China's loans are for development and lifting people out of poverty

 China's loans are all for development and lifting people out of poverty. China has lifted more than 800 million of its citizens out of poverty, despite all the calamities like earthquakes, sabotage using sanctions, and annual flood visitation causing destruction of properties and agricultural land and loss of livelihood for some.

China is now doing poverty eradication on a global scale, most notably in Africa. And the Africans know that and are thankful for that. Chinese loans are not for USA supported Dictators to buy weapons to fight wars against each other, instigated by the Anglo-Saxon Whites. The West used the 'divide and rule' tactic to keep Africans fighting each other and thus remain poor and easily controlled. What China is doing is counter to their interest and the Whites are not giving up the fight, claiming that China is setting 'debt traps' for African nations. Did the Africans really buy into that? Of course not!

Wonder what happened to Biden's grand plans to drive Africa towards a digital economy showpiece, with a miserly US$350 million offer for setting up telecommunication networks, trotted out to 50 African Leaders that were coerced into attending his blotched summit in Washington some time ago. How is US$350 million, or about US$7 million for each African country going to achieve that? By the way, it was supposed to be US$350 billion that he promised initially, not millions, but reduced to just 0.1% of that eventually, with almost a totally bald haircut deep into the scalp. How ridiculous is that in the eyes of the Africans. US$7 million is not even enough to pay for workers to dig holes for installing the relay stations. But as always, the USA thinks the world will just forget about its atrocious promises that it often failed to keep. Those allies that have been promised USA's 'iron clad support' or 'the last man standing support' better wake up, especially the Taiwanese.

That also keeps me wondering about the progress of the India/Middle East/Europe
Corridor grand plan, hatched by Biden a year ago. It was to rival the BRI, nothing as grand as merely building castles in the air. With the war in the Middle East, the Houthis operating in the region and the Israel/Hamas conflict not ending any time soon, I think that project can go the way of the dinosaurs. Biden will not be around to see it, even to witness its implementation. India had just been taken for a ride and enjoying a wild goose chase. Oh, there was even talk by Biden of building a railroad across the Indian Ocean to link up with Japan and India. Talk about stupidity having no cure!

Talking and chanting slogans is easy. Plucking grand plans out of thin air, without thinking and studying the problems involved is not going to work. It is not as simple as turning on the printing press 24 house a day printing toilet papers.

Anonymous

American dollar killing Japanese Yen

 What is Japan going to do with a plunging Yen? The USA, the main culprit of Japan's economic and evolving problems is not going to help by reducing interest rates. Japan can forget about it as the USA is facing real problems itself, with another bank failure, the first this year, vis a vis Republic Bank Bancorp.

According to reports, Japanese have been living with negative 'real wage' increases for years. Japan just recently announced a big wage increase for workers, but it failed to make the Japanese go out to spend to stimulate the economy. This is probably a trait of Asians like the Chinese as well. The falling Yen is forcing Japanese to save even more, knowing the global economic problems and the geopolitical shift coming.

More wage increases are going to make Japanese products even less competitive globally despite the falling Yen, not to talk about their competing in the Chinese market, which is Japan's second biggest export market after the USA. A falling yen may help Japan, but that is still way beyond competing with products made by Chinese companies and selling in China. So, what is going to happen to Japanese cars, possibly the only Japanese export of great relevance.

If the falling Yen is a blessing in disguise for Japan, why is Kishida talking about action needed to stabilize the Yen falling further? There are obviously serious consequences befalling Japan going forward. First and foremost is the effect on its citizen's cost of living with the falling Yen. Of course, do not expect Japanese citizens to protest or mount a revolution against that, just as in Red Dot. The Japanese will just bear with it and just tolerate Japan becoming the 'Sick Man of Asia'. Does that ring a bell?

Anonymous

Apple paying 'slave wages' in India and China

 Oh, don't forget their 'free to freeload from the hard work of others' with their toilet papers.

After freeloading for decades, they came back to claim that 'slave wages' were used to produce such goods that they had been 'freeloading' and enjoying for decades. In other words, Apple and other USA and Western entities in China were paying 'slave wages' to Chinese workers since setting up their production bases and they should take the blame. Why blame the Chinese Government for that?

Truth be said, India by definition is also paying 'slave wages' to Indian workers in Apple's factory in India today. Apple wants to move to India to continue paying 'slave wages' in order to make bigger profits at the expense of Indian workers. How come the USA and the West are not advocating against those 'slave wages' in India? Double standard again? Is it because India is their asset to counter China and no criticism is allowed, just like Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

Western hypocrisy knows no limits. It is becoming a disease. An incurable disease.

Anonymous

Philippines - would the Americans die to defend Philippines' claim on reefs in the South China Sea?

 The brave and 'heroes to be' Pinoys are now very high on American fentanyl, believing that the Americans would come to their aid, to defend the Philippines in its contest for reefs in the South China Sea. And Zelensky's double in Bong Bong would be the first to tell the Pinoys to fight till the last Pinoy to protect the Philippines, while he protects his family fortune held at ransom in the US.

And his confidence of the Americans sending American boys and girls to fight and die for the Pinoys must have gained credence with the unfailing American support for Zelensky, Nethanyahu and the incoming President of Taiwan Island, Lai Shing Te. Oops, oops, the Americans are still not committing American boots on the ground in Ukraine, though some are there as contractors or mercenaries. In Israel, they are just donning Israeli uniforms like in the 6 Days War. But not to worry, it is only a matter of time before the Americans send their boys and girls into Ukraine and Israel when the wars hot up and defeat stares in their faces. The Americans cannot afford to lose Ukraine and Israel, as it would mean the end of the American Empire and ruling the world like unchallenged gangsters.

For decades, the Americans have no qualms about sending American boys and girls into wars in Asia and the Middle East. The Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghan War, Iraq War, Syrian War. So sending American boys and girls to the Philippines for orgy should be no problem. The American boys and girls love the good time they will be having in the Philippines, another paradise on earth.

Have things changed and would the Americans walk away from their rhetorical support for the Philippines when the time comes? The fear of the Americans to send soldiers into Ukraine is a point to consider. They are reluctant so far. What have changed?

In the earlier wars when the Americans were happily sending their boys and girls to fight, thinking they would not die, was that the Americans were carrying the biggest club to clobber anyone that dared to stand in their way. However, the results proved the Americans very wrong, and they were clobbered, not only in Korea, Vietnam, but also in Afghanistan, and to some extent in Iraq. Many American boys and girls went home in black body bags.

In the contest in the South China Sea, this time the opponents are also carrying clubs as big as the Americans. This would make the Americans ponder about this wild adventure or misadventure. From the start the Americans know that they did not have any tactical or strategic advantage against China. And to pit a small fraction of the American forces against the full might of the PLA on their doorstep is in a way foolhardy. In another way, the American forces would be nothing more than a Mickey Mouse against a fire breathing dragon. The simple answer, no fight, no contest, even if all the other Mickey Mouses like Japan, Australia, New Zealand and even France, UK or Canada would to chip in piece meal with their antique bath tubs to take on China.

So, rational thinking, would the Americans send their boys and girls to fight a losing proposition against China in the South China Sea all for a few reefs the Pinoys want to claim against China? Would Bong Bong and his war hawks in the military have the intelligence to see the real picture, or choose to be high on fentanyl and hallucinate that taking on China is like 'chasing the dragon'?

Budget 2024 supports for younger seniors

 

The above are parts of the support for younger seniors in the 2024 Budget. There are also supports given to the older seniors in the Merdeka and Pioneer Generations. The big question is whether these supports are sufficient are should be called 'support'?

How much is the govt taxing the seniors, many already having no income, many with their savings dried up, many have their CPF savings emptied, and whether the supports given even measure up to the numerous tax and fee hikes the seniors would have to pay for. Every time there is a tax or fee hike, it is as good as robbing the poor seniors, with many with nothing left to be robbed. No money means no money!

The govt is very proud of the supports being given to the seniors, younger or older. If the supports are in excess of what the govt is taking from the seniors, the seniors should be grateful for the little kindness. If the supports are less than what the govt is taking back, how can it be called support?

The poor seniors, many already drawing blanks from their savings, really need assistance, except those seniors that were used to earn millions and millionaires. Instead of giving them assistance, financial assistance other than medical programmes, it would be merciful to stop adding more taxes and fare/fee hikes on them. 

In simple terms, the support or help must be more than what the govt is taking back from the seniors, especially the many seniors that have no more income. They cannot shoulder the burden of ever increasing taxes and fees or fare hikes.

Have mercy on the seniors while you enjoy your million dollar pay. The poor seniors are living in a dire world of their own, in silence. Stop robbing the seniors!