Two roads to the same cliff? What a Harris or Trump presidency could mean for China-US ties

By:
On:
In: Asia

“( A Trump or Harris win is ) two roads to the same cliff”, said Mr Tangen.

Also, Mr Steven Okun, top assistant from the public affairs advisory firm APAC Advisors, told CNA that whoever takes the Oval Office will not have “directional shift” in China policy.

” US-China plan will be the same under either a Harris or Trump administration. There will be more taxes and more investment limits”, he said.

Both candidates for president have now made it clear what they think of China.

” I will make sure … that America, never China, wins the competition for the 21st millennium”, pledged Ms Harris in late August when she accepted the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

However, her Republican rival Mr Trump- who launched a business war against China while in the White House from 2017 to 2021- has vowed to get even tougher on China and” totally eliminate dependent” on the state of 1.4 billion people.

At a recent public lecture in Singapore, Dr. Chen Dongxiao, a senior research fellow and president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies ( SIIS), said that China is clear-eyed on this and that a Trump or Harris presidency would determine how much of the world’s No 2 economy is contained.

Dr. Chen emphasized that he would have four more years in business without the pressure of re-election if Trump were to win. A US senator may just serve two terms under American law.

He explained that this would be of concern to China, as Mr Trump may have “more area and potential” to mobilise federal companies in order to provide his” aggressive, anti-China isolation plan and measures”.

As observers have noted, China does not want to be accused of meddling in the US vote, so it is not expected to formally state or even mention who it wants to replace as America’s next president. Authorities in China have asserted repeatedly that the US presidential election is an internal matter.

” They do n’t have a vote. They do have a preference. But when they do n’t get their preference, they have to work with whoever occupies the Oval Office in the White House”, said Dr Choong on Beijing’s perspective, based on his conversations with Chinese academics.

The former or the opposition party’s candidate comes out on top, according to Professor Jia Qingguo, past dean of the Peking University School of International Studies and older member of China’s top political advisory body. In this case, a Harris presidency would be more advantageous for Beijing.

” The reason is in a presidential vote, the opposition party would denounce or has to criticize the ruling party’s plans. At a recent event in Singapore, he explained that generally the opposition party prospect would denounce the ruling group for being too soft on China.

” When they get elected, they would have to glory some of their plan promises- &nbsp, whether they are realistic or no- and ( when trying to do so ), the marriage would be in trouble”, he added.

Prof. Jia also cited the possibility of confusion as a result of the presidential change, which might lead to more tense exchanges between the Chinese authorities and the new US management.

A president-elect takes over the federal government’s management from the current leader in the US, giving the incoming head and their group time to prepare for management.

In contrast, he predicted that a victory by the former party candidate, particularly Ms. Harris, may result in a more smoothly transition and some degree of policy continuity-predictability.

Continue Reading

Japan urges 200,000 people to evacuate due to heavy rain

By:
On:
In: Asia

TOKYO: Nearly 200,000 people in western Japan were urged to evacuate on Saturday (Nov 2) as authorities warned of landslides and floods while the remnants of a tropical storm trickle over the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency said “warm, moist air … was causing heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in westernContinue Reading

Hongkongers to be offered HK,000 for information on tenants abusing public flat scheme

By:
On:
In: Asia

Authorities will give HK$3,000 (US$386) to any resident who provides information about tenants abusing public housing privileges that leads to the recovery of the flat, as the government steps up efforts to prevent misuse of the scheme.

The Housing Bureau said on Wednesday (Oct 30) it would launch the “Cherish Public Housing Resources Award Scheme” in January next year.

“We will offer rewards to non-anonymous informants who provide concrete intelligence that leads to the successful recovery of abused public rental housing units by the Housing Department,” authorities said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.

The bureau added that participants must consent to join the scheme and authorities would conduct a preliminary review and interview to verify the accuracy of the information.

Participants can provide information through various channels including online forms and hotlines.

A scheme encouraging property management and cleaning companies to report tenants suspected of abusing flat rules has been in place since last September.

About 5,000 public flats have been taken back over the past two years, housing officials said earlier.

According to Director of Housing Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the number of flats reclaimed was equivalent to a medium-sized public estate, with a construction cost of about HK$5 billion.

This article was first published on SCMP.

Continue Reading

North Korea says record test was new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile

By:
On:
In: Asia

PYONGYANG-MOSCOW TIES On Friday, South Korea imposed new sanctions on 11 North Korean individuals and four entities over the ICBM test, naming officials for contributing to missile and nuclear development and channelling illegal foreign funds back to the country. A spokesperson for South Korea’s unification ministry, which handles relations withContinue Reading

Snow forecast next week on Mount Fuji, at last

By:
On:
In: Asia

The 25-year-old, who used to visit the area in autumn in his childhood, said he remembered how Fuji “was always covered by snow”.

“I’m rocking up in T-shirt and shorts. It kind of doesn’t feel the same,” said Australian traveller Jason Le.

“I think that across the globe it is kind of affecting everybody. We’re from Australia and what you are seeing is it is getting hotter in the summer months and it’s getting colder earlier,” he told AFP.

Last year, snow was first detected on Fuji on Oct 5.

Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster in the town of Kofu’s meteorological office, told AFP on Monday climate change may play a role in delaying snowfall, with this year being the latest since comparative data became available in 1894.

“Temperatures were high this summer, and these high temperatures continued into September, deterring cold air (bringing snow),” Katsuta told AFP.

Japan’s summer this year was the joint hottest on record – equalling the level seen in 2023 – as extreme heatwaves fuelled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe.

Warm weather has been affecting other snowy regions across the globe, with many ski resorts increasingly being forced to confront the realities of a warming climate.

In Japan the city of Sapporo in the normally chilly northern island of Hokkaido, has begun discussing scaling down its famous snow festival due to a shortage.

Continue Reading

The world’s largest indoor ski resort has opened in China. How will this impact its climate goals?

By:
On:
In: Asia

Mr Greg Dingle, a researcher and educator focusing on sport and climate change at La Trobe Business School, questioned the sustainability of indoor ski resorts especially amid China’s climate pledges.

“Producing temperatures indoors that are cold enough for ski activities requires energy, lots of energy,” Mr Dingle said.

“Given the energy-intensity and likely tourist visitation of indoor ski resorts, my assessment is that they are likely not environmentally sustainable.” 

Other experts like Mr Liu Daizong, East Asia director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), noted severe environmental impacts which come with indoor ski resorts that use significantly higher energy and water consumption as compared to traditional outdoor ski lodges and resorts. 

“Climate change has a significant impact on the ski tourism industry,” Mr Liu told CNA, adding that indoor resorts were expected to operate all year round and “rely entirely on artificial snowmaking and cooling systems” which could lead to substantial electricity and water consumption. 

“Without effective energy-saving technologies, large-scale energy-intensive facilities like this could weaken China’s efforts to achieve its carbon neutrality goals,” Mr Liu said. 

Citing the example that if Chinese skiers are required to commute in a carbon-neutral manner to the resort, and stay in carbon-neutral accommodations, Mr Dingle believes it “perhaps is possibly consistent with the 2030 and 2060 climate commitments.”

When asked how L+SNOW resort could serve as a model for sustainable tourism, the operator told CNA that consumers in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai previously had to fly to snowfields in Northeast China or even farther abroad, which “generated considerable carbon emissions during the trip.”

“But now, they don’t need to travel far to go skiing, making it more economical and energy-saving.”

Mr Ma, the ski instructor, says he sees a bright future for winter sports in China.

“Indoor ski resorts will have a positive impact … it’s not limited by seasons or weather, allowing more people to experience the joy of skiing at any time,” he said. 

“Skiing should focus more on popularising and promoting the sport to encourage greater participation, while simultaneously raising public awareness about environmental protection, contributing collectively to the preservation of our planet.”

Continue Reading