China’s Long March through the Global South – Asia Times

At the National Conservatism 4 Conference in Washington, D.C., on July 8, Assistant Editor of the Asia Times David P. Goldman delivered these notes.

The” Long March” analogy is n’t my idea. Chinese politicians talk of Mao ‘s&nbsp, legal war&nbsp, method of encircling&nbsp, the places from the land.

Why is this important? Due to low birth prices, the working-age people in high-income nations will decrease by a third this century. In the case of Taiwan and South Korea, it’s more like three-quarters. &nbsp,

I have no faith in China’s invasion of Taiwan because they do n’t fight for what will eventually turn out to be ripe fruit. &nbsp, But the working-age inhabitants of so-called&nbsp, Middle-Income&nbsp, states will increase by half. &nbsp,

Younger people who may work in today’s market are the world’s most scarce resource. &nbsp, Empires of the previous fought over place. China ‘s&nbsp, goal is to control people. &nbsp,

In 1979&nbsp, China took a state of landowners and turned them into business personnel, and multiplied GDP per capita 30 days. Think of South Korea as it now plans to convert a mill workforce into a state of professionals. &nbsp, That’s a noisy and expensive move. &nbsp, But China is doing it.

In 2020 I wrote of China’s prepare to Sino-form the&nbsp, Global South. It is very knowledgeable about getting people who make$ 3 per day to make$ 10 or$ 20 per day.

China’s populace has been in collapse, but its very educated population is growing:

Ten&nbsp, and a half million &nbsp, university graduates, up 60 % in 10 years, 2X our&nbsp, total&nbsp, –&nbsp, and a third are professionals. That ‘s&nbsp, more architecture graduates&nbsp, than the rest of the world combined. &nbsp,

Between 1990 and 2010, South Korea’s industrial output quadrupled, and its manufacturer workplace decreased by a second.

Will China decline? &nbsp, Assess the US and China&nbsp, overall debt problem: the&nbsp, US&nbsp, is&nbsp, 262 % of GDP, &nbsp, and&nbsp, China&nbsp, is&nbsp, 278 % of GDP–

However, China lends the earth a trillion dollars annually, and we do so. Countries with strong current account surpluses and positive growth do n’t experience financial crises.

China has gotten several things wrong, &nbsp, but it got two big things straight.

The first is AI software to production. It can produce a$ 9, 000 electric vehicle at a profit, or 2, 400 5G base stations a day&nbsp, in a plant&nbsp, with&nbsp, 50&nbsp, workers – I saw this. It also claims to own a&nbsp, factory&nbsp, that may produce 1, 000 cruise missile vehicles a day. &nbsp,

We ca n’t produce enough artillery shells to supply Ukraine. China may produce as many ship-killing weapons as it wants. &nbsp, That’s the biggest&nbsp, change in comparative power since shotguns replaced muskets. &nbsp, A&nbsp, US warship can bring 100 weapon ships. There’s no limit to how many weapons China can start from the mainland. &nbsp, We talk about prioritizing China: With what?

We’re really rearranging the balcony guns on the Titanic.

China has 3 million 5G base facilities. We have 100, 000. China dominates important industries—telecom system, Tesla, renewable energy, drones, material and manufacturing — and it’s aiming at semiconductors. Biden’s Treasury Secretary goes to China and says,” Please, you’ve got too much industrial capacity, do n’t export so much”! What about OUR power?

YouTube video

]embedded information]

The conversion of the Global South was another important factor China did well. &nbsp, It doubled export to the Global South since Covid&nbsp, – now exports more to the International South than to all established businesses. &nbsp, Assimilates billions of people into its monetary realm. Compared to our 230 000, it did this with 200 troops stationed outside of China. &nbsp,

We spent$ 7&nbsp, trillion on long war. China spent$ 1 trillion&nbsp, on Belt and Road Initiative assets. &nbsp, Who got more control?

40 nations have submitted applications to the BRICS class.

This is n’t about authoritarianism versus democracy. Imports from China to governments like India increased just as much as those to Russia. How invaders govern themselves is a constant concern for the Chinese. They want to rely on Chinese tech and supply chains to make the planet agnostic.

This is a gigantic effort: &nbsp, Four&nbsp, out of five workers&nbsp, in the World South&nbsp, are &nbsp, immured&nbsp, in the so-called casual business. &nbsp, They pay no&nbsp, fees, receive some service, have no access to capital and world businesses.

China is assimilating them with modern and transportation facilities. &nbsp, That connects persons to world markets. &nbsp, Huawei and ZTE now&nbsp, give more&nbsp, than half the world ‘s&nbsp, telecom network and more than two quarters of the business in the Global South. &nbsp,

BYD is building EV species in&nbsp, Mexico, &nbsp, Brazil, Thailand, Turkey and Hungary. The$ 9, 000 EV is today’s equivalent of the Model T for the Global South – a car the average family can afford. &nbsp, That’s as big as the Model T was for the United States.

However our place deteriorates.

When Donald Trump left office, our trade deficit in goods was$ 800 billion a year. Then it’s half again as great, at$ 1.2 trillion a year.

The majority of the new exports are from the Global South. &nbsp, We put tariffs on goods from China, but China rather shipped parts to Mexico, Vietnam, India and a few different states, which sold the finished products to us. We import less from China, but our reliance on Chinese supply stores is higher. &nbsp,

Like the&nbsp, Sorcerer ‘s&nbsp, Apprentice, we smashed the enchanted brush that was flooding us, and now we have a hundred.

The industrial production indicator of the Fed is lower than it was before COVID. &nbsp, Capital goods orders are down more than 10 % after prices.

Worst of all: We presently import more of the goods used to produce another goods than we do at home. To make more and buy less, we need more money goods, but we’ll have to import&nbsp, more investment goods today in order to buy less in the future. That’s why across-the-board taxes does perform more&nbsp, harm than good.

We&nbsp, cut off China’s access to advanced device solutions, but China has worked around most of these restrictions. It can make the cards it needs for commercial technology, 5G&nbsp, telecom, and other real&nbsp, market applications. Again and again, &nbsp, we overestimated the effects of our punishment and underestimated China’s ability to adapt.

Taking potshots&nbsp, at the elephant&nbsp, has n’t done much good. &nbsp, We have to get our own rhino.

We need a nationwide effort on the size of the Kennedy Moonshot&nbsp, or the Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative. &nbsp, In 1965 12 % of all federal expenditures went to R&amp, D. &nbsp, Now it’s 2.4 %. &nbsp,

When there is a national crisis, professional policy is immediately adopted.

Trump ‘s&nbsp, missile defence is the way to go. &nbsp, Reduce our forth deployment&nbsp, and focus resources on high-tech protection.

We have faster cards. But it’s not just about processing rate: &nbsp, It’s know-how, training, an business culture and industrial&nbsp, areas, and we’ve allow these pass. Trump is correct to impose higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles; we must safeguard our production foundation. He is also correct in recommending Chinese automakers set up species in the US. China is back of us in business technology. This right some of China’s IP.

Two basic ideas:

We may combine with Japan, South Korea, and Germany to contend with China ‘s&nbsp, Long March through the Global South. We collectively possess more assets and more money.

We may ask our NATO partners to meet us in&nbsp, creating the technology that will&nbsp, determine the outcome of the 21st&nbsp, era. We wo n’t persuade them to rebuild conventional armies. But&nbsp, joining us at the cutting edge of technology is an offer they ca n’t refuse.

I conducted a study as a young scientist for Reagan’s National Security Council that claimed SDI may pay for itself through human spinoffs. I was bad: It paid for itself ten times over. &nbsp, This is n’t our first dance. We can do it again. We are more in need of warning than of education.

Continue Reading

Bangkok cyanide poisoning: What we know so far

43 days ago

By Joel Guinto & BBC Vietnamese ServiceBBC News

EPA Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok uneaten food of cyanide poisoning victimsEPA

Before police officers opened the door to the second floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok, there was little to suggest what had transpired.

No-one was heard to cry, or had rung for help. No-one had also made it to the entrance.

Yet inside, it appeared to be showing no signs of conflict, with the unopened late breakfast still waiting patiently on the table for the guests to enjoy.

The group’s soon check out of the resort was the only sign of the dread inside the locked area, according to the outside of Room 502.

And still in were six body, opposite tea cups laced with poison.

No time did it take the police to determine whether the room’s occupants had consumed the contaminated drink or to identify the suspected victims.

But time after authorities revealed the terrible discovery, great concerns remain: why them- and who did it?

Who were the six people who passed away?

Facebook Bangkok Hotel poisoning victimFacebook

Four of the patients are Taiwanese citizens- Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, her father Hong Pham Thanh, 49, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47, and Dinh Tran Phu, 37.

The various two are National people of Asian origin- Sherine Chong, 56, and Dang Hung Van, 55.

According to investigators, Chong was believed to have borrowed 10 million baht ($ 280, 000, £215, 000 ) from husband and wife Hong Pham Thanh and Thi Nguyen Phuong to invest in a hospital building project in Japan. The pair, who owned a design firm, had apparently tried in vain to get their money up.

In truth, it was scheduled to take place in Japan in a few days.

On the face of it, this appointment appeared to be an attempt to talk about the matter in advance of the situation.

Chong, who according to US media reported living in Oakland, California, had asked her to serve as her entity with the few regarding the purchase, so Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan was present.

But how were the various two connected to the situation?

At the meeting working for Chong, Dinh Tran Phu, a powerful make-up actor whose audience includes Vietnamese artists, actors, and beauty kings, was present.

His father, speaking to BBC Vietnamese, emphasised the point he had travelled to Thailand with his ordinary users, certainly with strangers.

A close companion, however, said he knew both Thi Nguyen Phuong and Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, having introduced them to solutions at a friend’s resort in Da Nang, where he lived.

Dang Hung Van’s participation in the hotel suite meeting was not immediately clear.

The hotel appointment had a sixth name, according to police, the sister of one of the six. That man left Thailand last week and went back to Vietnam, but authorities said she was uninvolved in the event.

What transpired in the hotel hotel?

Over the weekend, the group checked into the hotel separately, and they were given five rooms, four of which were on the sixth floor and one of the second.

Chong checked into Room 502 on Sunday. The five others came to see her in her collection that morning, but they each returned to their particular sleeping quarters for the evening.

Before noon on Monday, Dang Hung Van ordered six cups of tea while Dinh Tran Phu, the make-up designer, ordered fried corn from their respective areas. They asked that it be delivered to Room 502 at 14: 00 local period.

Chong started receiving the meal purchases at Room 502 a few minutes before 14:00. At the time, she was by herself in the hotel.

According to authorities, she turned down the customer’s offer to make teas for her gathering. Additionally, the servant discovered that she” spoke very little and was clearly under anxiety.”

Shortly after that, the rest of the team began arriving. The pair went in lugging a briefcase.

At 14: 17, all six could be seen by the entrance before it was shut. From that point on, there was no indication of internal activity.

They had planned to arrive on Monday, but they omitted to do so.

Officers discovered the six dead on the floor when they entered the room at 16:30 on Tuesday.

Reuters A screen displays the crime scene diagram during a presser following a case of six foreign nationals who were found dead inside a room at Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel at Lumpini Police Station, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 17, 2024Reuters

The first investigation revealed that two initially attempted to get to the suite’s entry, but they were unable to do so on time.

All the body bore indications of poison poison, which may- in particular doses- kill within minutes. Their inner organs turned “blood purple,” another indication of cyanide poisoning, while their teeth and claws had turned black purple, indicating a lack of oxygen.

Researchers claim that” no other trigger” exists that would account for their deaths, “aside from cyanide.”

To rule out any additional waste and identify the “intensity” of the deadly substance, more checks are being conducted.

Cyanide starves the body’s tissue of air, which can cause heart attacks. First symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath and diarrhea.

Those found using it illegally in Thailand are subject to two-year prison sentences.

Who poisoned them?

Police have not named the deceased, but they believe one of the deceased was responsible for the poison and was motivated by mounting debts.

According to Vietnamese outlet VN Express, investigators said Chong had been sued by all the other five over their failed investments.

The gathering in Bangkok was called to discuss a lawsuit, but the effort failed.

What additional turns are researchers chasing?

Getty Images Tourists in Thai traditional dress take a selfie at Wat Arun on Vesak Day in Bangkok, Thailand on May 22, 2024. Getty Images

Authorities have sought a declaration from the group’s visit manual in Bangkok, 35-year-old Phan Ngoc Vu.

According to the report, the arbitrator Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, the guide, requested that anyone purchase standard medication containing snake bloodstream for her joint pains before she passed away.

Additionally, there are the two copper beverage containers that the hotel’s officers discovered in the collection.

The tanks were placed beside the cyanide-laced vases, near the dining tables.

Leaders want the issue to be resolved quickly, but one thing is for sure.

Authorities in Hanoi and their Thai rivals should work closely together on the investigation, according to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

As for Thai authorities, it could n’t have come at a worse time for Thailand. To revitalize its tourism sector, a crucial financial foundation that has yet to completely recover from the crisis, it had just expanded visa-free access to 93 nations.

Barely a year before, a 14-year-old boy shot dead two people at a luxury shopping mall, also in Bangkok.

Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, was with officers at the Grand Hyatt on Tuesday evening. He claimed that the public’s health was unaffected and that it was a personal matter.

For the people left on, the shock is evident.

BBC Vietnamese got hold of the make-up writer’s family, Tuy, on the phone, but she was sobbing but violently that she hung up after a brief chat. She claimed that she believed her son was simply going on a regular job vacation.

His parents, Tran Dinh Dung, claimed in a separate interview that when he last saw his brother, he did not notice anything unusual.

Continue Reading

China’s Third Plenum vagueness misses the moment  – Asia Times

President Xi Jinping’s Communist Party delivered a number of the proper messages to wary investors concerned about the state of Asia’s largest economy at this year’s Second Plenum meeting, including pledges to “unswervingly stimulate” the private sector.

But Xi’s team&nbsp, picked a difficult time to keep international investors guessing about&nbsp, how&nbsp, it plans to revive a US$ 17 trillion economy&nbsp, facing a&nbsp, quadfecta&nbsp, of troubles at house. And at a time when Chinese imports are being blocked by the West’s ever-increasing walls.

True, Xi’s gathering generally waits several times before offering more detailed ideas about retooling. Later this month, businesses hope to learn more after China’s 24-member Politburo enacts.

However, if ever there was a time to break with convention, it’s today. Xi did n’t hold the event in 2018, heightening expectations for clear economic smoke signals. Amid intense international confusion, the usual flow, drip, drip disclosure plan failed to study the intensity of the day.

With the eyes of the world on the five-yearly approach program, Xi’s internal circle had an excellent opportunity to reset the reform tale. There was no better time to explain how Beijing will stop the&nbsp, home problems, maintain regional government finances, boost consumer demand and tackle mounting statistical challenges.

What investors got instead were vague pledges of “high-quality development”,” Chinese-style modernization” ,&nbsp, “innovative vitality” &nbsp, and “actively expanding domestic demand”.

In fact, this is a make-or-break time for China’s partnership with foreign funds. Although it’s nice to hear rumors about supply-side updates and about increasing domestic demand, more quality is required. The rebalancing of Chinese expansion engines has never been more important as the US and Europe’s strategy is to restore global trade wars.

” China’s administration has promised to continue fully deepening reformation in a wide range of areas”, says Julian Evans-Prichard, China scholar at Capital Economics. There are” a few indicators” that the recently concluded Third Plenum represents a significant shift in policymaking.

Chinese companies dropped on Friday as a result of Xi’s disappointment with his party’s lack of specifics regarding revamping plans. The MSCI China&nbsp, Index&nbsp, fell as much as 1.6 %, while the nation’s Hong Kong-listed equities dropped more than 2 %.

There were indeed enabling pivots, especially surrounding&nbsp, sustainability. Belinda Schäpe, a policy analyst for China at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, says that the communication” for the first time mentions coal lowering.” ” This elevates China’s commitment to reducing emissions and tackling climate change&nbsp, to a new level”.

Tianchen Xu at the Economist Intelligence Unit says that “innovation and efficiency improvements top all priorities, about quickly, amid the magnificent scenery of US-China rivalry”. Mostly, though, the Third Plenum appears to mark” a continuation of existing policy tweaks”, Xu notes.

Many will argue that the Global South’s rise mutes the indirect effects of the new tariffs from Washington and Brussels. And, to some extent, that’s true. However, much of the Global South would also suffer significant blows as the world heads in the direction of” a trade war on all fronts,” as Gavekal Dragonomics analyst Yanmei Xie puts it.

Xi ca n’t control who wins the US election&nbsp, on November 5. &nbsp, But whether it’s Joe Biden dictating trade policies or a Donald Trump 2.0 White House, 2025 is already littered with potential economic landmines. All the more reason for Xi and Li Qiang to take bold action right away to fix China’s fundamental flaws and advance its innovative game.

It’s not like the economic environment will likely change significantly after six months. There’s little doubt, Xie adds, that a “new spirit of mercantilism is abroad in the US, with Donald Trump’s Republican Party proposing a ‘ baseline tariff’ on all goods imports, as well as targeted higher tariffs on imports from China, should it capture the White House”.

Trump’s pick for vice president, US Senator JD Vance, said this week that” together we will protect the wages of&nbsp, American workers&nbsp, and stop the Chinese Communist Party from building their middle class on the backs of American citizens”.

Vance is a staunch supporter of revoking China’s “most favored nation” trade status. Trump, in contrast, has previously remarked in interviews that he may soon begin a second term in office in 2025. Vance, too.

As Trump tells Bloomberg:” I think manufacturing is a big deal, and everybody that runs for office says you’ll never manufacture again. We have currency problems, as you know. Currency. When I was president, I fought very strongly and hard with President Xi and with] Japanese leader ] Shinzo Abe. &nbsp, So we have a big currency problem because the depth of the currency now in terms of strong dollar/weak yen, weak yuan, is massive”.

How a&nbsp, Trump-Vance team&nbsp, might proceed is an open question. The Federal Reserve should be abolished, according to the” Project 2025″ plan that Republicans are considering. That, in theory, could allow Trump’s White House to set US interest rates. Or might Trump try to create a new” Plaza Accord” that will require Beijing and Tokyo to accept more favorable exchange rates?

Trump, remember, has talked openly about defaulting on US public debt as a negotiating tactic. Or reversing some of the debt that China holds as a form of retaliation. At present, Beijing holds about US$ 770 billion of US Treasury securities.

Moody’s Investors Service may revoke Washington’s most recent AAA credit rating because of the mere whiff of such policies being considered. That, at a moment when the US national debt is hitting US$ 35 trillion, could shoulder-check trade-reliant economies through the Global South.

This is just another reason why Xi and Li need to “roll up their sleeves.” To put real life on the backs of reform pledges, both past and present, rather than just to batten down the hatches.

It’s unclear if Xi had intended to signal a change in his current outlook on state-led development and ally concerns among Chinese and foreign investors. Many people find it hard to resist the Third Plenum outline because it resembles the current course.

” Investment-led growth has peaked in China, as the&nbsp, financial system&nbsp, can no longer generate the same pace of credit expansion as in the past decade”, says&nbsp, Logan&nbsp, Wright, director of China&nbsp, markets&nbsp, research at Rhodium Group. ” With this source of growth drying up, household consumption growth will be the single most significant determinant of China’s long-term economic trajectory and growth rate.”

Wright explains that a highly unequal distribution of income and low levels of household income restrict household consumption in China.

” Fiscal transfers from the state to lower-income households would catalyze additional spending, as would a more progressive distribution of income”, he says. ” Reducing savings rates alone is unlikely to boost overall spending significantly, given the low levels of savings among lower-income households”.

Later this month, after the Politburo confab, Xi’s inner circle would be wise to offer specific policy shifts and timelines for implementation.

After all, expectations were quite high heading into this week. It’s the first Third Plenum of the party’s 20th Central Committee since 2013. Xi delayed the last one, which would’ve convened five years ago.

The event comes as&nbsp, China&nbsp, grew just 4.7 % year on year in the first quarter. A year-long property slump, a population decline, and investors worry that Xi may be more concerned with top-down control than creating new economic energy from the ground up as Beijing struggles with its worst deflationary run since 1999.

A flurry of news leaks in state media as the week began set the stage for disruptive steps to grow the private sector, boost local authorities ‘ income through tax cuts, liberalize the “hukou” system for local registration, and boost mainland competition in the artificial intelligence space.

A number of bigger-picture questions remain unanswered, including the status of more assertive efforts to remove bad assets from property developers ‘ balance sheets to prevent defaults, establishing more vibrant capital markets, creating social safety nets to encourage households to save and spend more, and the fate of internet platforms unsure about the regulatory outlook.

Investors are well-versed in the opacity of senior party officials. What’s needed, though, is policy clarity — and&nbsp, the sooner the better.

Party magazine Qiushi quoted Xi as saying that “forging Chinese modernization requires staying independent and maintaining self-reliance.” We must continue to advance our country and our country with our own resources, as well as keep a firm understanding of China’s development and progress.

Words with which few could quibble. But also phrases devoid of the&nbsp, how, when, where&nbsp, questions that continue to surround the&nbsp, Xiconomics&nbsp, era now into its 14th year.

” In 2013 expectations were very high for that Third Plenum, the communique came out and was disappointing, then a few days later the full resolution was released, and people got excited that there was a lot more substance to the reform plans” ,&nbsp, says longtime China watcher Bill Bishop, who writes the Sinocism newsletter. I’m not sure if a similar dynamic will occur this time.

But, Bishop adds,” those still hoping for any change of course will likely be disappointed. The leadership believes they are heading in the right direction, and the communique again reveals how far the reform process has advanced in a comprehensive way since the 2013 Third Plenum.

There still seems to be a conflict between policies aimed at increasing economic security and expanding the supply-side of the economy, according to Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics, and those aimed at increasing market forces ‘ influence and rebalancing growth toward consumption.

Wherever things lie, policy-wise, Xi’s inner circle would be wise to match the barrage of slogans emanating from Beijing with details and timelines. The sooner the better.

Continue Reading

Malaysia to decide by this year on HSR link with Singapore, shortlisting private consortiums to back project: minister

SINGAPORE: Malaysia will decide by this year whether it’s full steam ahead with plans for a high-speed rail ( HSR ) line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as it shortlists proposals from a narrowing list of private consortiums to back the project, an official has confirmed. &nbsp,

Transportation Minister Anthony Loke expressed hope that the Cabinet would make a decision on the viability of the multi-billion dollar project by the end of the fourth quarter in an interview on Wednesday ( Jul 17 ).

” Once we have a plan decision to deal with the high-speed road, we will start negotiations with Singapore”, he said, as quoted in local media. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Loke, the government has now shortlisted three of the seven consortiums that submitted proposals in response to a late-year data request.

He did not give the associations ‘ names, but he confirmed that it is the government’s policy to grant the HSR project to a group that is at least 51 % owned by Malaysian businesses.

Regional news outlet The Edge reported in March that China Railway Construction Corporation, Berjaya Land Bhd, and YTL Corp. had been shortlisted for the job. &nbsp,

Berjaya Rail, a subsidiary of Berjaya Land, announced it had joined the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation ( MARIC ) as a new member on Wednesday. An organization of 50 important railroad companies aims to foster private-public cooperation in the development of railroad network. &nbsp,

The 350km-long HSR task, which can go at a rate of 350km/h, was initially proposed in 2013 and resulted in a legally binding contract being signed in December 2016 with the intention of having the line operating by 2026.

Nevertheless, it was originally canceled after numerous postponements at Malaysia’s ask and a potential termination of a deal in December 2020.

Malaysia paid more than S$ 102 million ( US$ 75.8 million ) in compensation to Singapore for the terminated project.

Following the 2022 primaries and his recent visit to Singapore where he met with leaders of the country, the discussion of a reincarnation grew.

In a statement released on August 3, 2013, acting acting transport secretary Chee Hong Tat, Singapore was ready to discuss any new proposals from Malaysia for the KL-SG HSR venture in great belief,” starting from a fresh slate.”

In December last year, the Sultan of Johor, Ibrahim Iskandar, who became Malaysia’s prince in January, advocated for the restoration of the job, suggesting it be routed via Forest City, a mega-development in which he owns a play.

The HSR wants to cut the average car trip moment between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from more than four days to 90 days.

As a government-funded project, it is estimated to cost up to RM100 billion ( US$ 21.4 billion ). According to Mr. Loke, the price may get lower depending on the chosen plan. &nbsp,

Nevertheless, he cautioned that while the government is not ruling out support, it is not keen on providing a maintain due to concerns over increasing the country’s debt burden.

He added that the HSR was ultimately join with Malaysia’s$ 10 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which will connect the East and West coasts of Peninsular Malaysia by the end of 2026, with service scheduled to begin the year after that date. &nbsp,

He likewise mentioned discussing a plan to join Thailand’s rail network, which would ultimately aim to connect more of Southeast Asia to China by road.

” I’m confident we can keep pushing and trying to persuade our rivals from Thailand and Laos to take part in this whole thing,” he said. &nbsp,

Continue Reading

Police track source of cyanide in deaths of Vietnamese

Police track source of cyanide in deaths of Vietnamese
The used, cyanide-tainted vases discovered in the Bangkok resort space where six Asian people were found dead on Tuesday night. ( Photo supplied )

Police are looking into the supply of the cyanide used to kill six Taiwanese people at a hotel in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong neighborhood earlier this week.

Police are looking into whether the poison was imported into the region or purchased directly, according to Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 5 commander Pol Maj Gen Witthawat Chinkham.

He claimed that before making a decision to contact people in for further questioning, authorities are awaiting the results of all investigative testing.

Officers were attempting to speak with the younger girl of one of the six victims as well. On July 10, she made her way to Vietnam.

Chanchai Sittipunt, chairman of Chulalongkorn Hospital, said on Thursday that investigations on the body of the six deceased had been completed.

He stated that the family may be permitted to come pick up the items if the police do not request any more data.

Police believe Sherine Chong, one of the six persons found dead at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday night, poisoned the others before killing herself, with a significant debt problem as the possible cause.

Prior to the incident, Lumpini police station’s research chief, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, claimed that officers had interrogated the daughter of one of the sufferers as well as other witnesses.

Their transactions were important, he said.

” The situation likely branches from a debt problem. There are no other alternatives. Because they were the only ones who entered the room, the blame is one of the six who have died. There were no individuals”, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said.

The six were discovered dead on Tuesday night in a place on the second floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok.

Two of the people were citizens of the United States, and the other two were Taiwanese.

The room’s next door was booked by a sixth Taiwanese resident. She was allegedly one of the victims ‘ younger sisters, according to police.

The girl left the country on July 10 and was doubtful to have been involved in the incidents.

Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin, chairman of the examination heart at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, recently said an preliminary search of the body samples of the six deceased had detected poison.

According to a police source, Tien Thang Pham, one of the six dead’s past spouses, had been questioned by researchers at Lumpini police stop on Wednesday.

The gentleman was reportedly on a trip to Japan and had a video call with his ex-wife before the deaths took place.

Sherine, who had been given American citizen, was likewise reportedly in contact with law enforcement in the United States for more information.

More than ten years ago, it was discovered that various Asian residents in San Francisco had complained to the police.

They claimed she defrauded them by claiming she may help them obtain American citizen in exchange for money.

However, according to the source, American prosecutors finally decided to drop the circumstance against her.

Continue Reading

Cops tracking source of cyanide in deaths of Vietnamese

Cops tracking source of cyanide in deaths of Vietnamese
The used, cyanide-tainted vases discovered in the Bangkok resort space where six Asian people were found dead on Tuesday night. ( Photo supplied )

Police are looking into the origin of the cyanide used to kill six Vietnamese-Americans earlier this week at a hotel in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district.

Police are looking into whether the poison was imported into the state or purchased directly, according to Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 5 commander Pol Maj Gen Witthawat Chinkham.

He claimed that authorities are awaiting the results of all forensic examinations before making a decision about calling people in for more inquiries.

Officers were attempting to speak with the younger girl of one of the six victims as well. On July 10, she made her way to Vietnam.

Chanchai Sittipunt, producer of Chulalongkorn Hospital, said on Thursday that investigations on the body of the six deceased had been completed.

The family may be permitted to come in for collection if the authorities do n’t request any additional information.

Authorities believe Sherine Chong, one of the six persons found dead at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday night, poisoned the others before killing herself, with a significant debt problem as the possible cause.

Prior to this, Lumpini police station’s research chief, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, recently claimed that officers had interrogated the daughter of one of the sufferers as well as other witnesses.

Their records were beneficial, he said.

” The situation likely roots from a debt problem. There are no other options. Because they were the only ones who entered the room, the suspect is one of the six who have died. There were no people”, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said.

On Tuesday night, the six were discovered dead in a place on the second floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok.

Two of the people were citizens of the United States, and the other two were Taiwanese.

The room next door had been reserved by a sixth Asian person. She was reportedly the victim’s younger sister, according to authorities.

The girl left the country on July 10 and was undoubtedly unrelated to the incidents.

Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin, chairman of the examination heart at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, recently said an preliminary search of the plasma samples of the six deceased had detected poison.

According to a police source, Tien Thang Pham, one of the six dead’s previous husbands, had been questioned by researchers at Lumpini police stop on Wednesday.

Before the deaths, the man was said to be on a trip to Japan and had a picture phone with his ex-wife.

Sherine, who had been given American citizen, was also reportedly in contact with law enforcement in the United States for more information.

More than ten years ago, it was discovered that various Asian residents in San Francisco had complained to the authorities.

They claimed she defrauded them by offering them money to help them obtain British citizen.

According to the source, lawyers in the United States finally decided to drop the circumstance against her.

Continue Reading

Fertiliser subsidy hurts farmers, say MPs

Fertiliser subsidy hurts farmers, say MPs
In a grain industry in Chai Nat state, farmers apply fertilizers and pesticides. ( File photo )

Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai, two major partnership events, along with the criticism Democrat party, on Thursday firmly objected to a cabinet-approved 30-billion-baht compost payment program for 4.68 million corn farmers, saying it must be revised.

The issue was raised by Korrawee Prissananantakul, a Bhumjaithai MP for Ang Thong, at Thursday’s House meet.

Mr. Korrawee claimed that the majority of landowners in Ang Thong approve of the scheme’s co-pay requirement despite the fact that the fertiliser rebate program is intended to help lower producers ‘ costs.

There are hidden problems and drawbacks, he added.

He said,” These farmers have asked me to tell the government to have this program revised.” ” And if possible, they may be happy to see the preceding payment programme, which offered them 1, 000 ringgit per ray, brought back”.

Under the planned rebate program, farmers may receive at most 500 ringgit of grants per ray, or up to 10, 000 baht per man, he said.

But, producers would be required to pay half the prices upfront, he said.

” If the government actually means well, it may terminate this co-payment system and continue with the 1, 000 ringgit per-rai scheme”, he said.

Some farmers in his state are concerned about the program because they lack the funds to pay the compost buyers upfront, according to Thinnaphon Sitharet, a Pheu Thai MP for Kalasin.

Kalasin producers are also urging the government to stick to the previous rebate program, in which they were paid 1, 000 ringgit per ray — a total sum — so they could be used to purchase fertilisers, he said.

” Farmers ]in Kalasin ] want me to relay to the agriculture and cooperatives minister their call for the revision of the new fertiliser subsidy programme”, he said.

Sanong Thep-aksonnarong, a Bhumjaithai MP for Buri Ram, however, said this fresh subsidy programme, may prompt some farmers to take out loans and hence incur more debt as they must first find the cash to pay for the fertiliser.

A group of grain farmers in Wang Sai Phun city wrote to Winai Phattharaprasit, a Bhumjaithai MP for Phitchit, to complain about the co-payment system.

The team is also calling for the transfer of the past 1, 000 ringgit per-rai payment programme, he said.

He promised to submit the party’s complaint to the cupboard along with a request to review the new fertilizer subsidy program.

According to Saksit Khaothong, a Democrat MP for Songkhla, the new program is prone to corruption because it will require a middleman who will handle execution, unlike the previous program, which gave money to farmers directly.

The permanent minister for crops and cooperatives has been assigned to the government to speed up conversations with various government executives to determine the destiny of the scheme, according to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow.

Continue Reading

PM makes case for budget top-up to fund handout

According to Setha, the trigger digital wallet plan will help the economy, which is in immediate need.

PM makes case for budget top-up to fund handout
At a Wednesday House meeting, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin explains the need to get additional budget funding to boost the economy. ( Photo: Royal Thai Government )

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday that he had proposed a supplementary budget bill to the House to aid fund the electric pocket system, adding that it is crucial to increase the macroeconomic resources for 2024 by 122 billion baht.

The opposition parties said they would vote against the bill because it raised legal issues, including potential violations of the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act.

According to Mr. Srettha, additional funding is urgently required to boost economic activity, maintain consumption levels, and foster business opportunities for both individuals and the business sector.

The Pheu Thai Party’s signature policy is to begin in October with the release of 10, 000 baht in digital cash on August 1. Registration will open on August 1.

Mr. Srettha had made the decision to increase the 2024 budget by 122 billion baht in order to fund the handout and address the sluggish economy more quickly because he claimed the government could not wait for the 2025 fiscal budget to be released in October.

Of the amount proposed, 10 billion baht would come from tax revenue and 112 billion from a loan, he said, noting the increase would raise investment spending in the 2024 budget from 17.1 % to to 22.4 %.

He assured the House that the spending plan adheres to the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act, and that the money would be spent using the digital wallet handout.

The economy is forecast to grow 2-3 % this year due to increased spending, public investment, the recovery of the tourism and service sectors and through export growth, he said. However, he acknowledged risks and limitations owing to high household debt, business sector debt, as well as the volatile global economic situation.

According to Mr. Srettha, the nation’s financial situation is stable, with a 394 billion baht Treasury balance as of May 31 and a public debt that was 63.8 % of the country’s GDP as of April 30 this year.

According to him,” the government will striktly adhere to fiscal and monetary discipline and ensure that the money is spent responsibly in order to stimulate the economy and promote sustainable growth.”

The supplementary funding request for the digital wallet, according to Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the opposition’s Move Forward Party, is in danger of violating the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act provisions.

According to her, the additional budget must be distributed by the end of the fiscal year, which is by Sept. 30. However, the 10, 000-baht handout is expected in the last quarter of this year.

She argued that the registration date for August 1 should not be used to denote a start-up date for debt obligations in order to justify a delay in budgetary allocation.

Ms. Sirikanya questioned whether the digital wallet scheme qualifies as investment spending and whether other agencies might try to follow suit if they are unable to disburse funds before the fiscal year ends.

Continue Reading

PM defends budget top-up to fund handout

According to Setha, the trigger digital wallet plan will help the economy that is in urgent need of it.

PM defends budget top-up to fund handout
At a House conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin explains the need to look for additional funds resources to boost the economy. ( Photo: Royal Thai Government )

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday that it is crucial to increase the 2024 governmental resources by 122 billion ringgit in order to boost the economy. He also suggested that the House should consider passing a supplementary budget expenses to support the implementation of the digital wallet plan.

The criticism events, however, said they would vote against the bill because it raised constitutional issues, including potential violations of the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act.

According to Mr. Srettha, extra funding is urgently required to improve economic activity, maintain use levels, and foster company opportunities for both individuals and the business sector.

The Pheu Thai Party’s signature policy is to begin in October with the distribution of 10,000 baht in modern cash starting on August 1. Registration will open on August 1.

Mr. Srettha had made the decision to improve the 2024 finances by 122 billion baht in order to fund the flyer and address the slow economy more quickly because he claimed the government could not wait for the 2025 fiscal budget to be released in October.

Of the amount proposed, 10 billion baht would come from tax revenue and 112 billion from a loan, he said, noting the increase would raise investment spending in the 2024 budget from 17.1 % to to 22.4 %.

He told the House,” The money may be spent through the digital wallet flyer, and you can be assured that the paying plan is in line with the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act.”

The economy is forecast to develop 2-3 % this time due to increased spending, people investment, the restoration of the hospitality and service industries and through trade development, he said. However, he acknowledged risks and limitations owing to higher home loan, business business debt, as well as the dangerous worldwide economic situation.

According to Mr. Srettha, the nation’s financial situation is stable, with a 394 billion bass Treasury harmony as of May 31 and a public debt that was 63.8 % of the country’s GDP as of April 30 this year.

The government” does striktly adhere to fiscal and monetary control and make sure the money is spent wisely to boost the economy and promote green growth,” he said.

The request for additional cash for the online bag, according to Sirikanya Tansakul, the deputy chief of the opposition’s Move Forward Party, could be infringe upon provisions of the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act.

According to her, the supplementary budget must be distributed by the end of the fiscal year, which is by Sept. 30. But, the 10, 000-baht handbook is expected in the last quarter of this year.

She claimed that the registration date of Aug. 1 should not be viewed as initiating debt obligations to defend a pause in the budget’s release.

Ms. Sirikanya questioned whether the digital wallet plan qualifies as expense spending and whether some agencies may try to follow suit if they are unable to receive funds before the fiscal year ends.

Continue Reading