When Modi visited China, the border was peaceful. When Xi Jinping made a
reciprocal visit, border tension flared with India ramping up its
activities in the disputed region and the Chinese side returning the
favour. This is looking like a repeat of the meeting between Nehru and
Zhou Enlai. When they met in cordial settings with Nehru famous quote,
‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’, border tensions flared up too. While public
gestures were all friendly and warmth, the Chinese did not know that
India was building up a special 4th Corp to capture the disputed
territories from China.
India finally revealed its aggressive intent and invaded and captured
some of the disputed territories with Chinese border guards on the
retreat. But after reorg and with the arrival of backup troops, China
launched its counter attack and sent the Indian 4th Corp fleeing in the
most one sided humiliating military defeat in modern history. The great
Indian Army fled in the face of Chinese peasant soldiers.
Would Modi do a Nehru against Xi Jinping? Today India is an aspiring
superpower in the making. It has all the modern and latest weaponry
money can buy. The Indian armed forces are many times better equipped
and stronger than during the times of Nehru. Is Modi harbouring a desire
to avenge the defeat of Nehru with a new Look East Policy? He is now in
Washington after visiting Tokyo and negotiating defence pacts. What is
the undisclosed agenda?
Should Modi ever indulge in another military adventure, he must take
note that this time round, if the Indian Army could not succeed and went
scurrying back, the PLA would not withdraw from the disputed
territories anymore. This time the PLA will stay put and will not be as
generous and kind like their predecessors. They would not repeat a
mistake twice. They would settle the border issues once and for good.
What would it be the case? Another Sino Indian border war in the making to pave the way for an Indian Century?
Kopi Level - Green
10/02/2014
Singapore is the safest place on planet Earth
Many foreigners are so impressed with everything Singapore. Most of all they are bowed over by the safe and secure environment for bring up a family. Young ladies and children can wander home in the wee hours of the night with being mugged, very low drug offences, very low crime. Our safety record is legendary.
After the Hong Lim Park Affair, we have another feather on our cap. The Singapore Tourist Board can proclaim to the world that we are the safest place on planet Earth. In this latest event, the parents were so confident of the safety and security here that they had no qualms or reservations to bring their little children to a party in the Park where a political protest rally was being held. They knew that nothing of any violent nature will happen and their children will be absolutely safe. And that was exactly what happened.
And the Park administrators also believe so. They have many experiences allowing different parties with different agenda in the Park at the same time and have been proven to be totally safe. The latest event vindicates their faith and judgement that we are a very safe country.
And to make a point, the protestors were made to apologise to the parents for making too much noise that frightened some of the children. And the protestors were truly sorry for interrupting the children’s party. And the Minister that attended the event also apologized as well for this little mishap.
And the public were so angry with the protestors for their rough and loud behavior that they chastised them publicly in the main media. This is our standard of social behavior. The protestors in a mass rally must be conscious and mindful of children having parties in the same Park. With this experience I think in future they will lower their voices and shouting when the children are around.
So, another new slogan for STB, ‘Singapore is the safest place on Planet Earth’. Come to Singapore for a safe and pleasant holiday with your families and have a good time. Tourists can also go to Hong Lim Park to watch a protest rally with no fear of being hurt. Absolutely safe! And if they are annoyed by the protestors, they can demand an apology from them too.
I think this slogan will be 100 times better than F1, and costs nothing except maybe say thank you to redbean for suggesting it.
What about the riot? What riot? Oh you mean the Little India Riot. There is nothing to it. The rioters are very nice people. And if you are lucky, they may arrange a tour package if a riot is on for you to have a ringside view of the rioting. Everything is under control and very, very safe. Only slight hitch is that the traffic could be so heavy that you may not be able to get near it. And you would also have to compete with parents wanting to bring their children to watch the riot too. See how safe Singapore is!
Kopi Level - Green
10/01/2014
Singaporeans that made us proud
(30 Sep) – For a Secondary One student just crowned champion at the Asian Games, Jodie Lai was remarkably calm.
“I’m very happy because I won gold,” said the Singaporean sailor, cool as you like, as cameras flashed and reporters thrust phones in her face.
Lai, 13, finished clear of an eight-woman field in the optimist race Tuesday afternoon, after nearly a week of racing at the Wangsan Marina in Incheon, South Korea....
Raynn Kwok was awarded a late silver in his optimist race after protesting his initial fourth-place finish. The 12-year-old is now Singapore’s youngest-ever medalist at the Asian Games, displacing fellow sailor Ryan Lo who was 13 when he won bronze in the optimist event in 2010.
The above were copied from TRE.
Kopi Level - Green
“I’m very happy because I won gold,” said the Singaporean sailor, cool as you like, as cameras flashed and reporters thrust phones in her face.
Lai, 13, finished clear of an eight-woman field in the optimist race Tuesday afternoon, after nearly a week of racing at the Wangsan Marina in Incheon, South Korea....
Raynn Kwok was awarded a late silver in his optimist race after protesting his initial fourth-place finish. The 12-year-old is now Singapore’s youngest-ever medalist at the Asian Games, displacing fellow sailor Ryan Lo who was 13 when he won bronze in the optimist event in 2010.
The above were copied from TRE.
Kopi Level - Green
Hong Kong unplugged
The Hongkies have their first victory with their Occupy Central movement. The huge turnout looks menacing. The world, especially the China doomsayers, are clapping their hands. China is in real trouble. An editorial from New York Times reposted in the Today paper said Xi Jinping is running out of options. In other words China could do nothing about it.
This last vestige of Western Imperialism, a stark reminder of China’s humiliating past, is slapping China in the face all over again. From the western lens, checkmate! Actually the best thing for China is to do nothing. Declare a golden week for Hong Kong, in fact a golden month, or a golden year.
While Singapore, a twin city of Hong Kong’s likeness, has the Southeast Asia and the whole world as its hinterland, Hong Kong practically has China and is solely dependent on China for all its needs and economic growth. When China unplugged itself from the Hong Kong economy, Hong Kong would be like a piece of driftwood without an anchor. It would be worst than a sampan.
The mass civil disobedience in Hong Kong is a golden opportunity for China to do what it wanted to do for a long time. The plan to let Hong Kong receded into the peripheral of the Chinese economy and main stream activities could be pulled out from the bottom drawer and receive a good dusting.
Shanghai has always been China’s top priority as the financial centre, not Hong Kong. China needed Hong Kong and world opinion to look good, and the stability to grow its economy. That stage has passed. Shanghai has been waiting as the bridesmaid and ready to take centre stage. All the economic and commercial activities in Hong Kong can be transferred to Shanghai and other cities. Shenzhen as the southern economic hub could run on its own without Hong Kong.
It is time that Hong Kong fades into the wilderness and other Chinese cities emerged to rival and prosper over Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s usefulness as the commercial hub of China can no longer hold China to ransom. Hong Kong is dispensable today.
Good bye Hong Kong. It will be confined to its rightful place as a colonial cantonment in history. China today does not need Hong Kong but will keep Hong Kong as one of its cities, maybe relegated to a second tier city. Life will go on without Hong Kong. Hong Kong can enjoy its autonomy and democracy without interference from the central govt, but remain a second tier city in China.
Kopi Level - Green
The Hong Lim Affair – More than Uniquely Singapore
Let me put a positive spin to this sordid affair and turn it into a
splendid affair. Too many negative views had been expressed in the media
and it is timely that we look at in from a different angle. The two
events staged at Hong Lim were incompatible in many ways and no
responsible person in his right mind would put the two together. It was
like oil and fire, a potent combination for an explosive incident to
happen. The beautiful thing about this affair is that all ends well.
Mind you, the little annoyance and the very sensitive nature of the special needs children, and only one needed comforting can be considered a very successful story. Just ignore the noises generated by those with vested interests to say the things that needed to be said, the YMCA event went off almost without a hitch other than the 5 min interruption when the minister arrived at the scene. Even then, there was not pushing and shuffling or any threats of physical violence to anyone. No one feel unsafe or that they were exposed to any danger. The guests of YMCA were children and senior citizens, hundreds of them. And at and around the stage, there were hundreds of eager and excited parents and their little ones participating in putting up dance items and performances.
At the other corner, the protestors were screaming at the top of their voices to get themselves heard as they competed against the sounds from the YMCA event. Many did not notice that at times both parties waited and took turns to speak, alternating, without anyone coordinating and guiding them. There were some sorts of courtesy and sharing of time between them. You could not have a better arrangement anywhere among competitors.
And the uncles and aunties were taking shelters from the blazing sun under the big tents of YMCA. They treaded carefully and avoided disturbing the guests of YMCA in their tents. And YMCA staff accommodated them without chasing them away, out into the hot sun.
The participants of the two events blended together as one, in the same limited space, and no one could tell which event they were attending. With a few thousands of them there, fighting for space under the afternoon heat, no tempers were flared. Come, come, think about it, think about how two unrelated groups could co exist together in such a situation without any trouble?
And when the protestors were marching around the big tent housing the YMCA guests, they did not brush or knock onto them as they went past each other. And some of the children joined the fun marching with them.
Credit must go to the participants of the two events. There was a lot of self discipline and mindfulness with both sides accommodating each other and not to offend the other party. The protestors were noisy and loud as what a protest should be, but absolutely no violence or brashness. The YMCA event was louder but like what a children party should be.
Singaporeans must stand up and salute them for having a party with different agenda together, and both did what they wanted to do and successfully completed their missions. This is the most exemplary act of living in a squeezed city, living in peace and harmony with your neighbours.
Now, why is everyone kpkb about? They better thank their lucky stars that nothing really bad happened in such a circumstance. So many things could have gone wrong and there were so many vulnerable children and senior citizens present. And why? Because no one was there to cause disharmony, annoyance or trouble to anyone. There was no bad intention, no malice.
And because Singaporeans are not violent by nature, Singaporeans are peace loving people, If I am not wrong, the majority of the people there were true blue Singaporeans. That is the Spirit of being Singaporeans.
Kopi Level - Green
Mind you, the little annoyance and the very sensitive nature of the special needs children, and only one needed comforting can be considered a very successful story. Just ignore the noises generated by those with vested interests to say the things that needed to be said, the YMCA event went off almost without a hitch other than the 5 min interruption when the minister arrived at the scene. Even then, there was not pushing and shuffling or any threats of physical violence to anyone. No one feel unsafe or that they were exposed to any danger. The guests of YMCA were children and senior citizens, hundreds of them. And at and around the stage, there were hundreds of eager and excited parents and their little ones participating in putting up dance items and performances.
At the other corner, the protestors were screaming at the top of their voices to get themselves heard as they competed against the sounds from the YMCA event. Many did not notice that at times both parties waited and took turns to speak, alternating, without anyone coordinating and guiding them. There were some sorts of courtesy and sharing of time between them. You could not have a better arrangement anywhere among competitors.
And the uncles and aunties were taking shelters from the blazing sun under the big tents of YMCA. They treaded carefully and avoided disturbing the guests of YMCA in their tents. And YMCA staff accommodated them without chasing them away, out into the hot sun.
The participants of the two events blended together as one, in the same limited space, and no one could tell which event they were attending. With a few thousands of them there, fighting for space under the afternoon heat, no tempers were flared. Come, come, think about it, think about how two unrelated groups could co exist together in such a situation without any trouble?
And when the protestors were marching around the big tent housing the YMCA guests, they did not brush or knock onto them as they went past each other. And some of the children joined the fun marching with them.
Credit must go to the participants of the two events. There was a lot of self discipline and mindfulness with both sides accommodating each other and not to offend the other party. The protestors were noisy and loud as what a protest should be, but absolutely no violence or brashness. The YMCA event was louder but like what a children party should be.
Singaporeans must stand up and salute them for having a party with different agenda together, and both did what they wanted to do and successfully completed their missions. This is the most exemplary act of living in a squeezed city, living in peace and harmony with your neighbours.
Now, why is everyone kpkb about? They better thank their lucky stars that nothing really bad happened in such a circumstance. So many things could have gone wrong and there were so many vulnerable children and senior citizens present. And why? Because no one was there to cause disharmony, annoyance or trouble to anyone. There was no bad intention, no malice.
And because Singaporeans are not violent by nature, Singaporeans are peace loving people, If I am not wrong, the majority of the people there were true blue Singaporeans. That is the Spirit of being Singaporeans.
Kopi Level - Green
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