World News and Views
I`ve been collecting newspaper stories from Taiwan and Hong Kong newspapers. Here is some news, which you might not have noticed in your local paper.
News:
1) Hong Kong media slam China`s decision to amend Hong Kong`s constitution (Basic Law), and change the term of the next leader from five years to two years. James Keith, retiring Consul-General from the United States, advises that "rule of law be preserved."
2) Shan Prince Surkhanpha declares himself president of Shan, in the northeast section of "Burma". He seeks recognition from Taiwan and the United Nations. "Our country`s mandate comes from 48 of 56 townships in the Shan State, who voted for independence." (Burma is now known as Myanmar.)
3) Polls in South Korea and Taiwan show increasing dislike of Japanese. Television dramas in Korea about national heroes have jumped to the top of the ratings, driven by a new interest in history. [Recently, Japan claimed the Totko islands, also claimed by Korea. Japanese textbooks, statues, and statue visits of leaders are other points of contention. Proposed Japanese membership on the UN Security Council may drive these issues.]
4) Per the Guardian of the UK, world oil production may have peaked, which may possibly trigger global economic collapse.
5) The chair of Toyota is concerned over backlash in the United States. Toyota made $10 billion last year, while GM lost that much. Toyota, is ahead in hybrid vehicles, and proposes a joint venture with GM on vehicles which use alternative fuels.
6) Global tax havens hold 31% of total global assets and 26% of the stock of multinationals. This causes the US to lose $60 billion per year in tax collections.
7) Lab scale nuclear fusion was demonstrated at UCLA. However, this demonstration did not generate a net gain in usable energy.
8) From an editorial: "I propose that Chinese officials will no longer refer to Taiwanese counterparts as "splittists" or "Taiwan authorities". To recipricate, Taiwan leaders will no longer refer to their counterparts as "Communist bandits" or "bloodsucking authoritarian bastards."
9) Protests greet renewed US beef imports to Taiwan, which is the first Asian country to allow US beef after a Mad Cow Disease scare.
10) Nine Australians face the death penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia. [I meet an Australian who questions the legitimacy of the charges.]
11) Taiwan receives destroyers from the United States later in the year. These destroyers will be somewhat effective against a missile strike from the mainland per computer simulations.
12) Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with China President Hu Jintai at the Asia/African Summit. China is ready to help Indonesia re-arm, toward oil tanker safety.
News:
1) Hong Kong media slam China`s decision to amend Hong Kong`s constitution (Basic Law), and change the term of the next leader from five years to two years. James Keith, retiring Consul-General from the United States, advises that "rule of law be preserved."
2) Shan Prince Surkhanpha declares himself president of Shan, in the northeast section of "Burma". He seeks recognition from Taiwan and the United Nations. "Our country`s mandate comes from 48 of 56 townships in the Shan State, who voted for independence." (Burma is now known as Myanmar.)
3) Polls in South Korea and Taiwan show increasing dislike of Japanese. Television dramas in Korea about national heroes have jumped to the top of the ratings, driven by a new interest in history. [Recently, Japan claimed the Totko islands, also claimed by Korea. Japanese textbooks, statues, and statue visits of leaders are other points of contention. Proposed Japanese membership on the UN Security Council may drive these issues.]
4) Per the Guardian of the UK, world oil production may have peaked, which may possibly trigger global economic collapse.
5) The chair of Toyota is concerned over backlash in the United States. Toyota made $10 billion last year, while GM lost that much. Toyota, is ahead in hybrid vehicles, and proposes a joint venture with GM on vehicles which use alternative fuels.
6) Global tax havens hold 31% of total global assets and 26% of the stock of multinationals. This causes the US to lose $60 billion per year in tax collections.
7) Lab scale nuclear fusion was demonstrated at UCLA. However, this demonstration did not generate a net gain in usable energy.
8) From an editorial: "I propose that Chinese officials will no longer refer to Taiwanese counterparts as "splittists" or "Taiwan authorities". To recipricate, Taiwan leaders will no longer refer to their counterparts as "Communist bandits" or "bloodsucking authoritarian bastards."
9) Protests greet renewed US beef imports to Taiwan, which is the first Asian country to allow US beef after a Mad Cow Disease scare.
10) Nine Australians face the death penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia. [I meet an Australian who questions the legitimacy of the charges.]
11) Taiwan receives destroyers from the United States later in the year. These destroyers will be somewhat effective against a missile strike from the mainland per computer simulations.
12) Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with China President Hu Jintai at the Asia/African Summit. China is ready to help Indonesia re-arm, toward oil tanker safety.
posted by David Rasmussen at 11:11 PM
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