key victim. The Chinese Communists are being labeled as the perpetrators of the global pandemic. Even in Israel, even among the anti-Trump American electorate, China is the biggest bad guy ever!

We can argue that China deserves it. We can argue that the West set up China by making China rich in the first place, then causing a fake pandemic. However we chalk it up, the West is coming for China. The saddest part of all comes from the Chinese.

A reporter working for a news company owned by a Chinese general makes a Chinese propaganda speech when “asking a question” to the president. Chinese college students at Western schools march, protest, and even bully, all inline with Chinese Communist propaganda. And, while the West amasses force against China, the Chinese Communists only dig their heels in and feed the forest fire of hate raging against themselves.

Great Pacific

Tucker: What does the US get from supporting WHO? // YouTube @ Fox News

Trade & Tech

How did Huawei fall foul of the US government and find itself at the epicentre of a new tech war? // SCMP

China

Xi Jinping’s China did this // Times of Israel

Chinese social media attacks Hong Kong star Karen Mok for supporting ban on eating dogs and cats // SCMP

China to release tourist blacklist after Great Wall vandalized // CNN

Coronavirus: nearly half a million Chinese companies close in first quarter as pandemic batters economy // SCMP

Taiwan

The WHO Ignores Taiwan. The World Pays the Price. // The Nation

Google gets federal OK to operate subsea cable from Taiwan to US // CNBC

Exclusive: Taiwan’s Powercall targets videoconferencing space as Zoom worries loom // Taiwan News

Taipei to reduce frequency of MRT trains during weekends // Taiwan News

Zoom banned by Taiwan’s government over China security fears // BBC News

Taiwan’s Advance on WHO in Covid-19 Shows Its Place in World // Bloomberg

US sees coronavirus window to push Taiwan’s global status // Yahoo News

 

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Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, July 16, 2018

Trump is on tour, not without protesters who only know the version of America shown to them through less popular news outlets which, accordingly, need overseas audiences. Usually, good, working people stay home and at work, then vote in elections to change the landscape, while unpopular protesters demonstrate where it only makes non-binding noise. Still, it is good for all Britons to have their opportunity to voice their concerns, even to the leader of another nation.

Protesting and demonstrating are never bad. Once one tries to silence the opposition, such as the SJW movement in America has, tyranny's way is paved for those same silencers to be silenced on the pendulum's return.

Trump is neither kowtowing nor blaming in Europe, he is stating conflicts of interest. Take for example Germany's former president leading a company that will profit from Russia selling gas to Germany, while the US pays the bill to defend Germany from Russia. Something is terribly wrong there. Trump's repeat word for that seated pre-dinner speech was the word "inappropriate".

The Helsinki summit between Putin and Trump is overdue. Reagan made peace with his adversaries. Even Gorbachev took a long moment to pause the line while he reflected at the late president's visitation.

Diplomats behind desks in carpeted offices see negotiations as a way to greedily push for what they want, without concern for the other guy. As a business owner and negotiator, Trump understands that other countries want to help their economies grow and thrive. That will make a world of difference, likely to the world.

At home, the police in America only shoot and kill without a trial when it's the "bad guys". But, they seem to be exempt from US military rules of engagement: Do not fire until fired upon. The Chicago police video shows an officer with pistol in hand while revealing a pistol still in the suspect's belt. This is a difficult situation to judge.

Police want to keep people safe. Carrying a gun without proper training is dangerous, but the government doesn't offer the Constitutionally required militia training for all citizens. The Second Amendment gives that man a right to carry that gun just as he did, regardless of Chicago's unconstitutional laws. But, too many Blacks in America vote against the Constitution. Police should be softer in their approach, while their concerns about safety and desire to apprehend "bad guys" are still understandable.

It looks like SCOTUS's nominee Brett Kavanaugh will be approved by the Senate just as likely as any other. If by slim chance he isn't approved, the next nominee won't be any easier to pass through the Senate. Whatever seat is up in the next round of a SCOTUS appointee will likely be more Conservative than Kavanaugh. But, the courts can sort out all of our problems. America really needs the same kind of sit-down that Putin is getting with Trump in Helsinki.

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October 20, 2015

Cruz, the defender of the Internet from daily attacks in Congress

…“This administration views the Internet as a threat.”

W on Cruz: “I just don’t like that guy,”

Germans hatin’ on Islam, refugees

US nat’l registry of drones

Foot-Mouth: Theaters are boycotting Netflix’s first feature film, which is great for Netflix  · · · →

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Symphony

June 16, 2015

Trump jumps in. Clie-mate truth: ten-year cooldown. ATF joins NYPD. Wall-Street & FED paranoid of 1937 repeat. Russia to add 40 ICBMs this year, Europe gets skittish. Obamatrade floundering. Pope calls for “super UN” world “justice” government. Successful farmers’ marketing: ‘La Ruche Qui Dit Oui’ Scores $9 Million From USV And Felix Capital For Its Local Food Marketplace  · · · →

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