France asked India to ground the Rafales. What does this mean?

 India is still denying that its game changer Rafales, one can take down 5 Chinese J20s, were not shot down. With these world class air superiority aircraft, they strutted along the Pakistan India border like untouchable, challenging the Pakistanis to a fight, thinking the Pakistanis would chicken out as their Chinese jets are inferior and would easily be shot down, 1 to 5 or more.

The debris of the Indian Rafales are scattered everywhere on the ground. The French have acknowledged that the Rafales had been shot down, at least two and looking for more, how many more? The French were more shocked and embarrassed by the downing of the Rafales by China's J10 C which all western sources sneered at as inferior, just like Made in China luxury bags and watches... until they realised they were the real stuff. American officials also confirmed at least two Rafales have been shot down.

To save more embarrassment, and French reputation, the reputation of their world best air superiority Rafales, the French have requested the Indians to ground all Rafale jets for now. Why? What are the implications of this French position? The French are as good as saying, when the J10s are around, ground all Rafales. The French are also telling the Indians to stop lying. Just admit that the Rafales have been shot down.

The French cannot afford to lose any more Rafales or no one would want to buy them anymore. They are confident of their machine but have great doubts about the ability of the Indian pilots to fly them. The Indians stand to lose their recent contract to buy another 26 Rafales if they ignored the French demand, fly the Rafales and got shot down again. If the Indians agree not to fly the Rafales, they have nothing else to brag or to use against the Pakistanis. All their aircraft are aged and inferior to the JF17s and J10 Cs. In other words, the Indians would have to concede the airspace to the Pakistanis. The Pakistanis would rule the sky and be a great threat to Indian forces and installations on the ground. This is as good as being defeated without fighting.

In the first life air combat between western and Chinese military technology, Chinese technology triumphs. No more lies, no more hypes. The proof is in the pudding.

What would the Indians do? They spent billions for the overpriced Rafales for air superiority and the bragging rights and to threaten the Pakistanis and the Chinese. Now the billions spent on the Rafales are just as good as buying tin cans. India is now the laughing stock of the whole world. It is now countering with more words and propaganda about shooting down Pakistani JF17s and F16s. But no one is going to believe the Indians anymore.

Can the Indians proceed with their plans to invade Pakistan to show the Pakistanis they are the top dog in the region? By the way, India reports claimed that they have shot down Pakistani drones with their S400 missiles, like the Americans using their multi million dollar Patriot missiles to shoot down $10,000 Houthi drones. Why, stupidity, or no effective weapons to take down Pakistani drones? On the hand, the Pakistanis have already shot down more than 125 Indian drones.

Chinese military technology has spoken. They are better than western technology. Battle proven and no more cheap sales. Expensive western weapons do not mean good. Think DeepSeek!

Indians officially admitted 3 planes 'crashed', not shot down...and keeps shaking their heads

India has now officially admitted that three of its planes 'crashed', not shot down. See the picture? Indian sources have been denying the shooting down of their very expensive Rafales jets earlier, but there was so much reporting on the issue on social media about the downed planes, which they countered as fake news earlier on, is now coming back to haunt them.
Yet India is still doing a song and dance about their attack on Pakistan killing civilians, while accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians as well. Some things never change, like when the Israeli's strike at schools, UN relief centers and hospitals, claiming Hama fighters were hiding inside. The Ukrainians were also using civilians as human shields in buildings against Russian attacks during the initial stage of the war.

It now looks like a drone war is being fought with each side claiming shooting down the others drone in huge numbers. After what the Ukrainians and Israelis did to claim the shooting down of more drones than what the other side launched, all this must be taken with a spoonful of salt.


Anonymous

Cabinet reshuffle - No one is born to do the job except for 2 irreplaceables

No one is born to do the job. They are trained and gather experience for the job.
Low Thia Khiang told us that when he was elected MP for Hougang SMC in 1991, he was just like a new-born baby trying to survive in a political establishment that basically wanted to see him collapse, by placing hurdles in front of him. They did not even see it fit initially to allow him to set up a decent place for him to do his job or meet residents. This is from the mouth of an elderly lady when interviewed recently, and which is why Hougang SMC had such support from residents like her for more than 34 years. Residents of Hougang SMC will not allow Hougang SMC to fall, after all the difficulties faced by Low to be allowed to go to waste. Hougang residents faced much discrimination and deprivation over the decades, but the ruling party failed to break their spirit.

Therefore, talent is a debatable issue. We have heard of the gloating of Prime Minister materials culled from army generals in the past, that were purposefully inducted on the coattails of LKY or other big guns but fell far short of expectations. What those generals may undertake with flying colors in the army does not necessarily translate into becoming good leaders in the political arena.

Enough said.


Anonymous

Major cabinet reshuffle

As anticipated, Lawrence Wong, with his new mandate, would be rearranging the pieces in his cabinet. How many old furniture would he removed and replaced by new furniture is now a new topic for discussion. There are many reasons, including international issues that would necessitate such a change.  CNA has a piece on this new development and below are two positions that have been put forward.

'That said, some portfolios may remain untouched despite long tenures, particularly in “specialist ministries” such as trade and industry, foreign affairs, law and home affairs, said Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of Terra Corporate Affairs.

Among the current batch of Cabinet members, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has been leading foreign affairs for 10 years and Mr K Shanmugam has been overseeing home affairs and law for 10 years and 17 years respectively.'

This position states that many old furniture are indispensable and cannot be touched or removed because there is a lack of talent in the cabinet and no one is good enough to replace the incumbents. They are as good as being there for life. Maybe should bring in some new citizens that are more talented in the next GE.

A second view, below, disagrees.

'Singapore Management University’s law don Eugene Tan said the reshuffle would be major, as Mr Wong would want to show the depth of talent within the ruling party.

“Most of the 4G are not ‘his’ people. They all came in at about the same time," Assoc Prof Tan said. "There will be a focus from PM Wong on appointing people at the junior ministerial levels, where they would get their first POH appointments in his tenure.”'

Lawrence Wong would want his own trusted comrades to work with him, men and women with similar ideas and viewpoints, not prima donnas or those with contrarian views that would make his job difficult. Also, there is a need to rejuvenate and bring in new blood and new ideas. Old furniture may be too stuck with old ways and need to be moved aside.

It is a dangerous thing for anyone to think he is indispensable or to think that no one is good enough to take over his job. If an oncologist is good enough as a defence minister, an eye specialist as a foreign minister, anyone is good enough for any ministry in politics. In politics, a politician is an expert in anything without the need for any special training or life long training. The training is on the job.

What is the right fit for a political appointment is not academic or professional training and qualification. The expertise of a ministry is derived from the professionals and experts in the respective ministry. The minister needs a good and clear thinking head and a lot of wisdom to make decisions from the advice of his staff.

The house is set for many furniture to be moved, removed and replaced with new furniture to give it a breath of fresh and nice smelling air.

Made in China is quality and luxury! Made in China has arrived

  For a long time, the Americans and the West have been sneering and attacking China and Chinese goods as copies and of poor qualities. This did not disturb China and China continues to work to improve its products and making many products and brands world class, unbeatable that the Americans and the West are openly showering praises on them. Chinese electric cars are now acknowledged as world best even by American and western car makers. Chinese EV batteries are unbeatable, the best of the best that many American and European brands are using EV batteries from BYD and CATL, including Tesla cars.

DJI drones are the best in its fields, both commercial and military drones. The American military forces are also using DJI drones instead of American made drones. And DJI commercial drones are so good that Ukrainian forces are buying and modifying them for military use. DJI is also famous for its camera jig stabiliser and this is in demand by all Vloggers and movie makers. Not only that, DJI cameras are highly sought after equipment. Yes, Chinese cameras, including those used in all Chinese mobile phones are better than the Japanese. Insta360 X4 is the ultimate Vlogger's action camera in the world.

There are many Chinese made products that are now world best, eg solar panels, high speed trains, bridges, port cranes, tunnel boring machine, big ships, containers, now war planes and warships. 5G/6G are undisputed world number one without any challenger. Oh, as for mobile phones, the West only has Apple while China has Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo that are as good as Apple. 

These Made in China products have gained recognition and acceptance for their quality and performance. The other big array of Chinese products that have gained acceptance as good quality products are electronic and household appliances. America is the biggest laboratory to test these products by the Americans and after more than 30 years of usage, they have grown accustomed to them and gladly accepted them as good products Made in China. Every American household is filled with Made in China products.

Now Trump has delivered China a big gift in his tariff war with China. China has decided to do a complete break with the American economy, complete decouple. As such, China does not need to protect the American and western lies that their luxury branded goods are Made in Italy or France when they are all Made in China. China is exposing this big lie and telling the world, the consumers of branded luxury goods that what they are wearing and carrying, quality handbags and apparels, are all Made in China. China is good enough to make all these goods and have been making them for years to happy and satisfied customers. Made in China is now a major manufacturer of quality luxury goods.

What could happen following this development is that Made in China is the real thing, the good stuff. Either they could continue to make these luxury goods with Chinese brands and boldly embossed Made in China on them and selling them at more affordable prices. The luxury brands may come to terms with China, continue to make their items in China, and embossed Made in China on their branded items, without having to lie to their customers that they were Made in Italy or France. This would be a win win for customers, OEM China and the luxury fashion brands, except that the profit margin may be lower for them, while the Chinese manufacturers, now recognised officially, could get a better deal for their craftsmanship.

The fashion and luxury goods world would not be the same again. Made in China will gain acceptance as quality stuff. Latest, Rolex also admitted they were Made in China. Just think about this, the sales volumes are so huge for Rolex and luxury goods, how many manpower, man hours would be needed if they claimed every piece is handmade and each piece takes days to make?

The latest India Pakistan war blows up in the face of French jet manufacturer Dassault for claiming that the Rafales were world best, costing more than $100m a piece but easily knocked down by China's US$50m a piece J10 C. All the western and American myths and lies are falling into pieces. The buyers are feeling very stupid for paying so much for the hype and all they got were lemons.

No need to spend tens of thousands for a luxury bag or watch. No need to spend billions for AI. No need to spend billions to buy junk weapons from the West. China is offering a better and affordable alternative. This is what the American trade war is all about, China cannot sell cheap and good stuff to the world. The Americans said. They must buy American junks and pay through their noses.