China says ‘hacker empire’ US is ‘spreading rumours’ with talk of Cuba spy station
BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry on Friday (Jun 9) said “spreading rumours and slander” is a common tactic of the United States, following a media report that Beijing has reached a deal with Cuba to set up an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. Citing US officials familiar with classified intelligence,Continue Reading
Indonesia indigenous group requests internet blackout
Officials in the district of Lebak told AFP they received the letter on Monday, and had agreed to talk with Indonesia’s information ministry to try and comply with the request. “Essentially we want to always accommodate what the Baduy people want, and need to maintain their traditions and local wisdom,”Continue Reading
Russia slowly shifting toward a total war economy
As Russia’s progress in Ukraine has stalled, with enormous losses in material and people, the frustrated head of the Wagner mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin has called for Russia to shift to a total war economy:
The Kremlin must declare a new wave of mobilization to call up more fighters and declare martial law and force ‘everyone possible’ into the country’s ammunition production efforts. We must stop building new roads and infrastructure facilities and work only for the war.
His words echo similar sentiments expressed by the head of Russia’s state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonyan – an influential supporter of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin – who said recently:
Our guys are risking their lives and blood every day. We’re sitting here at home. If our industry is not keeping up, let’s all get a grip! Ask anyone. Aren’t we all ready to come help for two hours after work?
Already facing Western sanctions since its annexation of Crimea and occupation of territory in Ukraine’s eastern provinces in 2014, Russia has had to adapt to life under an increasingly harsh series of economic punishments.
And, while Putin had apparently planned for a relatively short “special military operation”, this conflict has become a protracted and expensive war of attrition.
The Economist has estimated Russian military spending at 5 trillion rubles (US$60.5 billion) a year, or 3% of its GDP, a figure the magazine describes as “a puny amount” compared to its spending in the second world war. Other estimates are higher – the German Council on Foreign Relations (GDAP) estimates US$90 billion, or more like 5% of GDP.
But the international sanctions have hit the economy hard. They have affected access to international markets and the ability to access foreign currency and products. And the rate at which the Russian military is getting through equipment and ammunition is putting a strain on the country’s defense industry.
So the Kremlin faces a choice: massively increasing its war efforts to achieve a decisive breakthrough, or continuing its war of attrition. The latter would aim to outlast Ukraine in the hope that international support may waver in the face of a global cost of living crisis.
Equipment shortages
Russia has lost substantial amounts of arms and ammunition.
In March 2023, UK armed forces minister James Heappey estimated that Russia had lost 1,900 main battle tanks, 3,300 other armored combat vehicles, 73 crewed, fixed-wing aircraft, several hundred uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) of all types, 78 helicopters, 550 tube artillery systems, 190 rocket artillery systems and eight naval vessels.
Russia has to contend with several important military-industrial challenges. For one, its high-technology precision-guided weapons require access to foreign technology.
This is now unavailable – or restricted to sanctions-busting deals which can only supply a fraction of what is needed. Most of the high-tech electronic components used by the Russian military are manufactured by US companies.
So it has to substitute these with lower-grade domestic components, which is probably why the Russian military is using its high-tech weaponry sparingly. But the artillery shells on which it has been relying are running short.
US think tank the Center for Security and International Studies has reported US intelligence estimates that since February 2022, export controls have degraded Russia’s ability to replace more than 6,000 pieces of military equipment.
Sanctions have also forced key defense industrial facilities to halt production and caused shortages of critical components for tanks and aircraft, among other materiel.
Make do, mend – and spend
There are clear signs of increasing efforts to address the shortages.
According to a report in the Economist, Dmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, has recently announced plans for the production of 1,500 modern tanks in 2023. Russian news agency Tass reported recently Medvedev also plans to oversee a ramping up of mass production of drones.
The government is reported to be providing substantial loans to arms manufacturers and even issuing orders to banks to do the same. Official statistics indicate that the production of “finished metal goods” in January and February was 20% higher compared to the previous year.
The GDAP reported in February: “As of January 2023, several Russian arms plants were working in three shifts, six or seven days a week, and offering competitive salaries. Hence, they can increase production of those weapon systems that Russia is still able to manufacture despite the sanctions.”
So it appears the Kremlin is playing a delicate balancing act of redirecting significant resources to the military and related industries while trying to minimize the disruption of the general economy, which would risk losing the support of large sections of the population.
The International Monetary Fund has projected Russia’s economy to grow by 0.7% this year (which would trump the UK’s projected growth of 0.4%). This will largely be underpinned by export revenues for hydrocarbons as well as arms sales to various client countries happy to ignore Western sanctions.
Meanwhile diversifying import sources has kept stores stocked. However, Russian public opinion pollster Romir has reported that while most people aren’t worried about the absence of sanctioned goods, about half complained that the quality of substituted goods had deteriorated.
So ordinary Russians – those who haven’t lost loved ones on the battlefield or to exile – remain relatively sanguine about everyday life. But a longer, more intense conflict, requiring a shift to a total war economy, could be a different matter altogether.
Christoph Bluth is Professor of International Relations and Security, University of Bradford
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Cities in southwest China flooded after heavy rain
BEIJING: Non-stop heavy rain lashed parts of southwest China on Friday (Jun 9), triggering floods in some cities, engulfing roads and partially submerging buildings. A particularly harsh first bout of summer rains known locally as “dragon boat water” saw the city of Beihai in the Guangxi region log 453ml ofContinue Reading
UMNO youth chief calls on government to ban comedian Jocelyn Chia from entering Malaysia
During his policy speech on Thursday at the UMNO 2023 general assembly, Mr Akmal said that the comments made by Chia on Malaysia “is an insult that cannot be accepted by UMNO youth and all Malaysians”.
He added that he had instructed members of the UMNO youth executive council to file a police report against Chia.
A video clip of Chia performing stand-up at the Comedy Cellar club in New York sparked controversy among Malaysians when she was seen making jokes about Singapore’s relationship with Malaysia.
She commented on Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, saying that Singapore has gone on to become a first-world country and that Malaysia was “still a developing” one.
Chia also said that Malaysian airplanes “can’t fly” and that “some jokes don’t land”, in an apparent reference to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which went missing on Mar 8, 2014.
On Thursday, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon published a statement, saying he’s “appalled by the gratuitously offensive comments made by Jocelyn Chia”. He reiterated that Chia was no longer a Singaporean and that her views did not reflect those of the Singapore Government.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Thursday said that Singapore is sorry for the offence and hurt caused to all Malaysians over statements made by the comedian.
In a reply to a Twitter post by Malaysia’s former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq, Dr Balakrishnan said he was appalled by her horrendous statements.
“She certainly does not speak for Singaporeans,” said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that Singapore treasures its “ties with family and friends in Malaysia”.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir also condemned Chia’s “lack of sensitivity and empathy” towards Malaysians and the families of MH370 victims.
“This video also clearly depicts behaviour that is contrary to the values of Asian countries that are known for their manners and morals,” he said, according to Bernama.
“I believe this is not a stance or action accepted by any country let alone reflect the official stance of any government.”
Additional reporting by Fadza Ishak.
Does China really have the chops to end the Ukraine war?
The Russia–Ukraine conflict is like a complex and multi-dimensional chess game, and China’s emergence as a potential peacemaker has incited much debate.
China’s diplomatic turnaround, from its tacit non-involvement to an assertive diplomatic role, raises questions about China and Russia’s “no limits” partnership and China’s apparent reluctance to class the Russia-Ukraine standoff as a war.
The crux of the matter boils down to whether China has the diplomatic prowess and leverage to assume a role as peacemaker in the conflict and how it can maneuver to achieve such an objective.
The vestiges of the Cold War continue to inform Russia’s relationship with the West and Kiev’s diplomatic reliance on Western powers further fuels Moscow’s distrust. Amid this difficult situation, Beijing emerges as a potentially viable mediator.
Russia’s endorsement of China’s 12-point peace plan and Ukraine’s initial favorable response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow bolster China’s position.
Despite widespread skepticism, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky extended an invitation to Xi to visit Kiev. The invitation emphasized China’s potential role in the negotiation process.
China’s growing clout in global politics and diplomatic experience, as Beijing’s role in mediating the Saudi Arabia–Iran conflict in March 2023 demonstrated, may equip it for such a complex task.
There are reasons to believe China is ready and willing to serve as a mediator or peacemaker in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
China’s diplomatic playbook consists of strategic major-country diplomacy initiatives aimed at fostering a global community with a shared future. This diplomatic strategy sets China apart from traditional realist perceptions of alliances.
China aims to establish itself as a supporter of the liberal world order. China maintains an aloof stance on the war and has asserted that it is “neither an instigator nor a party to the crisis.” This non-aligned stance underscores China’s bid for a peace-oriented global image that is distinct from traditional great powers’ roles in conflicts.
China’s broader geopolitical concerns further bolster its motivation to play a mediator role in the conflict. China’s diplomatic rift with the United States, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the overall East Asian power dynamics are pushing Beijing to reassess the stability of its Western periphery.
Resolving the Russia–Ukraine conflict would allow China to concentrate more intensively on its Eastern front and further its security interests.
China’s diplomatic approach is multi-pronged and nuanced. Its primary strategy was to encourage Russia toward dialogue. China’s diplomatic leverage hinges on Russia’s receptiveness to dialogue – an aspect that Xi emphasized in his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But critics argue that China has not exerted enough pressure on Russia, prolonging the conflict and exacerbating Ukraine’s suffering.
China’s broader diplomatic philosophy rebuffs the notion of hierarchical power dynamics between nations — a principle echoed in its 12-point peace plan.
From Beijing’s perspective, enforcing a resolution could deepen mistrust with Moscow, escalate long-term diplomatic tensions and risk casting China as a hegemonic power. This strategy could undermine China’s carefully cultivated image as a promoter of global peace.
China’s diplomatic intent appears primarily focused on stabilizing Russia – assuaging Russia’s aggression and encouraging it towards peace talks – and then initiating ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine.
This strategy was hinted at in Xi’s conversation with Zelensky, in which he emphasized that “dialogue and negotiations are the only viable paths forward.” Should Ukraine acquiesce to this diplomatic approach, it would lay the groundwork for further China-led engagement.
China has maintained an active presence in wider diplomatic endeavors in an effort to legitimize its role as a mediator. Encouraging endorsements from international figures, such as the leaders of France, Brazil and Spain, aid China’s aspirations to facilitate a ceasefire.
China’s special envoy on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, has been on a diplomatic marathon, engaging with key stakeholders in Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia. While these deliberate diplomatic interventions have not yet yielded substantive outcomes, they highlight China’s commitment to resolving the conflict.
But playing a mediator role could be a high-stakes gamble for China. Both Russia and Ukraine hold entrenched positions and the requisite conditions for dialogue — a genuine commitment to negotiation and a ceasefire — are missing.
While there’s a certain plausibility to Xi’s assertion that “dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way forward,” it contrasts with the United States’ decision to back its allies in training Ukrainian forces to operate F-16 fighter jets.
The US move to enable the supply of Western jets to Ukraine could intensify the conflict and render Beijing’s mediation efforts futile, casting a shadow over China’s image as a peace broker.
While the culmination of China’s mediation efforts remains uncertain, the success of China’s role in resolving the Russia–Ukraine conflict depends on its diplomatic capabilities and the dynamics of global politics. The international community is keenly observing China’s careful diplomatic maneuvering amid the escalating tensions.
The tangible impact and effectiveness of China’s mediation will ultimately be evaluated on the basis of its ability to bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict — a metric that underscores the urgency of solving this international crisis.
Xiaoli Guo is Visiting Fellow at the Australian Centre on China at the World at The Australian National University.
This article was originally published by East Asia Forum and is republished under a Creative Commons license.
Police arrest man over B1.2m healthcare fraud
Hundreds of visits to state hospitals made over several years to obtain medicines
Police on Friday arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of healthcare fraud that caused more than 1.2 million baht in damages to the National Health Security Office (NHSO).
The suspect, identified only as Sukho, was apprehended at a hospital in Ratchathewi district of Bangkok after Crime Suppression Division (CSD) investigators received a tip-off that he was about to make a hospital visit.
He was accused by the NHSO, which operates the universal health coverage scheme, of committing healthcare fraud for several years by seeking services that were not medically necessary.
The fraud was first detected in February 2020 when the NHSO reviewed the records of a patient who sought emergency treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) every few days at different state-run hospitals.
An investigation found that from 2010 to 2016, the same patient made 675 requests for emergency treatment for COPD and other illnesses at various hospitals in different provinces.
He was prescribed oral and inhaled medications to alleviate symptoms on most visits.
According to the NHSO, inhaled medication for COPD can be used 200 times per bottle or for 60 days, so the patient’s frequent visits were irregular.
Considering the market prices of inhaled medications, between 350 and 400 baht per bottle, the office suspected the person was committing fraud and reselling the medication.
The financial damage from the fraud committed from 2010 to 2016 was estimated at over 1.2 million baht.
Thai names chosen for distant stars
Interest in astronomy sparked by contest staged by international body, says researcher
Two Thai names are among 20 pairs selected by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for exoplanets and their host stars, according to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Narit).
“Kaewkosin-Phailinsiam” was selected for the red dwarf star GJ 3470 and its bluish-green planet GJ 3470b, Narit researcher Supachai Awiphan said after results of the NameExoWorlds 2022 contest sponsored by the IAU were released this week.
The celestial objects are 95.9 light years from the solar system and located in the constellation of Cancer. The names, proposed by Hassadin Pattanakorn and Chalermwut Samana, were voted on by Thais in an online poll before being submitted.
Kaewkosin refers to the crystals of the Hindu deity Indra in the Thai language, alluding to the ancient belief that the stars were gemstones.
Phailinsiam is the Thai term for the blue “Siamese Sapphire”, alluding to the detection of a phenomenon known as “Rayleigh scattering” in the planet’s atmosphere, suggestive of blue skies.
Mr Supachai said the selection of “Kaewkosin-Phailinsiam” has delighted Thai astronomy circles because Thai astronomers were the first to observe the distant bodies through telescopes at the National Observatory on Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai province.
He said the study in Thailand of planets outside the solar system has made significant progress since then. Thai astronomers have demonstrated their potential in international astronomy research through a number of discoveries over the past decade, he added.
Mr Supachai said two pairs of Thai names were selected earlier for exoplanets and host stars by the IAU as part of its NameExoWorlds project: Chalawan-Tapaokaew-Tapathong for the 47 UMa planetary system and Chaophraya-Maeping for WASP-50.
The NameExoWorlds 2022 contest was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO).
The contest attracted 603 entries from 91 countries in which some 8,800 individuals worked in teams, putting forward outreach initiatives that stimulated the direct participation of almost 12 million people worldwide.
Many of the 20 pairs of names selected for exoplanets and their host stars pay homage to fauna and flora with cultural significance and celebrated folktales, mythologies and lore from around the world, including words in Cherokee, Taino, Zoque, Chinese and Korean.
73 written warnings issued to diners who failed to return trays, crockery, since stepped-up enforcement on Jun 1
SINGAPORE: A total of 73 written warnings have been issued to diners in a week since the start of stepped-up enforcement against those who do not return their trays and crockery, the authorities said on Friday (Jun 9).
In the past week, daily enforcement operations have taken place at 95 hawker centres and 120 coffee shops or food courts, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in a joint media release.
Enforcement action was stepped up on Jun 1 against diners at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts who failed to return used trays and crockery. As of Jun 7, 73 written warnings have been issued.
“Each individual issued with a written warning had been observed by enforcement officers to be physically able to clear their tables,” said NEA and SFA.
The agencies added that enforcement will not be taken against those who are observed to be unable to clear their tables, such as frail elderly, the less abled, or children.
“In such instances, family members or dining companions, if present, should help with the clearing of the tables,” the agencies stated.
No fines were issued between Jun 1 and Jun 7 as there were no repeat offenders.
The authorities also reminded diners not to leave behind litter, such as used tissues, drink cans, shells and bones, but to return them with the trays and used crockery.
“While cleaners will wipe the tables after use, we do encourage diners to keep the tables clean as much as possible, especially during peak periods,” said SFA and NEA.
“We thank the vast majority of diners who have displayed social graciousness at our hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts. We also urge the public to cooperate with enforcement officers if approached.”
Under the enhanced enforcement, first-time offenders will be issued written warnings, while repeat offenders will be fined or charged in court.
Before the tougher measures kicked in, enforcement officers will only issue written warnings to those who refuse to heed their advice to return their trays and crockery.
Sequoia split anticipates new China sanctions
Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s oldest and most successful venture capital funds, is dividing itself into three independent regional businesses to simplify management and reduce political risk.
The company’s operations in the US and Europe will continue to use the name Sequoia Capital. Operations in India and Southeast Asia have been combined and rebranded as Peak XV Partners. Peak XV was the original designation given by British surveyors to Mount Everest. Operations in China will be called HongShan, which means Sequoia.
On June 6, Sequoia announced that “It has become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business… This has made using centralized back-office functions more of a hindrance than an advantage… We will move to completely independent partnerships and become distinct firms with separate brands no later than March 31, 2024.”
The company’s statement, which also mentioned “market confusion due to the shared Sequoia brand” and “portfolio conflicts,” was signed by Roelof Botha, managing partner of Sequoia Capital; Shailendra Singh, managing director of Peak XV Partners; and Neil Shen, founding and managing partner of Sequoia China.
Not mentioned in the statement, but almost certainly a factor in the division decision, are widespread expectations that the Biden administration will soon issue new, tighter restrictions on US investment in China. This is a concern for both US and Chinese investors and Sequoia has reportedly hired consultants to advise it on the issue.
What types of investment might be restricted is not yet known but media reports line up the usual suspects: semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI).
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that any new restrictions would be “narrowly scoped and targeted at technologies where there are clear national security implications.” But what Treasury considers “narrowly scoped” could affect a wide swath of high-tech venture capital investments.
In a report issued at the beginning of May, the Peterson Institute for International Economics wrote that:
“The US government must finally decide whether its primary concern is with the effects of capital or knowhow/technology transfer. If it is capital, the impact on China will be small. China’s venture capital sector was managing around $280 billion at the end of 2019, compared to $403 billion in the US. A recent report from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology found that only 37% of fundraising rounds by value for Chinese AI companies included any US investor. Clearly, Chinese AI firms and presumably also tech startups in other sectors do not rely on US capital.”
The Peterson Institute is not alone in thinking that new investment restrictions might be ineffective. On May 25, Patrick McHenry, chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, sent Secretary Yellen a highly critical letter requesting detailed evidence that Treasury would achieve its purported goals. In part, it reads:
Dear Secretary Yellen,
I am writing in regard to the Administration’s proposed Executive Order on outbound investment, the imminent release of which has been rumored since last year.
According to briefings provided by the Administration, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) may transform CFIUS into a committee on foreign investment in the United States and China, prohibiting deals in certain Chinese technology sectors and mandating investor notifications in others. As we prepare for your testimony before the Committee, I would request your feedback on the following matters.
Last year, China recorded a current account surplus of $417.5 billion, the highest level since 2008. The last time an Administration tried to restrict financing against a large current account surplus country [Russia], in 2014, it failed. Do Treasury and the Administration really believe that investment restrictions will be effective this time – particularly against a surplus country that holds $3 trillion in reserves?
… Given Treasury’s longstanding principle that coercive measures must achieve clear objectives, it is unclear why the Administration now wants to repeat the same policies in China but expects different results.
The Administration further claims that U.S. investments in early-stage Chinese companies may require the declaration of a national emergency. However, U.S. venture capital deals in China have fallen by 87 percent since 2018.1 At their height, these investments were concentrated in later-stage companies. Moreover, U.S. venture capital firms typically acquire control, substantive decision-making rights, board seats, or material nonpublic technical information when they invest.
As your colleagues in the Office of Investment Security know, these represent potential national security risks to the target country – in this case, China. It is inexplicable that the Administration hopes to rescue China from these risks before Beijing can. At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is already cracking down on Western firms and business intelligence services, the Administration should reject an E.O. that advances Beijing’s goals.
And that’s not all. The Peterson Institute report ends with this comment: “Whatever Washington decides, its rules could remake the US government’s relationship with its firms, investors and the world.” That, of course, is already happening.
Sequoia Capital was founded in 1972 by Don Valentine, “the grandfather of Silicon Valley venture capital.” It was an early investor in Apple Computer, Atari, LSI Logic, Oracle, Cisco, Electronic Arts, Google and Nvidia. Having started as a $3 million fund, it reportedly had approximately $85 billion under management in 2022.
Sequoia entered China in 2005 and India in 2006. In China, where its investments have included Alibaba, ByteDance, Meituan and JD.com, assets under management have risen to as much as $56 billion. It is the largest venture capital company in India with assets valued at about $9 billion.
This was achieved with what is regarded as unusually decentralized decision making:
“Our founder-focused, local-first approach has been key to our success in each region… Sequoia China has made substantial investments in healthcare and traditional consumer sectors alongside technology investments… Sequoia India has been instrumental in cultivating the startup ecosystem in India and SEA [Southeast Asia… Each entity is now a market leader.”
Once back-office functions, infrastructure and profit-sharing have been completely separated, there will be three venture capital firms instead of one, two of them domiciled outside the US. An example has been set. Sequoia will probably not be the only investment firm to take this route around US sanctions.
Follow this writer on Twitter: @ScottFo83517667