Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News and Translation of external news on CCP, U.S., Singapore, Taiwan
Image : On 23 August, Kamala Harris visited the USS Tulsa battleship during her visit to Singapore. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
News (1)Breaking: Biden accidentally says Kamala Harris is "gonna be" a President "pretty soon"
Image : Video Screenshot
U.S. Democrat President
Joe Biden appeared to suffer a slip of the tongue on Monday (23 August 2021), implying that Vice President Kamala Harris may become the first female
President by stating, “that’s why we have a female Vice President of the United
States of America, who’s gonna be, we’re gonna have some [female] presidents
pretty soon.”
“My two daughters were
born, that you can do anything a man do,” Biden said on Monday. “It’s one thing
for somebody say that and keep pounding that in the head of your five
granddaughters as well, but to, guess what, until they see it until they watch,
it becomes real then.”
“That’s why, by the way, She [Kamala Harris] happens to be in Asia for me right now, but that’s why
we have a female Vice President of the United States of America, who’s gonna
be, we’re gonna have some presidents pretty soon,” Biden concluded. It is
unclear why Biden would begin saying that he believes Kamala Harris will be the
first female President of the United States, given that he has not indicated
any move to let Harris run in his stead in the 2024 election.
A stunned Biden was told
on Sunday that a CBS poll found most Americans do not
believe he is “competent, focused, or effective” as POTUS:
“And then, a question on the public response: A new poll out today
shows Americans wanted to withdraw from Afghanistan, but they disapprove of the
way you’ve handled it,” Biden was told on Sunday. “The poll also found that
based in part on what’s transpired in the last week, the majority of Americans
– forgive me, I’m just the messenger – no longer consider you to be competent,
focused or effective at the job.”
A visibly shaken Biden said, “I haven’t seen that poll,” shook his
head in bewilderment, and laughed awkwardly when told the poll was released by
CBS on Sunday morning. Biden then repeated previous talking points about how he
made the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, a decision that was
actually made under the Trump administration and delayed by the Biden regime.
Ref: https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2021/08/23/were-gonna-have-some-presidents-pretty-soon-president-biden-explains-why-he-has-a-female-vp/
News (2) to (4) / Reporter : Li Lan / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/08/23/a103197504.html / Images : Video Screenshots
News (2)
Harris repeatedly stresses the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific while in Singapore
Let’s follow the first trip to Southeast Asia by US Vice President Kamala Harris. On Monday (23 August), she met Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and visited the US military stationed at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore. She repeatedly emphasized that the US military must ensure the freedom and openness of the Indo-Pacific region.
Since 22 August, Harris has embarked on the first visit to Southeast Asia during her tenure, this time including two countries, Singapore and Vietnam.
At a joint press conference after the meeting with PM Lee, Harris reiterated the determination of the United States to defend the international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
She said, "The United States is committed to working with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain a rule-based international order and freedom of navigation, including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea."
At the same time, Harris's trip launched the new cooperation between the United States and Singapore in the four major areas of digital economy, energy and environmental technology, advanced manufacturing, and medical and health care.
With regard to the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, Lee Hsien Loong expressed his understanding of the decision of the Biden-Harris administration and offered to provide military transport planes to assist the US in emergency evacuation operations in Afghanistan. However, Lee Hsien Loong also said that the international community is paying attention to the next strategic priorities of the United States.
News (3)
PM Lee: How the U.S. acts in a wider area to fight terrorism is a key concern
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, "In the long run, after Afghanistan, what is important is how the United States repositions in the Asia-Pacific region, how to act in a wider area and continue to fight terrorism."
After the meeting with Lee Hsien Loong, Harris went to Changi Naval Base to visit the US soldiers stationed there. She repeatedly emphasized to American officers and soldiers that the U.S. important duty is to ensure the freedom and openness of the Indo-Pacific region.
Harris keeps emphasizing, "Free navigation, let me say it again, free navigation and open waterways. It is in our vital interests to unite with our allies and partners in Southeast Asia to defend the free and open Indo-Pacific region, free and open."
News (4)
Changi Naval Base continues to be used by the U.S, military until 2035
The United States and Singapore renewed the agreement in 2019. The US military can continue to use the Singapore Air Force and Naval Base, including Changi Base, until 2035. With the deployment of the base, the United States can respond eastward to changes in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, reinforce and support the Persian Gulf towards the west direction.
After finishing her Singapore trip, Harris will arrive in Vietnam on 24 August.
News (5) to (9) / Editor : Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/08/23/a103197226.html
News (5)
U.S. Vice President Meets with Lee Hsien Loong, American focus on how to counter CCP influence
Image : On 23 August, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong held a joint press conference. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on 22 August and met with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She will then transfer to Vietnam on 24 August. Her visit is aimed at consolidating relations with Southeast Asian partners and is an important part of Washington's plan to counter the increasing influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Harris met with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Halimah Yacob today, and agreed to cooperate on issues such as combating cybersecurity, supply chain disruption, and the covid epidemic. These are also the top priorities of the US Joe Biden government.
In Singapore, Harris talked about "a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region." At the same time, it emphasized the United States' commitment to the region: to work with its allies to "support a rule-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and other regions."
Harris said, "The reason I am here is that the United States is a global leader, and we earnestly fulfill this role."
Singapore is not a treaty ally of the United States, but it is still the most stable security partner of the United States in Southeast Asia and has close trade relations. Singapore has the largest port in Southeast Asia. At a time when China is becoming more and more arbitrary in the region, Singapore supports the maintenance of the right to free navigation. However, Singapore is also striving for a balance between its relations with the United States and China and does not choose sides.
Harris' visit comes at a time when the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has caused Asian allies to question the reliability of the United States. Senior American officials pointed out that her trip will show the United States’ "continuous" commitment and will to this region. “The US government will show that we have a long-term commitment to this region. We are part of the Indo-Pacific region and will continue to stay in this region.”
Curtis Chin, a former U.S. representative to the Asian Development Bank and an Asian researcher at the Milken Institute, an independent think tank in California, pointed out, "Reconstruction will be unswerving and lasting for American power. Your trust and confidence are definitely a priority."
News (6)
Fostering ties with the allies of the U.S. are the key to curb the expansion of the CCP
Reuters reported that the purpose of Harris's trip to Asia was to establish a deeper relationship with Southeast Asian allies. The United States regards these allies as the key to curbing the expansion of the CCP.
According to the explanation released by the White House, during Harris's visit, the United States and Singapore also agreed to expand their financial and military cybersecurity cooperation and strengthen the exchange of information related to cyber threats.
News (7)
Singapore and the U.S. reached security agreement
According to information released by the White House, the United States and Singapore reached a security agreement on 23 August. The United States will reiterate its military power in the region by rotating the deployment of P-8 patrol aircraft and coastal combat ships to Singapore.
The United States and Singapore also agreed to cooperate to fight the covid pandemic and prepare for the next pandemic.
News (8)
Harris did not answer directly whether the U.S.' withdrawal from Afghanistan would damage its credibility with her allies
At the joint press conference, the Afghan issue became the focus of reporters’ questions. Harris was asked one after another whether the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan would damage its credibility with its allies. She did not answer directly, emphasizing that the single most important task before the United States is security from Afghanistan, evacuate American citizens, Afghans who have helped the United States, and vulnerable people such as women and children.
News (9)
Singapore willing to assist the U.S. in evacuation flights from Kabul
Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore had participated in Afghanistan’s security and reconstruction missions, and Singapore was willing to provide aerial tankers to assist the United States in evacuation of Americans and their allies.
After finishing her Singapore trip, Harris has departed for Hanoi at 7.30 pm on 24 August, becoming the first US Vice President to visit Vietnam.
News (10) to (18) / Reporter : Xue Fei / Editor : Xu Gengwen / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/08/23/a103197403.html
News (10)
Before the US Vice President's visit, the CCP delivered vaccines to Vietnam, taking the opportunity to win?
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris launched her first Asian tour since taking office on the 22nd. She is the highest-level official in the Biden-Harris administration to visit Southeast Asia. According to media analysis, her visit to Southeast Asia is intended to unite allies against the CCP. She will visit Vietnam on 24 August, and the Chinese Communist Party rushed to assist the Vietnamese army with a batch of CCP vaccines the day before Harris arrives in Vietnam.
News (11)
Singapore and the U.S. agree to work together on cyber security, semiconductor supply and the pandemic
Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on the "Air Force Two" on 22 August and met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the 23rd. The two countries agreed to work together on cyber security, semiconductor supply, and COVID-19.
News (12)
Commitment to Southeast Asia and South China Sea emphasized
In Singapore, Harris emphasized the United States' commitment to the region: to work with allies to "support a rule-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and other regions."
Harris said, "The reason I am here is that the United States is a global leader, and we earnestly fulfill this role."
American officials also pointed out that Harris's trip will reiterate the United States' commitment to Southeast Asia and seek more international support to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Following Singapore, Harris then transferred to Vietnam for a visit on 24 August 2021, becoming the first U.S. Vice President to visit Vietnam. US Secretary of Defense Austin also visited Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines in July 2021. Secretary of State Blinken attended the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations composed of 10 member states via video in early August.
News (13)
Another batch of covi vaccines from CCP arrived in Vietnam on 23 August, Global Times boast U.S. could not achieve anti-CCP goals
Coincidentally, just one day before He Jinli arrived in Vietnam, a batch of COVID-19 vaccines aided by the Chinese Communist Army arrived in Vietnam on the 23rd. The “Global Times”, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, reported on the topic “The gift of the People's Liberation Army arrived in Vietnam one day earlier than the US Vice President”.
The article claims, "The Chinese and Vietnamese militaries have maintained good cooperation for a long time, which is not only reflected in vaccine assistance. If the United States hopes to achieve anti-China goals by strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Vietnam, it can only be wishful thinking."
The CCP presented domestic vaccines to the Vietnamese army one day before Harris arrived in Vietnam, which also triggered speculation about winning over Vietnam.
Prior to this, the United States had donated more than 23 million doses of covi vaccines such as Moderna and Comirnaty and approximately US$160 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to the Southeast Asian Association. The vaccine in the United States is provided free of charge, without any political or economic conditions.
News (14)
Southeast Asian countries have abandoned CCP vaccines
The Global Times report deliberately ignored the dilemma of CCP vaccines in Southeast Asian countries, that are quickly turning to other places to find vaccines.
The New York Times Review Chinese website reported on 20 August that residents who had received a dose of China's Sinovac CoronaVac in Thailand now switched to AstraZeneca vaccine after three to four weeks. In Indonesia, officials are beginning to provide Moderna vaccine as a booster to front-line medical workers who have been vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac.
The Minister of Health of Malaysia said that the country will stop using CoronaVac when the existing supply is used up. Even Cambodia, one of China's strongest allies in Southeast Asia, has begun to provide AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster to its front-line workers. These people have completed the Chinese vaccine.
Officials in some countries have raised doubts about the effectiveness of CCP's covi vaccines.
News (15)
10 out of 26 Indonesian doctors die from covid after CoronaVac vaccination
Indonesia is the first country to receive CCP vaccines, and the country has recently become the epicenter of the covid epidemic. At least 10 of the 26 Indonesian doctors who died of the covi infection in the country in June this year have been vaccinated with the Sinovac CoronaVac, and they have received two doses.
News (16)
CoronaVac has "little effect" on Alpha and Delta
In July 2021, a virologist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok said that a study of people who had been vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac showed that the level of antibodies in their bodies was only 70%. and "have little effect" on Alpha and Delta variants.
News (17)
Media columnist: CCP's small actions on vaccine exports might do Vietnam a disservice
Regarding the CCP Party's attempt to win over Vietnam, Epoch Times columnist Wang He said that Vietnam is a key country in the competition between China and the United States. In order to contain the U.S. and Vietnam from getting closer and steal the limelight of US Vice President Harris's visit to Vietnam, the CCP deliberately assisted the Vietnamese army with a batch of vaccines on the day before Harris arrived in Vietnam.
Wang He said, "The CCP is doing small actions, and the CCP's IQ is roughly like this. It is short-sighted and low-powered. Because of China's vaccine quality problems, it might do Vietnam a disservice."
News (18)
Vietnam benefits from the competition between the U.S. and CCP China
In addition, “In terms of economy, Vietnam’s economic catch-up and the convergence of the economic structure between China and Vietnam have intensified the economic competition between the two countries, and Vietnam is more inclined to the United States (the United States accounts for 30% of Vietnam’s exports). At the same time, The strategic competition between China and the United States has promoted the reorganization of the global industrial chain, and Vietnam has benefited greatly. How could Vietnam miss the embrace of the United States? In addition, the territorial conflict between China and Vietnam is also difficult to resolve. There is no 'strategic mutual trust between China and Vietnam. '. Although China and Vietnam share a common ideology, the importance of this bond is generally weakening. Vietnam, between China and the United States, should be biased towards the United States. This is the general trend, and the small actions of the CCP cannot change this." Wang He say.
News (19) to (22) / Reporter : Jing Zhongming / Editor : Xu Gengwen / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/08/23/a103197432.html
News (19)
Three times during the past week, Kinmen, Taiwan, intercepted stowaways in rubber dinghies again
Image : On 4 May 2021, a Chinese man was arrested after arriving on the coast of Kinmen, Taiwan in a rubber dinghy. (Video screenshot)
In April 2021, a Chinese man successfully smuggled into Taiwan in a rubber dinghy, which once triggered various speculations. From 18 to 22 August, there were three more incidents of illegal immigrants to Kinmen from China by rubber dinghy. Two of them were Chinese and one was Taiwanese.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia, on 22 August, the Kinmen Marine Patrol Team of the Taiwan Maritime Patrol Department intercepted a Chinese man in a rubber dinghy not far from the coast. The marine patrol crew wore protective clothing and picked them up on the boat. After clearing their belongings, they decided to quarantine him for 14 days before sending him to the judicial office.
Maritime patrol officers said that the man bought a rubber boat on an online platform and set off from Zhangzhou Beach in Fujian, China on the 22nd, drifting northeast along the Xiamen waterway to the sea off Xiaojinmen, and was subsequently detected by Taiwan’s maritime patrol radar.
The man claimed to have come as "departure for freedom" but marine patrol officers still have doubts about his confession.
News (20)
Taiwanese failed to enter Taiwan legally on 17 August 2021
On 17 August, the Kinmen Coast Guard of the Jinma-Peng Branch of the Marine Patrol also arrested three illegal immigrants at the Guanao Seawall in Kinmen. After investigation, the three were all Taiwanese and failed to pass through the normal pipeline. Instead, they sneaked from China to Kinmen on a small raft. On the 18th, marine patrol officers also found a Chinese man sneaking in a rubber dinghy in the sea area of the second urinary.
Marine patrol officers pointed out that three rubber dinghies took place within a week, which had never happened in the past.
News (21)
Many people illegally emigrated once the Chinese fishing ban was lifted on 16 August
The report quoted the analysis of relevant personnel as saying that the Chinese fishing ban ended on the 16th, and many people illegally emigrated when the control was relaxed and the number of vessels going to sea increased. However, the specific reasons for the illegal immigration are yet to be investigated.
News (22)
Illegal entrant to Taiwan on 30 April 2021 found his way by mobile phone positioning
On 30 April 2021, a Chinese illegal immigrant went out to sea on a rubber dinghy purchased from Taobao website, claiming that he successfully landed in Taichung by mobile phone positioning. After being discovered, the man claimed to be "yearning for Taiwan's democracy and freedom," but outsiders speculated that there might be other reasons. Some people think that he may be risking to escape the tyranny of the CCP. Others believe that he may have a mission assigned by the CCP, such as deliberately testing Taiwan's coastal defense capabilities or spreading covid across the sea.
On 4 May 2021, another Chinese man arrived on the coast of Kinmen in a rubber dinghy and was arrested immediately.
News (23)
U.S. veteran groups demand meeting with Biden on Afghanistan evacuation effort
Reporter : Massoma Haq, The Epoch Times PREMIUM
On Monday (23 August 2021), a group of nearly four dozen veteran organizations requested a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the evacuation of U.S. partners in Afghanistan and “fulfilling our commitment to our Afghan allies.”
“Failing to meet our obligations to these Afghans would not only be a national security risk—harming America’s reputation abroad and eroding the trust in our armed forces that is critical for future operations—it would also condemn veterans and survivors of the conflict in Afghanistan to a lifetime of moral injury,” the group wrote in their letter to Biden.
Forty-five organizations signed a letter to Biden, urging him to agree to a virtual meeting. The coalition wants to ensure there is a comprehensive plan to get all citizens and allies out of the country and say they want to assist in every way possible. In addition, the group wants Biden to ensure that all allies are granted emergency status to enter the United States and have access to resettlement benefits.
The Taliban seized the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15 as the Afghan government collapsed and top government officials fled the country, prompting a frenzied evacuation of U.S. diplomats, citizens, and allies from the country.
After the closure of Bagram Airbase and withdrawal of all U.S. military troops, Biden was forced to deploy 6,000 troops to help secure the Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans flooded the airport to flee Taliban rule. Biden has faced sharp bipartisan criticism for his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Many, including veteran groups, have urged Biden to spare no resources to evacuate U.S. citizens and allies who supported the United States’ effort in Afghanistan. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden’s top administration officials have reached out to the organizers of the letter and will meet with the coalition.
“We’ve been in regular contact with a wide range of veterans groups on Afghanistan and will continue to be, and we’re in touch with the organizers of this letter to arrange a meeting with senior White House officials to discuss this letter,” said Psaki, adding, “The VA [Veterans Affairs] is also working with VSOs and outside advocates on how to assist SIV [Special Immigrant Visa] applicants, which I know is a primary concern to a number of these groups, as it is to us.”
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told a reporter during the same press briefing Monday that the United States is working around the clock to get people out of Afghanistan.
“They [the U.S. military] have now facilitated the evacuation of more than 37,000 people out of the country since Aug. 14—American citizens, third-country nationals, our Afghan allies, and Afghans at risk of persecution or worse. In the last 24 hours alone, 28 U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul.”
News (24)
Sigh! He obediently abides by the "substantial joint system" and it turns out to be evidence of derailment
Image : During the epidemic prevention period, people entering businesses must comply with the government's "real connection system" to scan QRcode to send text messages or fill in information by hand. Schematic diagram, non-participant supermarket. (Instant news photo)
During the Taiwan epidemic prevention period, people entering businesses must comply with the government's "real-link system" to scan QRcode to send text messages or fill in information by hand. Unexpectedly, a female netizen pointed out that because of the real-link system, she caught her boyfriend the evidence of infidelity, after she disclosed the cause on the Internet, made netizens sigh.
The original PO stated in a PO post on Dcard on 23 August that she met her boyfriend two months after they broke up. Before dating, her boyfriend kept telling her that her ex-girlfriend was good, and specifically mentioned that her ex-girlfriend loved to eat pudding. Every time she went to see her, "They will buy pudding at the convenience store downstairs before going upstairs." After finally dating, her boyfriend seems to love her more and more, and she also learns to play games and music for her boyfriend.
But just in the afternoon a few days ago, her boyfriend suddenly said "want to sleep" and disappeared from 4 pm to 9 am the next morning, which made her suspicious, but her boyfriend claimed that she was "sleeping". There is no reply. On the same day, they went to a convenience store to buy drinks together. When she helped her boyfriend scan the bar code of the "linked system", she accidentally discovered that at 5 o'clock the previous day and 10 o'clock in the evening, two of them were sent out during the period when her boyfriend was supposed to be asleep. The message, "At that moment, my heart was beating so fast and hard."
The original PO said that she quickly copied the set of epidemic prevention codes into her mobile phone. After returning home, remembering that her boyfriend had accidentally revealed the approximate location of her ex-girlfriend’s residence, she immediately rushed to the neighborhood, and after checking the barcodes one by one, she found out A supermarket has exactly the same code, "I tremblingly called and had a showdown with him at the door of her family downstairs." Original PO said that she didn’t care what they did when they met. “It doesn’t matter at all, because he has betrayed me.” “Our feelings are like white clothes stained with unwashable stains. They will never be washed away. It became clean again, so I chose to break up with him."
At the bottom of the article, netizens said, "I didn't expect the epidemic prevention code to make a great contribution to see a person clearly", "I feel distressed after reading it", "Sure enough, when a girl encounters a relationship, she will become like a detective", "Sure enough, don't mess with girls. Everyone is Sherlock Holmes", "This will facilitate the epidemic prevention code and the function of catching traitors."
News (25)
Lithuania and Taiwan expand relations, EU, UK and U.S. support Lithuania's resistance to CCP
Image : On 4 June 2021, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis attended a press conference in Copenhagen. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
Lithuania and Taiwan set up representative offices. The CCP retaliated wildly. Following the recall of the ambassador and the suspension of railway freight, it has been reported that the CCP has suspended the approval of Lithuania’s food import licenses. However, Lithuania stated that it has not received any notice in this regard so far. The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have recently made clear their stances to support Lithuania's resistance to pressure from the CCP to expand relations with Taiwan.
The Baltic Times reported on August 22 that China (the Chinese Communist government) has suspended the approval process for the import of Lithuanian food. However, the Chinese Communist Party has not officially released any relevant announcements.
According to Radio Free Asia, in response to China’s suspension of Lithuanian food export approval procedures, Mantas Staskevicius, director of the Lithuanian State Poultry and Food Supervision Service (SFVS), said that China has not informed Lithuania of the export of Lithuanian food to China. Where there is a problem with milk, meat or other products, Lithuania has not received a notice that Lithuanian food will be prohibited from being exported to China, but the Chinese side actually stopped the approval.
Lithuania exported 722 tons of beef, 7,700 tons of dairy products, and 625 tons of aquatic products to China last year. But in the first half of this year, the export volume of dairy products was only 3,900 tons, and the export of aquatic products was only 80 tons. According to the report, since the beginning of 2021, Lithuania and China have become more and more difficult to negotiate the export approval of feed, non-animal products and edible offal, and finally stopped completely. However, trade with China accounts for a small share of the Lithuanian economy. If exports to China are completely stopped, Lithuania’s GDP will fall by about 0.3%.
In fact, because Lithuania was determined to expand its relations with Taiwan and agreed to establish a representative office with Taiwan, the CCP became very angry about this and launched a series of retaliatory actions. The CCP first recalled the Chinese ambassador to Lithuania, then interrupted the direct rail freight to Lithuania, and now it is reported that it is blocking the export of Lithuanian food to China.
According to a Reuters report, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 22nd stating that the top diplomats of Lithuania and the United States agreed that the radical actions and political pressure unilaterally imposed by China (the Chinese Communist government) on Lithuania are "completely unacceptable."
In the face of the CCP’s frenzied retaliation, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have all expressed their stance to support Lithuania’s expansion of relations with Taiwan.
In the evening of 21 August, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to express to him the "iron and steadfast support" of the U.S. government for the development of relations between Lithuania and Taiwan.
The next day (22 August) Blinken tweeted that he had expressed U.S. support to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Lance Burgess, including support for Lithuania’s response to regional challenges and its determination to expand relations with Taiwan. The post wrote, "The United States is honored that Lithuania is one of our strongest allies in NATO."
Later, Lance Burgess also announced relevant news on his tweet and expressed his gratitude to the US government for its strong support in resisting the pressure of the authoritarian regime and defending democratic values in Lithuania. The tweet also stated that Lithuania and the United States will "further coordinate and cooperate" in foreign affairs.
VOA also reported that Brinken spoke with Lance Burgess on the 21st and agreed to take "bilateral coordinated actions" to help Lithuania resist pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. The report did not disclose the specific content of the "bilateral coordinated action" between the United States and Lithuania.
Earlier, Tom Tugendhat, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, met with Lance Burgess on 19 August. After the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania stated in a press release, "Thank you for the unity of Britain and Lithuania."
News (26)
Xie Zhiwei expressed appreciation for MVC COVID-19 Vaccine but feared deaths as a result of vaccination
Editor : Zhuang Yating
Xie Zhiwei, the representative of Taiwan in Germany, posted on Facebook early this morning (24 August) to express his views on the launch of MVC COVID-19 Vaccine (MVC-COV1901). He said on Facebook today that with the first covi vaccine in Taiwan, the Chinese Republic can get rid of mainland China's "unprovoked, direct or indirect blackmail and interference."
He believes that Chinese people trust and support MVC. The reason is that it is another type of declaration of Taiwan’s independence from mainland China with technological self-confidence and national identity, and it is the main reason why those people cannot accept it and insist on slandering MVC.
In addition, Xie Zhiwei said, "I would like to thank all the heroes behind the scenes of MVC vaccines. "You have made Taiwanese deeply feel the true meaning and joy of "I am Taiwan, I am proud"." However, he frankly said that on the other hand, he was worried, "If you continue to vaccinate MVC, I am afraid that you will die." Because he has heard someone say: "We have been slandering for a long time, and there are still so many people vaccinating MVC. I'm so angry!"
MVC-COV1901 has passed the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) without passing Phase III clinical trials. It is controversial, even though Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly emphasized that the covi vaccine is safe, effective, legal, and scientifically-compliant vaccine. Only then will the public be allowed to vaccinate but the review process is still questioned by the Blue camp. Regarding the accusation of not actively urging to purchase international vaccines, it is escorting MVC. The command centre commander Chen Shizhong however said at the press conference on 23 August, "We will not deny vaccines for the sake of escort" and emphasized "there is no need to use one vaccine to resist other vaccines. This is meaningless."
News (27)
Vaccinated artiste after 13 hours of MVC vaccination: I seem to be another person
Editor : Tan Yongyong
Image : Photo/Flip Caramel Brother Chen Jiaxing’s Facebook
Taiwan artiste Brother Caramel (Chen Jiaxing) completed the vaccination on 23 August 2021 at 9.30 am. After he finished the Medigen shot, he said "I feel in a good mood", and 13 hours after he finished the vaccine last night, he updated his physical condition on Facebook and said, "The side effects of high-end vaccines are terrible. I seem to have become another person."
Brother Caramel posted on Facebook today (24 August) that it’s been more than 13 hours, " Let’s share my feelings after taking the domestic MVC covi vaccine. The fine lines seem to have diminished. I just put on the glasses and found that they are a little blurry. When I took them off, they became clearer. I touched my lower abdomen and it became flat.”
In addition, he joked, “The side effects of high-end vaccines are 'terrible'. I seem to have become I’ve missed another person. Everyone knows that I’m joking.” When the Kuomintang and the People’s Party talked about vaccine issues, they were a lot more funny than him. Brother Caramel said that there are no side effects at all after MVC covi vaccination.
As soon as the conversation turned, he also seriously said that after the Medigen shot, he felt that only the injection place was a bit hot, and his stomach was very hungry. As for other side effects, there are none. He also called out "I like Taiwan's MVC vaccine! I am indeed hungry after vaccination, like many people, but I hold back to see if I can lose a few kilograms!"
After the article was exposed, many netizens followed and share "The only side effect, I can't stop eating", "My bunch of friends turned into monsters after a fight", "The next day after the vaccination, there is really no discomfort at all."
News (28)
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China on Epidemic Prevention and Defense: Men enlisted in the army are not forced to vaccinate with MVC-COV1901
President Tsai Ing-wen instructed planned enlisted men to carry out vaccination operations. Regarding whether the enlisted men should be administered MVC-COV1901, Major General Shi Shunwen, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said today that the implementation details will be coordinated and carefully planned by the Ministry of National Defense.
Reluctantly, in the morning, the Ministry of National Defense held an online press conference on the "Sixty-three Military Day Series Activities of the Republic of China 110." Major General Shi Shunwen, the spokesperson, and Major General Lou Weijie, Director of the Political Warfare Bureau, Propaganda and Heart Warfare, attended the conference.
As President Tsai Ing-wen instructed the Ministry of National Defense to plan the vaccination of enlisted males in accordance with the national military officer-soldier model, the media asked the Ministry of National Defense whether if the central government allocates domestically-made MVC COVID-19 Vaccine. Will it force recruits to use it?
Shi Shunwen responded that there have been preliminary discussions about the vaccination among military training servicemen. As for the implementation details, the Ministry will coordinate and plan carefully. The Ministry of National Defense will also put forward the demand for vaccines and administer them as soon as possible after the vaccine is distributed but not reluctantly.
The media are also concerned about whether the defense budget next year will grow by 3% to NT$372.6 billion, and whether a special budget of 200 billion will be planned to strengthen missile self-control capabilities.
Shi Shunwen pointed out that the content and amount of the national defense budget for the next year are currently under review by the Executive Yuan. The Ministry of National Defense does not comment on various speculations.
Hanguang’s live ammunition exercise will be staged from 13 to 17 September. The scale of the exercise will be adjusted according to whether the exercise is affected by the epidemic.
Shi Shunwen said that Hanguang will design various scenarios and exercises in accordance with the threats of the enemy throughout this year. However, considering the epidemic situation, relevant exercise subjects and the strength of the participating troops will be adjusted appropriately.
Regarding the Jiadong War Preparation Road exercise, Shi Shunwen said that the Air Force has close contact with the General Administration of Highways and will ensure the smooth execution of the combat preparation road take-off and landing missions. (Central News Agency)
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Recently seen frequent deaths Wang Yikang: most of them were infected at the beginning of the month
Recently, the local covid death cases have been one after another, with 12 cases in this month alone. Health Minister Wang Yikang said that data showed that most of these deaths were infected at the beginning of the month. At that time, there were more new cases every day and fewer people completed the vaccination.
Ong Ye Kung also explained in a Facebook post on 23 August that the Ministry of Health will mark patients’ deaths and admission to the intensive care unit according to the date of their diagnosis.
This means that if a patient is admitted to the intensive care unit after being diagnosed on 1 August, and then died on 10 August, the Ministry of Health will mark the data on 1 August instead of 10 August.
At that time, there were many new cases and fewer people completed the vaccination
Ong Ye Kung wrote, "At that time, we had more new cases every day, and fewer people were vaccinated (out of 12 deaths, 11 were not vaccinated)."
He said that vaccination is still important. "I have met many residents who are worried about vaccination because they have some underlying diseases or get sick easily."
Ong Ye Kung said that in many such cases, they should be vaccinated, because once they contract covid, they are more likely to be seriously ill. He also urged the doubtful public to consult with doctors he trusts.
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Harris rebukes China for coercion and intimidation in South China Sea
Reporter : Frank Fang, The Epoch Times PREMIUM / Image : Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
She delivered the speech in Singapore, the first stop of her Southeast Asia visit that will also include a trip to Vietnam. Her visit comes at a time when the United States is being targeted by a propaganda campaign by actors for the Chinese Communist Party, hoping to persuade nations to view the United States as an unreliable ally based on its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate, and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea,” Harris said, adding that China’s claims in the disputed seas have been deemed “unlawful” in a 2016 international ruling that rejected Beijing’s territorial assertion.
“Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations,” she said.
Harris sought to reassure like-minded nations in the region, saying the United States “stands with our allies and our partners” in the face of China’s threats.
China has tried to forcibly deny other countries in the region from accessing the rich fishing grounds in the disputed sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam all face territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
In July last year, more than a dozen onboard a Vietnamese fishing boat were forced to jump overboard after their ship was rammed by a Chinese vessel. In January, a Filipino fisherman said he was blocked by the Chinese Coast Guard from sailing to a fishing area near an island administered by Manila.
In March, more than 200 Chinese vessels—believed to be crewed by Beijing’s maritime militia—moored at Whitsun Reef, one of the disputed reefs, islands, and atolls in the South China Sea.
Harris said the United States was committed to upholding the vision and return to a ”free and open Indo-Pacific,” which includes freedom on the seas, unimpeded commerce, and advancing human rights.
“Now, as we face threats to that order, I am here to reaffirm our commitment to that vision,” Harris said.
She also addressed how Washington seeks to partner with nations in the region.
She explained: “Our engagement in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific is not against any one country. Nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries.
“Instead, our engagement is about advancing an optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in this region,” she added.
China’s propaganda campaign, which began after the Taliban’s swift takeover of the Afghan capital of Kabul, has continued unabated during Harris’s trip. On 23 August, China’s state-run CGTN, the overseas arms of Chinese broadcaster CCTV, published an opinion article saying, “It seems that being abandoned is inevitable if you put too much faith in the United States.”
The opinion article also criticized Harris, saying she would not be able to “rescue tanking U.S. credibility” with her trip.
China’s hawkish state-run media Global Times, in an article published on 24 August, mocked the idea that Harris would want to strengthen bilateral ties with Vietnam, saying such an objective would be “wishful thinking.”
Harris will travel to Vietnam on 24 August for a three-day visit. Before traveling to Vietnam, she is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion with business leaders.
After Harris gave her speech at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay waterfront park, three senior U.S. officials took part in a panel discussion that was hosted by Chan Heng Chee, ambassador-at-large with Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chan asked the three panelists if Washington “would have a harder time persuading countries to work” with the United States after what happened in Afghanistan.
“I don’t think it’s accurate to suggest that Afghanistan somehow shows the United States is not a reliable partner in Afghanistan,” said Phil Gordon, deputy national security advisor to Harris, pointing to U.S. efforts in the country in the last 20 years.
Gordon added that President Joe Biden made the decision to pull out of Afghanistan so that the United States “can pursue our interests and focus on the things that matter to us, and that includes this region.”
Kin Moy, senior official for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department, addressed Chan’s question by saying that the United States has been committed to the Indo-Pacific and that this will continue.
“We are looking at those future challenges too, to create even more opportunities. And I think that you will see that in the future,” Moy said.
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