Courting spurned neighbour tops Beijing’s agenda from visit of Vietnam’s Communist party chief, say analysts

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According to National University of Singapore’s Chong Ja Ian, an expert on foreign relations, discussions on a range of topics are expected between the parties, including the Mekong’s management and cross-border business.

” The visit signals the continued valuing of Vietnam’s relationship with PRC ( People’s Republic of China ), and a desire to have smooth ties even if differences remain”, he added.

Emeritus professor Carlyle Thayer from the University of New South Wales ( UNSW) Canberra, drew reference to Mr Lam’s first China visit as Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, like his predecessor Trong did.

“( Like Trong ), To Lam is signalling that Vietnam is acknowledging China’s pre-eminent role as a socialist country ( and ) that intra-party relations is the most important bilateral conduit for relations”, added Prof Thayer.

He anticipates that Mr. Lam will also find assurances that China will continue to support the recommendations made by former Taiwanese President Xi, including the correction of financial regulations to help money exchanges between the yen and the dong.

This September, Mr. Lam is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in addition to his trip to China. The Taiwanese president may join with US President Joe Biden during his visit, according to Professor Abuza from the National War College.

The back-to-back trips to the two nations underscore Vietnam’s versatile foreign policy, known as “bamboo diplomacy”, in navigating difficult political issues.

” Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy is a metaphor not a strategy … The ends of Vietnam’s foreign policy are to remain independent and self-reliant by diversifying and multilateralising its foreign relations. The methods of wooden politics are versatile in practice but strong on theory, such as defending national sovereignty. said Professor Thayer.

WHAT CHINA WANTS

Beijing, on the other hand, was not only ready but would also be very motivated to enhance important projects under its Belt and Road Initiative, such as the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong rail.

According to experts, the new coach lines are anticipated to connect with the recently constructed routes that will bring Chinese industrial goods and materials into the Asian border, facilitating imports of them. &nbsp,

The Vietnamese General Statistics Office reports a 5.3 % increase in exports to China in the first half of the time, compared to$ 27.8 billion in the previous month. Concurrently, Vietnam imported$ 67 billion worth of goods from China, up 34.7 %, resulting in a trade deficit of$ 39.2 billion, a 67.9 per cent rise.

In response, the Taiwanese Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that bilateral trade between the two nations reached$ 100 billion during that time, cementing China’s position as Vietnam’s largest buying partner.

According to Prof. Kingsbury of Deakin University,” President Lam will be looking to build a more positive relationship” by boosting trade and Chinese investment in Vietnam.” There may also be discussion about creating a free trade zone along the border, or some ( sort of ) lowering ) of trade and investment barriers in their common border region,” said Prof. Kingsbury.

TERRITORIAL Issues

Mr. Lam’s first state visit to China comes in the wake of months of political tussles between Beijing and Hanoi over competing claims in the South China Sea. &nbsp,

In response to continuing territorial disputes with one another and, more thoroughly, with China, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea, the seacoast soldiers of the Philippines and Vietnam conducted their first mutual drills earlier this month.

However, according to experts, continuous territorial disputes are unlikely to prevent China and Vietnam from strengthening bilateral relations this time around.

” Joint patrols between the Asian Coast Guard and other Asian nations are completely standard.” Since the Vietnamese Coast Guard has frequently conducted joint guards with the Chinese Coast Guard, these combined guards should be seen as efforts to promote friendly relations between Vietnam and many other countries, according to Dr. Viet. &nbsp,
 

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‘Very strong’ Typhoon Ampil buffets Japan’s Pacific coast

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Tokyo, August 16: A “very powerful” typhoon slammed Japan’s Pacific coast with strong winds and heavy rainfall, causing the withdrawal of lots of flights and railways in the Tokyo region and causing over 2, 000 homes to be without power.

Located about 170km south of Tokyo, Typhoon Ampil was packing winds of up to 216kmh as it headed north, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Instead of making ashore, the typhoon’s eye traveled northeast along the Honshu coast, passing through the Tokyo region, which has a population of about 40 million, before returning to the Pacific on Saturday.

The climate system was described as “very strong,” one notch below what it referred to as as a “violent typhoon,” with peak wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour.

The company warned people to be “on high alert for violent winds, coastal waves, floods, flooding in low-lying lands, and valley storms”.

According to a statement, the risk of severe rain-related disasters may raise through Friday evening in the Kanto region close to Tokyo and through Saturday day in the northern Tohoku region.

By 3am Saturday ( 1800 GMT Friday ), the US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center off the coast of the east of the capital’s coastal Chiba region, was able to forecast maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour.

More than 18, 000 people were given instructions to leave Chiba district south of Tokyo, according to a speech from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Some 2, 000 communities in Tokyo’s neighbouring counties, generally Chiba, were without electricity as of Friday afternoon due to the storms, according to the energy controller.

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Japanese music and food find growing acceptance in South Korea amid warming bilateral ties

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After a previous program with a similar topic ended its work earlier this year, the market was appreciative of how it was received. It first aired in May.

Seoul-based CReA Studio, which created both indicates, said it took a great chance bringing the concept to life.

” There were concerns that this ( concept ) could cause some backlash. But amazingly, people responded quite positively”, the film’s CEO Seo Hye-jin said.

She added that people found the two programs” sensational” because Japanese music have never before been aired on popular South Korean television.

INITIAL WORRIES ON Welcome

South Korea’s free-to-air systems typically do not show Chinese information.

When South Korea was under Chinese colonization for 35 years, remains from more than a century.

Some North Korean singers who were invited to the music show first expressed concern because they lacked knowledge of how the general public would respond to their rendition of Japanese.

” I thought it would be great if I could, as a singer, take part in this historic moment, when we can sing songs and become one ( through music )”, said veteran South Korean singer Lyn.

Korean viewers were very open to it, even though we spoke a different language, and I do n’t believe they ever connected it to any agonizing historical events or other things.

Utagokoro Rie, a song from Japan and a member in the program, claimed she was unaware of the country’s troubled history before making her first actually trip to South Korea for the program.

” When I first appeared on the show and sang, I was n’t thinking about ( politics ) at all”, the 51-year-old told CNA.

” But after this present aired, I heard Koreans claim that I serve as a bridge between South Korea and Japan. When they said that to me, I felt a sense of duty.

SOUTH KOREA-JAPAN Relationships

Relations between Seoul and Tokyo quickly improved after Yoon Suk Yeol became leader of South Korea in 2022.

He and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resumed making mutual visits as the two nations ‘ officials, a discipline that had been discontinued since 2011;

Both leaders want to strengthen security assistance, working with frequent allies, including the United States, to better manage North Korea’s nuclear threats.

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Sweltering heat in Hong Kong hit outdoor workers, lower-income residents

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According to the Hong Kong Construction Association, which promotes the development of the city’s construction industry, workers are provided with shaded places and warm drinking water.

Freezing clothes, such as hats with wings at the back to guard the neck from the sun, are likewise available.

” We have mobile vests with a fan inside, so that when they’re working, they can lower their body temperature and ( improve ) ventilation inside the construction site”, said the association’s executive director Godfrey Leung.

However, a string of extreme heat warnings was likely stifle construction completion and make construction times longer for projects involving public housing and infrastructure.

The only thing we can do is set aside a time for rest so that we can track our personal development. Then we can make it up in the fall or spring, if the design phase permits”, said Leung.

Additionally, development personnel who are registered receive health checks.

LESS RELIEF FOR GIG WORKERS

But, low-wage gig workers face a tougher day.

” Some workers may need to work in rural regions, for example, washers on the roads or the countryside. They does not receive substantial support from employers, like real rest stations for those in resolved work locations”, said Terry Wong, a manager at the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Every time the station issues a warm weather advisory, the charitable organization sets up cellular rest areas throughout the city.

So far, it has given out 1, 100 summers products to employees this year, more than the 700 that were distributed in 2022.

Each system consists of a lightweight fan, liquid beverages, a bottle of water, and a handful of tickets for essentials in supermarkets.

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Japan’s outgoing PM Kishida did a good job, despite dismal public approval rating: Analysts

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Candidates initially need 20 politicians ‘ votes to cast their ballots for office, which will be their first litmus test of leadership talent.

A snap election could be held as early as this year, according to experts, if the LDP’s de facto leader’s public approval rankings rise.

Does FOREIGN System CHANGE?

Japan’s supporters are bound to feel anxious, as some LDP candidates have potential international policy positions that differ.

However, spectators anticipate much to change in foreign and defense policies, regardless of who will lead the next party and become prime minister.

The LDP and other Japanese politicians may consider the current cause of action to be pretty good, according to Koga, who said that there is “almost discussion” regarding the US-Japan empire.

Taniguchi said:” Realistically speaking, Japan’s options are not many in quantity, and the way forward is small. There will be very little change in Japan’s international plan between the present and the future.

General elections had been held by October next time, as required by the constitution.

Despite disappointing approval scores, the ruling LDP is expected to continue rule.

This is because Chinese opposition parties are even more unhappy, said Taniguchi.

There is a good opportunity for the LDP to restore recognition from the Japanese public, he said,” If you see what the polls say of the opposition events.”

However, this also depends on the outcome of the LDP leadership contenders ‘ monthly conversations as well as the party’s leadership leader’s choice in the public.

Brown said the government is focused on the bread-and-butter problems, living expenses and the development aspirations of the business.

Candidates may make an effort to inform the public that they are the safe pair of hands to guide the country through this difficult economic period and to implement policies that will stabilize the yen and encourage growth in the upcoming years, he said.

While a change in leadership is certain to boost public support in the face of mounting aspirations for a revamp of the LDP, concerns remain about whether real changes will be implemented, according to observers.

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Japan set to lift ‘megaquake’ warning

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TOKYO: &nbsp, Japan will lift its week-old “megaquake” warning later on Thursday ( Aug 15 ) if there is no further major seismic activity, the disaster management minister said. Thousands of Chinese people canceled their holidays and stocked up on necessities as a resulted in empty shelves in some storesContinue Reading

‘Magic carpet’ ride mishap: Several people detained over accident at Guangxi tourist spot Detian Waterfall

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As more information about the fatal accident that left one person dead and 60 people wounded in China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region become available, Chinese regulators have taken some people into custody.

A “magic carpet” ride that was used to transport visitors up a mountain for breathtaking views of Detian Waterfall was malfunctioning on Saturday afternoon ( August 10 ) afternoon.

A sizable international fountain located near the border between China and Vietnam, Detian Waterfall.

Local authorities in a statement released on Tuesday, adding that investigations are ongoing, stated that several of the individuals involved have been taken into police custody. The number of people detained and their names were not specified.

The declaration also provided more information about the cause of the accident, stating that initial investigations revealed there was a “hinge link” tear while the journey was in use.

Resembling a mortal conveyor belt, the “magic carpet” journey helps vacationers ascend the steep hill more rapidly. Users are required to be seated and are surrounded by what appears to be a section on both edges. &nbsp,

The belt buckle instantly accelerated downwards, causing persons to interact with one another, and causing “injury and death,” the statement added.

One man died. One of the 60 injured suffered serious injuries, and 59 another had minor injuries.

On the trip, a witness claimed that “blood was everyday” and that many people had fractures on the social media platform Xiaohongshu.

The interest has been shut down while repair and technology examination has been conducted. Management has expressed their “deepest condolences” on the dying and expressed regret to the injured and their families.

Some Chinese citizens were praying for “peace” for those injured in a post by the state-owned Xinhua News Agency, which was posted on the blogging platform Weibo. &nbsp,

One Weibo users questioned what the administration was doing and claimed security checks at places like Detian Waterfall were very essential.

May tourists even want to visit these sites and ride rides like these in the future now that this incident has occurred? the person said.

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