US special forces to the frontline against China, Russia – Asia Times

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The focus of the US Special Operations Forces ( SOF ) is shifting from fighting insurgencies to a potential great power conflict with China and Russia.

According to a report released this month, the US Special Operations Command ( SOCOM) is seeing an increase in demand for SOF support from all branches of the armed forces, with demand for strategic competition rising by over 30 % and for crisis response events rising by over 15 %.

Special military activities are currently experiencing a “renaissance” as the nature of war changes and there is a” convergence of adversaries,” especially the growing cohesion between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, according to SOCOM Chief General Bryan Fenton’s recent headline address.

Representative Jack Bergman made the switch from competing with major power like China and Russia during a US Congress hearing in February 2023. In light of the current political climate, he questioned the value of SOFs in combating asymmetrical warfare and assisting allies.

Rep. Ruben Gallego has questioned the readiness of SOFs to transition from terrorism to asymmetrical warfare capabilities like foreign domestic defense and information operations while stressing the importance of a complete government strategy to combat great power rivalry.

In response to Gallego, Seth Jones, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has argued that SOFs are essential in a world of interfering with state stars like China and Russia.

In addition to conventional weapons and nuclear weapons, key global players like China, Russia, and Iran are actively engaged in unusual warfare through army, intelligence, and non-state operations, according to Jones.

He encourages US SOFs to use their wide, non-kinetic capabilities to shift their focus away from direct action to roles like unusual internal defense and unorthodox warfare. He has urged the US Congress to increase revenue and review joint responsibilities to improve US success in irrational war.

National Defense University College of International Security Affairs professor and chair of the section has emphasized that SOFs must strengthen their capacity for countering international proxies and bolster resistance in states that are threatened by international attacks.

The US has deployed SOFs on Taiwan’s frontline islands and is re-equipped for a potential major great power conflict in the Pacific, according to words to deeds.

US SOFs were reportedly stationed on Taiwan’s frontline islands, just ten kilometers from mainland China, permanently in March 2024, according to Asia Times. According to reports, US military advisers will spend the long term at Kinmen and Penghu’s amphibious command posts.

Similar to the US Navy SEALs, the US Green Berets will frequently take part in training exercises with Taiwan’s 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion and Airborne Special Service Company.

For Taiwan’s defense, Kinmen and Penghu are essential, and SOFs are essential for putting together a long-range defense plan for these islands. In a cross-strait Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Kinmen and Penghu’s capture would be crucial.

Taiwanese SOFs can use delaying maneuvers to gain access to American and allies ‘ military training while also providing crucial intelligence and targeting for strike platforms. If China occupies Taiwan, Taiwan’s SOFs may form irregular resistance units that operate behind enemy lines, inflict casualties, cause delays and sow confusion.

Additionally, The Warzone reported that the US Navy is upgrading its special operations boat fleet, ordering a fourth Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH), and testing a new loitering launcher on the Medium (CCM).

The CCH fleet is currently being upgraded to improve its capabilities and survivability. These vessels are semi- submersible, climate- controlled and specifically designed for covert and sensitive maritime missions.

They can achieve a speed of 40 knots, carry up to 7 crew members along with 12 passengers or a payload of 1, 500 kilos, and have a range of 400 nautical miles.

The hulls have different window configurations, and the CCHs have a low profile and a stealth upper structure to reduce radar and visual signatures.

The Maritime Precision Engagement ( MPE ) program aims to integrate man-in-the- loop guidance systems on CCMs with stand-off, loitering munitions. By the end of 2024 or 2025, testing should be finished, with decisions on further integration expected.

These advancements reflect a shift in the US SOF’s focus away from preventing major conflicts, particularly in the Pacific.

The US SOF community may have to deal with budget and staff cuts as well as budget issues as a result of the re-focusing on SOFs in the context of rising great power tensions.

The Washington Post reported this month that US SOCOM is adapting to budgetary constraints by adding high-tech experts to their teams while reducing its forces by about 5,000 over the next five years.

The restructuring efforts are being influenced by the lessons from the ongoing Ukraine war, particularly the experiences of UK SOFs.

It notes that the US Army is facing the most significant reduction, with plans to cut about 4, 000 positions. Due to the need to shift from focusing on small-scale combat operations to achieving recruitment goals, this reduction is impacted.

Despite those reductions, The Washington Post claims that there is talk of expanding Green Beret teams ‘ size to accommodate experts like drone software engineers and expanding the scope of technical roles across all armed forces.

Erik Prince, a critic of US military downsizing, claims for Asia Times that US credibility and power projections are declining, drawing a contrast to the US military juggernaut of World War II.

Prince cites US embassy evacuations in Sudan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Ukraine and Niger, US citizens taken hostage in Gaza and the Houthi blockade of commercial shipping in the Red Sea, where US ground and naval forces are shot at with impunity, as symptomatic of US military decline.

He attributes this apparent decline to the post-Cold War peace dividend, debt, and excessive spending on the Global War on Terror, a lack of strategic discipline, and a focus on large defense contractors ‘ revenue rather than winning wars and forming strategic partnerships.

According to Price, the US wage “forever wars of convenience” because it believes that the military-industrial complex and precise drone strikes can shield the country’s elites from the dreadful realities of war.

He urges US policymakers to draw lessons from previous failures to stop apocalyptic conflict with China. He advocates utilizing the US private sector to accomplish military goals, contrasting the efficiency of the private sector with bureaucratic government practices and large defense contractors. &nbsp,

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Buffaloes vanish, leaving grandma unable to pay debts

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Discussed: 12 May 2024 at 13: 38

Buffaloes vanish, leaving grandma unable to pay debts
On Saturday, Charn Puangmalai asks for the return of her missing cows by the side of a house in the Chalerm Phrakiat city of Buri Ram. ( Photo: Surachai Piragsa )

BURI RAM: A grandmother’s disappearance of her flock of ten cattle has left her in financial damage. In order to pay her banks debt, Charn Puangmalai planned to sell them.

The 72- yr- ancient has been letting her cattle roam in the&nbsp, neighbourhood&nbsp, around her home town of Khok Ta Tung in Chalerm Phrakiat district every morning to serve themselves. She therefore returns them to the house in the evening.

Ms. Charn went to the area on Thursday evening and discovered no trace of her animal. She turned to rescue participants on Saturday after two days of unsuccessful hunting.

She said her 10 buffaloes were to be sold one day for 100, 000 baht and she would use the money to repay 300, 000 baht of debt owed to the&nbsp, Bank&nbsp, of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives ( BAAC ).

” If I ca n’t find my buffaloes, I have no idea how to find money to pay BAAC”, she said.

The 72-year-old hopes that her buffaloes did return to the house. ( Photo: Surachai Piragsa )

The individuals have been helping her try to locate her pets on feet and have also driven to&nbsp, neighbouring&nbsp, tambon and regions. They are unsure whether the cow were stolen or just lost their way, and they have not located them.

” If they were stolen, anybody who did that please&nbsp, have &nbsp, sympathy and bring my buffaloes back”, she begged.

All Mr Charn can do today is&nbsp, pray&nbsp, for their profit.

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‘Made too easy’: ‘Buy now, pay later’ schemes ensnare consumers in Malaysia in web of purchases, debt

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View OF A BNPL PROVIDER&nbsp,

The three main suppliers of BNPL solutions in Malaysia last year were Shopee, Grab, and Atome. According to the CCOB, these three companies made up 97 per share of all BNPL purchases. &nbsp,

Customers used deferred payment or payment options to rhythm and stretched out their obligations in accordance with their individual budgets or financial preparing goals, according to Mr. Alain Yee, Head of SeaMoney and ShopeePay Malaysia, according to CNA. &nbsp,

He did point out that not everyone has access to regular payment options, as the company discovered that about 10 % of SPayLater users lack access to these choices. &nbsp,

In response to inquiries from CNA, he said,” The presence of BNPL solutions allows this demographic to buy and purchase necessities in times of want, including act payments, purchasing coverage policies, and other essentials.”

Mr. Yee added that using their service, fast-moving consumer products, which are items sold quickly for relatively low prices, consistently ranked at the top of the list of items purchased at the time of purchase. &nbsp,

” While consumers ‘ financial habits affect how they manage their budgets, BNPL providers must also take proactive measures to protect users from overspending,” said BNPL. &nbsp,

People are often encouraged to schedule out their payments along with earlier reminders of future payments, he said,” with SPayLater, for instance, users are given individualised credit limits suited to their payment capabilities.” &nbsp,

A lower payment control, which usually ranges from RM100 to RM300, is provided to new customers when they first install SPayLater, according to Mr. Yee. &nbsp,

And as consumers continue to implement the company, several aspects will be considered, including their spending and payment abilities. &nbsp,

Users will be notified of an adjustment to their credit limits after inner reviews, with the latter likely seeing an increase or decrease, he said, adding that the company’s customer base has grown consistently and sustainably.

In response, Mr. Yee claimed that there has been a decrease in both late and repayment delinquencies.

The proposed Credit Consumer Act, he added, would promote a good and secure environment for both customers and funds service providers, he added. &nbsp,

The Credit Consumer Act mandates that companies conduct value assessments on clients, which are the important activities that stand out in this respect. Operators can use this to better understand and tailor their services to individual customers while guarding users from unexpected overbudgeting, he said. &nbsp,

Calls for remarks were never responded to by Atome and Grab. &nbsp, &nbsp,

EASY TO APPLY, EASY TO GET TRAPPED&nbsp,

The Credit Counseling and Debt Management Agency ( CBDM), a company that is under the BNM’s control, reported to CNA that the BNPL providers make it simple for customers to apply for and be approved to use their services. &nbsp,

” It is so easy. You can even use your apps to make payments in installments for meals. It’s made very simple I think,” said AKPK mind for household monetary education Nirmala Supramaniam. &nbsp,

According to Mdm Nirnala, she noticed that a lot of what the children spent on with these BNPL companies were for” experience” for as little holidays, facials, or even for hair color. &nbsp,

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US, China taking over EU’s green energy transition – Asia Times

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The EU’s environment plan is in trouble.

The Green Deal, which aims to reduce the world’s carbon emissions by 55 % by 2030, had a promising beginning thanks to the passage of several significant pieces of legislation, including a new carbon border tax and a ban on the sale of new combustion-powered vehicles starting in 2035.

Increasingly, but, Europeans are rebelling against natural limitations of which they have trouble seeing the benefits. The alarming number of Chinese and US companies entering the EU energy market poses yet another less-discussed but crucial threat to the republic’s shift to green power and energy.

In our book,” Energy: How to Recover Our European Ambition” ( published in French ), we shed light on this overlooked issue ahead of European elections that will be critical for the EU’s energy strategy, and call on the bloc to carefully weigh up cooperation and competition with sovereignty.

China’s clean share

China now has access to 80 % of the world’s clean-tech manufacturing capacity in 11 different industries, including solar wafers and a large number of lithium-ion battery components, despite the lack of any statistical data.

Foreign investors first stepped in in the early 2010s to take advantage of the country’s sovereign debt crisis to buy large stakes in what have long been seen as” republic” industries, such as power transmission and distribution systems.

Major among those was the nation’s largest utility organization, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), generally known as the State Grid – the world’s third- biggest company nevertheless by revenue, behind Walmart, Saudi Aramco and Amazon as of March. The largest hydroelectric energy advanced in the world, Three Gorges Corp., is also becoming more prevalent.

For example, in Portugal, Three Gorges Corp. won the selling for the Portuguese administration’s 21 % interest in EDP- Energias de Portugal SA in 2010. Meanwhile, in Italy, SGCC expanded its presence by collaborating with the Italian government in 2014, acquiring a 35 % share in the CDP Reti fund, thereby attaining a blocking minority at the local gas network operator, SNAM, and electricity transmission network operator, Terna.

In Greece, the State Grid significantly increased its position by acquiring a 24 % interest in the Greek government’s federal power distribution network operator in 2016.

While Portugal, Italy, and Greece were major goals, Chinese investors have even acquired systems in Luxembourg. Last but not least, let’s not forget that China’s green-tech sector has supplied Europe with affordable solar panels and electric vehicles ( EVs ).

US making advances

The United States is even hoping to benefit from the EU’s ill thought-out energy plan, which raises the stakes even further.

Russia’s conflict with Ukraine has never diminished the United States ‘ standing in terms of power, particularly in the EU. In fact, the EU was fast to impose sanctions against its long-term trading partner to lessen its dependence, even though Russian gas was anticipated to serve as a bridge fuel in the move to electricity, especially for Germany.

The United States has grown to be the largest LNG exporter and supplier in Europe, partially filling the gap left by Moscow. This development encourages US trade while keeping home energy costs low, thereby widening the price gap as energy inflation in Europe undermines its standing as a resource-intensive industry’s comparative competitiveness and appeal.

Beyond these issues with power supply, EU member states are struggling to articulate a common vision, which raises concerns with strategic autonomy and independence.

With an attempt to form a European nuclear alliance established in November 2023, French companies, particularly those in France, have made an effort to develop fourth-generation small modular nuclear reactors ( SMR ).

However, countries like Italy, Belgium, and Romania are currently working with Westinghouse Electric Company to create lead-cooled fast reactors.

The coordination gap is another way that John Kerry’s confirmation of American influence in Europe can be benefited by. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland were chosen to participate in the” Clean Fuel from SMR” international consortium, which includes American companies and will provide funding for coal-to-SMR feasibility studies.

These EU nations are turning to Americans to construct new nuclear power plants despite the EU’s continued opposition to any support for nuclear projects developed on its soil, primarily because of their funding and technical expertise.

Cracks in net- zero

At a time when the bloc is considering decarbonizing, the size of these foreign investments in renewable energy, new nuclear facilities, and grid development may have a significant impact on its strategic independence.

These investments raise concerns over continental energy security, given the still fragmented nature of Europe’s energy landscape:

  • Short-term, supply issues caused by the energy crisis only lead to a shift in our energy dependence issue and a turning point for the EU.
  • In the face of Chinese dumping and US protectionionism, Europe will need to defend its domestic energy producers or grid operators after being neglected for a while.

One dependency must be eliminated before it becomes a new one, which is Europe’s biggest challenge. To replace imports of fossil fuels ( coal, gas, and oil ) that are harmful to the climate, the EU member states must accelerate and coordinate the development of their “green” technologies.

Toward green sovereignty

Due to these risks, the bloc must not only pay more attention to non-EU companies, but also assume greater responsibility for its own energy system. How can it do this, all while pursuing the vision of the “green, secure and affordable energy supply” set out in its Green Deal?

We advise that EU member states put forth more effort to create truly European energy grids. Our electricity system will increasingly rely on a variety of renewable energy sources as we move toward decarbonization. These arrangements will require extensive, interconnected networks that must be developed and strengthened by EU member states themselves.

A second emergency is green energy financing. The European Climate Neutrality Observatory warned in November that the bloc’s failure to reach its net-zero goals could be brought on by a lack of public investment in green energy and other advances.

Member states cut the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP ) fund, which is intended for renewable energy and clean technology, to 1.5 billion euros in February, as opposed to takingheed of the warning.

Our book calls for a radical change of course by establishing a” European transition savings account” to attract private savings, on the one hand, and a” European sovereign fund” that receives proceeds from carbon-priced revenues, on the other.

The upcoming European elections will determine whether these will actually be implemented. Results that point to a higher European ambition might be useful for us to identify safe, affordable, and affordable solutions.

At the other end of the spectrum, further veering to the nationalistic right could carry harmful effects for the bloc’s economic clout and, paradoxically, sovereignty.

Michel Derdevet, president of the organization Confrontations Europe, coauthored this article. Patrick Criqui is the director and energy economist at Université Grenoble Alpes ( UGA ), and Caroline Sebi is the chair of the Grenoble École de Management ( GEM).

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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AI won’t save us but cybernetics could – Asia Times

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Lu Qiyuan, a well-known scholar in China, recently claimed that the US has four years to avoid a significant political, social, and economic crisis. It must implement one of three reforms: structural political reform, ensuring that the money no longer serves as the world’s supply money, or launching a new wave of artificial intelligence ( AI)-driven economic growth.

If Lu Qiyuan is best, the US is facing a Herculean task. The primary participants and supporters of the current political system, the US’s corporate and financial companies, would be met with fierce opposition from structural reform. They are strongly rooted in the federal government and hold the reins over the national press.

After the West banned Russia from the world financial system, it will also be a battle to keep the money as the world’s supply money. The money system’s illegal weaponization spooked the rest of the world, which was exactly what it was trying to accomplish. De- devaluation has become a world buzzword.

Another big challenge faces the third option, which is to increase productivity exponentially thanks to AI. From the Third to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there are generations of transitions in the world. China is expected to guide the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while the US initiated the Third Industrial Revolution, which was preceded by the Internet and ICT trend.

China is the country that actually uses AI.

Industry 4.0 is the fusion of digital, biological, and physical technologies and the large- scale deployment of AI, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and the Internet of Things ( IoT ). China, the largest stock in the world, produces almost all of the equipment needed for Industry 4.0, and it has the infrastructure to support it.

Mystical aura, conflicted emotions

AI also has a spiritual underbelly. The general public, especially in the West, has indifferent thoughts about AI. Many people are concerned that private may be compromised by AI. While some claim that some tech companies may be monopolizing AI, experts contend that AI could outshine human intelligence and pose a threat to humanity’s future.

The more extreme concerns about AI can be traced to science ( cyber ) fiction. Some cyberfiction depicts AI as a global mind that has a head of its and terrible purposes: taking over the world, enslaving society, or worse – eliminating people. Which business, nation, or another organization would create an AI system that could rule the world or be able to do so is not made clear.

Additionally, AI alarmists frequently overlook the fact that autonomous systems are based in defined areas. They were created to fulfill a particular set of requirements. Playing games and analyzing health X-rays are not possible in an AI system developed for a self-driving car. No automaker may create a self-driving vehicle with its own ideas.

AI is not only website- certain, it is also culture- specific. We will receive two very different responses when enquiring about the best economic system for the 21st century from large language models ( LLM) like ChatGPT and its Chinese counterpart ERNIE. Any LLM will be able to match its creators ‘ view.

When viewed as a set of bionics, the first comprehensive idea of linear computing developed in the 1940s, AI appears less difficult. AI is built on the same ( binary- Boolean ) platform as Robotics. Technically speaking, it uses a self-learning algorithms and is a branch of cybernetics. It could be called Robotics 2.0.

Analog servers were the first model of servers. Instead of distinct binary values, they based their calculations on variations in ongoing electrical current. In the 1940s, circuit technology advancements made it possible to use linear computers, and the majority of computer professionals concurred that binary techniques were more robust and program-friendly.

In the 1940s, the British scientist Norbert Wiener developed a theoretical foundation for binary technology, which he called Robotics. With the aid of binary choices (yes or no ) and Boolean logic ( IF, THEN, AND, OR, etc. ), Wiener demonstrated that binary computers are ideal for controlling complex systems. ).

In robotic systems, comments is a crucial component.

The pilot system on airplanes is a textbook illustration of a cyber system. Boolean operators allow the pilot to steer the plane from point A to point B within the navigator’s parameters. The driver makes a program correction when the aircraft is in powerful side winds. If it encounters solid winds, it does rev up the machines to keep on schedule.

After World War II, cyber theory was crucial to the development of technology and other manufacturing technologies. It made it possible for engineers to create control techniques for performance and reliability while modeling complex systems and predicting how they would behave. The conceptual foundation for contemporary technology was also provided by robotics.

In the 1950s, the arts embraced robotics. Among people, it was used to analyze social systems, organizations, and managing processes. Cybernetics provides tools for selection- making processes, corporate habits, control technology and systems thinking.

The cyber method is based on three actions: plan, estimate and navigate. The schedule defines the goal or destination, the measurement determines the required tools, and the wheel, using a feedback system, guidelines the system to its place. The process can be applied to any method, whether an pilot, a manufacturer or an entire country.

Bionics is a branch of a multidisciplinary discipline. AI will help to stop the age of expertise.

Norbert Wiener called this new scientific robotics to show its standard work: wheel. The term robotics derives from the Greek kybernētēs, meaning” I steer, travel, information, work as a pilot”.

The commander of a fleet was referred to in Plato as the “world.” The first instance of a direct comments system was a ship’s rudder. The Latin problem, gubernātor, is the root of the current phrase state or to regulate.

Robotics even spread to the cultural, political and economic regions. Following World War II, the Five and Ten Year Plans were influenced by cyber principles. Although they had a combined victory, China continued to use long-term planning even after the 1970s market liberalization. &nbsp,

Deng Xiaoping’s second Five- Time Schedule called for laying the foundation for modernization, infrastructure development, and agrarian modernization. China’s transition from an agricultural nation to an industrialized one was the goal. &nbsp,

Additionally, Xi Jinping’s current Five-Year Plan had ambitious objectives. Among others, it calls for” a society in which no one is poor and everyone receives an education, has paid employment, more than enough food and clothing, access to medical services, old- age support, a home and a comfortable life”.

For China, planning is an imperative. The population is significantly declining. A growing number of elderly people will need to receive physical and financial care from a population that is shrinking. Industry 4.0 technology will need to be at the rescue.

In Industry 4.0, humans have to meet technology halfway

Cybernetics is a branch of a multidisciplinary discipline. It offers a framework for all aspects of human development – social, ecological, political, and technological, even psychological and philosophical. Moreover, cybernetics is neutral, a- political, universal and based on binary logic.

A plan is all that cybernetics requires. Without a plan, as Plato pointed out, society is like a ship at sea without a destination, a captain or a rudder. Cybernetics requires that we state our intentions, allocate the needed resources and select reliable navigators.

The fundamental distinction between artificial intelligence and cybernetics is due to a plan’s predominance. In the cybernetics framework, AI is “merely” a tool in a larger context. It can make a plan, but it ca n’t help us get there more quickly. Only people can come up with a plan and reach agreement on the goal.

Human feedback system, from “Cybernetics in Health Care”, Milsum and Laszlo

Chinese economist Lu, in his advice to the US government, &nbsp, argues that the US urgently needs a plan. In the last 40 years, China and the nation have exchanged locations. China industrialized, the US de- industrialized. Millions of Chinese people migrated to the middle class, and millions of Americans emigrated. China had a plan, the US did not.

The fate of the US is a global concern. The US is in a financial death spiral without taking care of its debt. The national budget’s interest payments on the national debt are now the largest budgetary item. The cost of paying off the debt could outweigh any other government expenditures unless the nation makes a drastic and agonizing course correction. &nbsp,

According to economists, a nation that can print its own currency is never bankrupt. Technically speaking, that may be true, but it does not explain why a nation that can print its own currency also needs to borrow US$ 34 trillion to pay its government. This contradictory system will be put to the test by the BRICS and the growing de-dollarization coalition.

Global debt is approaching now over$ 300 trillion, or 235 % of global GDP, the highest since the Napoleonic Wars. A dollar implosion would have a negative impact on all of the world’s nations, as well as the global fiat system. Skilled navigators are necessary to navigate the world to the other side of the debt crisis.

New Thinking

The word cybernetics was first used in the modern political context by André- Marie Ampère, the French scientist and philosopher who discovered electromagnetism. Ampère, who also studied social and political systems, argued that” the future science of governance should be called cybernetics”.

Physicist Bruce Lindsay, author of the 1970&nbsp, paper” The Larger Cybernetics”, speculated on Ampère’s reasoning for using the term cybernetics. He wrote:

Ampère first used the term” cybernetique” to refer to the science of government in this memoir. Since the word “helmsman” or “governor” is used in Greek to indicate the person in charge of the ship’s direction, he clearly felt appropriate.

It is possible to say that this is the beginning of the formal recognition of control science, even though it does not appear that Ampère’s definition attracted much attention in the nineteenth century, nor does it do so in the present, until Norbert Wiener revived the term in his 1948 book, Cybernetics, making an effort to establish the subject in a more formal way.

Ampère may have influenced German philosopher Martin Heidegger, who studied the human relation to technology ( he spoke of” technicity.” ) Heidegger claimed that Friedrich Nietzsche’s nihilism had reached its zenith in a 1966 interview with Der Spiegel, which made it clear that European philosophy was insufficiently prepared to deal with technological developments. Asked what comes after philosophy, Heidegger replied:” Cybernetics.”

Heidegger added another way of thinking, “adding,” meaning the way that Nietzsche’s method of thinking contributed to the development of technology’s fundamental thrust.

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Can”t come soon enough

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Can't come soon enough
Nikorn: ‘ New contract within four times ‘

The journey to creating a brand-new mandate is expected to be exhausting and tedious.

In fact, one party appears to be finding the job to be increasingly difficult as the government releases a preliminary schedule for the rewriting.

Pheu Thai’s reputation as a ruling party was assumed by some as the party, who had promised to create a high law that was both democrat in letter and spirit during the election of last year.

The Move Forward Party ( MPF), which fought alongside Pheu Thai and Pheu Thai to replace the current mandate, which they criticized as the result of a tyranny when both parties were in criticism during the preceding Prayut Chan- o gan management, is the most depressed.

The MFP has made a number of statements about the slower speed at which the proposed contract shifts are moving.

According to a cause, the main opposition party has every reason to believe that a quick passage to a fresh constitution might prove to be its saving grace.

The Election Commission voted unanimously on March 12 to ask the Supreme Court to dissolve the MFP, which was accepted as a reading.

The committee contends that the MFP even violated Section 92 of the natural law on political parties in a decision made by the court on January 31 in which it found that MFP efforts to alter Part 112 of the Criminal Code, the der guess law, amounted to an attempt to undermine the democratic monarchy. The jury is empowered to dissolve any group that threatens the democratic monarchy under this section.

The MFP may get free of the knife, according to the source, if the charter redraft may replace the current prohibition on the Constitutional Court from disbanding political parties.

However, the government’s most current information regarding the contract update timeline was unsatisfying for the MFP.

The contract update may take years, according to Chartthaipattana Party list MP Nikorn Chamnong, who is the subcommittee’s leader, who is gathering views on the proposed reform of the whole 2017 charter. The Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the EC’s complaint against the MFP may be rendered before the middle of the yr.

The government-appointed council, led by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, oversees the Nikorn subpanel’s investigation into the referendums that will be held as a crucial component of the contract update effort.

Much to the MFP’s astonishment, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the Phumtham council’s decision to hold three elections before a new contract can be approved.

The first will ask the electorate if they approve of a fresh contract. The next election will inquire if Section 256 may be amended to allow for the creation of a new contract if the majority of voters agree.

When a new contract is produced, the government may hold a second vote, asking voters to choose whether it should be adopted.

The MFP insists two may suffice. Two may save money and time while also adhering to the law, according to MFP record MP Rangsiman Rome.

The second vote is scheduled to take place either at the end of July or in early August, according to Mr. Nikorn, and it will cost about 3.2 billion ringgit. The government may work up a bill of nearly 10 billion baht, according to estimates for the two different referendums, which are roughly equal in price.

He added that the whole process for enacting a new mandate would be finished before the government finds business in less than four years.

According to the cause, Pheu Thai could not possibly benefit from replacing the current mandate, and it might not be as motivated as the MFP, who is also in no hurry to pass the constitutional amendment bill.

In fact, the election law itself is a hindrance to the enactment of a new charter. More than 50 % of eligible voters must take part in a referendum, and the majority of those voting may review the new contract, according to the “double lot” condition.

According to Mr. Srettha, the cabinet recently made a decision to change Referendum Act 2021 in order to end the “double majority” rule and make it simpler for a new charter to pass a referendum.

Caught in the crosshairs

After Pheu Thai Party-led government leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra criticized the BoT’s monetary policy and questioned its independence, apparent tensions between the Pheu Thai Party-led government and the Bank of Thailand ( BoT ) are now public.

Ms. Paetongtarn addressed the controversy between the BoT and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at a party event on May 3.

According to Ms. Paetongtarn, the government’s fiscal policy has been burdened by the BoT’s monetary policy, and the law keeping the central bank a government-independent means that efforts to resolve economic issues are hampered by it.

” If the BoT does n’t understand and cooperate with the government]in its efforts to tackle economic problems], we ca n’t ]win ]”, she told the event’s attendees.

Paetongtarn: Rate speech stirs alarm

The central bank’s criticism of Ms. Paetongtarn has sparked controversy, with some expressing concern about potential political interference in monetary policy. This is widely accepted as essential to maintaining economic stability and credibility.

The ruling coalition may use its majority in parliament to push for an amendment to the Bank of Thailand Act to impede the BoT’s independence, according to Sirikanya Tansakul, the opposition’s Move Forward Party ( MFP).

” It’s wrong to force the BoT to adhere to government objectives.” The MFP list- MP also stated that it is incorrect to believe that the BoT’s independence prevents the country from resolving its economic problems.

Despite Mr. Srettha’s assurances that no plans were being considered to remove the BoT governor or change the law, Ms. Paetongtarn’s comments are alarming to other critics. However, the critics doubt whether the prime minister is really in the driver’s seat.

Paroled former minister Thaksin Shinawatra, known as the de facto leader of Phue Thai, is not a believer in BoT independence. The Pheu Thai administration has previously been under political pressure on the central bank.

” We must keep an eye on this and see if the Pheu Thai-led government will act in the manner that Ms. Paetongtarn’s claims suggest. Some people say Ms Paetongtarn was just reading from the script, but I think she has inherited it]Thaksin’s belief the BoT should not be independent ].

” And everyone knows who is pulling the strings,” ex-Democratic MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said.

Pheu Thai stalwarts argued in Ms. Paetongtarn’s defense that their party leader’s remarks were merely a call for greater coordination between monetary and fiscal policies in order to solve economic problems.

Phumtham Wechayachai, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Phumtham Wechayachai, the minister of commerce, both made the point that the BoT is not immune from criticism.

” It is not an agency that cannot be criticised. Ms Paetongtarn’s criticism shows she is sincere and concerned that the BoT’s refusal to cut interest rates will affect people,” said Mr Phumtham.

Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, thought Mr Phumtham’s response was off the mark because the BoT has always faced public scrutiny.

” But critics, including the press, have never indicated an intention to intervene in its work, “he said.

According to Mr Thanaporn, the Pheu Thai leader’s speech on May 3 was a total disaster. Her remarks were misguided, making the public question her grasp of basic economic principles.

Reading from a script without really understanding the issues she discusses, Ms Paetongtarn stands in stark contrast to Ms Sirikanya, who displays a thorough understanding of economic policymaking, said the analyst.

He argued that Ms. Paetongtarn should be better informed and stay away from economic issues until she has learned more about the economic system or is able to distinguish between public and private debt.

According to Mr. Thanaporn, Ms. Paetongtarn, who is being groomed to become the party’s next prime minister, needs training and mentorship and should concentrate on self-education regarding economic principles and policies in order to get ready for the position.

The ruling party can use its resources to support Ms Paetongtarn’s political maturity now that the Pheu Thai Party Academy has been established to develop the potential of Pheu Thai members, he said.

That day, Ms. Paetongtarn failed. She might be overconfident. Unless she is better equipped, she does n’t stand a chance in a debate with anyone from the MFP, “he said.

As things stand now, the Pheu Thai Party, perceived as neo- conservative to fend off the MFP, seems to be no match for the main opposition party, according to Mr Thanaporn.

Despite the party being in charge of the coalition, he noted, Pheu Thai’s younger MPs appear to lack vision in achieving party objectives.

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PM confirms Krisada departure, plans talks with UTN

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PUBLISHED: 10 May 2024 at 15: 01

PM confirms Krisada departure, plans talks with UTN
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, tides to investigators as he leaves Government House on September 25, 2023. ( Photo: Chanat Katanyu )

Krisada Chinavicharana’s appointment as assistant minister of finance has been confirmed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Due to this decision, the United Thai Nation ( UTN) Party of alliance has been discussing a possible alternative.

A meeting with the UTN is scheduled on the outside of the portable cabinet meeting the following year, according to the prime minister, who announced on Friday that Mr. Krisada’s departure was effective soon.

Mr. Krisada was the only UTN lawmaker in charge of the Finance Ministry following the most recent government change. After being given the task of leading only the Public Debt Management Office ( PDMO), the former permanent secretary for finance reportedly felt dissatisfied with his new duties.

Mr Pichai and his two different representatives, Paopoom Rojanasakul and Julaphan Amornvivat, are from the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Parnpree Bahiddha-Nakara resigned as foreign affairs minister in protest of being removed from the position of deputy prime minister, and Mr. Krisada is the next cabinet minister in recent months.

Tuesday’s gathering of the wireless government will take place at Phetchaburi Rajabhat University in the state of Phetchaburi. The major function of the primary minister’s two- time vacation includes visits to Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram.

Mr. Srettha stated that his primary objective is to address the concerns of citizens rather than to win support for Pheu Thai from various political events.

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Domestic tourism soars in China but foreigners stay away

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A popular thing to do in Wuzhen is to pose for photos dressed in traditional hanfu clothing
By Stephen McDonell
China editor

With the Chinese economy facing huge obstacles, there have been concerns over its development possible, at least in the fast coming.

Local hospitality is one of the few notable exceptions that are emerging.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 295 million journeys were made within China during next week’s five-day public holiday to indicate Labor Day. This was 28 % higher than the 2019 pre-pandemic images.

The Transport Ministry’s figures are even remarkable: 92 million road trips, almost 10 million atmosphere outings and 1.25 billion bridge journeys.

However, this comes as international visitors continue to trail, with foreigners already entering China at little 30 % of 2019 levels. Why the gap?

Wuzhen is considered one of China's top visitor sites

The lovely historic river town of Wuzhen, a little push from Shanghai, is considered one of China’s major user places for tourists of all kinds.

Customers flocked to the small waterways’ small pathways and old bridges when we arrived.

Posing for photos in conventional Hanfu attire is a popular activity in Wuzhen, as if you had been transported back in time by centuries.

Two 20-year-old people who have been friends since high institution are coming to visit from northern Jilin Province.

They spend an hour getting their hair done in the complex imperial-era style and are praised for Wuzhen’s classic beauty after arriving.

We inquire as to whether some of their friends and family have been on a lot of travel since Covid’s entry.

Woman selling traditional snacks

” Of course, after the pandemic, we’re all visiting different sites”.

Local business owner who sells ice creams in the local area also claims that tourist numbers have not decreased significantly recently.

As good as before Covid?

” About the same”, he replies.

Wang Ying, a storekeeper of conventional snacks, shares this attitude with a happy experience.

” Business is going well, and it’ll only get better”.

All of this will be welcomed by the Chinese authorities. It has been suggested that a boost to home use would help to stabilize the country’s fragile economy.

Major players in the once-mighty property industry are struggling to stay afloat, regional government loan is rising, and unqualified graduates from highly-qualified universities are uncertain of their future.

Amid all these issues, the Communist Party has set a target of “around 5 %” GDP growth for this year. Academics are also curious about how such a goal can be reached, in any real feeling, in 2024 without significant additional stimulus, despite the fact that analysts have long questioned the accuracy of the nation’s official growth numbers.

A Hilton hotel in Huzhou city

Getty Images

A more upbeat go picture could be the only lifeline, opening up new business opportunities and employment in the service sector.

According to Schubert Lou, chief operating officer of travel agency Trip.com, “we’ve seen very strong domestic travel demand, with search volumes in hotels rising by 67 % from last year and flying by 80 %.”

Travel Daily’s Peng Han, a specialist for the hospitality industry, is following the investment landscape to learn how the sector’s potentials are actually perceived.

” With prominent global resort brands- like Intercontinental, Marriott and Hilton- you just have to appear at their progress in China in 2023″, he says. Check the performance targets for these sizable hotel chains in 2024, which have also been set reasonably high. They are very optimistic about the Chinese market’s potential for growth, according to this.

However, Mr. Peng does raise the issue of per capita consumption, which is persistently low, despite the increase in local traveler volume.

Tourists visit the Lujiazui complex across the Huangpu River on the Bund in Shanghai, China,

Getty Images

He claims that people are searching for good value options because of the Chinese economy’s general uncertainty. They are spending money on vacation and paying for things, but they also do so much more sparingly.

An increase in foreigners ‘ big spending might be a good thing for this.

They simply do n’t travel to China in the same numbers as they once did. In 2019, nearly 98 million international visitors came to the country. Last year it was only 35 million- including business trips, students and the like.

The domestic and international markets are “uneven,” according to Mr. Lou.

For many in the tourism industry here specialising in services for foreign travellers, “uneven” would be an understatement.

Immigration from other nations decreased after three years of harsh Covid prevention measures, but that alone cannot account for the current situation.

Huang Songshan, the head of the Centre for Tourism Research in the School of Business and Law at Australia’s Edith Cowan University, blames this weakness in part to” the shifting geopolitical landscape globally”.

Chinese performer

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He cited a 2023 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in his peer-reviewed East Asia Forum, which stated that” Most people in Western nations have unfavorable views toward China. Travelers from other countries may find the Chinese government’s tightening grip on societal regulations unsettling.

Official travel advice from some governments echo this sentiment, at times quite harshly.

Washington advises potential travelers to “revisit travel to Mainland China because of the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including those relating to exit bans, and the possibility of wrongful detentions.”

Australia advises” a high degree of caution,” warning that” Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws.”

Flight availability and cost have also been affected by the political environment.

Particularly relevant are connections to and from North America. Last month’s 332 scheduled round trips between China and the US contrasts with 1, 506 in April 2019.

Finding seats on a direct flight can be very challenging, and those that are are also very expensive.

Flight availability and cost have also been affected by the political environment.

Getty Images

Last November, President Xi Jinping addressed this issue during a dinner held on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in San Francisco.

” Today, President Biden and I reached important consensus”, he told the crowd.

” Our two countries will introduce more steps to facilitate travel and promote people-to-people exchanges, including launching direct passenger flights, holding a high-level dialogue on tourism, and streamlining visa application procedures. In the new era, our two countries will make more visits, exchanges, and visits. We also hope to find new friendship stories.

Since then, Washington has reduced the number of flights on Chinese airlines from 35 per week to 50. It is still well short of the 150 weekly trips pre- Covid.

The Biden administration is coming under pressure from unions and US airlines to not increase this any further because, they argue, Chinese airlines have an unfair advantage over them as they have state support, do n’t face the same onerous Chinese regulations, and, crucially, can fly over Russian airspace, making trips shorter and cheaper.

A letter to the US government from the Chair of the House Committee on China, Mike Gallagher, and the committee’s top Democrat representative, Raja Krishnamoorthi, reads:” Should the US- China passenger carrier market expand without the US government addressing these significant issues, US aviation workers, travellers and airlines will pay a hefty price tag”.

According to Mr. Lou, international flight connections are definitely occurring more frequently.

” What we are seeing right now, based on civil aviation data, is that inbound flight capacity wo n’t get back to even 80 % of 2019]levels ] by the end of 2024″.

People try to touch a lion mask during a lion dance performance at a temple fair on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in Beijing on 15 February, 2024.

Getty Images

Additionally, there are other potential drawbacks for those who are considering visiting China, such as the country’s state-of-the-art phone app payment and booking systems, which are simple for Chinese residents and residents but can be a real pain if they have just arrived.

There are certain sites, transport options, and purchases which can only be accessed via Chinese electronic apps which are, at times, only available in Chinese.

Expert on China’s tourism economy is Professor Chen Yong of the Swiss EHL Hospitality Business School. He believes that difficulties can arise from apps for booking and payment.

” Technologies such as social network websites, online maps, payment apps, among others, which foreigners have long been accustomed to using, are either unavailable or inaccessible when they travel to China”, he says.

” On the other hand, due to language barriers and user preferences, Chinese alternatives to these technologies are still accessible to foreigners.” Because of how severely it impacts the tourism sector, we must bridge this gap.

There are still a few foreign faces in the crowd, but they are much smaller than in previous years when international travelers arrive in Wuzhen.

An Italian couple says the process of linking up to and using China’s payment apps was a challenge but that it was not insurmountable, though they add, with a laugh, that it is “much, much, much easier” if you have a Chinese friend to help you.

Woman and child pose for selfies

Californian Eliseo claims he has trouble making payments to local businesses that no longer deal with cash and do n’t accept credit cards. His home bank, which has blocked some payments and flagged them as potentially fraudulent coming from China, has also created an additional challenge for him.

Chinese officials have acknowledged that there are n’t as many foreign travelers, but they are now attempting to change this.

Increase the number of nations where citizens who do n’t require a visa to enter is one way they’re trying to draw in more foreign visitors.

According to Trip.com, this led to a nearly immediate rise in Southeast Asian arrivals.

Transit travelers from more than 50 nations can also stay for a few days visa-free in 23 Chinese cities with an onward ticket.

Hotels with three-star hotels in Shanghai have been instructed to prepare for dealing with foreign credit cards, and a first batch of 50 taxis has also begun accepting them.

However, Professor Chen says “it would be too optimistic to envision a long- term growth in China’s inbound tourism”.

The trick is to create a culture that adapts to the needs of foreign tourists. They should picture themselves as a foreigner who has access to payment apps, mobile devices, and other forms of communication without having a Chinese phone number or native language.

He says that the culture around this ca n’t be changed overnight.

However, in places like Wuzhen, where locals have already returned, tourism companies are hoping that foreigners will eventually find their incredible sites to be too much.

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Korea’s economy headed nowhere fast under Yoon – Asia Times

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Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea for two years, is ringing in the vodka, but it’s not quite flowing.

Yoon’s government has no plans to address the stagnant wages and near-record-high household debt that are causing the Korean wo n’s inflation.

Yoon’s Korea has instead accepted the role of a Japan-like squat by allowing the central bank to spur growth and reduce risks.

According to KB Securities economist Gweon Heejin,” the fact that online exports are the main driver of growth with the largest contribution will remain constant as inflation continues to pressure households and their real purchasing power will remain insufficient.”

Yet it’s not Yoon’s second 730 time in strength that worry some of South Korea’s 51 million people. It’s the next 1, 095.

Yoon, who has been plagued by scandals, bickering, and plan paralysis, runs the risk of being remembered as the second government to promise significant socioeconomic change but to achieve much in 20 years.

As China captures more market share in Asia, each has given the impression of necessity. Seoul’s strong activities are rare, even if they are uncommon.

Yoon’s leadership is proving to be equally incompetent in terms of both short- and long-term issues. He has, for instance, been anxious to assist consumers in managing their own spending habits in the face of persistent price pressures. Otherwise, he’s prioritized public loan consolidation.

Yoon has n’t been particularly proactive about low-hanging fruit changes, such as pursuing initiatives to improve workplace gender equality, or providing detailed recommendations for reducing bureaucracy, loosing labour markets, and increasing efficiency.

But the actual problem is how Yoon, like his forebears, is shying apart from curbing the power of the household- owned companies, or chaebols, that tower over Asia’s third- biggest market.

Until he does, much of what Yoon may do on financial revamping is treating the symptoms of Korea’s problems, not the main causes.

Yoon’s first press conference on Thursday ( May 9 ) was held in an effort to resurrect his conservative government on the same day. It comes a few weeks after Yoon’s Citizens Power Party suffered a significant battle in legislative elections, which was a loud and piercing rebuke from the electorate.

For Yoon to “achieve much of its economic reform agenda in the remaining three years of its term,” according to Jeremy Zook, chairman of Asia-Pacific monarchs at Fitch Ratings.

According to Zook, sustained policy gridlock may limit the ability of structural changes to counteract the country’s medium-term development perspective because it reduces its upside potential.

That’s a bigger problem than meets the attention. It’s “among the highest of advanced economies worldwide as a reveal of GDP,” according to Zook, despite a slight decline in new rooms for Korean households.

At the same time, he adds, “elevated interest rates have pushed loan services prices higher, which has weakened the intake outlook”.

Seoul does n’t want it because “domestic demand is likely to remain subdued for much of this year, despite the first quarter GDP showing a positive surprise, as interest rates remain high,” Zook claims.

Higher loan service fees have slowed home use, according to the report. However, headwinds in the property market are likely to inhibit the expense outlook”, he adds.

Yoon’s reported effort to improve the outlook for investment is also unfavorable. In February, his Financial Services Commission unveiled a” Business Worth- Up Program” to nudge Korea Inc to improve efficiency, extend boardrooms and boost shareholder returns.

Yoon’s rapid drive to improve governance came the day after the Nikkei 225 Stock Average reached its highest level in 1989, despite the fact that he did not name-check Japan.

After ten years of attempts by former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s group to encourage CEOs to raise their capital profits and increase shareholder participation, Japan’s property rose.

Yoon’s wish to journey Tokyo’s accomplishments makes eminent sense as he takes a swing at ending the” Korea cheap” that’s plagued Seoul for years. However, just as Japan’s transformation efforts need troops, Yoon’s system lacks specifics or a discernable timetable.

” Given the similarity of Korea’s challenges to those faced by Japan, it is little shock” that the value- up prepare “was part of Yoon’s election pitch to voters]that ] borrows strongly from Japan’s extended- running top- down corporate governance reform campaign”, says Udith Sikand, analyst at Gavekal Research.

Yet, Sikand adds,” the problem is that, like Japan’s initial set of reforms”, it “lacks teeth. The majority of the proposed changes are voluntary and run the risk of becoming box-ticking exercises. Nearly ten years after the start of Abenomics, Japanese policymakers began using more coercive tactics to persuade resolute corporate managers to change their ways.

Of course, Sikand cautions that “hope springs eternal” that Korean policymakers will not have to wait as long as their Japanese counterparts do, because sticking a stick with dangling carrots is best when done simultaneously.

For instance, 2025 Japanese companies that do n’t make announcements to raise their valuations could face delisting.

According to Sikand,” Korea’s equities would enter the kind of bull market that has seen Japan’s Topix rise by 280 % in local currency terms since late 2012,” even if it were to push through effective corporate governance reforms in the near future. Because of its deeper roots than the theme of corporate governance, Japan’s stock market rally is notable.

The yen’s weakness also contributed to Japanese companies becoming more competitive with their global competitors. Meanwhile, Japan’s exit from deflation signals an end to the private sector’s deleveraging pressure.

Plus, monetary policy is set to remain accommodative, despite the Bank of Japan’s exit from negative interest rates and yield curve control.

Can Yoon’s economy fare better? The payoff could be significant. If we assume that the deep-value sectors of Korea lose at least 25 % of their value, HSBC analysts wrote in a client note.

All of this places the pressure on Yoon to increase domestic demand and advance Korea’s competitiveness. With three years left in his term, Yoon’s party appears to be a lame duck due to the shocking defeat they suffered in the parliamentary election.

It will make it even more difficult for his party to pass policies to level the playing field in order to lessen the chaebols ‘ influence.

Over the last two decades, a succession of governments pledged to wrestle power away from Samsung, Daewoo, Hyundai, LG, Lotte, SK and other corporate behemoths.

For young entrepreneurs starting new businesses to have the economic juice to create new, well-paying jobs, it is crucial to reduce their economic stranglehold.

Korea does indeed have a vibrant startup scene. Chaebols can purchase, demolish, or marginalize any new business that they perceive to be a budding threat due to the lack of antitrust enforcement.

Will Yoon’s administration be the most recent to put forth the necessary efforts to remake Korea in response to China‘s resurgence?

What’s needed are bold and take action to reduce red tape, promote innovation and productivity, phase out seniority-based promotions and pay scales, empower women, and lower family conglomerates by a few pegs.

Top-down Korea can find its niche in the new Chinese era only by developing more economic energy from the ground up.

If Yoon is going to increase competitiveness, he’ll need to display a level of gumption and independence he has n’t shown thus far.

Unsurprisingly, if Yoon’s team increases their pace, the corporate reform campaign’s positive stock market momentum could “temporarily weaken for the next several months and only become viable again” in the second half of this year, according to Citigroup strategist Jinwook Kim.

In order to boost domestic demand, the first order of business is to increase domestic demand. Exports accounted for the country’s 1.3 % growth rate in the January-March quarter, which was the fastest rate in more than two years.

According to economist Kelvin Lam of Pantheon Macroeconomics, “part of the reason is that the economic recovery has remained remarkably strong even with stringent interest rate restrictions,”

Dave Chia, economist at Moody’s Analytics, adds that “export growth will likely remain the main driver of growth this quarter amid the strong demand for semiconductors. The main force behind growth is likely to be export growth.

This engine could sputter, though, as Chinese demand disappoints, US bond yields stay high for longer than expected, Japan grows 0.5 % at the most and Europe walks in place. In the months to come, global inflation will overshadow forecasts in the same way.

The solution is to stifle a country’s economic recovery that has avoided it for more than two decades. If Yoon’s is the administration to do it, there’s not a second to waste.

Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek&nbsp,

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