Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on Taiwan, Singapore, U.S., CCP, South Korea, disease control
News (1) to (4) / Reporters : Huang Ziyang, Zhuang Huiliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4278342 , https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1578801, https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20230422-1386141
News (1)
Has the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore changed the discourse on both sides of the Taiwan Strait? Hou You-yi: Avoid the risk of war and maintain peace
Image : Hou You-yi met with Lawrence Wong on 21 April 2023. (The picture is taken from Hou You-yi's Facebook page)
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi arranged an undisclosed itinerary on 21 April 2023 morning to meet with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Hou You-yi was interviewed earlier today (22 April 2023). The media asked whether Hou You-yi had changed his mind on the cross-strait discussion and the 1992 consensus after meeting with Lawrence Wong, Hou You-yi said that Taiwan should increase its strength internally and connect with the international community externally. More importantly, it should avoid the risk of war and maintain peace; Hou You-yi believes that this is also what the world expects.
Hou You-yi said that Singapore and Taiwan are very similar in terms of geopolitics, historical trajectory, multi-ethnic groups, and environmental integration. He believes that Taiwan must be self-confident internally, expand its strength, demonstrate its advantages, and strengthen its adaptability. Externally, it should cooperate with the international community. Links allow Taiwan to be seen, and the world also needs to create opportunities to allow Taiwan to have more room for development.
Hou You-yi, the most popular presidential candidate of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang and the mayor of New Taipei City, arrived in Taiwan from Singapore at night of 22 April 2023 evening. In his speech at Taoyuan Airport, he said that both Taiwan and Singapore are at the critical point of geopolitical strategy, and both can play active roles and shoulder responsibility in the volatile and ever-changing international situation.
He emphasized the need to "learn from Singapore and honour Taiwan", believing that Taiwan must maintain its own advantages and confidence in the reality of international survival, be pragmatic and not unrealistic, let the world pay attention to the existence of the "Republic of China", and also have the responsibility to protect the next generation, so Taiwanese must do their best to make the Taiwan Strait stable, the region peaceful, and create a sustainable and prosperous Taiwan.
Hou You-yi's trip to Singapore was analyzed by Singapore Chinese media as "a way to participate in the election". Hou You-yi responded that he had seen the news in the past two days, thank the media for their concern, and he respected Singaporean media's views. Hou You-yi said that he has long-term and regular contacts with friends in Singapore, and the most important thing is to deepen the relationship between Taiwan and Singapore and create dialogue.
This trip comes to an end on 22 April 2023. Has Hou You-yi achieved the goal of "Let the Republic of China take off again" during this trip? He said that the "Take-off of the Republic of China" started from New Taipei City. New Taipei City is a big city and "a small country". In promoting in this direction, Taiwan can learn a lot from Singapore and let Singapore see the actual "very impressive" urban governance of New Taipei City.
Hou You-yi thanked his Singaporean friends for their warm hospitality. He has benefited a lot from youth entrepreneurship and green financial technology.
News (2)
Hou visited the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore to exchange experience
Image : Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong posted a photo with his "old friend" Hou You-yi on Facebook yesterday. (From Lawrence Wong's Facebook page)
Talking about urban governance and economic and trade cooperation with old friend Lawrence Wong
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi visited Singapore and last night confirmed that he met with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Hou said that talking about urban governance and economic and trade cooperation with old friends will make the country better.
News (3)
Lawrence Wong's Facebook posted a group photo, saying that they had a good conversation
Lawrence Wong posted a photo with his "old friend" Hou You-yi on Facebook at night of 21 April 2023, expressing that the two had a very happy conversation. Singapore and New Taipei City have a long-standing friendly relationship, and the two sides exchange experience on issues such as urban planning, sustainable development, and corporate innovation.
Hou You-yi said in the evening that he and Lawrence Wong met four years ago. Lawrence was the Minister of National Development at that time. In the past few years, he was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and was designated as the next leader. During the epidemic, they could not meet each other but they communicated with each other. He talked about sustainable development and urban governance, and more importantly, how to improve economic and trade cooperation and the future direction of the country. He believes that Singapore has a good plan, which is worth learning from.
As for whether it means that two future "presidential" figures will meet? Hou You-yi said that the two old friends shared their work experience together and let each other trust and understand each other, so that Singapore will be better, the country will be better, and New Taipei City will be better.
News (4)
Hou: The country needs me, I will definitely step forward
During an interview in Singapore earlier yesterday, Hou You-yi pointed out that it is his lifelong duty to protect the Republic of China so that the people can move forward in peace and security in this land, so when the country needs him, he will definitely Will stand up bravely.
Hou Youyi said that he believes that the party has its own rhythm and plans when making plans, and he respects them. The media asked Hou Youyi whether he had prepared a new cross-strait discussion? Hou said that cross-Strait mutual benefit should be established on an equal, dignified, friendly, and pragmatic mutual exchange. Peace is the only choice. Only peace can make the country develop and the people can feel at ease, stable, prosperous, and sustainable.
Yesterday afternoon, Hou You-yi, accompanied by Director of the Youth Bureau Qiu Zhaomei, visited Singapore Innovation Agency (SGInnovate), and was received by the CEO Dr Lim Ju; he also invited people from SGInnovate to participate in the exhibition in New Taipei City to experience Taiwan's food and culture.
Hou You-yi also led a delegation to the Singapore Economic Development Board yesterday, and had a conversation with the vice president of the Singapore Economic Development Board, Peng Qiquan, acting vice president Liu Jinrong and others, including the current economic and industrial status of the two parties, future plans and possible cooperation. Hou also held talks with representatives of the Singapore Economic Development Board on issues such as inflation rate and people's income.
News (5)
Hou You-yi used to shout, "If the law and order is not good, I will step down." Hong Shenhan: Soon his hands and feet will be seen through
Reporter : Chen Zhengyu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4278550 / Image : Hou You-yi emphasized in March 2019 that "if security is not done well, Hou Youyi will step down", not the city police chief. (file photo)
There have been shootings in New Taipei City in recent days. Executive Premier Chen Chien-jen requested the full assistance of the Police Department and hoped that the New Taipei City Government will take responsibility. Hong Shenhan, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party of the Legislative Yuan, said bluntly on 22 April 2023 that Hou You-yi's persona was exposed, and if he was only doing superficial work or even acting, his hands and feet would soon be seen through.
The Kuomintang group held a press conference today, "Isn't the Ministry of the Interior of the Executive Yuan responsible for the shooting incident?" They questioned the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of the Interior, which hold the personnel power of the police chiefs in various counties and cities, blaming the head of the county and city government in charge of the blue camp.
In response to Hou You-yi's previous declaration that "If the law and order is not good, I should step down, not the police chief", Hong Shenhan said in an interview that law and order has always been Hou You-yi's self-proclaimed strength, and he often shows a strong attitude in this regard. "When the law and order is good, it is because of Hou You-yi, but push it to the central government when it's bad." This is actually not very kind, and it will definitely be seen through quickly.
Hong Shenhan said that Hou You-yi's personality has been exposed to a large extent, "the gold and jade are outside, and the ruins are inside." There will be more governance issues to be examined in the future.
In addition, when the 88 gun case occurred in Tainan, the KMT asked the mayor of Tainan to be responsible. DPP legislator Wang Dingyu questioned whether there are two KMTs? Or are the fates of Tainan and New Taipei different? Or are there two standards? He wants to remind that after the investigation of the Tainan 88 shooting case, the mastermind behind the scenes was the KMT.
News (6) to (7) / Reporter : Wang Qianhao / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1578804
News (6)
Ko Wen-je meets Pompeo to focus on Taiwan Strait issue
Image : Taiwan People's Party (PP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (right) led a delegation to the Hudson Institute on the 20th to visit former U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo. (Provided by PP)
Chairman of the PP, Ko Wen-je, visited the former U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo at the Hudson Institute on 20 April 2023 Eastern Time. The two sides discussed the international situation and the Taiwan Strait issue. Ko said in an interview after the meeting that the Democrats and the Republicans regard CCP China as a major threat, which is a bipartisan consensus.
News (7)
Hope that the United States will help Taiwan join the regional economic and trade organization
Ko emphasized that he still seized the opportunity to lobby that the United States should help Taiwan join regional economic and trade organizations in order to strengthen its national strength and enhance its self-defense capabilities.
Asked after the meeting whether they would exchange views on the situation of Taiwan under the Sino-U.S. war, Ko Wen-je said that both parties regard CCP China as a major threat, and the vast majority of US government officials will not object to dialogue with the CCP. At the height of the Cold War, there was still a hotline, but it was handled differently.
Does Pompeo have advice for him to run for president? Ko Wen-je relayed that Pompeo suggested that Taiwan-U.S. relations should not be limited to politics-to-politics. If he had the opportunity to visit government departments in the United States next time, he suggested that a cross-party form could be adopted, plus corporate members, so that it would be easier to reconcile U.S. government dialogue.
Ko Wen-je also went to the Washington think tank "Center for Strategic and International Studies" to talk with Lin Biying, a senior researcher on Asian security and director of the China Power Project, and accepted questions from participating scholars. Ko said that the PP hopes for peace across the Taiwan Strait but the bottom line is Taiwan's independence, "If you violate my bottom line, then I have no choice but to attack you."
Talking about the interaction with the U.S., Ko Wen-je pointed out that the U.S. government has repeatedly expressed its willingness to help Taiwan and will not interfere in Taiwan’s presidential election; he believes that no matter which party is in power, Taiwan’s relationship with the U.S. will not change, and the U.S. is still Taiwan’s most important ally. For Taiwan's national defense and security, the United States can provide the greatest help.
News (8) to (13) / Reporter : Wang Qianhao / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4278452
News (8)
Ko has seen everything he should have seen when he entered AIT, Ko Wen-je: It is not personal credit but Taiwan is too important
Image : People's Party Chairman Ke Wenzhe and his entourage went to Twin Oaks on the 21st, Eastern Time, to call on the representative to the United States, Michelle Hsiao, and held a half-hour closed-door meeting. (Provided by the PP)
PP Chairman Ko Wen-je went to Twin Oaks on the 21st, Eastern Time, to call on the representative to the United States, Michelle Hsiao, and held a half-hour closed-door meeting. Ko interviewed after the meeting and said that he visited the headquarters of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) three times during his trip. The trips are important".
News (9)
Ko Wen-je meets with Michelle Hsiao, appreciates the hard work done to expand Taiwan's external living space
Ko Wen-je and his party ended the last day of their trip to Washington, and went to Twin Oaks to pay a visit to Michelle Hsiao. First, the staff from the external museum arranged a tour to explain the history of Twin Oaks and the paintings in the building. The group stopped for a while in front of the paintings of Zhang Shufen, chairperson of the TSMC Charity Foundation. Hsiao then arrived at Twin Oaks and held a half-hour closed-door meeting with Ko Wen-je and his party.
According to reports, Ko Wen-je not only shared his experience of the trip with Michelle Hsiao, but also discussed with Michelle Hsiao how to use Taiwan's economic and cultural strengths to expand the diplomatic space. Ko also thanked the staff of foreign embassies for their hard work and unremitting efforts to expand Taiwan's international living space away from home.
Ko Wen-je was interviewed after the meeting and said that during this trip to the United States he has seen everything that should be seen, and the United States still attaches great importance to Taiwan. Now that the confrontation between the U.S. and CCP China has taken shape, the importance of Taiwan to the U.S. has become much greater. Even Michelle Hsiao thinks so, so it was not so easy to meet those members of Congress before, but now most of them are easy to meet.
Talking about the itinerary in Washington, Ko Wen-je said that this time the trip in Washington was mainly arranged by AIT, "Whoever you think I should meet, you can ask me to meet", so he entered AIT three times. If exchanges are at the city level, you can go to the State Department or the Ministry of Defense, but now he is visiting the United States as a presidential candidate, and the relevant meetings are all at AIT.
Ko Wen-je emphasized that this is not his personal reason or credit, but Taiwan's current importance in the United States. "The United States arranged for the highest-level person in charge of the region to deal with you." Taiwan is too important to the United States at this stage. This is because the United States almost believes that China is their biggest threat. This is an international situation and has nothing to do with him personally.
News (10)
The U.S. trusts Ko Wen-je more than Lai Ching-te, Ko says it is not a matter of trust
Asked by the media, the United States now trusts him more than Vice President Lai Ching-te. Ko Wen-je said that there is no question of trust or distrust. He discussed this with Michelle Hsiao. No matter who is in power, Taiwan has the same relationship with the United States. China will respond differently. Ko reiterated that the relationship between Taiwan and the United States is the same regardless of who is in power, so the question of who is not trusted and who is trusted is the same for the United States.
News (11)
Taiwan should not talk about confrontation when cooperation is possible
Regarding whether the United States accepts his cross-strait argument, Ko Wen-je pointed out that although the United States and China have competition issues, the way that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responds is to cooperate when they can cooperate and compete when they need to compete, but they must confront when it is time to fight. If the United States adopts this strategy toward China, then Taiwan should also adopt this strategy toward China, but "don't talk about confrontation when cooperation is possible." Ko pointed out that the United States does not oppose dialogue between Taiwan and the mainland, and they are also thinking about how to reduce the danger of war in the Taiwan Strait, so they have no objection to his position of advocating dialogue.
News (12)
Better coordination and a domestic consensus before handling foreign relations
Ko Wen-je mentioned that President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States and former President Ma Ying-jeou's visit to China, "in the eyes of outsiders, we look like a divided country." Although the United States has not commented on this matter, it still hopes for better coordination. Therefore, he shared Singapore's high-level suggestions for Taiwan, that there must be a domestic consensus before Taiwan can handle foreign relations.
News (13)
Pompeo: Most Americans are not aware of the political parties' details in Taiwan
As for whether the United States knows the PP better after his visit, Ko Wen-je pointed out that when he talked with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he mentioned that 99.99% of Americans do not know that there is a third force in Taiwan. Pompeo replied to him, "99.99% of Americans also don't know which two major political parties exist in Taiwan. Americans will only pay attention to Taiwan as a whole, and probably will not pay much attention to the third power in Taiwan."
Image : PP Chairman Ko Wen-je and his entourage went to Twin Oaks on the 21st, Eastern Time, to call on the representative to the United States, Michelle Hsiao, and held a half-hour closed-door meeting. (Provided by the PP)
News (14)
Cross-Strait peace is not achieved by bowing your head! Lai Ching-te: Democracy and national defense stand behind Taiwan
Reporter : Hong Ruiqin / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4278385 / Image : Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te said in Tainan today that cross-Strait peace cannot be achieved by bowing down, but must be backed by democracy and a strong national defense. (Photo by reporter Hong Ruiqin)
The Petroleum Gas Station Association "Taiwan Friends Association" was officially formed on 22 April 2023. Lai Ching-te emphasized in his speech that peace is not obtained by bowing down, nor is it bestowed by the other party, but is backed by democracy and national defense. He also called on Taiwanese not to listen to false information on the Internet and to fight cognitively. Continue to "come on" with him and fight side by side to protect democracy, deepen democracy, and promote Taiwan's prosperity and development.
Lai Ching-te said that there is a song in which the mother is the mountain and the mother is the sea. "Mother's name is Taiwan." From the ancestors to the present, generations have grown up in the arms of their mothers and in this land. Now facing the greatest threat from China, Taiwanese must fight side by side to safeguard and deepen democracy, and jointly maintain peace in Taiwan.
Lai Ching-te said that CCP China's threat is becoming stronger and stronger, and it is constantly invading Taiwan with information cognitive warfare. He wants to ask everyone not to listen to the "May 43" in the Internet information. , nor was it given by the aggressors. "Peace sought on the surface is not real peace, and peace is achieved by relying on strength." Distort the international situation, otherwise it will be detrimental to Taiwan's security.
Lai Ching-te said that when he is elected president in the future, he will promote the upgrading and transformation of CNPC, continue to act as a force for economic development and social stability in the past, will not decline due to the advent of the new era, and continue to protect democracy. Only with democracy can there be freedom, and only with freedom can there be Human rights, human rights, innovation, and economic progress. He hopes that everyone will protect and cherish the achievements of democracy, and never bow to autocratic countries. Together, Taiwanese will defend and protect democracy, and promote the prosperity and development of Taiwan's economy.
Today, the China Petroleum Association National Standing Support Association and the "Friends of Trust in Taiwan" private support association were first established. They were specially selected to be held in the parking lot next to Tainan Qianfeng Station, including representatives from Hualien, Taitung, Yilan and other associations from all over the country. Li Jiexun, chairman of the general association, presented Lai Qingde with a "refueling gun" to symbolize his support for "refueling and fighting forward" and "the strength of the fight to win." Tainan Mayor Huang Weizhe, DPP legislators, congressmen, and supporters from all walks of life attended the scene, chanting "Frozen Garlic, Frozen Garlic", and the morale of the audience was high.
News (15) to (17) / Reporter : Zhang Ting / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/4/21/n13978593.htm
News (15)
Leaked document: CCP China building cyber weapon in attempt to hijack rival satellites
Image : Classified documents leaked by the United States revealed that CCP China is building cyber weapons to seize control of rival satellites. The picture shows the schematic diagram of the satellite. (Pixabay)
A leaked U.S. intelligence report shows that CCP China is building advanced cyber weapons to seize control of opponents’ satellites and render them useless in wartime. The U.S. Space Force is actively preparing to meet this challenge from the CCP with support communications, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, etc.
The British "Financial Times" reported on 21 April 2023 that the United States assessed that the CCP is promoting the development of the ability to "deny, use or hijack" enemy satellites, which is a core part of the CCP's goal of information control and the key "combat domain".
The document, which bears the logo of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was released this year. The Financial Times reviewed the document. It is believed to be one of dozens of classified Pentagon documents leaked by Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
News (16)
CCP China's attempt to seize control of foreign satellites
According to the report, CCP China's cyber attacks are designed to mimic the signals received by enemy satellites from their operators, allowing the satellites to either be completely taken over or malfunction at critical moments in the battle.
The leaked classified U.S. document said such cyber capabilities would allow CCP China to "seize control of satellites that would not be able to effectively support communications, weapons or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems."
Taiwan has noted that satellite communications played a key role for the Ukrainian military during the Russia-Ukraine war. Facing a growing military threat from CCP China, Taiwan is seeking to build a communications infrastructure that can withstand attacks from CCP China.
A report in the Financial Times in January said Taiwan was attracting investors to set up its own satellite provider while experimenting with non-geostationary satellite receivers at 700 locations across the island to guarantee bandwidth service in the event of war or disaster.
On 24 February 2022, in the hours before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russian cyber attack disabled thousands of Ukrainian military routers belonging to satellite communications company Viasat, illustrating just how important satellite communications are in warfare. important.
The attack also disrupted service for thousands of Viasat customers in Poland, Italy and Germany.
Later, the Ukrainian army relied on the Starlink satellite system provided by American billionaire Musk to destroy Russian weapons. Starlink also secured communications for the Ukrainian military during a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian power grid.
Experts say China will seek the ability to disrupt satellites. Satellites often operate in interconnected swarms, beaming signals to each other, relaying signals and commands to weapons systems, or sending back imagery, and electronic data on intercepts.
U.S. Space Force Chief of Operations Bradley Chance Saltzman told Congress in March that Beijing is actively developing counterspace capabilities.
"China continues to invest aggressively in technologies designed to disrupt, degrade and destroy our space capabilities," he said.
"Space is important to modern combat," Salzman said in an interview with AFP and other media in February.
“You can attack space through cyber or other vectors without going into space. We have to make sure that we can defend against all of these capabilities,” he said. “We see our strategic competitors, we are producing a whole set of weapons. "
"The most challenging threats come from China (the CCP) and Russia." Salzman listed technologies including anti-satellite missiles, ground-based directed energy weapons, and orbital interception capabilities.
News (17)
U.S. Space Force strengthens response capabilities
"We are accelerating our transition to (deploying) resilient satellite constellations, ground stations, networks and data links," Space Force Chief of Operations Salzman told Congress at a hearing in March.
“There must be a focus on cybersecurity, cyber threats must be understood, networks must be hardened against hostile cyber operations. The Space Force will employ well-trained guards and use modern sensors, software and analytics to detect and thwart network, systems, ground stations, data links, and satellite cyber operations," Salzman said.
On Thursday (20 April 2023), MacKenzie Birchenough, who oversees "Tactical Response to Space" in Space System Command's Space Safari office, said the Space Force has set a goal, that is, it has the ability of "tactical response to space".
“Our ultimate goal is to have a persistent Tactical Responsive Space capability in the 2025 or 2026 time frame,” Birchino said.
Birchino also said the Space Force wants to be able to put assets into (satellite) orbit at a speed that was previously unimaginable, ideally within 24 hours of receiving a request.
News (18) to (19) / Reporter : Wu Huanxin / Editor : Lian Shuhua / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/4/22/n13978969.htm
News (18)
Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his position on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Expert: South Korea has given up strategic ambiguity
Image : On 21 April 2023, South Korean and American flags are decorated on lampposts near the White House, ready to welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who will visit on 26 April. (Daniel Slim / AFP)
On the eve of his visit to the United States, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made it clear that the tension in the Taiwan Strait was caused by the CCP’s attempt to change the status quo by force. South Korea and the international community oppose this change. Expert analysis believes that this is South Korea abandoning its strategic ambiguity policy between the United States and China and turning to the United States.
Yoon Suk Yeol will visit the United States on 24 April 2023. In an interview with Reuters on the 19th, he said about the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, "(The CCP) is trying to use force to change the status quo, and South Korea and the international community are opposed to this change. Like other issues, its scope has gone beyond the region and it can only be seen as a global problem.”
In this regard, CCP Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin argued at a regular press conference on 20 April 2023 that the resolution of the Taiwan issue is the Chinese people's own business, and "no one else can comment on it."
The spokesperson of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately responded strongly, saying, "The spokesperson of the Chinese (CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs made unspeakable remarks about this." "We must point out that this is a serious diplomatic faux pas that calls into question China's (CCP) national character."
South Korean public opinion believes that it is rare for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to name the CCP authorities with words like "national character". On the same day, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the CCP’s ambassador to South Korea, Xing Haiming, to lodge a strong protest against the CCP’s comments on Yoon Suk Yeol's Taiwan-related remarks.
On 21 April 2023, Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China, attended the opening ceremony of the "Chinese-style modernization and the world" Lanting Forum and delivered a speech. Regarding the situation in the Taiwan Strait, he threatened the international community, saying, "Anyone who plays with fire on the Taiwan issue will set himself on fire."
On the same day, an official from South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Qin Gang’s remarks: “The South Korean government will always adhere to the position of promoting mutual cooperation between South Korea and China based on the spirit of mutual observance of national dignity and etiquette, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. I hope China can also respond, be cautious in your words and deeds."
In addition, Yoon Suk Yeol also said in this interview with Reuters, "If Russia has a large-scale attack against civilians in Ukraine, it will go beyond humanitarian and economic aid and expand support to Ukraine." This is the first time that South Korea has expressed its intention to support Ukraine. After Russia invaded Ukraine, South Korea has been declaring that it will not support lethal weapons.
In this regard, the Russian President's Office stated that the corresponding speech means participating in the war. The South Korean government responded that South Korea's future actions will depend on Russia's actions.
Kim Tae-woo, former director of the South Korean Unification Institute and professor of military science at South Korea’s Kenyang University, told The Epoch Times on 21 April 2023 that the current North Korean nuclear issue is very serious. For South Korea, strengthening the South Korea-US alliance, strengthening expansion and containment, strengthening security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan has become very urgent.
He said, "Under the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons, South Korea needs to implement a nuclear balance on the Korean peninsula corresponding to that of North Korea. The peninsula redeployed tactical nuclear weapons. Therefore, in order to obtain this core diplomatic result, the South Korean government made a strong statement against the CCP and Russia.”
News (19)
South Korea has no choice but to give up strategic ambiguity policy because of the nuclear threat from North Korea
In response to the South Korean government's speeches against the CCP and Russia, especially the tough response to the CCP, Kim Tae-woo believes that this is South Korea's abandonment of its strategic ambiguity policy and its fall to the United States, because South Korea has no choice.
He said, "North Korea threatens South Korea with nuclear weapons, but the CCP and Russia continue to shelter North Korea's nuclear weapons, and have always exercised veto power on sanctions against North Korea's nuclear weapons in the UN Security Council. If South Korea does not fall to the United States, can South Korea survive? Not at all."
He also said that if the CCP attacked Taiwan, South Korea would be affected considerably. "South Korea will be very dangerous. Because at this time, Western countries, the United States and Japan will support Taiwan, and there will be a blank space on the Korean peninsula. If a serious situation occurs, the Korean peninsula will lose its protection power."
Lee Ji-yong, a professor at the Department of International Studies at Keimyung University in South Korea, also analyzed to The Epoch Times that the CCP adopted non-diplomatic, very rude, and hooligan words on Yoon's comments on the Taiwan issue. This is intimidation of South Korea before Yoon Suk Yeol visits the United States.
"On the surface, it seems to be aimed at the Taiwan issue. On the deeper level, Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to the United States this time is aimed at the North Korean nuclear issue. He wants to ask the United States to provide a level of protection that exceeds the level of protection for NATO. If successful, it will break the CCP and the CCP's use of North Korea’s nuclear weapons in East Asia have created a strategic nuclear threat to contain the United States, which annoys the CCP, so in fact, the CCP’s rude remarks about South Korea are a strong reaction to the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s desire to strengthen the South Korea-US alliance.”
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Taking this opportunity, at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, Yoon will pay a state visit to the U.S. from 24 to 29 April 2023. This is the second time in 12 years that a South Korean president has visited the United States as a state guest since former President Lee Myung-bak visited the United States in 2011.
On 26 April 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol and Biden will hold a South Korea-US summit meeting. On the 27th, he will deliver a speech at the joint congress of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
The South Korean Presidential Office stated on 20 April 2023 that the significance of this visit to the United States is to "consolidate the joint defense posture of South Korea and the United States, strengthen extended deterrence", "concrete economic and security cooperation", "support the exchanges between the future generations of the two countries", and "strengthen global focus issues" and "cooperation", etc.
News (20)
The world's first "Arcturian" death case! XBB.1.16 will become the mainstream virus strain in Thailand
Image : Supakit Sirilak, director of the Department of Medical Sciences of the Ministry of Health of Thailand, said that as of the 17th, there have been 27 patients with the "Arcturus" mutant strain XBB.1.16 in Thailand, and one of them died. This is the first death case in the world . The picture shows a Thai being vaccinated, which has nothing to do with the news event. (European News Agency file photo)
Covi "Arcturus" mutant XBB.1.16 continues to spread, including the United States, Taiwan, India, Thailand and other countries have confirmed cases. Supakit Sirilak, director of the Department of Medical Sciences of the Ministry of Health of Thailand, said that as of 17 April, there have been 27 patients with "Arcturus" in Thailand, and one of them died. This is the first death case in the world.
According to comprehensive foreign media reports, Supaji said on 20 April that as of 17 April 2023, Thailand had 27 cases of the "Arcturus" mutant strain XBB.1.16, of which 1 died. The world's first death case was an elderly foreigner suffering from chronic diseases. His death did not directly reflect the severity of the mutant strain XBB.1.16, but showed the influence of other risk factors.
During the period from 9 to 15 April 2023 in Thailand, 435 people were hospitalized due to the epidemic, an increase of 2.5 times compared to the previous week. Health authorities have issued an alert on XBB.1.16 and urged the public to remain vigilant but not panic.
Wasun Chantratita, head of the Center for Medical Genomics at Mahidol University, said, "XBB.1.16 is the most worrisome covi variant because it is 200% more contagious than BN1.3 and more powerful than XBB.1.5 by 89%.” Yong Phuworawan, director of the Clinical Virus Center of Excellence at Chulalongkorn University, believes that XBB.1.16 will soon become the mainstream strain in Thailand, “All XBB variants seem to be able to evade vaccines and the previous protection formed by previous infection. So people who have been previously been infected may also be infected with Arcturus."
Yong Phuworawan pointed out that the Thai people must be prepared for another wave of infections. "The number of Wuhan pneumonia cases will start to climb in mid-May, peak in June, and then decline in September. This is a common cycle for respiratory diseases." Respiratory diseases will spread more easily after children return to school and the rainy season begins. The public is reminded to follow the same guidance as before to protect themselves, including frequent hand washing, booster vaccinations, and wearing masks if they feel unwell.
The "Arcturus" variant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, is the most contagious Omicron variant known. It was first discovered in January 2023, and has since been found in the United States, Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, India and other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed Arcturus as a "variant under monitoring" (VUM) on 22 March 2023. In addition, India has recently been ravaged by the Arcturus virus, and many infected patients have conjunctivitis or red and itchy eyes, symptoms of covid that have never appeared before 2023.
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