Commentary ,Asia ,Business

A NEW ERA OF TECHNO-IMPERIALISM

The move exposes a new reality: Musk’s proximity to the US president, known for his transactional approach to foreign policy, is impacting how countries are writing regulations – and in ways that stand to further enrich the billionaire.

Musk’s pseudo-government role is already causing consternation in Washington over a slew of potential conflicts of interest. Vietnam’s change of heart reveals how this new era of techno-imperialism is quietly reshaping policy in developing countries.

Vietnam isn’t alone in its efforts to court the world’s wealthiest man and his political clout. Bangladesh’s interim leader recently invited Musk to visit the country and launch Starlink.

It’s true that expanding access to satellite internet has upsides in both countries; the service can help boost connectivity across harder-to-reach mountainous and rural regions. And these nations have nothing to gain by trying to separate Musk’s business empire from US foreign policy.

Vietnam, meanwhile, is going through its own government overhaul. Leaders recognize that tariffs would devastate their export-driven economy. Opening its tech savvy market up to Musk’s business, even without a domestic partner, still seems like a wiser option. And it’s an attention-grabbing way to chip away at its trade surplus with the US.

But is Vietnam setting up a bad precedent? Should the personal business interests of Trump’s “first buddy” be enough to alter US trade policy? Is opening up your marketplace to Musk a sufficient reason to avoid the president’s long-promised tariffs?

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The C919 made its high-profile global display at the Singapore Air Show, where China’s Tibet Airlines announced an attempt for 40 C919 flights. In fact, commands for the plane have been confined to Chinese-owned flights. These payments are commonly seen as state-directed more than market-driven, a fact that has dampened the jet’s global beauty.

The C919’s minimal charm stems in part from its reliance on American pieces. Despite being labelled a” Chinese-made” or “homegrown” flight, many of its crucial parts– including aircraft and engines– are sourced from American manufacturers. Some sceptics also suggest that the plane’s style borrows strongly from Boeing’s 737 initiative, with complaints of intellectual property theft lingering in the background.

Yet Beijing’s interests extend well beyond the C919, as they did beyond the ARJ21, China’s first major attempt at corporate jet production. When China sought to develop its aerospace business by co-producing the MD-80 line, the ARJ21 was born out of a troubled relationship in the 1980s with McDonnell Douglas, a significant American aviation company at the time. &nbsp,

In the end, the joint venture failed, leaving China with dated layouts and some technical expertise. The ARJ21, greatly derived from the MD-80, retained a 1980s aircraft and struggled to meet current performance requirements, limiting its allure also domestically.

Substantial Opposition

The C919, by comparison, was marketed as a change from this joint-venture reputation. It is China’s second major attempt to build a jet designed for international profitability, embracing modern architecture and the ARJ21’s training. China’s aircraft prowess and advertising skills have been tested on the C919.

Nor is the C919 the sum of China’s motivation. A widebody C929 project was originally envisioned as a joint venture with Russia, just to shop following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China eventually took full control, and should it triumph, it may solidify China’s position in the global aircraft industry – moving from metaphorical milestones to meaningful competition.

The C929 was envisioned as a direct competition to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and Airbus’s A350, premier models in the widebody industry and symbols of American plane production supremacy. Unlike the single-aisle C919, the C929 is designed for long-haul flights and capable of carrying more passengers. &nbsp,

Initially, the C929 was to feature engines from Western manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce or General Electric. Beijing is now doubling down on efforts to develop the CJ-2000 engine, a domestically produced alternative. &nbsp,

If successful, this would make the C929 more homegrown of a jet than the C919, reducing China’s reliance on Western technology.

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A GOOD WAY TO SEE BEYOND BALI

Not all visitors are welcome. Authorities have talked about how badly behaved some are, and&nbsp, the&nbsp, risk&nbsp, to&nbsp, native culture. Holiday-makers&nbsp, posing&nbsp, dressed on spiritual mountains, allegations of substance abuse, and strikes on local people have exhausted endurance. The state deported more than 100 tourists&nbsp, last month, and&nbsp, imposed a bicycle restrictions after a flurry of hazardous road accidents. &nbsp,

Previous&nbsp, governments have tried to solve these problems when, but nothing has worked, largely because of a lack of policy implementation. Even with this strategy to temporarily halt growth, which sounds great on report, there is no obvious timeframe. &nbsp,

Indonesian authorities have a number of practical options. &nbsp, A&nbsp, rail travel plan, connecting the aircraft with popular tourist hubs, did go a long way to solve the deadlock problem.

But many Balinese say they&nbsp, do n’t see it benefiting them, and the construction will no doubt add to the current traffic. A conclusion meeting of 2027 is being discussed, but even before the job has kicked off properly&nbsp, there are concerns about an depending on Chinese companies, and the probability that it could be held up by local laws. &nbsp,

It’s time to appear beyond Bali, and&nbsp, extend Indonesia’s vacation destination options. &nbsp,

Other islands, like Sumba&nbsp, and Labuan Bajo, are starting to become popular with discerning travelers, though none has Bali ‘s&nbsp, the mass appeal. Improving weather communication and equipment, and advertising them better, may go a long way toward attracting more visitors. This may help to reduce the dependency on Bali as a cash cow, and even increase to&nbsp, Indonesia’s attractiveness as a holiday spot. &nbsp,

With hundreds of different ethnic groups and dialects, three distinct time zones, and a long history of intertwining between London and Baghdad, Indonesia is a large and beautiful nation that spans the west to east coast. The following Bali is simply waiting to be discovered. You will be praised by the island’s angels for it.

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