Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on CCP, U.S., Philippines, Paraguay, Taiwan
News (1)
Grabbing South China Sea Sovereignty, CCP China plays hard and soft tactics, opens hot pot restaurant in Paracel Islands
Reporter : Chen Chengliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4287618 / Image : China opened a hot pot restaurant on Yongxing Island in Xisha, South China Sea. (The picture is taken from the Weibo account of "The Waves of the South China Sea")
There are supermarkets, cinemas, coffee shops, and now there are even hot pot restaurants. The China-made South China Sea sovereignty dispute has recently made another move. Following the opening of a supermarket in the Nansha Islands in February, a hot pot restaurant called "Kuanzhai Alley" also opened for business in the Xisha Islands on 26 April 2023.
The South China Morning Post reported on 30 April 2023 that the hot pot restaurant opened on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands, and can accommodate 120 people, and is the latest soft measure taken to assert the Chinese Communist regime's sovereignty.
The director of a logistics company stationed in the local area said that this hot pot restaurant has enriched the material and spiritual life of the military, police and civilians on the island. The official website of the People's Procuratorate of Sansha City, China also reported in a special report that the "Kuanzhai Alley" Sansha store was officially unveiled and opened. Commercial service places, and the authorities also stated that "eating a hot hot pot meal was once the dream of the military, police and civilians stationed on the island, and now this wish has finally come true."
The South China Sea is an important waterway for international shipping, and Beijing uses the "nine-dash line" to claim that most of the waters in the South China Sea belong to China. However, in July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague denied China's claim to the nine-dash line in the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the Philippines in July 2016.
The Paracel Islands consist of about 30 islands, of which Yongxing Island is the largest, including Taiwan and Vietnam, which are both claimants of the Paracel Islands. CCP China established the Sansha Municipal Government on Yongxing Island in 2012 to govern the Nansha and Xisha Islands, thereby claiming sovereignty and the waters of the Xisha Islands rich in natural resources. At that time, there were about 1,000 Chinese living on the island, and the number had increased to 2,300 by 2020, that does not include garrisons.
In addition, after the military-civilian dual-use airport opened in 2014, schools, as well as courts, cinemas, banks, hospitals, post offices, gymnasiums, coffee shops and other facilities have appeared in the local area. All these are one of the developments CCP has made to consolidate its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, and it has adopted both soft and hard tactics to deal with many other Southeast Asian countries that have denounced CCP's sovereignty of the South China Sea.
Image : On the Nansha Islands, the Communist Army has set up three military camp supermarkets. (The picture is taken from the WeChat official account of "South China Sea Fleet")
Previously, a number of mainland Chinese media reported in February that the People’s Liberation Army’s “Military Supermarkets” on Yongshu Reef, Subi Reef, Meischief Reef and other islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands have opened for business, selling more than 400 kinds of products covering 5 categories.
News (2)
It is China who wants to fight Taiwan. Robert Tsao: To oppose the war, go to Tiananmen Square to oppose the war
Reporter : Chen Yufu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4287925 / Image : Cao Xingcheng, former chairman of UMC. (file photo)
Recently, some people in Taiwan have advocated "anti-war" and peace, blaming the DPP government for cross-strait issues. Former UMC chairman Cao Xingcheng (Robert Tsao) said bluntly on Wang Hao's show "Three Kingdoms", now it is China who wants to beat you, not you who want to beat him. If you want to oppose the war, you go to Tiananmen Square to oppose the war. You should go to China and say, "Don't engage in force. If you start a war, you may not be able to conquer Taiwan. You may be wiped out by others!"
Robert Tsao mentioned that anti-war should be discussed with Beijing, but how should we talk with Taiwanese? He subsidizes the Black Bear Academy to help everyone how to protect themselves and how to reduce damage if they go to war. Some people say that he is instigating war. This is confusing right and wrong, which is incredible.
Robert Tsao called on the Kuomintang to wake up. He said, "If you echo the Communist Party and say that Taiwan is a problem, you are betraying Taiwan. There is no problem in Taiwan. Well, Taiwan is now facing the CCP or the Kuomintang, we have to tell it, "Please, if you like China so much, you go back! Where there is no problem, you are creating problems."
Cao Xingcheng criticized the argument that Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times, "This is the most unbearable nonsense. The aborigines of Taiwan have been in Taiwan for at least 8,000 years, and the people from southern Fujian or some other places have been in Taiwan for 350 years. I am born in Taiwan, now 76 years old, and I am older than the People's Republic of China. How can Taiwan be your territory? So this is nonsense."
News (3)
Hon Hai Robots produced in China. Green Committee: Let Chinese manufacturing control Taiwan's national defense?
Image : Terry Gou proposed to start the robot industry within 3 years and use robots to resist the invasion of the Communist army, which sparked discussions. Legislator Wang Dingyu questioned this, aren't Hon Hai robots produced in China? (file photo)
Terry Gou, the founder of Hon Hai, who is striving for the nomination of the Kuomintang President, said in a speech in Kaohsiung on 1 May 2023 that he would start the robot industry within 3 years and use robots to resist the invasion of the Communist army, which sparked discussions; Therefore, Wang Dingyu, a legislator of the Democratic Progressive Party, questioned whether Hon Hai robots were produced in China.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Wang Dingyu questioned Gou’s robot defense policy on Facebook. He said, “Let’s not talk about whether Hon Hai’s robots are capable of fighting. First, aren’t Gou’s robots produced in Shanghai’s A-share Factory?” Do you say that such a policy is to let Chinese manufacturing control Taiwan's national defense?
Wang Dingyu criticized Gou as an idiot. Gou once said, "Don't buy weapons, and the enemy will not attack you."
News (4)
The U.S. Special Warfare Command simulated the Communist Army’s invasion of Taiwan for the first time, and landed on Taiwan to "help defend Taiwan"
Image : The U.S. Army Special Operations Command conducted for the first time last Thursday a military exercise based on the hypothetical scenario of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. U.S. military map. (Associated Press; synthesized by Liberty Times)
The evolution of the situation in the Taiwan Strait has attracted international attention. In response to the CCP’s invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) last week conducted for the first time a military exercise in the hypothetical scenario of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army invading Taiwan. The training mission is Landing in Taiwan to help defend Taiwan against Chinese Communist Party People's Liberation Army (PLA) invasion. Commander Jonathan P. Braga bluntly stated that this move "is to prevent the Third World War from happening, which is our duty."
According to a report by the US military website "Military.com", the US Special Warfare Command held an annual exercise on 27 April 2023. The troops involved in the training included the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, etc. The exercise simulated the Taiwan scene on Range 68 at the North Carolina military base Fort Bragg. The mission was to land on Taiwan to help defend against Chinese invasion. China uses the Taiwan Strait as a hypothetical scenario.
The report pointed out that this exercise combined some of the tactics and weapons used by the US in the past during the global war on terrorism with other tools. Preparations for a conflict between military opponents. It is reported that the U.S. Special Warfare Command directly listed the Chinese People's Liberation Army as an "enemy" during last week's exercise. decision.
U.S. Army Lieutenant General Braga, commander of the U.S. Special Warfare Command, said that according to the National Defense Strategy issued by the Pentagon, the CCP is already the biggest challenge to the U.S., "We are working hard to prevent World War III from happening, that's our job." In addition, he also mentioned that China and Russia are good at using "gray zone tactics" (the gray zone) such as information warfare, cyber warfare, and cognitive warfare. Responsiveness is also important, which is still challenging for Special Forces.”
News (5)
CNN: China secretly develops military airship more powerful than spy balloons
Reporter : Lu Yongshan / https://def.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/4287751 / Image : A large airship developed by the Chinese military has been exposed for the first time at a remote base in the desert of northwest China, according to exclusive new satellite images obtained by CNN. The satellite images, taken three months before a Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, may herald a significant advance in China's airship program. (recapped from CNN)
According to exclusive new satellite images obtained by CNN, a large airship developed by the Chinese military has been exposed for the first time at a remote base in the desert of northwest China. The satellite images, taken three months before the Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, may herald a significant advance in CCP China's airship program and show a new type of aircraft larger than anything seen or seen before, aerospace experts said. Know more flexible and maneuverable aircraft.
The images, taken in November 2022 by US satellite imagery company BlackSky, show an airship roughly 100 feet long in the middle of a nearly 1-km-long runway at a desert military base in northwestern China. CNN showed these images to some aerospace experts, who confirmed that there were airships and runways in these images, as well as a huge airship hangar at nearly 900 feet.
Jamey Jacobs, executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute, said an airship like this could be used as a "sky submarine," and it appears to have dedicated propulsion and navigation capabilities that would allow it to navigate in an area wandering in the sky for a long time.
CNN contacted several U.S. intelligence officials who acknowledged they were aware of the Chinese base but would not discuss the base or the airship. A senior Pentagon official declined to comment on what threat the airship posed, but said that since the airship was visible, the Pentagon would be aware of its presence.
The spy balloon incident in January drew significant attention to China's airship program and revealed the role of airships in its espionage operations. This type of airship is attractive to China because they are cheaper than satellites, provide more accurate intelligence, and are less vulnerable to damage than aircraft, according to a 2018 RAND Corporation report on China's modern warfare strategy .
Although China is not the only country using airships, this discovery confirms that the PLA uses all 3 types of airships: airships, levitators, and free-floating balloons.
Eli Hayes, a researcher who has studied China's airship program for many years, also pointed out that the appearance of airships in Chinese military facilities marks a significant change in China's airship technology and research. It is no longer just for civilian use.
News (6)
Zelenskyy honours Taiwanese solider
Image : A picture of Tseng Sheng-kuang is displayed during a memorial service for him in Hualien County on 4 December 2022. Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Taipei Times
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given a state award to Tseng Sheng-kuang （曾圣光）, a Taiwanese volunteer soldier who died in
November 2022 while fighting for Ukraine, in honour of his “selfless
performance,” the Web site of the Ukrainian president’s office said.
Zelenskyy
recognized Tseng — among many others — with the Order for Courage of the third
class for “the personal courage shown in the defense of the state sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a list dated Friday on the Web site
said.
Tseng,
25, an Amis from Hualien County, had joined the International Legion of
Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
He
died on the battlefield on 2 November 2022 in Lyman, part of the contested
Luhansk region, making him the first Taiwanese volunteer to die in the war.
Tseng
had served in the Republic of China Army from 2017 to 2021.
Ref.: https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/breakingnews/4287805
News (7)
South China Sea shipments are disrupted, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet: Plans to help the Philippines counter CCP China’s provocations
Image : In 1999, the Philippines intentionally grounded the Sierra Madre on the Ren'ai Shoal, and sent troops to garrison it for military observation and declaration of sovereignty. (Associated Press file photo)
In response to CCP China’s continuous harassment of the Philippines’ replenishment operations in the South China Sea, Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, stated that the U.S. is ready to assist the Philippines by landing a scrapped ship in the Philippines. The task of resupplying the warship is to contain CCP China's provocations in the South China Sea.
"Nikkei Asia" reported on 1 May 2023 that Paparo said in an online interview with "Nikkei" on 28 April 2023 that China "regularly interferes with these supplies" and that such actions are "obviously illegal", referring to the Chinese Coast Guard. Aggressive interference with ships around the Philippine landing ship BRP Sierra Madre, which ran aground on Ayungin Shoal (or Second Thomas Shoal) in the Spratly Islands.
Since China occupied the Mischief Reef in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 1994, the Philippines deliberately grounded the Sierra Madre on the Ren'ai Shoal in 1999 and sent troops to station it as a military observation and declare its sovereignty over the island.
The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in 2014, pointing out that this move was to prevent similar incidents of China’s illegal occupation of Mischief Reef, so it will not tow away this facility that symbolizes the sovereignty of the Philippines.
Today, Mischief Reef has become China's largest outpost in the Spratly Islands. Antonio Carpio, a former Philippine justice who specializes in South China Sea issues, once pointed out that China now regards Mischief Reef as "their Pearl Harbor in the South China Sea, a huge air and naval base."
"We stand ready to assist the Philippines in exercising its sovereign rights," Paparo said. "We support the Philippines' sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
U.S. President Joe Biden met with visiting Philippine President Marcos Jr. on 1 May 2023. This is the first time a Philippine president has visited the White House in nearly 11 years. The top agenda of the two sides will be how to deal with China's increasingly aggressive behavior in continuing to take coercive actions against Taiwan.
On 23 April 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship "Malapazgua" carrying media reporters was approached by a Chinese coast guard ship as it approached Ren'ai Shoal, and the two sides almost collided.
In February, the Philippine Coast Guard also claimed that a Chinese Coast Guard ship near Ren'ai Shoal shone a "military-grade laser" on their vessel, temporarily blinding its crew.
Although Paparo declined to provide details, he emphasized that the United States has provided intelligence to the Philippines to assist in the repair operation of the Sierra Madre, which may involve providing the Philippines with the location of the Chinese ship obtained through reconnaissance aircraft or satellites.
Paparo said the Philippines has so far not requested support from U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ships, but "we are always ready," signaling the U.S. is ready to step in should a conflict break out between the Philippines and CCP China. Washington and Manila signed a mutual defense treaty in 1951.
Image : Admiral Paparo, commander of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet, said that the United States is ready to assist the Philippines to contain CCP China's provocations in the South China Sea. (Taken from the official website of the US Navy)
News (8)
Pro-Taiwan Paraguay Presidential Candidate wins the Election. Wang Dingyu: Taiwan's diplomacy doesn't have reassurance
Image : Pena, the presidential candidate of the ruling party of the ally Taiwan, won the Paraguay presidential election. Wang Dingyu, a legislator of the Democratic Progressive Party, said that Taiwan and its allies should not be taken lightly. "Taiwan's diplomacy is not at ease." (AFP)
Paraguay held a presidential election on 30 April 2023, US Eastern Time. Vice President Lai Chine-te sent congratulations to Pena for winning the election, DPP legislator Wang Dingyu posted on Facebook, saying that Taiwan and its major allies should not take it lightly. "Taiwan's diplomacy has no foundation for reassurance."
Wang Dingyu said that in Paraguay's presidential election, diplomatic relations with Taiwan are the key issues. Pena advocates maintaining and strengthening relations with Taiwan. On the other hand, Paraguay's opposition advocates breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and turning to China. Therefore, the results of Paraguay's presidential election are often interpreted internationally as "the friendly president of Taiwan wins."
Wang Dingyu also mentioned that even if Pena, a friend of Taiwan, wins the presidential election in Paraguay, major allies such as Taiwan and the United States should not take it lightly. After all, "severing diplomatic relations with Taiwan and turning to China" has already aroused discussion in Paraguayan society and has considerable support. In the future, CCP China will inevitably find cracks to expand its influence. Wang Dingyu emphasized, "Taiwan's diplomacy has no foundation for reassurance!"
In recent years, there have been several cases in Central and South America of breaking diplomatic relations with democratic Taiwan and switching to China. The most recent one was in March, when the new leftist government in Honduras, which came to power early last year, decided to establish diplomatic relations with China instead.
The dissatisfaction of Paraguayan farmers is due to the increasing economic situation in recent years. Paraguayan butchers and farmers believe that the diplomatic relationship with Taiwan is an obstacle to the import of Paraguayan products into the Chinese market. This is also the reason why the opposition candidate Alegre proposed to turn to China during the election campaign.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Xu Zhijie said yesterday that China is a part of the world, and of course it is impossible not to interact with each other. Taiwan and Paraguay share the same philosophy and will continue to help each other on the international stage in the future to expand more economic and trade cooperation.
In addition, regarding the outside world’s concern that the President of Paraguay will be inaugurated in August, Presidential Office Spokesperson Lin Yuchan responded on 30 April 2023 that if either the President orVice President have a foreign visit itinerary, they will follow the usual practice and explain it to the public in due course.
Ref.: https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4287925, https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1580655
News (9)
Paraguay's pro-Taiwan candidate was elected president Tsai Ing-wen: Looking forward to deepening the friendship between the two countries
Reporter : Chen Yun / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4287072 / Image of Santiago Pena winning : Reuters
Paraguay, held a general election on 30 April 2023. Santiago Peña, the presidential candidate of the National Republican Alliance (Asociación Nacional Republicana, ANR, referred to as the Colorado Party, Red Party), was elected. Peña (also Pena) once declared that Paraguay will continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. President Tsai expressed her sincere congratulations on Peña's election and the hope that the friendship between the two countries will continue to deepen.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Lin Yuchan reported on 1 May 2023 that President Tsai, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, sincerely congratulates Peña on his successful election as the new President of Paraguay, and also hopes that the Paraguay government will carry out various policies under the leadership of President Peña in the future. The country is developing and prospering, and the friendship between the two countries has continued to deepen.
Lin Yuchan pointed out that according to the results of more than 99.89% of the votes announced by the Supreme Electoral Court of Paraguay, Peña and the vice-presidential candidate Pedro Alliana have won nearly 42.74% of the votes, significantly ahead of the second-ranked opposition Concertación presidential candidate Efraín Alegre won about 27.48% of the vote, and Peña has also announced his victory.
Lin Yuchan said that the Presidential Palace sincerely congratulates the allies for successfully completing the democratic election. The Republic of China (Taiwan) ambassador to Paraguay, Han Zhizheng, has expressed his congratulations to the President and Vice President-elect of Paraguay on behalf of President Tsai, Vice President Lai, and the Chinese government and people immediately. For Paraguay, the people have demonstrated their democratic literacy and deeply admired the successful completion of this general election.
Lin Yuchan said that Paraguay is an important ally of Taiwan in Latin America and the Caribbean. Taiwan and Paraguay have had close cooperation in the fields of women's empowerment, agriculture, fishery, health care, education and culture in the past.
She said that President-elect Peña’s political views include promoting economic and trade diplomacy, setting up free nursery schools, combating drugs, eradicating poverty, creating job opportunities, and assisting youth employment. Based on democracy, and values like freedom and the traditional friendship of both countries, Taiwan continues to deepen cooperation and exchanges with the new government of Paraguay, and create the greatest benefits for the two peoples.
News (10)
Paraguayan President-elect Pena: Continue to strengthen the historical brotherhood with Taiwan
Reporter : Lu Yixuan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4287919 / Image : Paraguay's president-elect Santiago Pena responded to President Tsai Ing-wen's congratulations on Twitter after his election, while reiterating that "the historic brotherhood and cooperation between our two countries will continue to be strengthened." The picture shows Pena personally cast the ballot. (Taken from Pena Twitter)
During the general election process of Paraguay, the issue of diplomatic relations with Taiwan became the focus. Before the election, Paraguay President-elect Santiago Peña announced that he would continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. After being elected, Peña replied to President Tsai Ing-wen's congratulations on Twitter, while reiterating that "the historic brotherhood and cooperation between our two countries will continue to be strengthened."
Paraguay is the only country with diplomatic relations with Taiwan in South America. Before the election, Allegre, the opposition candidate, threatened to turn his diplomacy to China in order to enter the Chinese market. Peña, who won the victory this time, promised to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan after winning the election. The media mostly interpreted the election results from the perspective of "friendly Taiwanese candidate winning the election."
Peña belongs to the long-running Colorado Party in Paraguay. Regarding Taiwan's friendship, he said, "We have more than 60 years of diplomatic and historical relations with Taiwan. The two countries share democratic values and principles, which are very important to Paraguayan society." However, after being elected, Peña is facing many difficulties. In addition to solving corruption, crime, and poverty problems, he also had to deal with the pressure from producers of soybeans and beef, the main export agricultural products, to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China.
President Tsai congratulated Peña on her election yesterday through Twitter, and expressed her hope that the friendship between the two countries will continue to deepen. Peña also responded to the wishes of the heads of state via Twitter. He said to President Tsai, "Thank you very much for President Tsai's best wishes. We will continue to strengthen the historic brotherhood and cooperation between our two countries."
Peña, 44, served as Paraguay's finance minister and an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, promising to create 500,000 jobs in Paraguay during his tenure. Peña, who takes office on 15 August 2023, is Paraguay's youngest president since democratic reforms in 1989.
News (11)
White House: The national health emergency ends on 11 May 2023, and the entry vaccine certificate is exempted
Image : The White House announced on 1 May 2023 that the entry vaccine certificate requirement will be lifted from 11 May, and the national health emergency will also end on the same day. (File photo, Reuters)
As the covid epidemic slows down, countries have gradually lifted the covid vaccination certification requirements for foreign tourists. The White House of the United States also announced on 1 May 2023 that the entry vaccine certificate requirement will be lifted from 11 May 2023. The national health emergency will also end on the same day.
Foreign media reported that the White House issued a statement on 1 May announcing that the U.S. government will end the public health emergency on 11 May. It will also end the COVID-19 vaccination certification requirement for federal employees, federal contractors and international air passengers on the same day. According to reports, this is also one of the few travel restrictions that are still in place.
The statement also pointed out that since January 2021, the number of deaths from COVID-19 has dropped by 95%, and the number of hospitalizations has dropped by nearly 91%. Globally, the death toll from COVID-19 is the lowest since the pandemic began. Thanks to the efforts of the U.S. government, nearly 270 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. It also pointed out that vaccine requirements have promoted national vaccination levels, and widespread vaccination has saved millions of lives.
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