Gunboat policy – The table turns

1996 was a watershed in gunboat diplomacy between China and the USA. The Taiwan Strait crisis saw Clinton ordering two aircraft carriers to sail through the strait in a show of force. China was humiliated in a sense as it did not have an answer to such display of military might that reminded them of the foreign naval invasion of China in the 19th Century. The Chinese took the slap in their stride, retreated their military posturing and went back to the drawing board.
 
China must not again be threatened by the Americans by military means, especially naval power superiority. The unprovoked hideous Belgrade Embassy bombing in 1999 by the Americans was another big blow to the dignity of the Chinese govt. There was still no answer to American military superiority. The Americans could hit the Chinese as and when they liked and the Chinese could not hit back, worse, with the threat of mounting a full scale attack on Chinese soil using aircraft carriers.
 
The acquisition of a Ukraine decommissioned aircraft carrier was seen by some as China’s attempt for military parity with the Americans. Since then this aircraft carrier has been refitted as the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier. The talk of China pitting against the might of 11 American aircraft carriers with a relatively inferior solitary aircraft carrier does not hold water. The Liaoning is no match for the Americans and would be outclassed even in an eyeballing match. The Liaoning would not be sailing into the open sea to confront the American aircraft carriers.
 
No, the Liaoning or the construction of more aircraft carriers is not a military strategy to stare the Americans in the eye. They serve completely different strategic interest. China’s war with the Americans in the western Pacific Ocean would be to counter the massive buildup of American aircraft carriers attempting to attack China. In such a scenario, the Chinese answer to the American naval superiority in deploying aircraft carriers that can hit China without being hit is in anti carrier missiles, the DF21Ds and the DF26s. These are missiles specially designed and developed to sink American aircraft carriers at a distance, more than 1000km or 3000km from Chinese soil. With this kill range, the American aircraft carriers would no longer have the privilege of sailing through the Taiwan Strait like a cock, not even within a 3000km radius and think they could not be sunk. There will be no need for the Liaoning or any Chinese warship to engage the American warships in the western Pacific theatre of war.
 
The Chinese are turning the table on the Americans, telling the Americans I can hit you and you can’t hit me. It is not that the Americans did not have comparable cruise missiles to hit China from the carriers at long distance. The problem is that the Americans cannot afford to be within the anti carrier missile kill range as each carrier is a target consisting of hundreds of aircraft, missiles, nuclear weapons and thousands of elite fighting men and women. The Americans can launch their cruise missiles to attack Chinese mainland. The Chinese mainland could absorb the damages. The reverse is deadly and crippling to the American carrier strike force.
 
The Americans must keep their carriers out of the strike range of Chinese anti carrier missiles. And to do so they would not be able to use the carrier as a strike force, as a launch pad to attack China anymore. The Chinese want to keep the carriers far enough not able to strike China but could be hit by China. The Chinese strategy against the American carrier strike force is the use of all the missile bases in China, unsinkable, and massive numerical superiority, against the limited American aircraft carriers, all 11 of them, kept at a distance from Chinese soil. The carriers would be neutralised, defeating their purpose as offensive aircraft carriers.
 
The table has turned in favour of China in this game of gunboat diplomacy. The Chinese aircraft carriers have no role, or at most a minimal role, in such a conflict of military power in air sea battle. It is land based missiles against carrier based missiles.
A major conflict could break out in the western Pacific Ocean but would be fought under Chinese terms. The battle front would be far out in the Pacific Ocean, not near or on Chinese soil. All American and its allies’ naval craft within the 4,000km radius from Chinese coast would be neutralized once war breaks out.

Is the SMRT a poison chalice?

This is the question posed by a Dr Lee Siew Peng in a letter of encouragement to the new CEO Neo Kian Hong. This is the first para of the article posted in TRE.
“Dear Mr Neo
 
I trust that “Congratulations” are in order for your new appointment. Some people see this job as a kind of poisoned chalice. Hopefully your big risk will lead to big rewards. Not just for you, but for the Singapore travelling public.”

If one were to look at the records of SMRT, from the performance of the train system and the fate of its CEOs and whoever foolishly thought it was wise to dabble with the organisation, the poison chalice suggestion is not too far from the truth. It was not like that when it was built in the 1980s. It had a fair ride for a couple of decades and the pride of Singapore, something that we could boot about.
 
Thanks to the man behind this train, past President Ong Teng Cheong. Could anyone attempt to trace the change in fortune of the SMRT from the demise of the late President and see if there is any correlation in the two events?
 
The reputation of the SMRT was at its peak during the tenure of Saw Phaik Wah, then CEO. It was reporting big profits year after year and she was the toss of the SMRT party when they carried her around like Cleopatra to recognise her great contribution and her greatness.
 
Alas, this was not to last, like the proverbial saying, pride before the fall. Everything fell apart after that infamous Company Dinner and Dance. It was like a house of cards, or a house built on straw or mud. How could the problems sprouted out so fast and so drastically that daily breakdown became a norm and multiple times a day. And on several occasions practically the whole system was run to a stop for several hours. And then accidents came one after another with two technicians killed on the track while on a training stint. And this was not all, fore the second time, after several decades, the trains collided, oops, it was reported that they came into contact with each other, and tens of people were hurt. Luckily no serious injuries.
 
What about the CEOs, Saw Phaik Wah had left. Her successor Desmund Kuek is leaving. Khaw Boon Wan’s reputation as a trouble shooter and the man to solve all problems is in tatters, unable to do much to the problems that kept cropping out in the system despite human and financial resources being poured into the SMRT.
Don't forget the several ministers that had to leave quietly after their bad stint in the ministry.
 
And a few day’s back, the army colonel brought in by Desmund Kuek is also in the news for all the wrong reasons, arrested for drink driving in the wee hours of the morning. What else can go wrong to the SMRT and its top management?
 
Neo Kian Hong is taking over the chalice from Desmund Kuek. Would it be confirmed that it is really a poison chalice? Should someone be praying or burning more incense to appease the spirits to take away the poison in the chalice? From the noises in the social media, it looks like Neo is standing on weak sand.
 
Perhaps a sai kong or bomoh or witch or whatever maybe welcomed if they can turn the poison chalice to a bowl of red wine. Are the problems of SMRT over? Maybe they should be looking for someone that is blessed to helm this organisation. A lucky fool may be good for the time being.

The main media’s narrative

Readers of the main media cannot go unnoticed the main narrative of the main media. The authors and the select articles all have one trend of thought. OK I am focusing only on international news, local news is not so nice to talk about.
 
Anyone heard of Jonathan Eyal, the ST European correspondence? His article on 23 Apr titled ‘The real war over Syria is not over air but online’. His main argument and assumptions, the poisoning of Skripal Sergei, the Russia double agent and his daughter, is fact beyond any reasonable doubt, that the Russians did it. And the alleged chemical attack on Syrians is undoubtedly the work of Assad and the Russians.
 
And the Russians are launching an online war to twist and turn the facts to deny their wrong doings. The holy Gods in the USA, UK and France are so pure and innocent and doing all the right things, to condemn and attack the Russians and Assad. Not only the Russians are indulging in fake news but all other media too, all sources of news, independent online actors, are also in cahoot to deny that the Russians and Assad are guilty. There is no need to have independent agents to investigate and verify the allegations by the Brits, Americans and the French. What they alleged is the unquestionable truth.
 
This kind of one sided narrative glorifying the evil Empire and the western rogue nations and demonising those on the other side of the political divide, opposite the evil Empire, has been going on for so long that no one can be faulted to think that the Singapore govt is condoning and supporting such a view. Is this true?
 
Hsien Loong has recently said in Buckingham Palace or somewhere in the UK, that Singapore needs friends, not enemies. Singapore needs friends in the region and also the big powers, and not to take sides or to be seen to be the cronies of super powers and pit itself against another super power. Did the govt know what is going on in the local main media? Did the govt know that the pages of the local main media are populated by one sided narratives that gave the impression that Singapore is but a crony of the evil Empire and the rogue nations of the West and happily making enemies of the Chinese and Russian camp?
 
Is this impression officially sanctioned or something that Singapore really wants? Would it better serve Singapore’s interest to tow a middle line and send some of these one sided narrative authors to be self employed and write their own blogs to champion their own affiliations and personal interests? The main media may think that rubbishing some countries is fair game, and incurring their displeasure is part and parcel of news reporting. At least they should be fair to their readers and not treat their leaders as fools to be told a one sided story of black and white and dictate to them who they should worship as the good Gods and who to be seen as the villains.
 
The news readers today are not daft and are very well informed and know what is fake news and what is not. Do not underestimate and insult the readers’ intelligence by printing political propaganda and misinformation and fake news and think it is alright. Printing and publishing one sided narrative to offend the victim countries do not serve the interest of the country as a neutral and independent state that wants to be friends of all and making enemies of none.
 
The least the main media should do is not to allow its pages to be used by individuals to peddle their private agenda or the agenda of nation states at the expense of other nation states. Can’t believe it if this is really happening to the main media, that they had been used knowingly or unknowingly to do the dirty works of individuals or states and paying for it.
 
Can you believe that?
 
PS. Last night CNA gave 5 minutes to an American woman from a HRW organization attacking Ali baba and Ten Cent for discriminatory employment adverts against women. She said many women were angry. Who were these women? And what the shit is such news of interest to Singaporeans to be given so much coverage? Singapore a little USA, serving American interest?
 
All the visits to China, with Ministers and even Hsien Loong leading the delegations came home with nothing except empty MOUs. The sacking of anti China diplomat would not do much to change the anti China agenda unless the editors of main media are removed or stopped from churning out more anti China rhetoric and smear articles.

Choice between real economy and paper economy

In the 1980s Singapore came to a cross road in economic growth. Manufacturing was maxed out in this little piece of rock. Manufacturing needed space to keep the solid stuff, the goods, the material. Singapore could not waste more land for manufacturing. There were other factors like the neighbours catching up as many of Singapore's manufacturing were low skill stuff. The pride of Singapore then, the highest level of technical product was the Rollei camera. All the manufacturing products are history.

Singapore opted to go into the service industry, which is not a wrong choice. Medical services, education and financial services, logistics etc etc blossomed. The financial services grew faster as nothing can make money faster than printing papers and cooking the books with numbers, and of course gambling. I am not referring to the two casinos. They are chicken feat. The gambling in Singapore is beyond the imagination of the ordinary masses. Gambling is big and full time by the financial institutions and banks and the so called investment agencies. You heard it, investment is the disguise or another sophisticated term for gambling big time.

During this period Singapore played tutor to China, a developing country just coming out from isolation and joining the capitalist market. China learnt everything Singapore could offer but chose a different route. China is going big bang in manufacturing, the real economy, not shuffling papers and printing digits to churn out profits.

Today, China is the factory of the world making anything from the tiniest button, screws or toothpick to mobile phones, computers, high tech equipment, satellites, military weapons, anything that is needed and wanted. The Chinese made them all and in cheaper and better quality and quantity. China is producing everything that the world needs, the real stuff, the real economy. China is also in the services, but not so much on financial services, but building infrastructures like roads, rails, high speed trains, ports etc etc, logistic services to facilitate trade and commerce, the real stuff that are needed for better life and economic growth, not the fake economy of churning out numbers for growth, not gambling. The Chinese earn every cent they could make the hard way, by making them.

Singapore prosper with the fake economy, making money without having to produce anything. Our reserves are plonked into papers, stocks and shares, derivatives, bonds etc etc. The risk, the inflated fake economy, is like a balloon waiting to be pricked. When it goes bang, everything would come down to zero, especially the artificially inflated wealth built on properties and assets. And when the fake economy goes bust, the real economy would continue to steam roll ahead.

Singapore has nothing to fall back on in the real economy other than HDB flats that have a life span of 99 years. The only real thing Singapore is producing is shit water for drinking, to compete with the likes of Evians and other natural mineral water. What else did Singapore produce? You tell me. Singapore does not even make bicycles.

The real stuff, the bricks and mortars, the consumer goods, the demand would still be there, still be needed. What would happen to the fiat currency, the fake papers and fake values and fake wealth and fake prosperity? Even our education and degrees are fake in a way. What is the point of having degrees that cannot get one a job? A genuine fake degree from the degree mills, or from funny universities, is more valuable than a genuine degree from a world class university if it can land the holder a job. This is the real economy.

The 'good' people have the right to kill the 'bad' people

KUALA LUMPUR: A Palestinian lecturer at a private university was shot dead as he was walking to a surau (prayer house) near a condominium in Jalan Meranti, Setapak on Saturday (Apr 21), according to Malaysian police.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said that 35-year-old Dr Fadi Al Batsh was shot by one of two men on a high-powered motorcycle at a pedestrian walkway at about 6am on Saturday.
“The suspect fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer in the head and body. He died on the spot. The police also found two empty bullet shells there,” he said....

 Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Dr Fadi was "an electrical engineer and an expert at making rockets".

The Palestinian was "believed to have become a liability for a country hostile to Palestine", said Ahmad Zahid, who is in charge of Malaysia's security....

Malaysian police would request the help of Interpol to track down the suspects, believed to be European nationals....

Hamas did not accuse Israel of killing him but called Dr Fadi a "martyr" - a word it usually uses for people killed by Israeli forces....

Hamas has accused Mossad of assassinating one of its drone experts - Mohamed Zouari - in Tunisia in 2016, and the spy agency is also believed to have been behind the 2010 murder of top Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh in a Dubai hotel.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/palestinian-lecturer-shot-dead-in-malaysia-10161438

The above extracts from an article in CNA said it all. The 'good' people have all the right to kill the 'bad' people and the 'bad' just have to accept this as the natural order of things. And at most they could complain but they cannot do anything about it. They are hapless, they have no legs and hands, so cannot go killing the 'good' people to stop them from killing the 'bad' people. Or is it another case of stupidity has no cure, and just resign to their fate, that they deserved to be killed? They cannot think that they can do the same thing to the 'good' people. They cannot learn how to do the things the 'good' people did to them,

The invasion of Iraq, Libya and Syria are all examples of how 'good' people go around killing 'bad' people, and not only the 'bad' people accepted this, the people of the world, the UN, also accepted this as a natural thing, a natural order of thing. 'Good' people has the right to kill 'bad' people. And they are blessed with the intelligence and resources to do it to the 'bad' people with the blessing of God of course.

Now you 'bad' people out there, what are you going to do about it? I bet you, nothing. You are damned for your own stupidity.  And after the killing the 'good' people will party. This thing has been going on for decades, even centuries.

The 'bad' people somehow never learn, cannot learn, and allow history to repeat over and over again with them as the victims. If only they could do what the 'good' people are doing to them, they would be saved or at least let the 'good' people have a taste of their own medicine, to feel the pain and the loss of someone dear to them.

After Iraq and Libya, the 'good' people wanted to kill do the same in Syria to the 'bad' people. The Syrians were lucky that the Russians came in to prevent the massacre. Now the 'good' people knew that they could not do any more harm to the Syrians, they have started another plot to demonise Iran with all kinds of fake allegations, to start another war and another round of killing the 'bad' people in Iran.

War is starting soon in Iran, led by the Jews and backed up by the evil Empire.