COVID-19: Singapore Has Become A Pariah Country In The Hearts And Minds Of The United States of America

It is so very unfortunate that just a few months ago, Singapore has been praised skyrocketing high for being one of the most effective countries in managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the world and now being shun by the United States of America. That was during Minister Gan Kim Yong's watch at the Ministry of Health. The present pathetic and sorrowful state of affairs in the management of the COVID-19 Pandemic cannot and must not be attributed to him.

On Monday (18 Oct), the US Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) has raised to the highest risks alert, Level 4, for Singapore - warning all US citizens and residents not to visit Singapore.

The US CDC said:

"Because of the current situation in Singapore, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants!"

The US Department of State issued a similar notice on Monday, urging people not to travel to Singapore due to COVID-19.

This must be a devastating blow to the newbie, gangho, dare devil Health Minister for his grand idea of implementing the "Living (Suffering and Dying) With COVID-19" by opening up the floodgates to allow any Tom, Dick and Harry to enter Singapore to spread the COVID-19 coronavirus freely, easily and extensively as long as he/she carries a Vaccination Certificate (VC). And at the same time unfairly and unreasonably discriminated against own citizens who are not vaccinated.

Whether the VC is fake or real nobody is the wiser because no human being is able to verify with certainty within a short span of time.

Moreover, children below 12 years old, whether infected or not, need not carry a VC but still can enter Singapore as long as they are brought in by an adult with a VC.

Singapore launched its first two Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) with Brunei and Germany last month.

A VTL with South Korea will open on 15 Nov 2021. South Korea is presently uner category of Level 3 in the

Eight more VTLs have been extended to countries including Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, UK and USA.

The US has a system of travel alert for travellers to destinations with health problems. The alert symptom has 4 levels. Level 4 being the highest risks destinations and level 1 is for lower risks destinations.

As identified by the US CDC:

Current Level 4 (highest level risks) destinations are Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and UK.

Current Level 3 (high level risks) destinations are South Korea, Germany, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam.

Current Level 2 (moderate level risks) destinations are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Unvaccinated individuals at risk of severe illness are advised to avoid non-essential travel to these places.

Current Level 1 (low level risks) destinations are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New Zealand.

It must be noted that out of the first batch of 2,400 VTL places taken up, 40% of them are from the UK, which is among the highest level risks countries.


Conclusion

Birds of the same feathers fly together.

1. Travellers from countries that are of moderate or low risks will probably avoid Singapore as their travel destinations.

2. Travellers from countries that are of high and highest risks will visit Singapore, if and when necessary.

The bottom line is: How many more countries will declare Singapore as a Pariah Destination to avoid at all costs?


LIPS

P/S: The Riau Islands, Indonesia, have also cancelled the Travel Bubble arrangements with Singapore because of the recent spikes in COVID-19 infections in Singapore.

Impossible for US to Have Military Superiority In China’s Coastal Areas

The Financial Times (FT) quoted on Saturday several sources saying that "the Chinese military launched a rocket that carried a hypersonic glide vehicle" in August and judged it to be a "nuclear-capable hypersonic missile." According to the FT article, the missile "flew through low-orbit space" and could help China "negate" US missile defense systems which are designed to target the fixed parabolic trajectory of a ballistic missile. The progress of the Chinese military has "caught US intelligence by surprise," the report said.

If the FT report is to be believed, it means that there is a key new member in China's nuclear deterrence system, which is a new blow to the US' mentality of strategic superiority over China.

It is meaningless to discuss the credibility of the FT report. But it is important to note the unstoppable trend that China is narrowing the gap with the US in some key military technologies as China is continuously developing its economic and technological strength. China doesn't need to engage in an "arms race" with the US - it is capable of weakening the US' overall advantages over China by developing military power at its own pace.

In the long term, the comparison between the military powers of China and the US will be in the following paradigm：The US' overall military advantage will be maintained, while its air force and navy have higher quality and its global deployment and projection capabilities will be unmatched by China's. Meanwhile, China won't have any will to globally challenge the US' dominant position in military sphere, and the US shouldn't worry about losing its military hegemony.

However, China's military buildup will focus on the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea. It is inevitable that China will take an upper hand over the US military strength in these areas thanks to the geographical proximity and the continuous increase of China's input. Chinese society has not only strong expectations for this, but also strong determination and corresponding ability to realize this reversal. The US' conventional military superiority around the world will not translate into a guarantee of superiority in these regions.

The US is very concerned about China's nuclear development. There should be no doubt that China has no plans to build a nuclear force of the same size as that of the US. In other words, China has no intention of launching a "nuclear arms race" with the US. However, China will certainly improve the quality of its nuclear deterrence to ensure that the US completely eliminates the idea of nuclear blackmail against China at any critical moment and its idea of using nuclear forces to make up for the weakness that US' conventional forces cannot crush China.

Greater survivability and penetration ability of Chinese nuclear missiles is clearly being accelerated through a variety of new missiles. Such development will ensure that neither country's nuclear forces will be used as a tool to solve regional problems. This would ensure that the damage to peace, if any, would be limited and that the region would not see a deadly collision between major powers.

The US is constantly releasing rumors that China is strengthening its nuclear strategic tools, which is believed to pave the way for public opinion in the US to further increase its military expenditure from a high starting point. But no matter how much military spending the US increases and how much new equipment it procures, it is impossible for the US to continue enjoy overwhelming military superiority in China's coastal areas. 

Anonymous

FICA - Singapore will not be influenced by any foreign powers to do their biddings

 The passing of the FICA is Singapore's message that it would not tolerate foreign influence in its policy decision making process. Singapore will make its policies according to its national interest. Foreign influence and interference are when Singapore has to make policies that it did not want to. When Singapore makes policies willingly, in collaboration with foreign powers, it is not being influenced or interfered, it is 'voluntary', this is the key difference. I like, so I do, see, free from foreign interference. Singapore is an independent country and has its right to do as it likes. 

Some may ask, were there any kind of 'discussion' with foreigners before a major decision affecting foreign countries is made, and if this constitutes foreign interference or influence? I don't know. It depends on who you asked.

What about policies like cannot use Chinese vaccines? Got foreign interference or influence or not?

What about CECA and the big influx of Indians into Singapore? This one I think sure no. Because the CECA is good for Singapore, and the influx of Indians is good for Singapore, creating jobs for Singapore, including helping to recruit foreigners to replace daft Singaporeans with unsuitable skills and useless degrees. They also buy a lot of properties to sustain the high property prices. Very good for Singapore.

What about allowing Americans to use Changi Naval Base? This one sure no pressure from Americans. They are our best friends and we want them to be here.

What about not using Huawei's best 5G technology in the world, and chose more backward 5G technology from the West? I think this one depends on the people that decided what to use. If they said Huawei not good, West 5G good, then so be it. Oh, Huawei's 5G could eavesdrop on your communication, the American said so, but got no proof, just said only. Americans don't lie, always tell the truth.

What about the badmouthing of China in the media? Oops, no, just republishing articles from western media, it is a commercial decision. Nothing to do with the govt. Singapore does not badmouth China because China is our biggest trading partner, with deep historical and cultural roots. The few clowns that badmouthed China in the South China Sea dispute did it in their own personal capacity.

Any more questions?

Concerns of Singaporeans

 A brief survey over the last few months shows that Singaporeans are very concerned about the following (not in any order):

1. CECA, including job losses/displacements, fake qualifications, racism, FTA, social problems, etc

2. Covid-19, including Delta version, which vaccine? to vaccinate or not? re-infections, death, mental problems, lockdowns, etc.

3. MTF, including performance, confusing policies, social restrictions, hospital or home recovery, reopening of borders, government assistance, etc.

4. The Elected President, Ministers’ & Town Council Managers’ high salaries, performance (esp. in parliament), government secrets, etc.

4. CPF withdrawal, high cost but depreciating HDB value, etc.

5. Performance of opposition parties, esp. WP’s performance in parliament, their ability to cooperate and solve problems within the law/system, etc.

However, there is scant attention on closing of TOC and TRE (tentatively set for next Feb), or the leadership succession plan?

Are Singaporeans not concerned about having a public forum to voice their unhappiness?

What about the uncertainty that Singapore faces, in not having a clear leadership succession plan?

Anonymous

Sinopharm Vaccine: Only 3 Suspected Adverse Events Out Of 17,630 Doses!

As of Sept 30, there were a total of only three reports of suspected “adverse events” experienced by people who received the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said.

In its sixth safety report, HSA said on Friday (Oct 15) that the three reports were out of a total of 17,630 doses of the China-made Sinopharm vaccine administered here in Singapore since Aug 30 2021, when the first dose was given.

Sinovac and Sinopharm were approved under HSA’s Special Access Route only this year, after repeated requests by the public.

HSA also reported that thereq were also "no serious adverse events" reported for the vaccine so far.

An adverse event for vaccination is any undesirable medical condition that occurs after taking the vaccine, which does not necessarily have a direct link to it. It may be coincidental or related to an underlying or undiagnosed disease.

The big question is that since the Sinopharm vaccine, made in China, has been proven in the Singapore environment to be such a safe COVID-19 Vaccine, much better than Pfizer and Moderna which long-term effects have yet to be made known,

WHY IS THE Multi-Ministry Task Force NOT INCLUDING IT IN THE NATIONAL VACCINATION PROGRAM? 

PS. No foreign pressure or interference?

LIPS