Iran dumped GPS for Beidou

 Why would countries use GPS when their enemy is the USA? Iran finally dropped GPS for Beidou.

China found out the hard way decades ago when the Americans switched off GPS when China was launching missiles over Taiwan and the missiles fell down aimlessly. This was how the Americans weaponised the GPS against its enemies. China eventually developed the Beidou Global Navigation System to free itself from the clutches of the Americans. It is surprising that the Iranians and many Arab and Muslim countries and Global South countries that are enemies of the Americans are still using the GPS that can be switched off whenever the Americans want to.  This is like buying American warplanes and weapons that could also be switched off, especially those that needed to operate using the GPS.

The Americans have been weaponsing everything under their control against countries they called enemies. These include Google, Meta, Twitter, What'sApp, Apple phones, Android, Microsoft, all versions of laptops and iPads, and Huawei's 5G, etc etc. The mobile phones are the most dangerous as they can pinpoint the location of the user which the Israelis used frequently to kill them.  A lot of Arab and Muslim leaders, especially the Iranians, have been killed in this way. And the best part, they are still using these gadgets and continuing to use them. Stupidity has no cure.

In the past, when there was alternative, Global South countries have no choice but to bear with it. China has developed alternative systems, from Beidou, Harmony OS, Chinese mobile operating systems, chips etc etc and the Americans no longer able to track them, eavesdrop on them, no longer able to switch off Beidou like the GPS.

The success of Iranian attacks on Israeli and American positions, and the shooting down of Rafales by Pakistan, all relying on Beidou, speak for themselves. Many African states are now using Chinese operating systems that are cheaper, more efficient and secure from American mischiefs. When cheaper and safer options are available, why would countries that are enemies of the Americans chose to continue using American and western systems and gadgets and be controlled by the Americans. This is bonkers.

How many Asean countries are still being forced by the Americans to stick to American and western systems that are more expensive, backward, and insecure, allowing the Americans to tap and monitor them and their conversations? Malaysia wanted to use Huawei 5G network to push out their EV plans for the whole country but has been threatened by the Americans to stop using it. Without Huawei's 5G, driverless cars, autonomous cars could not function safely and efficiently. 

The Americans never threaten, never coerce and never force any country to take sides? Really, which clowns are saying these?

Cost of Living subsidies and cash the biggest vote winners

 Rising cost of living in this most expensive little island is no joke. Just to be alive with very basic necessities, walking or cycling in the parks, drinking kopi in kopitiams, would need at least $1,000 a month to get by. And this sum is not stagnant but increasing everyday. $1,000 pm or $1,500 pm is the poverty line in Singapore but could be a lot of money in many developing countries.

The cleaners in hawker centres are now paid more than $1,500 pm or else no takers. The tissue sellers would have to walk a lot to collect this sum of money to survive. There are many overheads, yes, overheads that every Singaporean, working or not working, would have to pay without having to leave their homes. And these overheads are also increasing and adding to their cost of living, to the cost of living of the retirees and the not working seniors who have graduated from the working class to join the retiree class.

The govt has come up with many schemes and subsidies to alleviate the financial burden and fears of not working and retiree class. Though the sum cannot come near to the million dollar salary they are getting, to those without an income, the few thousands a year, from CDC vouchers and sometimes cash, subsidies, rebates and once in 60 years SG60 cash, mean a lot to them. To those thinking of selling tissues or becoming cleaners, these handouts could come in handy and keep them away from taking these desperate steps to stay alive and be fed, and still a roof over their heads.

When a needy person is asking for $2 for his paltry meal, $450 cash or $850 cash, to those that qualified, is like striking 4D. It would mean having full stomach for a month or more and can drink kopi in the kopitiams. These windfalls are vote winners in the not working class when money is hard to come by but a necessity that they cannot do without, would be felt everyday.

As the govt introduces more of such subsidies and handouts to extend the net, to many of the recipients, it is hard not to give their votes to their benefactors, the govt. Never mind where the money is coming from. They would not and many could not think much about anything else. A little money in hard times, in extreme conditions, can bring tears to those that desperately need them.

The ruling party has struck on a winning formula, by designed or otherwise. How could the opposition parties beat this. Subsidies and hard cash are real, very real and life savers to the needy, even temporary and may not last. Where got govt give you money? And a few thousands in a year. This cannot happen anywhere in the world, only in the richest country in the world.

Thank Allah, Saudis and Houthis are not killing each other

If Iran has hypersonic missiles, I will not rule out the Houthis having them as well, sooner or later. And that is going the change the destiny of USA aircraft carriers lurking around the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia, backed by the USA, had tried to intervene and control the Yemen leadership which led to the conflict erupting in 2015 between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, lasting more than ten years, with Iran backing the Houthis in Yemen. After the peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by Wang Yi, the situation de-escalated somewhat, but with the Gaza issue and the intervention of the USA in the Middle East, it flared up again with the Houthis resuming hostilities around the Gulf region.

Two cargo vessels have been struck and sunk by the Houthis in recent days, and shipping around the Gulf is facing real issues. One vessel was carrying cargoes destined for Israel. Would the USA now be about to send more aircraft carriers to the region in a show of strength as in the past? I think they have much to think about, after looking at what happened to Israeli cities hit by suspected hypersonic missiles fired by Iran. Is history in the making of the sinking of a USA aircraft carrier sooner or later?


Anonymous

China is going to eat the lunch of Western weapon makers

China is going to eat the lunch of Western weapon makers. When China targets a sector, you can expect its domination sooner or later. We have seen it in EVs, shipbuilding, renewable energy, high-speed rails and infrastructure building under the BRI.

Two other sectors that China is aiming for a bigger stake are aviation and semiconductors. The USA and the West can bet against it and erect barriers against it at their own peril. But do not push China into prioritizing it. The result would not be what they wished for.

China is no longer playing the nice guy. Weapons export is picking up speed after the India/Pakistan conflict. It is now being enhanced by Iran going full throttle buying up Chinese weapons - the whole Chinese 'air force' deal as they called it, with jets, missiles and defense system, the whole works. They are moving to Iran almost readily available by the trainloads - unknowingly, unseen and no loud noises.

Is Israel about to go for another pre-emptive strike against Iran? Maybe, if the earlier lesson has not been learnt. If Iran, with its self-developed missiles can already do so much damage to Israel, the Iranians must have seen something more useful with Chinese J10s, PL15 and China's Advance Warning Air Control System (AWACS).

Oh, by the way, Iran already found out how beneficial it was during the 12-day war using the Chinese Beidou Navigation Satellite system to target Israel cities and important infrastructures. Were Iran still using GPS, they would be targeting blind with the system jammed by the Israelis with help from the USA. Think about it.


Anonymous

American terrorists using the big stick at ASEAN to do its bidding

Marco Rubio is on a tour of ASEAN, to reassure ASEAN leaders that they still have the USA's commitment in the region despite being hit by the tariffs. Now that is really reassuring. That this is the USA style of diplomacy, which Winston Churchill would have winced if he were still alive.

What kind of commitment would the USA give ASEAN and in what sense? Get ready to fight China with the USA behind their backs? ASEAN leaders should know better who is more reliable in buttering their bread. When the USA's interest in using them against China is gone, under the bus they will go. Those tariffs should also tell ASEAN leaders it is time to upgrade strategic and economic co-operation with China, the Global South, and in particular BRICS countries, in order to move their economy forward. The tariffs will stifle their exports to the USA and the consequence does not need explaining.

With the USA trying to cripple ASEAN, to force the group to reorientate its relations with China towards the USA, increasing tariffs is not the way to do it. But I guess the USA has no more rope to hold on and is using punishment as a last resort to change the geopolitical landscape.

How ludicrous can it be when the USA is planning to cripple ASEAN with huge tariffs, aiming to eat the group's breakfast, lunch and dinner and telling them the USA has their interest at heart. If Marco Rubio wants to lie, he has to wear a clown's mask to avoid ridicule. All USA leaders are plain 'bald face liars' that I think the whole world has now come to accept.


Anonymous