China and Japan gearing up to defend disputed islands

On the anniversary of the Nanking Massacre, China flew a civilian aircraft over the Diaoyu Islands snatched away by Japan after it was defeated in a war in 1894. This flight over Diaoyu is symbolic and a message to Japan that China is not going to let Japan to continue to think that it could seize Diaoyu Islands from China for good.

Japan reacted in the most aggressive manner by scrambling 8 F15s in a show of force to defend its claim on the islands. There was no engagement with the Chinese surveillance twin prob aircraft. China responded by making a statement that the aircraft was in Chinese airspace and had all the rights to be there. Japanese leaders were up in arms, revealing their cleverly concealed military past, each one raring to go to war. The nationalistic and militant voices in Japan are near hysteric.

China will only react in the same pitch and as robustly as the Japanese. China must have been preparing for this day to come, having tested Japanese intent that they would not return the islands without a fight. The stage is set for a military confrontation for the recapture of Diaoyu Islands. The national pride and interest of China, for losing a war and losing its territories will mean that China will go all the way to reclaim the islands. The next time China would also scramble their fighters to face the Japanese fighters.

Japan is equally adamant to keep the war loot. They think they are able to defeat the new China again and with the backing of the Americans. This is World War 3 and no laughing matter. The launching of the North Korean satellite is an affirmation that the North Koreans will present the Japanese and the Americans with a new factor to consider in case hostility breaks out. The dark horse is South Korea. Would it join the Japan/America alliance to take on China and North Korea, with the Russians in the background, or would it do a surprise by taking side with their northern brothers to avenge the years of colonization and humiliation and brutality under Japanese rule?

Whatever the position of the two Koreans, a war between China and Japan is inevitable unless the Japanese are willing to return Diaoyu Island to China. This is basic Chinese position, the reclamation of territories lost during the years of weaknesses and humiliation. They would take on the Japanese come what may.

PAP under siege

The opposition parties are hovering over Punggol East like vultures sensing the presence of a carcass for a good meal. It is not the case of a prize possession that belongs to the ruling party anymore. Thanks for the generosity of Michael Palmer, it is like a well timed Christmas present. But the ruling party is not going to give it away so easily. They know that the opposition parties are ready to snatch it away and it has to hold on to it tightly.

This is the state of the political game today. Gone were the days when the ruling party will strut around taking every loose seat available with great confidence. It was chionh all the way. The game has changed and it is a case of trying desperately to hang on to whatever it got. And the opposition parties are closing in for the kill every time a little gazelle breakaway from the herd. It is quite helpless. It will be taken away to fill the hunger of the hunters.

The ruling party is under siege and weakening in all fronts. There is no one in the party that could command the awe inspiring presence and leadership to win a single seat or even a GRC today. The last GE has exposed the weaknesses of the ruling party and the infallibility of every minister. Every one of them looks lame. And the last few batches of MPs were found to be wanting in many ways and many would not be able to hold on their own in a contest, without the GRC. Many were outright failures in the eyes of the people and many voters have regretted their decisions in the last GE. It is that bad.

The strength of the ruling part was in their pro people policies. These have done well for many years but strains are showing. Good policies are turning bad and unsustainable, like a big rock pushed up the mountain, the weight bearing gets heavier by the day and waiting to roll down, crushing everyone and everything below. Come to think of it, every policy is about to come tumbling down. Cannot think of any that is good or barely good today.

In the absence of good men and women, in the absence of good and pro people policies that are sustainable, what else is there for the ruling party to offer the people to keep them in power? This by election is only to confirm the hard truth that it is game over.

Maybe I am too pessimistic. Maybe the people are still strongly behind the ruling party. The joyous and buoyant celebration and the confidence shown in the last party conference told a different story. The party is on a roll. Everyone was looking so well and wealthy. The party will go on and on. The truth will be seen in the decision to hold or not to hold a by election. A party that is confident of winning will have no apprehension of taking the bull by the horns and will call a by election without hesitation. Any wishy washy excuses will be a sign of weakness, a party under siege, having little confidence in holding on to the seat in Punggol East. The siege mentality is all there for everyone to see.

A little decency from the workers

A fallen angel getting a little support from the workers. That was about the only silver lining in the latest episode of personal indiscretion. Instead of laughing their heads off, instead of grabbing the opportunity to twist the dagger deeper to extract more pain, to hear the scream, to make it hurt, it was just a polite admonishment. There was no need to go further than this to shower praises for being honourable and for being a good and clever boy. That would smell too much of hypocrisy.

The elite have something to learn from the workers, if nothing to learn about good manners, at least some decency of not kicking someone when he is down. It is a nasty but pleasant surprise that the once mighty elite, with halos on each and everyone’s head, once were standing on the high pedestal of moral righteousness and scream, on your knees, scoundrels, infidels and all. Bow your heads in shame for your disgraceful acts and conducts.

Where are the angels? Aren’t they going to put on their halos to pronounce in their haughty arrogance, that man must not sin, that angels are pristine and would not be tarnished by temptations.

The workers are more down to earth, knowing that all man will sin in times of weaknesses and should not be too harsh in their judgement against those that have fell victims to temptations. Workers are in many ways behaving like angels. Would angels then be more like workers and seek a new balance, a new ethos of kindness, sincerity and politeness, in acts and in words?

It is a painful lesson to learn from. Do not jump the gun.

North Korea successfully launched a satellite

The Americans and its proxies are calling it something akin to WMD. No country can launch a satellite without the approval of the international mafia. Countries like North Korea and Iran should remain as third world countries and not allowed to progress, not allowed to have their own satellites. They should forever be kept poor and be at the mercy of the mafia, to receive aids from the mafia and its proxies. They are condemning the North Koreans, threatened to shoot the rocket down, and now threatening sanctions as if the North Koreans have committed a grave sin or crime against humanity.

Now North Korea has put a satellite in the space. What is this accusation that it is a missile to attack other countries or to develop missiles when the mafia boss has countless of them? The next time when Kim Jung Un farts, the Americans would be accusing him of chemical warfare. What else is new? Crying wolf once too often becomes meaningless.

But no, many Asean countries will now be shivering in their pants, fearing the North Koreans are going to send its nuclear armed missiles to attack them. I am not sure if they really believe in such crazy ideas. I am not sure if North Koreans are mad or it is the people in Asean that are mad. One thing I am sure, the North Koreans will have no reasons to do such a silly thing for no reasons.

Well done North Koreans. You have outdone the South Koreans. The South Koreans, despite their claims of technological superiority and wealth, with Samsung and all the world brand electronics, are still unable to launch a satellite after many failed attempts. It is time the two Koreans reunite and share their technology and wealth and bring the two people together as one great people and powerful country.

Corruption or greed can be in many forms

Sin City’s biggest success in public administration is the weeding out of corruption of the monetary kind. The solution is quite simple really. Knowing the psychology of how human beans behave, when greed cannot be eradicated, the next best solution is to feed the greed. Make sure the greed is satisfied, then there will be no corruption.

Today we are facing another kind of greed that was alien to the Govt. Sex has never been an issue with LKY as a shining example of propriety. With such perfect role model, sexual misconduct of PAP MPs and Ministers is a rarity. The revelation yesterday is an indication that this kind of greed is starting to rear its ugly head. And it is better to nip it in the bud which the Govt is fame for.

Now, how best can greed be curbed? Even LKY said that he did not expect his Ministers and MPs to be celibate. Turning them into priests and priestesses is not going to work. Asking them to wear chastity belt may be a bit too much to ask for. And you do not want them to run around in Geylang with the foreign workers.

How could this greed be satisfied the way the greed for money was satisfied? Let them have as much sex as they want or commission a foreign agency to study on this problem? Maybe they can recommend what is enough to keep them from wanting more. I can expect another revolutionary and innovative way to curb this greed. The Govt can be very good in solving this kind of problems.