More support beyond wage credits, job redesign grants needed to transform workforce: Firms

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

STAYING Dynamic

A fresh SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant will strengthen existing plans administered by Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore to enable organizations train their workplace. &nbsp,
 
The offer will provide higher cash assistance of up to 70 % for career redesign activities in addition to easing the application process for businesses. &nbsp,
 
Moving from manual to modern operations has helped Union Air Freight stay competitive, in their opinion. &nbsp,
 
” Freight forwarding is a very competitive market, and technologies changes all the time, but we also have to keep pace with the modifications”, said Mr Tan Liang Jian, managing chairman at Union Air Freight. &nbsp,
 
” In the past, a lot of our tasks were quite paper-based, quite manual”, he noted.
 
” After the redesign and also with the flexibility of our program, things are a lot more automatic, and that frees up a lot of time for our staff to focus more on communicating, talking to clients and other sections”.
 
But for some people such as 62-year-old Richard Lee, the change may be difficult. &nbsp,
 
” We have to go for training if we need to, and the ( simpler ) it is, the better”, said the operations manager.
 
He added that he thinks career redesign initiatives can help him focus on other jobs and discover new ways to enhance operations. &nbsp,
 
To enable more seniors be employed, the Senior Employment Credit- which provides income balances to companies that hire Singaporean staff aged 60 and above, and are earning less than S$ 4, 000 ( US$ 2, 995 ) a quarter- will also be extended to end-2026.

Continue Reading

Masahiro Nakai: Is the downfall of a Japanese star a turning point for women’s rights?

By:
On:
In: Asia
2 hours before
Shaimaa Khalil

Tokyo editor

AP Masahiro Nakai stands in front of a poster featuring his boy band SMAPAP

One of Japan’s biggest presenters has been in danger for decades due to a controversy that has ruined one of its most well-known celebrities.

Some people think it also represents a turning point in how sexual assault cases are handled in Japan, where survivors have traditionally been made to apologize.

At its heart was Masahiro Nakai, a family name and leading reporter for Fuji Television, one of the region’s biggest presenters.

Nakai, who is also a former member of the J-Pop boy group SMAP, was charged with sexual assaulting a girl at a dinner party in 2023.

The revelations, which first appeared in the regular tabloid publication Shukan Bunshun in December, were the most recent in a line of scandals involving famous Japanese figures, including that involving soon entertainment mogul Johnny Kitagawa, who was discovered by investigators to had abused hundreds of boys and young men for more than 60 years.

While Nakai didn’t say grief, he apologised for” causing problem” in a speech and said that he had “resolved” the problem with the person in a negotiation, reportedly worth more than half a million dollars.

Nakai, who has also denied using force against the person, was even forced to make an announcement about his retirement from the entertainment business in January as people arose. The Tokyo Broadcasting System, another stream, has even discontinued Nakai’s regular MC appearance on the program.

The effects on Fuji Television has been devastating.

The broadcaster’s reputation is now in wreckage, its income threatened and some of its top executives have been forced to resign.

As people outcry increased, prominent automakers like Nissan and Toyota were among the broadcaster’s clients. Fuji Television has since acknowledged that it still permitted Nakai to remain airing programs despite learning about the allegations.

” Be silent to keep your work,” you say.

” If this had happened 10 years back, there would not have been this outcry”, Keiko Kojima who worked in Japan’s internet business for 15 years as a TV broadcaster, told the BBC.

Physical violence against women is one of Japan’s worst kept techniques. A 2020 study claimed that more than 70 % of physical attack in the country go undetected. And according to a 2024 research published in the International Journal of Asian Studies, for every 1, 000 murders in Japan, just 10–20 result in a legal faith – and fewer than half of convicted criminals are incarcerated.

” There’s also a common approach of’ Shoganai’ or ‘ there’s nothing you can would’ that is being projected on women- so they’re encouraged to stay silent”, Machiko Osawa, professor emeritus at Japan Women’s University in Tokyo, told the BBC.

She added that because people were so rare and lacked proper reporting tools, they were reluctant to share their experiences, which contributed to this society of solitude.

Ms. Kojima noted that young women in particular have long felt they may remain passive in order to keep their jobs because of the advertising industry’s culture of violence and lack of accountability.

” It was common for men to make crude remarks about women’s systems, look, or ages. She said,” I recall being asked how many people we’ve had sexual with, along with my coworkers and I.”

We were expected to respond with humor without offending or enraged. On a daily basis, I witnessed sexual harassment and other kinds of insulting treatment of women. For a female, adapting to these conditions was the only way to become a full-fledged Television or press professional”.

Keiko Kojima Portrait image of Keiko KojimaKeiko Kojima

In light of the Fuji TV situation, was it popular to have dinner and drinking parties with famous people and young women?

Ms Kojima told the BBC that it was indeed popular to use people as” tools for entertaining,” despite Shukan Bunshun retracting an earlier statement that claimed the alleged rape took place at a party organized by Fuji TV.

” In Chinese working society, it’s an everyday exercise to half-forcibly take young girl employees to activities to entertain customers”.

People are delighted when young ladies meet them, they say. The notion that bringing a young person with you is a way of offering generosity to the other people is very prevalent and that women are like gifts are like a product.

That is why the consequences of this incident has encouraged women’s rights activists.

One of the members of the Flower Demo motion, where groups of sexual assault sufferers and their supporters gather in open spaces on the eleventh of every month, Minori Kithara, acknowledged she was surprised at how quickly and seriously the sponsors reacted.

” Even if it’s more of self-preservation than individual rights for partners, this is a turning point for the MeToo activity in Japan. It’s off to us how great we make it”, she told the BBC.

Deeper in humiliation

Getty Images Masahiro Nakai pictured with a mic at an eventGetty Images

Almost 50 firms have walked away from the now tarnished journalist.

Additionally, the state has canceled all of its upcoming and planned community advertisements.

Fuji TV needs to win back viewers ‘ and sponsors ‘ trust, according to the Japanese government. Thus far it seems to have done none.

The incident and the broadcaster’s part in hiding it led to a crisis-management saga that appeared to have pushed the business further into disgrace and fueled more public outcry.

Therefore, Koichi Minato, president of Fuji TV, acknowledged that the business was aware of the rumor just after the alleged incident.

He claimed, however, that they had chosen to ignore it at the moment because they had prioritized the person’s physical and mental healing as well as the protection of her privacy.

The corporation held a second press conference that lasted 10 days and was intended to show regret after the initial outcry that was later turned into a PR disaster.

Shuji Kano, leader of Fuji TV, and Koichi Minato, leader, bowing respectfully as they announced their defections.

It was made known that Mr. Minato may be replaced by Kenji Shimizu as agency’s executive vice president.

However, given that the mayor’s substitute had the same leadership cadre, these were seen as simple face- and revenue-saving exercises rather than significant changes.

Change comes decrease

But, Professor Osawa claimed for the BBC that prominent situations like Fuji TV serve as important norms for the reshaping of these patterns.

The latest in a line of well-known sexual misconduct instances that have sparked discussion on children’s rights in Japan is the story.

These include the case of journalist Shiori Ito, who became a symbol of the country’s #MeToo movement when in 2017 she took the rare step of going public with allegations that Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a senior television journalist, had raped her after she met him for drinks. While he denied the allegations, in 2019 she won her civil lawsuit against him.

” People have now come to terms with the fact that it’s acceptable to speak out and complain about this ( sexual harassment ). We are changing what we take as the norm”, Ms Kojima said.

Ms Kojima and Ms Kithara both say nevertheless, that Japan is not moving quickly enough.

” I think it’s time for that generation ( of media leadership ) to step down. A new business lifestyle must be established in the sector. The shift is slow”. Ms Kojima said.

The Screen industry has long ignored the issue of exploitation and violence and failed to properly deal with the patients. If the root of the problem doesn’t change, the same will happen once”.

BBC News/Jiro Akiba Minori Kitahara at a Flower Demo protest in JapanBBC News/Jiro Akiba

Professor Osawa acknowledges that Japan also has a long way to go even though the pace of change is rapid. primarily as a result of the region’s male-dominated society’s widespread energy imbalance.

She adds that while women have been part of the workforce for decades they’re still seen as the” caretakers” and men as the “breadwinners” by a society that is still heavily shaped by patriarchal values.

” This is an essential day… But it’s vague how much attitudes may change”. she said.

While Ms Kitahara is cheerful, she says she’s nevertheless furious:” The sexual assault not stops”.

Every month, I still meet new survivors at Flower Demo ( protests ) and find out what happened to them. Another time, we had a high school girl. When we started the movement ( In 2019 ) she was probably in Junior High”, she said.

” I hope I’ll always have to go on a Flower Demo opposition again,” said one participant.

Continue Reading

Well-off Hong Kong daunted by record deficits

By:
On:
In: Asia

Hong Kong is facing its most difficult macroeconomic test in three years as a result of a terrible work of enormous deficits, with researchers urging the government to make prudent cuts as the country struggles. After the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, there were a number of imbalancesContinue Reading

AI revolution: wellness, wealth and a world without work – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia, Technology

Nouriel Roubini, a well-known scholar, likes to make provocative estimates. According to Roubini, who is dubbed” Dr. Doom,” the Artificial revolution will result in significant increases in success and customer prices, as well as job losses that could topple to 80 % in many industries.

Roubini predicts that governments will introduce universal basic incomes ( UBI ), unconditional payments that would replace social security, unemployment benefits, and other social benefits, to maintain economic activity and stop widespread social unrest. AI will become subject to a portion of the cost’s taxation. &nbsp,

Roubini’s timeframe for the end of most labor – 20 times – is positive, but AI will eventually eliminate the need for most job as we know it. People will rather appearance for purpose-driven habits. The healthcare sector, which caters to mental, spiritual and physical animal health, could be the main beneficiary.

Graph illustrating the exponential growth of AI ( machine brain ) power. Timeline diagram: Handel Jones, IBS, Inc.

Amara’s laws

In the 1970s, American researcher and futurist Roy Amara made his famous statement about technological adaption that came to be known as Amara’s laws: “We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.”

AI is a case in point. By the 1980s, scientists predicted that AI may exceed individuals in all areas of knowledge. By far more than half a decade, they were off the mark. By 2030, experts today forecast that AI will surpass individual features in the majority of fields.

On the other hand, present innovations show that AI, in combination with large-scale automation and robotics, is bringing us closer to Roubini’s projection: The end of almost all job that relies on regular, repetitive tasks. Advances in East Asia, and particularly China, offer a glimpse of the future.

More than half of the total industrial drones in China are near two million, or nearly half of it. Additionally, Foreign producers have created AI-controlled robots for a range of tasks, including adding and cleaning solar panels, raking up crops, and planting trees.

Chinese manufacturers of technology, batteries, solar panel, and container and logistics companies have reached technology rates of over 90 %. China’s latest electric vehicle ( EV ) factories have the capacity to turn out a car every 30 seconds.

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD recently installed 500 multitasking human robots that can do everything from sorting parts and using energy screwdrivers to carrying out visual quality inspections.

The supply chains and manufacturing processes are undergoing an ever-smaller increase in human work.

By 2030, China may account for nearly half of global production, fueled in large part by its result in the rollout of AI-powered automation and robotics.

AI resurrending itself

AI’s influence will go far beyond increasing production and transportation. Few jobs will be safe, according to the most recent advancements in the creation of Large Language Models ( LLM) like China’s DeepSeek and ChatGPT.

LLMs may produce articles, create technical paperwork, review contracts, analyze clinical images and automated software testing. Facebook’s chairman, Mark Zuckerberg, told an interviewer last month that his business may start replacing software professionals with AI as early as this time.

This year, AI will be performing the work of mid-level engineers, according to Zuckerberg, who added that “we’ll get to the point where most of the script in our apps and the AI we create is really going to be written by AI engineers rather than people engineers.”

There will be extraordinary productivity gains in a growing number of industries. https ://www .statista.com/site/insights-compass-ai-future-ai-work

Abundance

Roubini adheres to the essay of revolutionary Peter Diamantis, co-author of the best book” Abundance: The Coming Is Better Than You Think”. We will soon be able to satisfy the fundamental requirements of every person on earth, including children and men, according to Diamantis. Everything is within our reach, and presence for all is within our reach.

Like Roubini, Diamantis believes that AI, technology, and different systems will be able to produce consumer products in virtually unlimited quantities, and at ever-decreasing value. Consumers will experience a lower cost of living as a result of the deflationary effect, but the challenge will be to keep up with demand, which necessitates addressing wealth inequality.

Wealth inequality in many countries, already at historic levels, will only increase unless mitigating measures are taken. So does Roubini’s claim that the enormous increase in wealth that will be created by AI can be financed by a guaranteed universal basic income ( UBI ) that is on the rise.

Aware of the potential social-economic impact of AI in the coming years, prominent tech industry leaders, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, have voiced support for a UBI. Google, Apple and Cisco have even donated money to UBI pilot projects.

The launch of a UBI is a key factor, according to a study by the UNDP. If introduced too early, it could impact a country’s competitive strength.

Additionally, a UBI would need to be a component of a complete overhaul of the current social security net and the tax system.

Wellness for all

A world without work will mark a milestone in human history, regardless of whether it occurs sooner or later.

In the 20th century, machines reduced the economic value of our physical power. In the 21st century, AI will reduce the economic value of our professional knowledge, be it accountants, architects, or attorneys.

Most people believe that their identity is inextricably linked to their work or professional abilities. Work provides the satisfaction of accomplishment and has largely defined our social standing.

Deprived of the security of work and its accompanying status, people will seek new values and a new purpose-driven lifestyle. The wellness industry, catering to mental, spiritual and physical improvement, could be one of the primary beneficiaries.

The wellness industry will grow by 9 % to 12.5 % in the next decade, outpacing overall economic growth.

The wellness sector can assist in reducing the social and psychological effects of a work-free world. It offers everything from community-based wellness experiences to group therapy, mindfulness training, and courses on integral thinking and resensitizing ourselves to nature. &nbsp,

The wellness industry, which emerged in the 1970s, is expected to grow between 9 % and 12.5 % in the next decade, outpacing the overall economy. Although AI may also have an impact on the wellness sector, work that necessitates human compassion will be largely shielded from the job losses brought on by the AI revolution.

With the rise of AI, East Asia has a demographic reason to be anxious. In Japan, the median age is 49 years and rising. In 20 years, the ratio of non-working to non-working people will be close to 1 to 1. Both South Korea and China share comparable demographics.

Despite being the “oldest” region in the world, East Asia could become a trendsetter in the post-work era. The region produces the majority of the hardware needed for Industry 4.0 and is unaffected by existential concerns about AI. Moreover, China is integrating AI education into its primary and secondary school curricula.

China’s Ministry of Education issued guidelines in December of last year mandating that younger primary school students concentrate on learning about and experiencing AI technologies, while middle school and elementary school students are expected to learn and apply AI concepts.

Continue Reading

Ethics in elephant tourism?

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Baifan, left, and Maethongkam, right, are two of Blue Daily's rescued elephants. They can roam around the site freely while tourists can observe them from afar. (Photo: Rosie Leishman)
Baifan, left, and Maethongkam, correct, are two of Blue Daily’s rescued animals. They can easily travel the area, and visitors can watch from a distance as they pass by. ( Photo: Rosie Leishman )

One of Thailand’s most well-known tourist attractions is an elephant knowledge, but visitors should exercise caution and follow moral rules by not touching the animals when visiting elephant camps.

World Animal Protection Thailand has urged tents to stop using animals to inspire tourists, and it is also asking that tourists be prohibited from engaging in hands-on activities like cleaning and feeding.

Many vacationers have expressed problems in finding a” certainly ethical” no-touch temple, with some opting out of the practice altogether. The Livestock Department estimates that Chiang Mai, Thailand’s center for elephant commerce, has about 90 tents and has 871 animals to choose from.

Although many temples are marketed as “ethical,” they also provide visitors with close encounters with animals and mud bathing experiences.

Because they all made up their own opinions, it was challenging to find an honest temple. But, when we delved a little deeper, we realized that some places offer pools or handfeed elephants, but still think they are moral,” said LuLu Foures, a student from a French school traveling through Chiang Mai.

Another reason why people are taking more steps when choosing to participate in rhino experience is the demise of a 22-year-old Spanish holiday at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Center in the southern state of Phangnga in December 2024.

Maggie Gibson, 22, a traveller from New Zealand, said:” We consciously chose to go to a no-touch temple because it felt bad. The passing of our spouse further strengthened our choice. Animals don’t want to be touched, so we shouldn’t feel them.

Based on data from the Livestock Department, there are 5, 359 cultivated elephants in 245 elephant tents global.

According to Trunks Up, a qualified organization dedicated to protecting Asian animals, 55.8 % of elephants in Thailand reside in prison, in camps or sanctuaries that depend on tourism for life.

According to Trunks Up, the truth about corporate rhinoceros tourism can be unsightly. Elephants continue to be kept in violent, harsh conditions despite the rise in greenwashed marketing tactics and the rise of businesses advertising themselves as sanctuaries.

Catherine Baldwin, a solo backpacker from the United Kingdom, was opposed to visiting an elephant sanctuary immediately.

” Oftentimes, even with the deepest studies, you can’t always be certain you’re provided with the information. I really find it a little strange, which makes it difficult to enjoy”, said Ms Baldwin.

Blue Daily Elephant Care Sanctuary in Chiang Mai is an example of a no-touch, no-bathing, no-feeding rhino encounter, where travellers observe the rescued animals roaming freely from far.

Billy, a guide who has worked at the shelter for 10 years, said:” We like to defend the elephant ‘ happiness. Instead of being touched, we want to see them content.

The location is a haven for five rescued animals who had been forced to work in logging for ages. They now have 50 acres ( 126 rai ) of land on which to roam.

A jvm from a Karen community cares for each elephant, whose skill is passed down through the generations.

Billy explained that Blue Daily does not permit visitors to swim or feed the animals, unlike some Chiang Mai temples. If they do not have the freedom to choose, animals do not like to be bathed, he said.

LuLu Foures made the decision to go with Blue Daily after researching what felt truly moral in her Chiang Mai rhino encounter. ” For them, it is essential to enable the animals become animals. It was never the other way around; we followed the animals and moved at their speed. If the animals want to view, therefore they approach, but it is never initiated by the human”, she explained.

World Animal Protection ( WAP ) estimated that before Covid-19, elephants generated up to US$ 770 million ( about 25.8 billion baht ) a year for Thailand. The pandemic greatly impacted the business, leaving shrines reliant on outside donations. One shelter that received charitable donations in the wake of Covid-19 was Blue Daily.

One single traveller, who wished to remain anonymous, spent a month working at Chiang Mai’s Elephant Nature Park, a temple founded by Saengduean Chailert, an internationally acclaimed pioneer in rhino security.

The traveler was a member of a group of 50 people who paid to volunteers and get information on Asian elephant and their problems. The class worked for 4–6 hours, cleanup and rebuilding the area after the new Chiang Mai floods, and working in the “elephant home” preparing meals for the animals.

A volunteer remarked,” I know a lot of people were concerned about this being another unethical sanctuary, but everyone said that the feeling vanished after seeing how well the elephants were treated and the dedication of Lek ( Saengduen’s nickname ) and her husband Darrick.

The sanctuary is building a skywalk to allow visitors to stay yet more uninsightful than they are right now.

The elephant tourism industry in Thailand has a significant impact on the life of thousands of people who rely on the rhino industry for their salary, so the debate continues.

Yet, the possibility of “ethical” misleading in sanctuaries that also provide touch and bathing experiences could keep visitors from visiting immediately.

Continue Reading

Ethics in Thailand’s elephant tourism?

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Baifan, left, and Maethongkam, right, are two of Blue Daily's rescued elephants. They can roam around the site freely while tourists can observe them from afar. (Photo: Rosie Leishman)
Baifan, left, and Maethongkam, proper, are two of Blue Daily’s rescued animals. They can easily travel the area while visitors can watch them from a distance. ( Photo: Rosie Leishman )

Thailand’s most well-known tourist attractions include elephants, but visitors should exercise caution and follow moral rules by not touching elephants while visiting rhino camps.

World Animal Protection Thailand has urged tents to stop using animals to amuse tourists, and it is also asking that tourists be prohibited from engaging in hands-on activities like cleaning and feeding.

Many vacationers have expressed problems in finding a” certainly ethical” no-touch temple, with some opting out of the practice altogether. The Livestock Department estimates that Chiang Mai, Thailand’s center for elephant commerce, has about 90 shelters and has 871 animals to choose from.

Although some sanctuaries are marketed as “ethical,” they also provide visitors with close encounters with animals and mud bathing experiences.

Because they all claimed to be so, it was difficult to find an honest temple. But, when we delved a little deeper, we realized that some places offer pools or handfeed elephants, but still hold this view as moral,” said LuLu Foures, a student from a French college who is traveling through Chiang Mai.

Another reason why travelers are taking more steps when choosing to participate in rhino experience is the death of a 22-year-old Spanish holiday at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Center in the southern state of Phangnga in December 2024.

Maggie Gibson, 22, a traveller from New Zealand, said:” We consciously chose to go to a no-touch temple because it felt bad. The passing of our spouse further strengthened our choice. Elephant should not be touched because they don’t want to be touched.

Based on data from the Livestock Department, there are 5, 359 cultivated elephants in 245 elephant tents global.

According to Trunks Up, a qualified organization dedicated to protecting Asian animals, 55.8 % of animals in Thailand live in prison, in shelters or temples that rely on tourism for life.

According to Trunks Up, professional elephant tourism can get ugly in reality. Elephants continue to be kept in violent, harsh conditions despite the rise in greenwashed marketing tactics and the rise of businesses advertising themselves as sanctuaries.

Catherine Baldwin, a solo backpacker from the United Kingdom, was opposed to visiting an elephant sanctuary immediately.

” Oftentimes, even with the deepest studies, you can’t always be certain you’re provided with the information. I really find it a little strange, which makes it difficult to enjoy”, said Ms Baldwin.

Blue Daily Elephant Care Sanctuary in Chiang Mai is an example of a no-touch, no-bathing, no-feeding rhino encounter, where travellers observe the rescued animals roaming freely from afar.

Billy, a guide who has worked at the sanctuary for 10 years, said:” We like to protect the elephants ‘ happiness. Instead of being touched, we want to see them happy.

Five rescued elephants who have been forced into logging have been rescued at the site. They now have 50 acres ( 126 rai ) of land on which to roam.

A Karen tribe mahout takes care of each elephant, whose skill is passed down through the generations.

Billy explained that Blue Daily does not permit visitors to bathe or feed the animals, unlike many Chiang Mai sanctuaries. If they don’t have the freedom to choose, “elephants don’t like being bathed,” he said.

LuLu Foures made the decision to go with Blue Daily after researching what felt truly moral in her Chiang Mai elephant encounter. ” For them, it is essential to let the elephants be elephants. It was never the other way around; we moved with the elephants at their pace. If the elephants want to approach, then they approach, but it is never initiated by the human”, she explained.

World Animal Protection ( WAP ) estimated that before Covid-19, elephants generated up to US$ 770 million ( about 25.8 billion baht ) a year for Thailand. The pandemic drastically impacted the industry, leaving sanctuaries reliant on external donations. One sanctuary that received philanthropic donations in the wake of Covid-19 was Blue Daily.

One solo traveller, who wished to remain anonymous, spent a week volunteering at Chiang Mai’s Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary founded by Saengduean Chailert, an internationally acclaimed pioneer in elephant protection.

The traveler was a member of a group of 50 people who paid to volunteer and get information on Asian elephants and their struggles. The group worked for 4–6 hours, cleaning and rebuilding the park after the recent Chiang Mai floods, and working in the “elephant kitchen” preparing food for the animals.

A volunteer remarked,” I know a lot of people were concerned about this being another unethical sanctuary, but everyone said the feeling vanished after seeing Lek ( Saengduen’s nickname ) and her husband Darrick.

The sanctuary is building a skywalk to allow visitors to remain even more uninsightful than they are right now.

The elephant tourism industry in Thailand has a significant impact on the survival of thousands of people who rely on the elephant industry for their income, so the debate continues.

However, there is a chance that “ethical” greenwashing in sanctuaries that won’t stop visitors from visiting altogether.

Continue Reading

Trump’s worldview becoming clear for all to see – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

The United States sent some very clear messages to Europe last week that it is ready to overturn the world order.

US Vice President JD Vance remarked to a startled Munich Security Conference that there is an “enemy within” to officials who disobey their own needs and values. He even advocated for right-wing political parties to be brought into the major.

However, at a meeting of NATO defence officials, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth talked about challenging power, the warrior attitude and the need for NATO people to spend up to 5 % of their Earnings on defense. The most recent increase, the long-standing NATO recommendation, is only about 2 %.

He reiterated his commitment to the defense of Poland ( and NATO ) and pledged to bolster the US military presence there. But, despite the mixed communication, the United States is certainly leaving Europe anytime soon.

However, according to reports, President Donald Trump wants a considerable levy to pay back Ukraine for its support and protection.

The mixture of these statements has left politicians and pundits wondering whether the US-led global order, with its multilateral institutions, is on its cue?

Destruction of the rules-based get?

From the remains of the Second World War, the United States was instrumental in creating the rules-based global order.

Detractors have criticized the UN-related organizations that have been established at this time. But the rules-based get is probably best viewed as Voltaire saw the Holy Roman Empire:” no means divine, nor Roman, nor an kingdom”. Those who support the rules-based order’s fate should be cautious with their intentions.

Due to 1945, there was hardly ever a system of reliable foreign exchanges. And while powers have made some exceptions for themselves, the world’s experience has still been marked by remarkable stability and prosperity thanks to the rules-based purchase.

But, why would the United States today appear to be retreating from this arrangement? This is partially explained by the declining US effect.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and US military are in Poland, according to US Secretary of Defense Hegseth. &nbsp, Photo: Pawel Jaskolka / EPA via The Talk

Trump and China

We must go back 25 years to the day China joined the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) to properly contextualize the current events.

In the belief that market reform may eventually lead to political liberalization, then-US President Bill Clinton supported and facilitated this action.

Since therefore, China’s expansion has skyrocketed owing to its ready accessibility to world markets. But it’s retained a strong feudal method, counter to the nature of the WTO. The West’s concerns about the changing world power stability have increased significantly as a result.

Since Xi Jinping’s rise to power in 2012, in special, China has taken on an adversarial position to the rules-based purchase, following its own set of rules.

In reality, China previously sought democratic and trade liberalization, but the world did not. Instead, the regulations, as they were implemented in China ( and a small portion of Russia ), made it possible for state-owned companies to co-opt, if not completely steal, technology shared by their international business partners.

International businesses were forced to leave China and had trouble putting themselves in the same league as domestically priced Chinese goods.

Trump’s increase is, in part, a reaction to these improvements. During his first word from 2017–20, Trump grimly attempted to take a hostile, transactional approach to international relationships. Then, as he begins his second term, he has a much more clear-eyed plan of action.

What does Trump anticipate then

Trump’s new perspective of interpersonal relationships with America’s standard partners was shockingly obvious at the Munich Security Conference.

In his opinion, the United States is more intent on acting as a tremendous energy with its own economic interests at heart than is reversing into protectionism. Trump wants the US to take its place in a world where spheres of influence problem just as much, if not more, than any specific set of regulations.

Undoubtedly, the US is no longer advocating for globalism, in which states cooperate as equal. Today, it’s focused more on multi-polarity – a globe with some great power, in which the US puts its own objectives first. As Trump often reminds us,” America First”.

Friends and adversaries have also been taking unfair advantage of, in this viewpoint, according to this perspective:

  • America’s famous openness ( notably its borders )
  • its liberal trade policies ( which, according to Trump, has led to the de-industrialization of the American heartland ).

Its supporters have also benefited from the benevolence of its safety umbrella, which has resulted in their reckless approach to security.

The Trump president’s solution to all of this involves doling out hypocritical advice. Vance demonstrating this by urging their calm immigration plans to be reversed.

YouTube video

]embedded information]

JD Vance’s talk to the Munich Security Conference.

Additionally, it distributes some strong medicine, purportedly in an effort to elicit a response in Western capitals to substantially increase their defense spending. This would help the US to step up from being Europe’s security surety and finally accomplish its long-talked-about pivot to Asia and concentrate on its primary attack: China.

Russia is undoubtedly a part of this strategy. Trump’s alleged goal is to remove or destabilize China by attempting to sever Russia from its Chinese hug. A tough-fought agreement with Russia regarding Ukraine may be the rate he’s willing to pay to get that happen.

For America’s nearby security and economic associates, this presents an extraordinary problem. The outdated assumptions and expectations not long appear to hold true. What’s important then is not so much America’s shared beliefs with Europe, it’s their clashing objectives.

For America’s friends, as well as its opponents, this is going to involve some hard thinking and new techniques, both economically and physically.

The Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre is led by John Blaxland, a teacher.

This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

Continue Reading

Trump’s grand design for world stability – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

Subscribe right away and get the first year for only$ 99. With a one-month trial for only$ 1, subscribe now&nbsp.

Trump’s great design for world balance

David Goldman argues that political chance has fallen, and market volatility has declined as the fresh Trump administration’s policies taking shape. Despite initial confusion, areas are reacting favorably to an emerging proper platform from Washington.

Trump, Intel and TSMC: Is there a bargain around?

According to Scott Foster, TSMC may use taxes and financial pressure to force international businesses into moving their manufacturing to the US to take control of Intel’s factories at the Trump government’s request.

Merz set to get European elections, but partnership math also unclear

Diego Faßnacht reports on Germany’s looming national vote with the CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, poised to become the largest group. Whether a Merz-led government can handle Germany’s architectural financial shortcomings is unclear.

What the US-Russia speaks in Riyadh mean for Ukraine

According to James Davis, the US-Russia summit in Riyadh represents a major change in US policy toward Ukraine, but major obstacles still exist. German criticism, Zelensky’s opposition, and US political dynamics complicated efforts to reach a quality.

Continue Reading

Tech bros back in China’s official spotlight as Jack Ma meets Xi – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia, Technology

The recent speech by former exiled leader Jack Ma at the Chinese President Xi Jinping highlights Beijing’s unwavering commitment to using cutting-edge technologies to maintain its economic development.

After requiring Alibaba’s Ant Group to halt its initial public offering in the United States in November 2020, Beijing tampering with the world sector’s requirements for a month and a half.

All digital platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishou, Alibaba and Tencent, had faced governmental clampdowns. While ride-hailing firms were fined for collecting user data without authorization, food-delivery platforms were accused of violating labour rights.

Ma, a businessman, spent time visiting agricultural tech companies around the world, spending time with his family in Tokyo, meeting with friends on his pleasure yacht in Europe, and meeting with his home there. &nbsp,

In June 2022, Li Daokui, a former assistant to&nbsp, the People’s Bank of China, said the clampdown on Chinese internet companies had generally ended. &nbsp,

He explained that the removal of Ant’s Investor program in November 2020 was a political choice because Chinese leaders were shocked to see the names of numerous party members listed on the company’s shareholder list.

In March 2023, Ma officially returned to China after banishment. In July 2024, he gave a speech at Alibaba’s office in Hangzhou.

Some observers say Ma’s” self-exile” from late 2020 to first 2023 showed Xi’s negative approach towards China’s online companies and some private&nbsp, companies. They claim that Beijing is now using Ma and a group of Hangzhou-based business leaders to demonstrate to the outside that China welcomes all tech firms.

Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares rose to HK$ 138.5 ( US$ 17.8 ) on February 21, 11.6 % up from a week earlier. Tencent’s shares surged 8.9 % to HK$ 517, while Kuaishou Technology’s grew 9.2 % to HK$ 58.4 for the same period.

” Xi’s symposium is of great significance”, a Chinese columnist using the pseudonym” Fengye”, or Maple Leaf, says in an article published by Beijing-based Zhengshang Canyue. The author continues:

The personal economy’s expansion in the new century and a new journey has many potentials and opportunities. &nbsp, After the US vote, the world economy continues to be stormy, and several European and American companies are in turmoil. Nevertheless, Chinese firms focus on impressive and cutting-edge solutions and keep increasing their profitability.

China’s artificial intelligence models surprised the world with their incredible performance, China’s robot dancers performed at the Spring Festival Gala, and Chinese electric cars slowly gained popularity for themselves in the eyes of the world thanks to their outstanding performance and quality.

He continues,” Jack Ma is an icon representing the first batch of Taiwanese Internet firms that has made remarkable achievements and laid a solid foundation for the emergence of several technology startups,” adding that it’s nice that he attends the symposium. Ma is an icon representing the second batch of Taiwanese Internet firms that has made remarkable achievements and laid a solid foundation for the emergence of the emergence of numerous technology startups. &nbsp,

Additionally, he points out that Ma’s return to China may indicate that the billionaire saw strong growth prospects in China’s technology sector following the” Six Little Dragons in Hangzhou “‘s emergence but did not find any compelling projects abroad.

” Six Small Dragons” is a film.

According to the Chinese press, the Six Small Dragons in Hangzhou are DeepSeek, Unitree Robotics, Game Science, Deep Robotics, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and Manycore Tech.

DeepSeek was founded by Liang Wenfeng, a Zhejiang University student, in December 2023. On January 20 this time, the business launched DeepSeek-R1, which within time surpassed ChatGPT to be No. # 1 on the US free game download charts. &nbsp,

Hangzhou Yushu Technology, known as Unitree, was founded by Wang Xingxing in 2016. At China Central Screens Spring Festival Gala on January 28, 2025, it’s dancing computers won acclaim.

Feng Ji and Yang Qi founded Foreign movie game studio Game Science in 2014.

Zhu Qiuguo and Li Chao co-founded Deep Robotics in 2017.

BCI, which is engaged in real-time thought decoding, distant machine power, and brain-machine co-evolution, was established by Han Bicheng in 2015.

Manycore Tech, a maker of 3D design technology, was co-founded by three Chinese alumni of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2011.

” Xi’s symposium highlighted Zhejiang, as the province has a good business environment” ,&nbsp, Wang Bin, a columnist for the Zhejiang Daily’s social media account, writes in an article.

Zhejiang is a place that embodies the animal contact. Anyone can sense this in their work and daily lives, Wang says. ” When a position is like a bay that&nbsp, protects individuals, it is easier to keep people and businesses”.

China has experienced a flurry of cash flows since it discontinued its Covid laws in first 2023. According to some economists, the country’s economy is impacted by declining domestic use, rising political tensions between China and the US, and US level increases.

According to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China’s net foreign direct investment ( FDI) decreased by US$ 168 billion last year, the biggest capital flight since 1990. US investment in China reached a historic substantial of US$ 344.4 billion in 2021, but it has since decreased. &nbsp,

Chinese companies invested US$ 177 billion overseas in 2024, compared to US$ 4.5 billion that foreign investors simply sent to China.

Some foreign firms adopted a” China-plus-one” plan to invest not only in China but also in other countries as a result of the growing tensions between China and the US. Additionally, many Taiwanese firms are now exporting their factories abroad, fearing that US President Donald Trump may impose tariffs on imports from China. &nbsp,

Alibaba’s AI prepare

It is questionable whether Beijing’s high-tech battle does help retain and recruit foreign funding, but it did increase Alibaba’s stock.

After The Knowledge learned on February 11 that Apple Inc. partnered with Alibaba to add AI capabilities to the phone, Alibaba’s stock also rose. Apple wants to release its AI-powered smartphones in China in May. &nbsp,

On February 20, Alibaba Chief Executive Eddie Wu said in an investor call that&nbsp, artificial generative intelligence ( AGI ) is at the core of the company’s AI strategy. He stated that the company will make significant investments in AI system, foundation models, and business transformation that will be driven by AI. &nbsp,

One of the largest property management firms in Europe, Eurizon Capital, stated in an article that investors should be optimistic about Chinese securities for various reasons:

  • Since 2023, there has been continued governmental relaxation in China.
  • Growing China’s production and industrial prowess, shown by the growing industry deficit in 2024 and the subsequent rise of DeepSeek,
  • Stabilizing estate business and client sentiment,
  • Stable Chinese bonds and money.

According to Eurizon’s analysts, Beijing’s social and policy climate has changed since soon 2023 from the exceedingly disciplinary position taken against the private sector in the summer of 2021 to a more rational and market-friendly stance.

They continued, noting that while Foreign stocks are not cheap, the world still underweights them because some investors have adopted an ABC-style mindset, which includes “anything but China.”

Some experts believe it is prudent for China to show its technology sector, which outperforms other sectors, but this approach could sway Chinese hawks in the US and force them to sanction Chinese startups. &nbsp,

Yong Jian contributes to the Asia Times. He is a Chinese blogger who specializes in Chinese systems, business, and politics. &nbsp,

Read: China links all to DeepSeek in the country’s strategy.

Continue Reading

MAS to launch S billion programme to develop Singapore stock market

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

The review group’s first set of measures aims to boost investor interest, improve the Singapore Exchange (SGX )’s (SGX ) appeal to reputable businesses, and make changes to the regulatory stance to boost investor confidence.

To raise cash flows into Singapore-listed stocks, the requirements for applicants to the Global Investor Programme may be altered. &nbsp,

Prior to the home office solution, applicants had to place at least S$ 50 million into four investment categories.

That will be narrowed down but that applicants must apply for shares of accepted Singapore markets.

Taxes Bonuses

During Mr Wong’s Budget 2025 statement on Tuesday, he said he would offer tax incentives for Singapore-based companies and finance professionals that choose to record in Singapore. &nbsp,

In order to promote more investment in local capital markets, he added, he said he would create a tax incentive for fund managers who make significant investments in Singapore-listed stocks.

A 20 % corporate income tax return may be applied for Singapore-based businesses and registered business trusts looking to list as a major company in Singapore, according to MAS.

Those looking for a 10 % discount can apply for a secondary listing with discuss release.

The benefit will be limited to S$ 6 million per year of judgment for businesses with business caps under S$ 1 billion, and S$ 3 million per year of judgment for businesses with less than S$ 1 billion. &nbsp,

The businesses must continue to be listed on the SGX for five years, commit to increasing regional business spending or fixed resource investments, and increase experienced employment.

Companies can use for this program through the end of 2027. &nbsp,

Additionally, new fund manager ads in Singapore may have a more favorable tax rate.

If a company has a main listing in Singapore for five times and distributes a percentage of its profits as income, fund professionals will pay 5 % on qualifying money. &nbsp, The system runs until&nbsp, the close of 2028.

Finally, account managers that invest greatly in Singapore can benefit from tax deductions. &nbsp,

Current money must meet this requirement and have an annual net outflow rate equal to at least 5 % of the firm’s AUM in the prior year, while fresh funds must spend at least 30 % of assets under management in Singapore-listed stocks.

The exemptions can be applied for up to the end of 2028 and last for five years per fund.

DEVELOPING INVESTOR BASE, TWEAKING REGULATIONS

Other initiatives include a more extensive MAS research development grant program and a shift toward a focus on small and mid-cap businesses.

The research could be disseminated in new ways, including on new media channels, &nbsp, with the aim of building an investor base.

Regulations may also be adjusted after consultations, to be more focused and to reduce friction.

Instead of both RegCo and MAS, one suggestion is to make the listing process simpler, requiring only SGX RegCo approval.

Prospectus requirements and listing procedures can be simplified, and so can the use of merit-based judgment when admiterea new listings.

Some adjustments may also be made for companies that are already listed on the SGX.

SGX RegCo will hold a consultation on removing the financial” Watch-List” and shifting away from regulatory surveillance. &nbsp,

After two weeks, Trade With Caution alerts will also expire indefinitely. ” This minimises unintended knock-on negative effects of such alerts”, said MAS.

Other recommendations are being studied by the review group, including strengthening investor protection and introducing market structure changes to acquaint retail customers.

Continue Reading