Breaking News - China gives Trump a first snub on arrival in Beijing

 This 4 min clip says a lot about Trump's visit to Beijing. The first snub that Trump took was the stair for him to descend from the aircraft. No red carpet on the stair, just bare aluminium. Not only that, it was only about 3 feet wide on the top half and widen slightly to 4 feet on the lower half, meant for one person at a time. Trump took notice of it the moment he stepped out from the plane. And he had to walk down carefully on the naked aluminium stair. But China still gave him the red carpet on the ground, not to embarrass him too much. The reception party, including guard of honours was scaled down.

A few things to take note. The visitors that came down, following behind Trump, were a couple of his family members and Musk, Jensen Huang, and a handful of others. Notably absent were Marco Rubio and Tim Cook. It seemed to be a downsized party. Were there last minute changes, dropouts? If Marco Rubio was there, he would be standing beside Trump or at least one step behind him. Tim Cook would also be with Musk or Jensen Huang. They could not be hiding in the plane as they were not seen departing with the main delegation.

Needs confirmation when the meeting starts tomorrow if those absent were really absent. It was reported all over that Marco Rubio was in the delegation, as well as Tim Cook. There were supposed to be 12 CEOs but expanded to 15 with Jensen as a last minute inclusion. Or he was added because many backout from this trip, including Tim Cook?

Pioneer and CHAS cards losing their values and being abused by profiteers

 The Pioneer card, Merdeka card, CHAS card, were introduced by the govt to help Singaporeans fight the rising cost of living for the seniors that are now mostly retired and the lower income citizens. They provide subsidies for medical and dental care, subsidies for public transport and top ups for Medisave and also discounts in Fairprice supermarkets,  among others.

The initial launch of the Pioneer card was very well received with generous subsidies in medical and dental care. Seniors using the card for simple dental treatment were pleasantly surprised that the subsidies were good enough for the full treatment without having to pay a single cent with cash. But as they said, good things don't last long. Within a few years, simple dental treatment that used to cost nothing, meaning no need to pay with additional cash, now could cost a few hundred bucks.

The subsidies did not change in percentage terms, I think. If this is not the reason for having to pay with so much cash, then it must be the total cost of the dental treatment. From having to pay nothing to having to pay more than $200 after deducting subsidies, it would mean that the treatment would have ballooned to more than $200 for a simple dental treatment. A $200 out of pocket payment is now beyond the reach of many seniors and low income citizens. Has someone been taking advantage of the subsidies or abusing it by jacking up the cost of dental treatment because of the Pioneer card, turning it into a gimmick?

The govt may want to step in to determine how much should be reasonable for out of pocket payment with subsidies to make dental treatment really affordable. This was the reason by these cards came into being.  For retirees with no income, a $20 or $30 out of pocket payment is already quite a lot to pay, let alone more than $200 and after a hefty subsidy! Some parties are gaming the system and profiteering from it, destroying the meaning of these cards. Something has gone very wrong, but no one bothers.

The CHAS card is also usable in NTUC run Kopitiam for special meals at $3. The Kopitiam is the go to place for many average citizens, the backbone of the average citizens' lifestyle. If the average the citizens cannot even afford to eat in the Kopitiam, then this is going to become a crisis in time to come. The least the govt should do is to ensure that the citizens are decently fed at a decent price. Filling the stomach is about the most basic of human needs. When the Kopitiams and hawker centres are becoming unaffordable to the average Singaporeans, the pain will grow.

Other than a little subsidies from CHAS card, the govt may want to consider capping the rentals of Kopitiams and hawker centres to control the prices of the 3 meals of the average citizens. Rent control may be necessary as this is a major item that is pushing up the prices of basic meals. Not everything should be subject to market forces, letting the operators and landlords push up the prices determined by free market mechanism. 

Lately, with so many things happening around the world, the cost of living is getting out of hand. Govt handouts and CDC vouchers may not be enough, temporary and uncertain. It is time for the govt to take affirmative actions to systematically control the rising cost of basic needs like food, transportation and medical care. Leaving everything to free market forces can be very cruel to the average Singaporeans. Singapore must not blindly follow the American and western models of govt that are failing and hurting their citizens. A model with Singapore characteristics to meet the needs of our citizens can be developed to make living and the challenges of rising cost of living more bearable is warranted. No one will be left behind should not be an empty promise in a world that is getting more harsh and inhuman and financially demanding.

Trump asking Xi's help to ask Iran to stop the war. Why?

 According to lunatic Trump and drunkard Hegseth, the American terrorists are winning the war. They have obliterated everything the Iranians have. The Iranians have been beaten and have nothing to hit back, about to surrender. If these are the truths, why is there a need to ask Iran to stop the war? Just a few more days, a few more attacks, and Iran will be finished.

This is looking like a Freudian Slip by clown Trump again. When he is winning, why begging Iran to stop? The likely truth, the Iranians are hitting the Americans so hard, everywhere, that it is really painful. The American terrorists cannot bear the pain and the losses, please stop hitting us, Iran. And the real war hasn't started. The American boys and girls are not on the ground in Iran. When that happens, that is when it really hurts. This time, many American boys and girls are going to be burnt alive, torn to pieces by the Iranians. No more cake walk. The American military generals know it, but not clown Trump and drunkard Hegseth.

Trump the terrorist chief is still threatening to wipe out the Iranians. Is he really thinking that if the Iranians stop hitting the Americans, then the Americans can sail and fly their warships and warplanes to the Gulf and then launch a massive attack to finish off the Iranians? This temporary ceasefire is exactly what the Americans want and needs, to be able to fly and sail near to Iran without being hit and showing to the world that their warships can get near to Hormuz. The truth is that the Iranians allow them to do so but with every warship and warplane being tracked and locked on and could be taken down at the flip of a button. The American warships and warplanes operating near Iranian shores are at the mercy and pleasure of the Iranians.

The extension of the ceasefire by lunatic Trump exactly for this reason, to move all their war assets to the coast of Iran. Iran is not stupid and can see through this mischievous trick. Any warship or warplane that comes too near Iran will be shot at. The American terrorists tried several dry run of their tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. It seemed that one of the tankers had been attacked and downed by the Iranians, probably by using electronic jamming to cripple the avionics and electrical systems of the tanker.

Iran must keep hitting the American terrorists. Any pause would allow the American terrorists to regroup near Iran for their attack. Be warned, the American terrorists have not withdrawn a single soldier from the region, in fact sending in more troops and war assets. The real evil intent of the American terrorists has not changed. The mission is to destroy Iran and kill all the Iranians. Period.

Do not be deceive by Trump and the Washington rogues that they are now meeting Xi in Beijing. The last time when Xi met Trump in Brazil, rogue Trump arrested Meng Wanzhou in the midst of the dinner. Never trust the American terrorists. They can attack Iran any time they like, without notice, especially when the guards are down.

If the American terrorists want to stop the war, they don't have to ask anyone for help. They can simply walk away, withdraw all their forces. Iran is not going to chase them or going after them once they withdraw. It is the American terrorists that dictates the war, not anyone else. All the lies about asking China or Europeans to help open the Hormuz is to drag them into the war, to escalate the war. Period.

China does not need to fight fire with fire

The anti-China bots are saying that Chinese aircraft carriers are ineffective to project power beyond the South China Sea and are therefore junks. Why would China want to project power beyond the South China Sea, knowing that the days of aircraft carriers are basically now surviving on hype and posturing as a result of the war against Iran.

China was never in the game of competing with the USA in the number of aircraft carriers or projection of power. China, over the last few decades, has studied the vulnerabilities of air-craft carriers and formulated counter measures against USA power projection using aircraft carriers and is not pouring resources into it. Of course, as a major power, China only needs a few aircrafts carriers for defensive purposes, same as even smaller countries.

China has found its way to deal with aircraft carrier's power projection threat by using its hypersonic drones and missiles. Those drones and missiles cost just a tiny fraction of the cost of building an air-craft carrier, highly effective and the math show the reason why China did not embark on fighting fire with fire. And Iran has proven the effective usage of such anti-aircraft carrier drones and missile capabilities.

Moreover, maintaining an aircraft carrier fleet needs all the support ships moving all around the world needs huge logistical support - fuel, food, crewing and port calls, which China does not have such support anyway. And countries now giving support to the USA in terms of logistic like refueling are now wary of retaliations by enemies of the USA. The USA is facing such a problem in the Middle East now, having been denied such support in its war against Iran.


Anonymous

China does not need to do anything, just wait for the Washington clowns to destroy America with their stupidity

China does not have to stand up, not this time, not any other time. China just has to sit down calmly, watch the circus clowns perform and let them make the same mistakes again and again. Even Iran is learning from China, not resorting to showboating, even if on the upper hand, but just a balance measure of silence and making sure to be alert.

Keeping the enemy guessing is the best strategy. Not letting the enemy know the plan is the best way to keep the enemy on tenterhooks. Xi plays his cards close to his chest, giving nothing away, just cool, calculated and quiet response when the time comes. Nothing loud, nothing unsettling for the rest of the world and always having a strategic mindset already predetermined.

Trump always chicken out when his rhetorics finds no headway without any exit plan. China makes decisions with always an alternative plan in place and have little to chicken out. Just look at China's foray in renewables, into EVs, shipbuilding, battery technology, electrification of its transport system and building logistics catering to renewables. It does not waiver in the face of sanctions and that sends a message to the USA regarding its resolve in semi-conductors and AI. Sure, China is still behind the USA in semi-conductors, but do not bet on China being always behind the curve.

Chinese EVs were laughed at by Elon Musk. How could Chinese EV makers compare with Tesla, the king of EVs. Now his is not laughing for sure. Jensen Huang of Nividia is more circumspect and has seen the tip of the iceberg regarding China's semi-conductor and AI ambitions. He is wary and he knows what the Chinese can accomplish. It takes a Chinese to understand what and how another Chinese mind works and thinks.


Anonymous