Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on airline management, disease control, Japan, Taiwan, U.S., CCP, Myanmar
News (1)
Philippine Airlines filed order for bankruptcy protection! What should passengers and employees do?
On 4 September 2021, local time, Philippine Airlines issued a statement stating that the company had filed for bankruptcy protection in New York on 3 September 2021.
The purpose of this measure is to reduce the company's debt by US$2 billion through a restructuring plan, while reducing its capacity by 25%. The restructuring plan also includes obtaining US$505 million in equity and debt financing from major shareholders and US$150 million in debt financing from new investors. But this reorganization plan still needs the approval of the New York court.
Philippine Airlines said that the pandemic has had a great impact on the aviation industry, and it filed for bankruptcy protection order to overcome this difficult situation. Under the bankruptcy protection order, the company will maintain normal operations, and passengers and employees will not be affected.
Founded in 1941, Philippine Airlines is the national flag carrier of the Philippines.
News (2)
Philippine Airlines, hit hard by the epidemic, filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S.
Image : The picture shows the Philippine Airlines plane parked on the tarmac of Manila International Airport on 22 June 2021. (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
Philippine Airlines said on Saturday (4 September 2021) that it is filing for bankruptcy protection in the United States to reduce its debt by $2 billion, hoping to allow the company to survive the ravages of COVID-19.
Agence France-Presse reported that Philippine Airlines pointed out that its bankruptcy protection would allow Philippine Airlines to adjust its contract, reduce at least US$2 billion in debt, and obtain US$665 million in new capital after completing the bankruptcy proceedings.
Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez, the company’s vice president and chief financial officer, said in a video: “After the reorganization of our network, fleet and organizational structure, Philippine Airlines will continue to operate its business.”
PAL will also reduce its fleet by 25% and renegotiate contracts to reduce rental payments.
Airline President Gilbert Santa Maria said that due to the epidemic restrictions, the number of passengers in the Philippines has dropped from 30 million in 2019 to 7 million in 2020, a drop of more than 75%.
The airline cancelled more than 80,000 flights, lost $2 billion in revenue, and laid off 2,300 employees.
News (3)
Weibo banned Park Jimin's fans club account for 60 days for ordering a special Jeju Air plane livery
Image courtesy : Weibo "Entertainment Circle Outsider"
CCP China has recently been actively rectifying the entertainment industry, and at the same time, in order to regulate and control the culture of the "rice circle" industry, it has launched an online clean-up action to allow fans to chase stars rationally and to prevent some irrational star-chasing behaviour.
However, BTS member Park Jimin's fans club in mainland China that launched a fundraising to order an exclusive airplane painting for the idol as celebration of his birthday was penalized. According to Weibo account named "Entertainment Circle Outsider", as a result, the Weibo account of Park Jimin fans club was banned for 60 days.
The Weibo account of Park Jimin fans club was exposed on 4 September 2021. In cooperation with Jeju Air, it raised funds to help their idol customize his livery on a Jeju Air aircraft. The result was reported by CARNOC and pointed out that Park Jimin fans club started to raise funds in April 2021. At that time, more than 2.3 million RMB (approximately NT$10 million) was raised on the fundraising platform in one hour, and it was planned to publish an advertisement in the "New York Times" and "The Times" on the birthday of Park Jimin on 13 October, including a full-page colour advertisement in The New York Times.
This move triggered a heated discussion among netizens.
The official Weibo administrator announced in the morning of 5 September, “As reported by netizens, an account launched a “customized aircraft” illegal fund-raising activity on other platforms in April this year. Recently, it will be shown again. A publicity blog post about the results of the event was posted on Weibo, which contained content that induced comparisons and was oriented to serious errors.”
In the end, the Weibo account of Park Jimin fans club was banned for 60 days. Weibo officials also emphasized that “Weibo firmly opposes such irrationalities. The behaviour of chasing stars will be dealt with seriously."
News (4)
Ariana Afghan Airlines resumes domestic flights to three cities on 4 September 2021
Ariana Afghan Airlines said on 4 September 2021 that the airline resumed some flights between the capital Kabul and the three major provincial cities of Afghanistan that same day. Earlier, a Qatar technical team reopened Kabul Airport to receive aid and restart domestic flights.
The airline issued a statement saying that flights between Kabul and the western city of Herat, the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif and the southern city of Kandahar have resumed.
According to reports, the Kabul Airport has been closed since the end of the U.S.-led evacuation operation. The reopening of Kabul Airport is one of the Taliban’s priorities. The Taliban have been seeking to restore order after they captured Kabul on 15 August 2021.
News (5)
The crew members frequently complain about quarantine! EVA Air issued an internal statement "Living in a hotel from the 7th"
Reporter : Su Yihuan
Three EVA Air pilots confirmed the diagnosis. Not only did many people were listed, the epidemic command centre sent 1.1 million mobile alerts. Many crew members and their family members also went to the quarantine station for quarantine. However, related regulations and isolation measures have caused many crew members to complain again and again.
At the press conference on 5 September morning, Taoyuan Mayor Zheng Wencan also proposed to provide a hotel for the crew of EVA Air to return to Taiwan.
Until noon, EVA Air issued an internal message to inform the crew that "The company has signed a contract with the hotel in Taoyuan next to Taimao. Starting from the 7th, the entire building will be exclusively used by EVA Air."
According to an internal message sent by EVA Air at noon today (5), starting from the 7th, the crew will return to Taiwan for quarantine. Not only the original dormitory, but also the hotel next to Taimao Shopping Center has been added. Since the company has signed a contract with the industry, the entire building will be used by the crew seat in a short period of time, so employees should not worry about it.
Image : EVA Air said that it has signed a contract with the hotel on the 7th to provide crew members returning to Taiwan. (Non-parties/TVBS data screen)
In addition, they also set out relevant regulations for the current quarantine of crew members in the central region. Since everyone is arranged in a different quarantine station, if you are not a member of the three centralized quarantine stations, please take a taxi to return home after you are released from the quarantine, but you don't have to take a quarantine taxi.
If the group members stay in a centralized quarantine station, they will be arranged according to the number of people who will be released from the quarantine. If there are less than 5 people (inclusive), the group members are required to take a taxi home by themselves, but if there are more than 6 people (inclusive), EVA Air will be responsible to despatch a car to pick them up.
News (6)
Only after getting rid of the separation did he know Delta! Central sequencing is too slow. Luo Yijun responds
Editor : Zhang Yongling
Taipei City Deputy Mayor Huang Shanshan pointed out on 5 September that the command center's gene sequencing results were slow, causing an overseas immigration case in Beijing City to be notified of the Delta mutant strain after being isolated and returning home, and the city government recalled for testing. It was later confirmed that it was a positive case.
In this regard, Luo Yijun, the deputy leader of the Medical Response Team, explained that the case was a case of 15425. When it was announced on 14 July, it was initially judged to be a domestic case. After learning about the situation that the patient arrived from the United States, it was changed to the United States on the 17th as an inbound case.
Luo Yijun pointed out that Case 15425 was inspected on 12 July. His result was positive the next day, and it was announced on 14 July. He was also tested in the hospital. It was negative on the 22nd and the Ct value was only 25. He returned home on 23 July when he met the conditions for release of quarantine. Said that when the case was changed to a foreign country, the specimen was not transferred to Delta, and was later re-done.
On 14 August, the Health Bureau was notified that the case was infected with Covi72 but he was actually negative and returned home. All meet the conditions of separation, so there is no obvious impact on the community.
In addition, Case 15508 is a case of an immigrant from Central China who returned from the UK. After entering the country on 15 July, a positive test was taken to confirm the diagnosis. As the genetic sequencing has been difficult, it could not be successfully sequenced. After the virus sequenced and the result completed on 19 August and was confirmed to be Delta, Luo Yijun admits that these two cases are quite special because the sequencing results are relatively late due to related reasons, "some technical challenges", after the expert meeting decided. Everyone can go online to see the isolation conditions, to avoid delay in the sequencing results and so on.
News (7)
7 air crew do not have immune response after completing vaccination of 2 doses
Reporter : Chen Yiling
In response to the epidemic, the EVA Air crew had to routinely adopt antibody measures, but they are now cancelled.
In this regard, the convener Zhang Shangchun explained that the original expert advisory group suggested that after the crew had finished the two doses of vaccines, their antibody should be tested and the situation should be tracked every three months. This is because a very small number of people in the past had finished the vaccines but do not have immune response.
Zhang Shangchun further explained that because there are only a few special conditions, there is no way to deal with it as a complete vaccination and quarantine isolation mode.
Among the thousands of crew members, 7 did not develop antibodies after being vaccinated, and the proportion is really very small. The experts advisory group has discussed whether there is any remedy, or add a third dose of a covi vaccine.
Zhang Shangchun pointed out that because antibodies will slowly decline over time, and new variants such as Covi72 are coming. It is not a big issue whether the crew members should add a third dose of vaccine and follow up every 3 months.
News (8)
Ban on open barbecuing remains in place
Fearing that the case might be infected with Covi72, each Taiwan county and city have announced their own Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue measures.
Taoyuan City Government cancelled the Mid-Autumn Festival large-scale event, and the barbecue areas including parks and scenic areas were closed.
The New Taipei City Government has followed up that the New Taipei City Riverside Barbecue will not be opened.
The Taichung City Government announced that the barbecue area in the Aofengshan Park in Qingshui District and the barbecue area in the Zhongzheng camping area are still not open to the public for the time being.
The media asked the central government whether there are any anti-epidemic guidelines for barbecues.
In this regard, Chen Shizhong said that based on the current test results, it is necessary to maintain a 7-day observation period. As for some doctors who believe that the alarm should be cleared by 18 September 2021, he responded that this must be continuously observed, but the first wave of observation period is 7 days from the beginning of this wave.
News (9)
The response from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is boring and unnecessary. Does the Kuomintang want to join the Chinese team?
Text: Qiu Zhiwei, Legislator / https://talk.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/3660987
A few days ago, President Tsai mentioned in the "Ketagalan Forum-2021 Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue" that "Taiwan will not move toward military confrontation and hopes to coexist with its neighbors under the principles of peace, stability, and reciprocity." The Kuomintang raised a siege and pointed out that "neighboring countries" call China, which is no different from Taiwan independence.
At the same time, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also called President Tsai's move as "independence" provocation at the press conference. The Chinese-style political parties on both sides of the strait have once again reached a consensus on the Taiwan issue. I really don’t know what the KMT’s intentions, as a political party in Taiwan, are.
President Tsai mentioned in the "Ketagalan Forum-2021 Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue" that "Taiwan will not move toward military confrontation, and hopes to coexist with its neighbors under the principles of peace, stability, and reciprocity."
The Communist Party of China and the Chinese Kuomintang, both parties are quite fond of picking faults, digging at the corners, and being righteous towards the speeches of President Tsai or the Democratic Progressive Party. At the Ketagalan Forum, President Tsai also mentioned, "We do not move towards military confrontation and hope to coexist with our neighbors under the principles of peace, stability and reciprocity, and insist on defending democracy and way of life." The entire forum should be answered. Putting the main axis on peace is the path that President Tsai insists on.
Furthermore, President Tsai called it "neighbors" at the meeting, and did not name any country. The Chinese Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China are desperately opposing their seats, which is just to highlight the guilty conscience of these two parties. They know where the security crisis in Taiwan comes from but they deceive themselves, and even the wicked first file a complaint. They are basically troublemakers in the region!
Neither the Kuomintang nor the Communist Party can understand the sentiments of the people in Taiwan. The two fraternal parties, one "coercively threaten Taiwan" and the other "military aircraft circumvent Taiwan", are both uneasy and kind to Taiwan. Of course, the people of Taiwan must seek foreign aid to allow the international community to face the existence of Taiwan squarely and let the world notice that there are evil neighbors at our door. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has been seated in the same seat, distorting the goodwill of neighboring countries, and will not help cross-strait development.
Finally, I also advise the Kuomintang, as the party of the Taiwan people, to serve not China, let alone the Communist Party of China. Taiwan’s security should be jointly guarded instead of misinterpreting President Tsai’s goodwill and fueling China’s arrogance.
Calling on the Kuomintang, which is holding the party chairman election, to "return to the Taiwan team" as the theme, instead of indulging in the illusory bonus of the Chinese team. It is impossible to operate in Taiwan for a long time, and it is difficult to win the hearts of the Taiwan people!
News (10)
Wu Zhaoxie writes to Japanese media to call on the United Nations to accept Taiwan
Reporter : Zheng Yifen / Editor : Lu Meiqi / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/21/9/5/n13211982.htm
Image : Information photo of Wu Zhaoxie, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China. (Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The 76th UN General Assembly will debut on 14 September 2021. Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie recently submitted an article to a Japanese newspaper to propagate to the United Nations: As the world faces the pandemic, Taiwan is the world’s “good force” as the world is working together towards recovery; Now is the time for the United Nations to accept Taiwan and let Taiwan help.
Recently, Wu Zhaoxie has successively contributed articles to foreign media such as the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, and has received exclusive interviews with foreign media such as Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Kuwait.
Wu Zhaoxie contributed the document to Japan's "Mainichi Shimbun", which was published on the 5th with the title "Let Taiwan's 'good power' contribute to the world facing the covid epidemic in the United Nations."
In the Japanese version of the article, Wu Zhaoxie stated that after nearly a year of successful epidemic prevention in Taiwan, in the past few months, like many other countries, it has also faced a wave of rising epidemics; however, Taiwan has been well controlled and is therefore more capable of cooperating with friends and partners. Countries cooperate to respond to the challenges posed by the epidemic. Taiwan has excellent epidemic prevention capabilities, quickly meets the needs of the global supply chain, and continues to provide substantial assistance to partner countries. Again, there is no reason why Taiwan should not be allowed to play a constructive role in the United Nations system.
Wu Zhaoxie also mentioned that in the past 60 years, Taiwan has continued to provide assistance to various partner countries around the world, and has worked very hard to implement the "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs), including gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and health and well-being.
According to the "2021 World Happiness Report" published by the international organization "Sustainable Development Program Network" (SDSN), Taiwan ranks first in East Asia and ranks 24th in the world. Wu Zhaoxie said that Taiwan is willing to share experience with global partners in order to build a better and more resilient future for all mankind.
On the issue of climate change, Taiwan is expected to reach its net zero carbon emission target by 2050, and strive to find the best way to turn the challenge of carbon reduction into new opportunities.
Wu Zhaoxie emphasized that when the world is working together towards recovery, shutting out partners who are able to contribute is a moral and material loss for the world; Taiwan is the world’s “good force” and is ready to deal with it. The world makes a contribution. Now is the time to accept Taiwan and let Taiwan help.
News (11)
Potential cancer vaccine under development by Oxford-AstraZeneca team
Reporter : Jason Goodyer, BBC Science Focus
The team behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have used the same techniques to create a vaccine that could potentially ‘revolutionise’ cancer treatment.
The researchers have designed a two-dose cancer vaccine using the same viral vector technology used in the Oxford COVID vaccine to increase the levels of anti-tumour T cells and shrink tumours in mice. The vaccine targets specific structures, known as MAGE proteins, found on the surface of many cancers.
“We knew from our previous research that MAGE-type proteins act like red flags on the surface of cancer cells to attract immune cells that destroy tumours. MAGE proteins have an advantage over other cancer antigens as vaccine targets since they are present on a wide range of tumour types,” said Benoit Van den Eynde, Professor of Tumour Immunology at the University of Oxford.
“This broadens the potential benefit of this approach to people with many different types of cancer.
“Importantly for target specificity, MAGE-type antigens are not present on the surface of normal tissues, which reduces the risk of side-effects caused by the immune system attacking healthy cells.”
When combined with existing anti-PD-1 immunotherapy treatments, the vaccine showed a greater reduction in tumour size and improved the survival of the mice.
Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy is a promising method of cancer treatment that works by ‘taking the brakes’ off anti-tumour T cells and inciting them to kill cancer cells. However, it has so far proven to be largely ineffective thanks in part to the low levels of T cells in the majority of cancer patients.
This is where the tech borrowed from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine comes in – a two-dose treatment can help to boost the levels of cancer-fighting CD8+ T cells.
“Our cancer vaccines elicit strong CD8+ T cell responses that infiltrate tumours and show great potential in enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy and improving outcomes for patients with cancer,” said Prof Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford.”
The team now plan to begin their first human clinical trial of the vaccine used in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in 80 patients with non-small cell lung cancer later this year as part of a collaboration between Vaccitech Oncology Limited (VOLT) and Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development.
“This new vaccine platform has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment. The forthcoming trial in non-small cell lung cancer follows a Phase 2a trial of a similar cancer vaccine in prostate cancer undertaken by the University of Oxford that is showing promising results,” said Hill.
Ref: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/revolutionary-cancer-vaccine-trials-inspired-by-covid-jab-begin/
News (12)
Canadian International Airshow kicks off on 4 September 2021
Image : Video Screenshot (China News Network)
On 4 September 2021, the 2021 Canadian International Airshow kicked off in Toronto. A large number of people came to Lake Ontario to watch the wonderful flying show.
One of the highlights of the air show is the U.S. Air Force F-35A fighter. There are several other models that are also quite interesting: the Yak 50 aircraft "paints" in the air, the PBY-5A seaplane from the Canadian Fighter Museum...Of course, the air formation performance of the "Snowbirds" aerobatic team of the Royal Canadian Air Force is indispensable. .
The annual Canadian International Air Show was changed to online virtual viewing due to the new crown epidemic in 2020. This year, the public on-site viewing of the exhibition will be resumed and open for free. The air show lasted for two days.
News (13)
Japanese successor competitor Fumio Kishida: Anti-CCP is the top priority
Editor : Lu Yongxin / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/09/05/a103208347.html
Image : Fumio Kishida, former chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party. (Philip Fong/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
After Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President (party chairman) Yoshihide Suga stated on the 3rd that he would not seek re-election as president, Fumio Kishida, one of his successor competitors, told Nikkei Asia that he would deal with the CCP. It will be his government's top priority, and he is also "deeply shocked" by Beijing's tough diplomatic and economic behavior.
Liberal Democratic Party President Yoshihide Suga cast a shock bomb at the Liberal Democratic Party’s temporary party affairs director meeting on the 3rd, saying, “I want to concentrate on epidemic prevention measures, so I will not run for the president (party chairman) election.” This means that the term of office of the president ends at the end of September, he will also step down from the post of Prime Minister.
The election of the president of the Liberal Democratic Party is expected to be announced on 17 September and vote counting will be held on 29 September. The former head of the Liberal Democratic Party's political investigation Fumio Kishida has already expressed his stand for running for the election.
The Central News Agency reported that in a recent interview, Fumio Kishida said that in order to protect the basic values of "freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, we will cooperate with countries that share common values, such as the United States, Europe, India, and Australia, to fight against authoritarian systems."
Fumio Kishida, the former chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, accepted an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia on the 2nd, the day before Yoshihide Suga announced his non-reelection as prime minister. He is one of the four possible contenders for the Liberal Democratic Party president (party chairman) election held this month.
Kishida Fumio’s remarks on security and foreign policy reflect his experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs for more than four and a half years under the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Economic security is an important agenda for him. While Washington and Beijing are competing for technological dominance, Japan, the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea are coordinating vigorously to ensure the security of the supply chain of materials of strategic importance such as semiconductors.
Kishida Fumio quoted the concept of "economic national policy" and stated that "we must consider national security from a different perspective, not just force." He said, "I will focus on the economy to protect our country's geopolitical interests."
In terms of national defense, Fumio Kishida emphasized the need to have the ability to attack enemy missile bases to avoid an imminent offensive. He pointed out that "although the missile defense system can block the first wave of attacks," it has the power to attack enemy bases, "only to protect the lives of the people in the second or more offensives."
He said, "Missile technology is changing with each passing day. I hope to have an in-depth discussion on how to defend the lives and livelihoods of the people in this fact."
Shinzo Abe originally planned to make a decision on acquiring the above-mentioned attack capability by the end of 2020, but Yoshihide Suga postponed the discussion.
The current position of the Japanese government is that if there is no other choice, the constitution of the Japanese pacifist line will allow such an attack but the deep-rooted view of constitutional scholars is that, in this way, it will deviate from the purely defensive security policy of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.
News (12) to (14) / Reporter : Zhou Zixing
News (14)
Fumio Kishida: Protect Taiwan from CCP
Former Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said in an interview on Friday (3 September) that the Taiwan Strait may be the next major diplomatic issue after the mainland's suppression of Hong Kong. He pointed out that Japan should work hand in hand with Taiwan and other democracies to resist the threat of authoritarian countries.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg News on the 3rd, Kishida Fumio pointed out that Taiwan is at the forefront of the conflict between the United States and China. Looking at the situation in Hong Kong and Uyghurs, "I have a very strong feeling that the Taiwan Strait will become the next big problem." Kishida Fumio said that Japan should seek to cooperate with countries that share the values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, such as Taiwan, in order to respond to the threat of an autocratic power expanding.
News (15)
An emergency in Taiwan Strait will affect Japan
When asked how Japan would respond to an emergency in Taiwan, Kishida only stated that it would take action in accordance with the law. Because the Japanese military is restricted by the Peace Constitution, it relies heavily on the United States, its only ally, as a shelter for the "Nuclear Umbrella." But Fumio Kishida also pointed out that if an emergency occurs in the Taiwan Strait, it will have a huge impact on Japan. It was revealed that Japan may continue to increase its defense budget in response to threats including North Korea.
News (16)
Military exercises jointly conducted by Japan, U.S., UK and Dutch forces from 2 to 7 September
The Japan Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces, jointly with the U.S. Navy, the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, and the Dutch naval frigate held the codename "Pacific Crown" in the East China Sea and the waters south of Kanto, Japan during the period from 2 to 7 Pacific Crown) exercise, exercise items include confrontation operations, air defense operations, and anti-submarine operations.
It is understood that the Queen Elizabeth is equipped with F-35B stealth fighters from the British and American armies. This time it will be the first time to appear in the exercise at the same time as the F-35A stealth fighters of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The Japanese Self-Defense Force said on the 3rd that the Canadian Navy has also joined the USS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier strike group for joint high-end training.
The Kyodo News reported that the Elizabethan aircraft carrier strike group is expected to dock at the US Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan during the 5th to 7th, and the Dutch naval frigate will dock at the base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Yokosuka. The report pointed out that Japan and the United States intend to strengthen cooperation with European countries around the Pacific Ocean in order to counterbalance the mainland, which is increasingly strengthening maritime activities.
News (17) to (25) / Editor : Ye Ziwei
News (17)
Japan's epidemic has not slowed down, emergency situation in Tokyo, Osaka and other places may be postponed
The COVID-19 epidemic in Japan has not slowed down significantly. The currently implemented "Declaration of Emergency Situation" was originally scheduled to be lifted on 12 September but the Japanese government intends to extend it for another two weeks in Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture and other places. It is expected to make a decision next week.
The Japan Mainichi Shimbun reported that the "emergency declaration" issued by the Japanese government for 21 prefectures and prefectures is expected to be lifted on the 12th; however, it is currently known to include 4 prefectures in the metropolitan area of Tokyo and 3 prefectures of Kansai in Osaka. The prefectures, and the three Tokai prefectures including Aichi Prefecture, are the target areas for the Japanese government to coordinate the extension of the declaration period.
As the number of newly confirmed cases in some areas is still high, coordination is currently being extended for about two weeks; the Japanese government will hold a meeting of the Headquarters for Epidemic Prevention and Control next week to decide how to respond.
News (18)
American Airlines will stop providing pandemic leave to unvaccinated employees
Image : Joe Raedle / Getty Images
American Airlines said on Friday (3 September 2021) that starting next month, if unvaccinated employees must be quarantined due to covid, they will not receive special holidays. .
The company said that unvaccinated employees will use their sick or medical leave if they are absent due to the disease.
Reuters reported that the company said in a memo to employees, “Given the FDA-approved vaccine, pandemic leave will only be provided to those Team members who have been fully vaccinated and provide us with their vaccination cards."
Prior to this, United Airlines Inc took the lead last month to require all domestic employees to be vaccinated.
News (19)
Alaska Airlines stops paying wages to unvaccinated employees taking their time off
In addition, Alaska Airlines said on 3 September 2021 that it has stopped paying special wages to unvaccinated employees who have taken time off due to covid infection or contact with suspects.
The airline has mandated all new employees to be vaccinated and paid $200 as a reward to employees who provide proof of vaccination.
News (20)
Poll: 70% of Dutch employers want to know the status of their employees' covi vaccination
According to the "Dutch Times" report, Dutch bosses currently do not have the legal right to inquire about the vaccinations of their employees, because this conflicts with Dutch privacy laws and the right to sanctity of the body.
However, a study by the employer alliance AWVN found that among the 600 employers who participated in the study, about 70% were concerned about safety in the workplace, because more and more employees returned to work on site.
Although employees cannot be required to prove vaccination status, in some cases customers can be required to provide relevant proof. Someone quoted an employer as saying, "How can we protect our customers if we are not allowed to know what the employees are like?"
News (21)
French official: if the epidemic eases, vaccine passports are expected to be loosened
French Labor Minister Élisabeth Borne said on Saturday (4 September) that if France’s Covid-19 (disease caused by the Chinese Communist virus) infection rate starts to slow, France’s vaccine passport restrictions may be relaxed.
"Health is improving." Reuters quoted Bonn and told Radio France International, "If this is confirmed, we will be able to relax the regulations", adding that this may be decided "in the next few days".
Earlier, Auchan, a French retail group, stated that the introduction of vaccine passes, or "health passes," had an impact on its business at the beginning of the third quarter. Customers who want to enter this shopping mall with an area of more than 20,000 square meters must hold a valid pass.
At the same time, protests against the pass continued. Social media videos on Saturday showed protesters laying picnic blankets on the street and dining outside stores that are restricted to pass holders. Because the pass is also required to enter cafes and restaurants.
News (22)
Negligence in vaccination, about 140 people in South Korea injected discarded vaccines
Image : The picture shows the frozen Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine/Comirnaty. (Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images)
A vaccination accident occurred at the Guro Hospital of Korea University in South Korea. According to Yonhap News Agency, about 140 people were injected with Pfizer vaccine that had been defrosted for a long time and needed to be discarded. The Korean authorities are currently discussing whether these people need to be re-administered.
Pfizer vaccines that need to be stored frozen should be stored in the refrigerator or thawed at room temperature before use. Unopened vaccine bottles can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 hours. If they have been opened and mixed with saline, they must be administered within 6 hours.
According to the report, the accident occurred on 26 and 27 August, most of which were the first dose of vaccinators. After discovering the negligence, the hospital has used a text message to notify the people who had beaten on that day.
Some people with adverse reactions have gone to Guro Hospital for medical treatment. One of them revealed that he had symptoms such as heart palpitations and muscle aches. Before receiving the news, he had already sought medical treatment and received a text message notification in the middle of the night.
The expert review committee will decide whether to re-vaccinate.
News (23)
Covi72 is difficult to prevent and control, Australia adds 1,756 cases to new high
Australia notified 1,756 confirmed cases on Saturday, the highest number of confirmed cases in a single day so far. Of these, most of the cases occurred in New South Wales, where there were 1,533 new cases and 4 deaths. The authorities said that this time because of the highly contagious Delta variant that has erupted in the area since mid-June.
Victoria has reported 190 cases, Australian Capital Territory has 32 cases, and Queensland has 1 case. The recent number of daily infections is about twice that of the previous severe outbreak a year ago.
"The overall trend is slow and steady growth. This is why vaccination is so important, as is compliance with epidemic prevention regulations." Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.
Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, inhabited by approximately 60% of Australia’s 25 million people, have been under strict lockdown for several weeks.
News (24)
First death of Covi72 in New Zealand
New Zealand reported its first death from infection with the Delta variant (Covi72) on Saturday. At the same time, the country has confirmed 20 new cases, and these cases are concentrated in Auckland.
Health officials said the deceased was a woman in her 90s with underlying illness. This is the first death from Covi72 in New Zealand since mid-February.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement: “Every death reminds us of the harm that COVID-19 can cause when it enters our community.”
"So far, our New Zealand elderly and people with underlying health problems are most vulnerable to this virus."
Since mid-August, Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, has a population of approximately 1.7 million and has been under a strict level 4 lockdown. At present, this measure seems to be able to interrupt the transmission chain of the Delta variant, and the number of confirmed diagnoses has a tendency to decrease.
Currently, there are 782 active cases in the country, of which 765 are in Auckland and 17 are in the capital, Wellington.
New Zealand is a country with a population of 5 million. Since the outbreak, 3,392 confirmed cases and 27 deaths have been reported.
News (25)
Brazil’s Ministry of Health: Sinovac CoronaVac is not recommended as a booster
Brazil’s Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, stated that the Ministry of Health does not recommend the use of this vaccine as a booster until Sinovac vaccine CoronaVac is registered in the final product by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
The Brazilian Ministry of Health recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine booster be given to elderly people over 70 years old and people with weakened immune systems from the 15th, and Pfizer vaccine should be given priority.
At present, only Pfizer and AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines have obtained the final product registration of the Brazilian health unit, and only Pfizer vaccines have the authorization for use in adolescents.
Queiroga said that this decision is to protect the safety of the people.
However, because the Brazilian state governments still have the autonomy to formulate vaccination strategies, the next phase of Brazil's immunization plan has fallen into disagreement.
At present, the capitals of six Brazilian states have begun to administer the third dose of the vaccine. The health director of Sao Paulo, Edson Aparecido, said that the Ministry of Health recommends the use of Pfizer, AZ and Johnson & Johnson vaccines as boosters, but has not banned the use of CoronaVac. The city of Sao Paulo will give priority to the use of Pfizer vaccine as a booster, but still does not rule out the use of CoronaVac.
News (26)
Local cases reappear in Guangzhou, overnight testing in the Yue Xiu District
There has been another case of indigenous novel coronavirus (covi) infection in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The infected person is a female employee of the Donghai Building in the quarantine hotel. A community in Foshan said it found close contacts and closed the community.
In the evening of 4 September, Guangzhou’s Yuexiu District issued a notice of a local asymptomatic infection, which was discovered during a routine test in the Donghai Building of the quarantine hotel.
According to reports, the confirmed case was Xu XX, female, 42 years old.
According to the news from China Central Broadcasting Network on 5 September, Zhang Zhoubin, deputy director of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that Xu XX should have accidentally exposed and caused infection when he was collecting garbage in the quarantine hotel where he worked in the afternoon of 1 September.
In the early morning of 5 September, the sequencing results of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the nucleic acid covi sequence infecting Xu was a mutant strain of Covi72.
Yuexiu District has implemented sealing and control of Donghai Building and its surrounding areas, and carried out nucleic acid screening for all employees in relevant areas in the mornings of 4 and 5 September.
JiMu News reported that in the evening of 4 September, Yuexiu District conducted nucleic acid tests on the construction of Ermalu Community and other places. At about 11 o'clock that night, at the nucleic acid testing spot in the square opposite the Jianshe Street Community Health Service Center in Yuexiu District, local residents were seen undergoing nucleic acid testing, and many residents were present as families.
Community staff said that the nucleic acid test results will be available in the afternoon of the 5th as soon as possible.
The report said that in the Donghai Building where the asymptomatic infection was found, many people in the building changed into PPE and boarded a bus that stopped on the roadside. Many fences have also been set up near Donghai Building.
On 5 September 2021, “Guangzhou Yuexiu Reappears Infected Persons Community Overnight Verification” was listed on Baidu's hot search rankings. Netizens talked about this.
"Citizens queuing up overnight for nucleic acid testing, is it more likely to have cross-infection? If it happens, what if a hundred of them are infected each time?"
"The citizens have just returned to work, and their vitality has not yet recovered. The first half of this year has been miserable enough. Don't do this again in the second half!"
"I have just moved from my hometown to work in old Guangzhou, less than three months ago, and I haven't turned my fullest job yet, so I was locked up in the place where I live, except for helplessness or helplessness."
Some netizens questioned: "Why is the quarantine hotel located in the downtown area? It should be located in a remote place!"
News (27)
Foshan community closed
In addition, the Dahao Lake Community Residents Committee of Shishan Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City issued a notice stating that close contacts of the Guangzhou covid patient were found in the Golden Palm Garden district of Shishan Town and decided to conduct an investigation against the Golden Palm Garden in Shishan Town from 8 pm on 4 September. The community implements closed management.
The notice stated that during the closure of the Golden Palm Garden community in Shishan Town, all residents were not allowed to go out without permission. The local area will implement nucleic acid testing for all residents in the community.
News (28) to (31) / Editor : Lin Yan / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/21/9/4/n13210770.htm
News (28)
A project in El Salvador exposes how the CCP infiltrated the U.S. backyard
Reporter : Zhang Ting
Image : The picture shows the "La Unión" port in El Salvador. (Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images)
In 2019, the U.S. government began to loudly question the CCP's push to purchase an island off the coast of El Salvador. A Chinese company proposed to build a deep-water port and manufacturing area there. U.S. military officials pointed out that the project will create opportunities for the CCP to infiltrate the backyard of the United States and harm U.S. interests.
American officials have publicly claimed that the CCP has bribed Salvadoran politicians so that the project can now be advanced. American media NBC obtained a slide made by a Chinese state-owned company that outlines a version of the proposal.
U.S. intelligence and military officials say that the port project will provide the CCP with an important economic and strategic foothold in places that have traditionally been within the sphere of American influence. This is one of the examples of how the CCP gained influence throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and harmed the interests of the United States.
News (29)
The CCP penetrates Central and South American countries by establishing economic relations
"The influence of China (the CCP) is global. It is everywhere in this hemisphere, and it is advancing in an alarming way." US Southern Command Commander Craig Faller accepts NBC News said in an interview.
"China (the CCP) is seeking multiple gateways in this hemisphere," Faller said. He was referring to seaports, airports, and other transit hubs. “When I see their (CCP’s) strategic priorities-West Coast, East Coast, South Panama, and the Caribbean, I can definitely see a future, that is, these ports will Become the hub of their growing Blue-water navy (note: refers to the navy type that can extend sea power to ocean and deep sea areas, and has expeditionary combat capabilities), far exceeding their... homeland defense need."
However, U.S. officials are not only concerned about military impact. Faller stated that the CCP is rapidly advancing toward its goal of occupying an economic dominant position in Central and South America in the next ten years. He said that the CCP is now the second largest trading partner in the region after the United States.
Evan Ellis, a professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, said that economic influence is accompanied by political influence.
The problem for El Salvador is that it proposes to expand and develop a Japanese-built "La Unión" (Spanish: La Unión) deep-water port located in the Gulf of Fonseca, in the territories of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua Interchange.
Ellis said that the CCP is proposing to expand ports and establish trade zones, excluding American and European companies, and allowing Chinese port operators, Chinese shipping companies and possible Chinese service providers to dominate these trade zones.
Ellis said that the CCP’s goal is to use ports and manufacturing areas to import Chinese products and distribute them to other Central American markets without involving local companies. Chinese investors have expressed interest in building an airport in La Union, which will further strengthen the special zone's position as a multimodal transport hub.
News (30)
The CCP uses bribery to advance commercial interests and establish dependencies
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department announced a list of Salvadoran officials, “They knowingly engage in acts that undermine democratic processes or systems, severely corrupt or hinder investigations into such corruption in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.”
The document stated that the former mayor of La Union, Ezequiel Milla Guerra (Ezequiel Milla Guerra) was on the list, who was accused of serious corruption and "abusing the power of the mayor to sell Perico Island" to the agent of the People’s Republic of China (CCP) in exchange for personal benefit”.
U.S. State Department officials stated that the CCP is becoming more adept at using bribery and other corrupt methods to advance its commercial interests, which is illegal for US companies.
The list also lists the associates of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, including a close aide and a former security minister.
El Salvador broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2019 and switched to establishing diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communist Party.
Ellis said that if the Salvadoran government wants to participate in corruption and protect itself from the consequences, they can stay away from American investors and turn to China (the CCP) as an alternative. But the CCP does not seek to establish a partnership based on mutual respect and trust. They seek and establish a partnership based on dependence.
Faller said that in addition to strategic investment, the CCP also provides technology to authoritarian governments, including Venezuela and Cuba, to enable them to suppress dissent more effectively.
Faller also said that Venezuelan President Maduro "is using China (CCP) technology and China (CCP) training to control the people." The CCP "is cooperating with Cuba, Russia, and increasingly with Iran to ensure that Maduro continues to be in power and that the form of government that benefits China's (CCP) economic interests continues to exist."
He said that the Cuban government was able to quickly quell the civil unrest because it used Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE to operate its mobile phone and information technology networks. "China (the CCP) is gaining more and more influence in Cuba," he said.
News (31)
4 Purposes of the CCP's Expansion in Latin America
"Forcing our partners to choose between the United States and China is not the policy of the United States," a senior government official told NBC. "But what we provide is a partnership that is in the interests of our partners, focusing on our Shared values, but also focus on respect for human rights, transparency... inclusive economic growth, entrepreneurial democratic governance."
Ellis believes that the U.S. government can use commercial leverage and other transparent tools to curb CCP penetration, because transparent interaction can prevent Chinese companies and local political elites from making win-win transactions that have not benefited the people of the two countries.
A report issued by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) appointed by the US Congress in October 2018 showed that the CCP’s expansion in Latin America has four main goals (goals): (1) To ensure that the CCP can enter the region’s rich Natural resources and consumer markets; (2) to obtain support for the CCP’s foreign policy in the region; (3) to shape the region’s views and discourse on the CCP; (4) and to increase the CCP’s geopolitical influence in the region.
U.S. Southern Command Commander Faller pointed out that Beijing is using four ways to improve the CCP’s interests in the southern United States. He once stated that the CCP is committed to infiltrating "our neighbouring regions, trying to replace the United States in terms of partner options, and weakening our partners' commitment to the rule of law and democracy."
News (32)
U.S.-China climate change cooperation or confrontation? Answers in autumn
Reporter : Lin Yan / Editor : Hua Ziming / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/21/9/5/n13211138.htm
The US "Foreign Policy" magazine published an article on Friday (3 September) that the US-China climate change cooperation or confrontation will be in this fall. It was resolved at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the United Kingdom.
At that time, leaders from the United States, China, and nearly 200 countries will set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
They will decide on potential actions on climate change at the meeting and see if it is possible to reach a global consensus.
The U.S. climate envoy, John Kerry, traveled to China this week to urge China to take climate action and discuss China and the United States joining forces to tackle the climate crisis.
The CCP sent Han Zheng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Yang Jiechi, member of the Politburo in charge of foreign affairs, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to make video calls with Kerry, which is obviously better than the reception standard of the previous US Deputy Secretary of State's visit to China.
However, Beijing warned that tense US-China relations could jeopardize climate change cooperation.
In recent months, tensions between the United States and China over trade disputes, human rights issues, and technology have escalated.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "The cooperation on climate change cannot be separated from the overall situation of Sino-US relations."
Kerry said, “Climate is not an ideology. It is not a partisanship, a geostrategic weapon or tool, and certainly not a daily politics. We believe that China can do more.”
"Foreign Policy" stated that after the CCP proposed that US-China relations and climate cooperation are inseparable, and Kerry refused to make unthankful concessions, it will be difficult for the two sides to achieve real progress on climate change, whether this week or in the future.
China and the United States are the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. China ranks first in the world, surpassing the total emissions of all developed countries, and the United States is the second highest.
Washington has always stated that it will not make disgraceful compromises to appease Beijing and promote progress on climate change.
"What I want to do is to get a way to cooperate with China that is more powerful than at present," Kerry told Foreign Policy in August. "China can stop funding external coal plants around the world and instead fund renewable energy plants."
On the other hand, some analysts have also proposed using U.S.-China competition or the threat of carbon tax to force the CCP to change and cooperate with the U.S. on climate change.
News (33)
On 5 September, 19 common planes disrupt Taiwan. Scholars: Can observe whether there is a J-16D
Image : Today there are a total of 19 co-aircraft disruptors, including 10 J-16s. Strategic scholars Jie Zhong and Su Ziyun said that the key point can be to observe whether there are F-16D electric fighters included. The picture shows the F-16 same model. (Provided by the Ministry of National Defense)
A total of 19 aircraft disrupted Taiwan today, including 10 J-16s and 4 Sukai 30s. Strategy scholars Jie Zhong and Su Ziyun said that although there are a large number of aircraft, there are no electronic warfare and early warning aircraft in the fleet. It is speculated that only the fleets are drilled separately, and the non-strike fleet is not included. However, it can be observed whether there are F-16D electronic fighters included among the 10 aircraft.
In the evening, the Air Force released the news of the common aircraft in the "Real-time Military Updates" zone. A total of 19 common aircraft (1 Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, 4 H6, 10 F-16, and 4 Sukai 30) invaded Taiwan’s Southwest Air Defense Identification Zone. There are 14 fighter planes, but they have not invaded the airspace of the southeastern sea of Taiwan, nor have they crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait.
Jie Zhong, a senior assistant researcher at the National Policy Research Foundation, said that although the overall number of aircraft is large, there are no early warning aircraft, electric reconnaissance aircraft, and no crossing the middle line of the Taiwan Strait, so the situation today is less special.
Jie Zhong explained that a complete strike aircraft group or expeditionary strike formation must have early warning and electric reconnaissance aircraft. This time the CCP may only drill separately for each aircraft group, not systematic combat training.
Su Ziyun, a think tank of the Ministry of National Defense and a scholar of the National Defense Security Research Institute, pointed out that the characteristics of the J-16 fighter are that it can be equipped with a Pili 15 long-range air-to-air missile with a range of up to 200 kilometers. 30 plays the role of opposing and ground strikes, suppressing the assembly point and command and control center of the enemy's forces. If we observe today's battles and regions, it is speculated that it should be a repressive exercise against the sea.
Su Ziyun also mentioned that what can be observed is whether these 10 F-16 fleets include the F-16D electric fighter (D is the abbreviation of "electric" in Chinese Pinyin). The F-16D can suppress ground and sea air defense systems and carry out Electronic jamming forces the enemy's radar to fail. It is a comprehensive fighter that suppresses the enemy's air defense system and electronic equipment. It is similar to the role of the US EA-18G Growler electronic combat aircraft, but as of now, the outside world still cannot know the exact combat effectiveness.
News (34) to (40) / Editor : Li Hong / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/09/04/a103207859.html / Image : Video Screenshot
News (34)
U.S. presents the blueprint for the second Pacific War
Recently, the United States has launched two large-scale military exercises around the world, bringing together 20 countries, and one is called LSE large-scale global military exercise 2021. This military exercise was mainly conducted within the US military itself. Containing 17 time zones, it is the largest joint military exercise in 40 years.
The other military exercise is called the 2021 global large-scale exercise, which has one more word than the previous military exercise, global. It is the participation of the various military services of the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and other countries. Two such large-scale military exercises were conducted simultaneously in the Indo-Pacific region. Who are the targets? It goes without saying that it is naturally the CCP.
According to the current comparison of Chinese and US military strength, the CCP has not yet been able to challenge the presence of the US military in the Pacific. However, as the CCP's military power continues to expand, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is becoming more and more tense. It cannot be ruled out that the possibility of a sudden war one day in the future can not be ruled out. Therefore, during the exercise, the US military began to show the blueprint for future operations to deal with the possible second Pacific War. The first Pacific War refers to the victory of the United States against Japan during World War II.
Let's take a look today at what exactly the U.S. military exercises and what preparations have been made.
News (35)
U.S. aircraft carrier simulations set sail from home to challenge
In the Pacific region, in addition to the pre-deployed Seventh Fleet, which owns aircraft carriers, the Third Fleet in the Pacific also owns aircraft carriers. The USS Carl Vinson and Lincoln are the latest U.S. aircraft carriers equipped with F35C fighter jets. They have San Diego, California as their home port. Both aircraft carriers are equipped with a squadron of F35C and three squadrons of Super Hornet. An aircraft carrier capable of combating fifth-generation fighters. If there is a war in the Pacific, the aircraft carriers of the U.S. Third Fleet will rush to the Western Pacific.
The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson left the west coast of the United States on 13 June 2021 and arrived in Hawaiian waters on 18 June 2021. At that time, there was a US aircraft carrier vacuum in the Western Pacific. The deployment of the USS Carl Vinson in the Western Pacific was logical, but the aircraft carrier did not continue to travel westward, but returned to the United States. On 3 August, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN70) strike group departed from San Diego and officially deployed. This is precisely simulating a possible war scenario. After the conflict, immediately set off from the mainland and rushed to the Western Pacific.
Steve Koehler, the commander of the Third Fleet, said, "We go where the battle takes us, and we maintain the superiority of the battle through the ability to solve problems and innovate in the battle."
News (36)
The exercise simulation starts from the worst scenario
When the large-scale exercise begins in 2021, the U.S. military has no aircraft carrier in the Pacific, and even the USS US amphibious assault ship is transferred to the Coral Sea near Australia for exercises. This should be regarded as the worst kind of situational simulation, how the US military should deal with it during exercises.
The US military announced that military exercises will begin on 2 August to simulate how to start large-scale mobilization and pre-deployment after the outbreak of the conflict. In addition to the navy, the army and air force are also deployed before the exercise.
In the early morning of 30 July, the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. First Special Forces and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force parachuted down the Guam Anderson Air Force Base by a large transport plane. The US military stated that the operation demonstrated the ability to project bilateral forces on the first and second island chains and the entire Indo-Pacific region.
In actual combat, the U.S.-Japanese coalition's airborne target is unlikely to be Guam, but its own people. In fact, the target is to airborne Taiwan; the exercise should simulate the rapid airborne landing of U.S. and Japanese special forces to support Taiwan Island after a conflict in the Taiwan Strait occurs. This points out at the military level that the U.S. military is well prepared. If the leaders of the United States and Japan decide to participate in the Taiwan Strait war, the military will be able to rush to Taiwan as soon as possible.
News (37)
The first wave of conflicts in the military exercises
On 31 July, the USS Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN22) arrived at the port of Yokosuka in Japan and made a public appearance. The U..S military also deliberately released pictures of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN721) loading a large number of Harpoon anti-ship missiles in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 28 July, and stated that this was in preparation for the 2021 large-scale exercise (LSE2021). This is supposed to simulate that when the conflict in the Western Pacific suddenly breaks out, the submarine may become the first army to fight.
The U.S. submarines have relatively good silence capabilities and high concealment while the CCP’s anti-submarine capabilities are relatively weak, and it is difficult to find U.S. nuclear submarines. At the same time, the U.S. nuclear submarine has a relatively strong attack capability. An improved Ohio-class nuclear submarine can carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and a large number of torpedoes. Tomahawk cruise missiles can now also attack warships. A nuclear submarine can pose a powerful threat to a fleet.
At the same time, US aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships were not in the Western Pacific for the first time, and the Dongfeng missile, which the CCP relied on most, lost its target. The aircraft carrier should be reserved for subsequent attacks, and it is estimated that after the CCP’s missile threat has been cleared.
The U.S. Air Force is not idle either. F-22, F-15 and B-52 were stationed in Guam in July and participated in the "Operation Pacific Iron" in the past few days. It should simulate the conflict and quickly compete for air supremacy and launch air strikes. .
The U.S. military also announced the launch of the "Red Flag-Alaska 21-3" exercise (RED FLAG-Alaska 21-3), in cooperation with the Australian Air Force, the fifth-generation F-35 fighter aircraft at the Alaska base simulates support operations from the north to the west Pacific, and Guam echoing each other. Alaska is an important U.S. military base. F22 and M35 fighters are deployed here. Once a war breaks out in the Western Pacific, these Alaska fighters can fly through Japan or Guam to the battlefield as soon as possible.
From the U.S. military exercises, it can be seen that in response to potential conflicts in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. military may first dispatch nuclear submarines. U.S. nuclear submarines can be equipped with anti-ship versions of Tomahawk cruise missiles in addition to submarine-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Military targets along the coast or enemy ships in the Taiwan Strait are attacking, while U.S. nuclear submarines have a strong silence and strong offensive capabilities. The CCP’s fleet and ballistic missiles have nothing to do with nuclear submarines.
News (38)
The second wave of responses to seize air supremacy
After clearing some military targets and the Chinese Communist Party's fleet, the second wave will be the US aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships carrying a large number of fighters to the front line to seize air supremacy on the battlefield.
At the same time, the U.S. Air Force's F22, F35, and F15 will advance from Alaska, Hawaii and other places in the United States to Guam, or a Japanese naval base, to assist the U.S. Navy in fighting for air supremacy in the Asia-Pacific region. The B52 and B2 bombers will fly to the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait with Guam, Hawaii or Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, launching a large number of cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles outside the CCP’s defense zone.
After that, the third Marine Corps Division stationed in Japan was transported to the Taiwan Marine Corps by the amphibious transport ship as soon as possible. Thanks to the large number of Osprey rotorcraft, it can log in vertically. Immediately afterwards, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division were airdropped to the front line through a large fleet of transport aircraft.
This is my analysis of the U.S.'s possible response to the Pacific War, military strategy and tactics, but what shocked me the most about this large-scale military exercise is that it is not only a military exercise, but also a great diplomatic success.
There are exercises with different countries every day. U.S. diplomacy is a great success.
There are daily exercises in the United States and different countries.
For example, currently in the Coral Sea near Australia, the United States, Japan, and Australia are conducting military exercises. The U.S. Marine Corps, the USS American amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy, the Canberra-class amphibious assault ship of the Australian Navy and a destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are conducting exercises around amphibious landing and island offensive and defense.
The British Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier arrived in Guam and will conduct another military exercise with Japan and the United States in the Western Pacific.
Thousands of soldiers from Indonesia and the United States conducted a two-week joint exercise from 1 to 13 August 2021. More than 2,100 Indonesian soldiers and more than 1,500 American soldiers participated in the exercise.
At the same time, the Southeast Asia cooperative training military exercise led by the United States is being carried out in Singapore. The military exercise kicked off on 10 August. A total of 21 countries’ navies participated, including Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, and Canada. , France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
News (39)
The number and frequency of U.S. military exercises this year is breathtaking
The number and frequency of US military exercises this year is simply amazing. From 24 June to 11 July this year, the United States and Japan conducted joint exercises on the East Shield. The exercise was attended by 3,000 Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces and 1,700 American soldiers participated.
In July, a large-scale joint military exercise between Australia and the United States was conducted around Australia. The US amphibious assault ship USS US carried the US Marine Corps long-range strike force to participate in the exercise. After the Shield Sabre exercise ended, the U.S. troops did not leave, and continued to stay in the Western Pacific, conducting joint exercises with Australia and Japan in the Coral Sea.
At the same time, India will send troops into the South China Sea to participate in joint exercises in the Western Pacific, with the United States, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Back and forth, the United States mobilized 21 countries to participate in various exercises organized by itself, with the goal of deterring the CCP.
News (40)
The CCP only found Russia and the exercise was also monitored by the U.S.
The CCP saw that the U.S. and other countries exercise, it also exercises, but compared to the United States, which united 21 countries and conducted a month-long military exercise in 17 time zones, the CCP only found Russia and North Korea did not even participate. On 9 August, China and Russia conducted military exercises in Ningxia. Ten thousand people participated and even the J-20 was dispatched, which was very large.
In the South China Sea, the Chinese Navy conducted a separate military exercise. In addition to the aircraft carrier Shandong, it also included an 075 amphibious assault ship, a 055 guided missile destroyer, and more than 20 other surface ships. The largest military exercise with the strongest firepower.
This exercise only lasted a week, and it started from 5 to 12 August. During the exercise, a missile surveillance aircraft of the US Air Force took off from Okinawa to the South China Sea to conduct reconnaissance activities and observe the whole process.
In addition, the United States has a marine surveillance ship operating in the exercise area. In the core area of the South China Sea, the United States deploys one or two marine surveillance ships throughout the year. In the first half of 2021, there will be at least one marine surveillance ship out of 161 of the 181 days. The ship is deployed in the South China Sea, with an dispatch rate of 89%, and there is almost no window period. It is reported that at the beginning of the exercise, the U.S. marine surveillance ship stayed within the restricted area.
The United States has never been alone in fighting over the past few decades. Although the United States is the number one military and economic power, the Korean War dragged nine countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, to fight; the Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War, which war did not drag allies to fight together. The United States not only conducted large-scale military exercises, but also contacted potential allies in the Asia-Pacific region diplomatically against the CCP, strengthened cooperation, and isolated the CCP diplomatically.
See also : https://staygate.blogspot.com/2021/08/people-with-travel-permits-leave-kabul.html, https://staygate.blogspot.com/2021/09/notify-ccp-before-passing-south-china.html
News (41)
ASEAN envoy to Myanmar calls for four-month ceasefire to deliver aid
Reporter : Siti Rahil, Kyodo News
A special ASEAN envoy to Myanmar said in an interview that he has called for a four-month cease-fire by all sides in the country's conflict to enable the smooth delivery of the first batch of humanitarian assistance to the country expected as early as mid-September.
Speaking exclusively to Kyodo News online Saturday, Erywan Yusof, Brunei's second foreign minister, said he proposed the cease-fire until the end of this year in a videoconference with Myanmar's military-appointed foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, last Tuesday (31 August 2021), and that the military had accepted it.
"This is not a political cease-fire. This is a cease-fire to ensure safety, (and) security of the humanitarian workers" as they go out and distribute aid to the people safely, he said.
"They didn't have any disagreement with what I said, with regards to the cease-fire," the envoy said, adding he has also passed his proposal indirectly to parties opposed to the military's rule following a February coup that ousted the country's democratically elected government.
"I hope the message is passed on to them."
News (42)
ASEAN currently preparing humanitarian aid for Myanmar
Aid from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is being prepared as the member country struggles with the triple crisis of political turmoil, a faltering economy and the coronavirus pandemic.
With the Indonesia-based ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance tasked with deploying humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, Erywan said, "We are engaging and sending signals to all the concerned parties in Myanmar to stop any violent acts and exercise utmost restraint."
The first batch of aid consists of medical equipment Myanmar urgently needs to help people who have become severely ill from COVID-19, such as oxygen compressors and protective gear, and it goes to "all the people of Myanmar," he said.
Aid bound for border areas controlled by armed ethnic minority groups may be routed by land via neighboring Thailand, he said.
The next step is to procure vaccines for the country, he added.
News (43)
Myanmar Junta rejects envoy's request to meet Aung San Suu Kyi
Erywan said that while his negotiations with the Myanmar military to fulfill his mandate are continuing, he hopes to visit the country this month and make it a "substantive visit" that would allow him full access to all parties concerned.
The envoy said he wants to have "a clear picture of what I'm allowed to do and what I'm not allowed to do...so that I can decide whether the visit would go ahead or not."
On his chance of meeting detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Erywan said he has "in my discussion with the authorities mentioned that the international community and some of the ASEAN member states have pressed on the need" for him to meet her.
But the envoy said he has not received a green light to meet her. "Not yet. They haven't yet said no but they said let's discuss it further."
News (44)
Chen Shizhong: The sequences of the virus of the other 2 infected pilots are different in the Delta sequence
Reporter : Lin Huiqin / Ref: https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3662465
3 EVA Air pilots had a breakthrough infection after taking 2 doses of covi vaccine. Originally confirmed case 16066 was infected with the Delta variant, and as for the remaining 2 pilots the results of virus gene sequencing for cases 16119 and 16120 were released on 6 September. Chen Shizhong, the commander of the Central Epidemic Command Centre, said that they are all Delta, but the virus sequence is different.
Three EVA Air pilots had breakthrough infections, all male pilots in their 50s. Among them, case 16066 was previously flown to the United States, and was diagnosed after entering the country on August 27. He was asymptomatic during his stay in Taiwan; case 16119 and Case 16120 was sent to Australia on the same plane and entered the country on 31 August. Case 16119 had dry throat and sputum symptoms on the day of entry. Case 16120 had itchy throat symptoms earlier than the 28th, and both were diagnosed after the examination on 2 September.
However, because case 16120 was dispatched to Australia in Chicago, the United States, the command center initially determined that the case was first infected in Chicago, and then the virus was transmitted to a subsequent flight case, 16119.
Among them, the virus gene infected by case 16066 has been sequenced and confirmed to be Delta. The command center further explained today that the sequencing results of case 16119 and case 16120 are all Delta.
News (45)
Afghan Resistance says Taliban claims of victory in Panjshir are false
Reporter : Isabel van Brugen, contributed by Jack Philipps and Reuters / Publisher : The Epoch Times
Anti-Taliban resistance group, the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), on Monday shut down the terrorist group’s claims of victory in the Panjshir Valley—the last Afghan province holding out against the group after it seized control of Kabul on Aug. 15.
“Taliban’s claim of occupying Panjshir is false,” the NRFA said on Twitter. “The NRF forces are present in all strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight. We assure the ppl [sic] of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban & their partners will continue until justice & freedom prevails.”
The resistance group’s statement came shortly after Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Monday said that the terrorist group has taken complete control of Panjshir province, located north of Kabul.
“With this victory, our country is completely taken out of the quagmire of war,” the spokesman said.
Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the opposition group resisting Taliban forces, hasn’t yet released a statement on the matter. On Sunday, he said on Facebook that he welcomed proposals from religious scholars for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting.
“The NRF in principle agree to solve the current problems and put an immediate end to the fighting and continue negotiations,” Massoud, the son of a former anti-Soviet fighter, said in the Facebook post.
“To reach a lasting peace, the NRF is ready to stop fighting on condition that Taliban also stop their attacks and military movements on Panjshir and Andarab,” Massoud said, referring to a district in the neighbouring province of Baghlan.
Prior to the Taliban’s latest statement, Fahim Dashti, a spokesman for the NRFA, said that the Taliban is spreading propaganda and trying to spread disinformation. “The resistance forces are ready to continue their defense against any form of aggression,” he said.
Another spokesperson for the resistance group told Al Jazeera on Sunday that they had captured hundreds of Taliban members, adding that their forces surrounded “thousands of terrorists” loyal to the Taliban in Khawak Pass and that the Taliban abandoned vehicles and equipment.
Also speaking to the Qatari-owned broadcaster, Dashti said that 1,000 Taliban members were killed, wounded, or captured in the clashes.
It comes amid reports of heavy fighting continuing for days, with each side claiming it inflicted significant numbers of casualties. Multiple reports of drone attacks on NRFA fighters circulated on social media in the early hours of Monday morning, however, The Epoch Times hasn’t been able to independently verify these accounts.
The Taliban, which swept through the country ahead of the final withdrawal of U.S.-led forces on Aug. 31, were unable to control the valley when they ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
Ali Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations for the NRFA, earlier on Monday, vowed that the resistance group would defeat the Taliban.
“We defeated the Red Army in Panjshir, we will defeat the Taliban,” he told the BBC. “It will be a struggle and challenge, but we have overcome such challenges in the past and we will overcome it in the future.”
See also : https://www.ibtimes.sg/battle-panjshir-balance-taliban-use-advanced-us-weapons-60061
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