White House considering talks between Biden and China's Xi - CNA

WASHINGTON: The White House will consider arranging talks between President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, as the two countries spar over issues including human rights, a top US official said on Thursday (Jun 17).

Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the two leaders are due to "take stock of where we are in the relationship".

Beijing fumed over a communique issued at Biden's urging by the Group of Seven leaders on Sunday. It scolded the country over human rights in its Xinjiang region and Hong Kong while also demanding a full and thorough investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China.

"Soon enough we will sit down to work out the right modality for the two presidents to engage," Sullivan told reporters on a conference call.

"It could be a phone call, it could be a meeting on the margins of another international summit, it could be something else."

Biden and Xi are both expected to attend the G20 meeting in October hosted by Italy, one possible venue for such talks. Sullivan said no final decisions have been made.

Asked if he would call on Xi to push for an investigation in COVID-19 origins, Biden on Wednesday told reporters: "We know each other well; we're not old friends. It's just pure business."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC93aGl0ZS1ob3VzZS1jb25zaWRlcmluZy10YWxrcy1iZXR3ZWVuLWJpZGVuLWFuZC1jaGluYS1zLXhpLTE1MDM2NjQ00gEA?oc=5

2021-06-17 21:04:38Z
CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC93aGl0ZS1ob3VzZS1jb25zaWRlcmluZy10YWxrcy1iZXR3ZWVuLWJpZGVuLWFuZC1jaGluYS1zLXhpLTE1MDM2NjQ00gEA

Low probability of China trying to seize Taiwan in near term: Top US general - CNA

WASHINGTON: The top US general said on Thursday (Jun 17)  there was a low probability that China would try to take over Taiwan militarily in the near-term as Beijing has some way to go to develop the capabilities needed.

While there has been increasing concern in Taiwan and among some US lawmakers about Chinese military activity near the island, like flying jets in Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), US military officials have told Reuters that such moves are not overly concerning.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told lawmakers that while Taiwan was still a core national interest of China, "There's little intent right now, or motivation, to do it militarily."

"There's no reason to do it militarily, and they know that. So, I think the probability is probably low, in the immediate, near-term future," Milley said during a Congressional hearing.

"My assessment in terms of capability, I think China has a ways to go to develop the actual, no-kidding capability to conduct military operations to seize through military means the entire island of Taiwan, if they wanted to do that," he added.

The United States is Taiwan's strongest international backer and main source of arms, which angers China.

Beijing says the democratically ruled island is part of "one China" and routinely denounces foreign involvement as an interference in its internal affairs.

Democratic and Republican members of the US House of Representatives will introduce legislation this week seeking to boost US support for Taiwan, part of an effort in Congress to take a hard line in dealings with China.

NATO leaders, encouraged by US President Joe Biden, warned at a summit on Monday that China presents “systemic challenges,” taking a more forceful stance towards Beijing.

Earlier this week, twenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan’s ADIZ, the largest reported incursion to date.

Like most countries, the United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9sb3ctcHJvYmFiaWxpdHktb2YtY2hpbmEtdHJ5aW5nLXRvLXNlaXplLXRhaXdhbi1pbi1uZWFyLXRlcm0tMTUwMzYwNjjSAQA?oc=5

2021-06-17 19:12:37Z
52781668644691

Singapore loses top spot in global competitiveness ranking amid COVID-19 pandemic - CNA

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9d0Q4Ni1DbDljNkHSAQA?oc=5

2021-06-17 16:19:02Z
52781674295471

First astronauts arrive at China's space station - CNA

JIUQUAN: The first astronauts arrived at China's new space station on Thursday (Jun 17) in the country's longest crewed mission to date, a landmark step in establishing Beijing as a major space power.

The trio blasted off on a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan launch centre in northwest China's Gobi desert, and their craft docked at the Tiangong station around seven hours later, where they will spend the next three months.

State broadcaster CCTV showed a live feed from inside the spacecraft during the journey, with the three astronauts lifting their helmet visors after it reached orbit as one smiled and waved at the camera.

Another floated a pen just off his lap in zero-gravity as he browsed the flight manual.

Around seven hours after lift-off, space officials confirmed that the craft had docked with Tianhe, the core module of the country's new space station.

The Shenzhou-12 craft has "successfully docked with the forward port of the core module" of the Tiangong station, said the China Manned Space Agency, as state TV showed live footage.

At a ceremony before blast-off, the three astronauts, already wearing their space suits, greeted a crowd of supporters and space workers, who sang the patriotic song Without The Chinese Communist Party, There Would Be No New China.

Chinese astronauts prepare to depart on the Shenzhou-12 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan in northwestern China, Jun 17, 2021. (Photo: AP/Ng Han Guan)

By Thursday evening, the astronauts were shown on television entering the core module, one of them making a 360-degree flip in the process.

The group will be setting up their living quarters and are expected to open the door to the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft - which docked earlier with the core module - on Friday morning.

The mission's commander is Nie Haisheng, a decorated air force pilot in the People's Liberation Army who has already participated in two space missions.

The two other members are also from the military.

SPACE LIFE

The Tianhe module of the space station has separate living spaces for each of the astronauts, a "space treadmill" and bike for exercise, and a communication centre for emails and video calls with ground control.

Huang Weifen of the China Manned Space Program said the astronauts will perform two spacewalks during the mission, both lasting around six or seven hours.

She also said the trio will wear newly-developed spacewalk suits.

Nie Haisheng (C), Liu Boming (R) and Tang Hongbo will be the first crew on China's new space station AFP/GREG BAKER

READ: China to send three astronauts to space, including its oldest

The launch - of China's first crewed mission in nearly five years - is a matter of huge prestige in China, as Beijing prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party on Jul 1 with a massive propaganda campaign.

To prepare for the mission, the crew underwent more than 6,000 hours of training, including hundreds of underwater somersaults in full space gear.

The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 launches through to the end of next year, including three more manned missions that will deliver two lab modules to expand the 70-tonne station, along with supplies and crew members.

China's space ambitions have been fuelled in part by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan.

READ: Rover leaves 'China's imprint' on Mars

It is due for retirement after 2024, even though NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028.

Tiangong will be much smaller than the ISS, and is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years.

China has said it would be open to international collaboration on its space station although it has yet to give specific details.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer for the space programme, said "foreign astronauts are certainly going to enter the Chinese space station one day".

"There are a number of countries that have expressed a desire to do that and we will be open to that in future," he said.

Beijing said in March it was also planning to build a separate lunar space station with Russia, and this week the two countries issued a "roadmap" for potential collaboration opportunities.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLXJvY2tldC1zcGFjZS1zdGF0aW9uLXRpYW5nb25nLTE1MDMxNjE00gEA?oc=5

2021-06-17 11:26:15Z
52781667066632

Singapore loses its top spot in global competitiveness study, now ranks 5th - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Singapore has tumbled from its top spot as the world's most competitive economy to fifth place, but remains Asia's top performing economy.

The Republic ranked first in the past two years of the Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking, whose latest list was released on Thursday (June 17).

IMD is based in Switzerland and Singapore.

Switzerland topped the league table, followed by Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

IMD said: "Singapore managed to top the economic performance factor, one of four factors in the ranking, but fell to ninth in global business efficiency and 11th in global infrastructure.

"It ran into problems with job losses, lack of productivity and the economic impact of the pandemic. Similar to other countries that declined, Singapore experienced a shrinkage in its economic activity, in particular, a sharp decline in employment growth, and a sizeable worsening in public finances due to an increase in both government deficit and public debt."

But Singapore did well with international trade and technological infrastructure, ranking first in both, IMD said.

It also ranked highly in international investment and business legislation.

IMD said Singapore's physical geography worked against it in the 2021 rankings.

"Geography has played a pivotal role for some economies and while Singapore has done everything correctly, its physical geography has caused it to work harder than other economies and therefore it fell in the rankings."

Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said: “IMD’s ranking shows that we are facing increased global competition and Singapore cannot afford to stand still or take our economic competitiveness for granted. We must continually strive to provide an environment where businesses can thrive and create good jobs for our people. We must also remain an open and connected hub for global businesses and talent.

"Singapore businesses must be able to seek out new opportunities and transform. Workers have to constantly upskill to remain relevant. The Government will review IMD’s report and enhance our competitiveness."

The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking ranks 64 economies, by measuring economic well-being through statistical data and survey responses from executives.

IMD said: "The report finds that top-performing economies are characterised by varying degrees of investment in innovation, diversified economic activities and supportive public policy.

"Strength in these areas prior to the pandemic allowed these economies to address the economic implications of the crisis more effectively."

Among Asian economies, China made the biggest leap up the ranks to 16th place, IMD said.

Mr Arturo Bris, director of the World Competitiveness Centre, which produces the ranking, said: "China, by continuing reducing poverty and boosting infrastructure and education, strengthens the possibility of advancing in the rankings."

Malaysia, ranked 25th, was also one of the economies that rose in competitiveness, thanks to improvements in the business efficiency of its private sector and relatively healthy public finances despite the disruption brought by Covid-19, IMD said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong ranked seventh because of slight declines in economic performance, business efficiency and infrastructure, but remained in the top spot in government efficiency.

The Philippines also fell in the ranking to 52nd, driven by a deterioration in several indicators related to the domestic economy, the job market, public finances and the productivity of firms in the private sector.

Overall, the report found that innovation is the bedrock of long-term performance, with education and other factors driving both a productive workforce and research.

Singapore, Switzerland and the Nordic economies do well in this aspect, it said.

Digitally advanced economies that have seamlessly transitioned to work-from-home arrangements have also thrived compared with their peers, it added, with Singapore leading in this area.

IMD said: "The global trends seen in the rankings show the importance of innovation, digitalisation of the economy, welfare benefits and social cohesion.

"Competitive economies succeeded in transitioning to a remote work routine while also allowing remote learning. Addressing unemployment has been fundamental."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvZWNvbm9teS9zaW5nYXBvcmUtbG9zZXMtaXRzLXRvcC1zcG90LWluLWdsb2JhbC1jb21wZXRpdGl2ZW5lc3Mtc3R1ZHktbm93LXJhbmtzLTV0aNIBAA?oc=5

2021-06-17 11:02:48Z
52781674295471

Malaysian government acknowledges king's views, says PMO after palace calls for parliament to reconvene - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government has acknowledged the king's views and will take follow-up measures based on the Constitution and the laws, said the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday (Jun 17). 

The King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Mustafa Billah Shah has said that the parliament should reconvene as soon as possible, after chairing a special rulers' conference on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had previously informed the king during prior audiences on the progress of various efforts, from the pandemic's management to the national immunisation programme and economic aid, as well as the recently-unveiled national recovery plan.

"In upholding the king's decrees, the government will take follow-up measures based on the Federal Constitution and the state laws," the statement read.

The special rulers' conference came after the king granted audiences to 18 key political leaders, who presented their views on the pandemic management and the country's current situation. 

Composite photos of Malaysia King Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah and PM Muhyiddin Yassin. (Photos: Bernama, Facebook)

The king said parliament meetings should be held to enable the emergency ordinances and the national recovery plan to be debated by parliamentarians.

The Malay rulers added that there was no need to further extend Malaysia’s state of emergency beyond Aug 1.

On Wednesday night, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said that although the king had called for parliament to reconvene as soon as possible, no specific date had been specified. 

“The prime minister has already stated September or October,” Mr Takiyuddin, who is also Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) secretary-general, said during an online interview on the Bicara Harakah talk show. 

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department added that a parliament sitting would definitely be convened "in three months' time".

On Tuesday, Mr Muhyiddin said in a televised address that the parliament meeting could be held during the third phase of the national recovery plan, which is likely to happen in September or October this year. 

READ: What you need to know about the state of emergency and tightening COVID-19 curbs in Malaysia

In his response to the rulers' statement, the deputy president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Mohammad Hassan said that it was necessary for the government to convene parliament sessions as soon as possible. 

United Malays National Organisation's (UMNO) Mohamad Hasan. (File photo: Bernama)

“Don’t dilly-dally with the excuse that His Majesty did not decree which month Parliament should sit,” he said in a statement on Thursday. 

“The government’s announcement in the national recovery plan that parliament can reopen come September or October is not a guarantee,” said Mr Mohammad. 

Such a reopening, he said, was subject to various conditions including drops in the number of daily new cases, and increase in the vaccination rates.

“Whatever excuse to delay the reopening of parliament is not just anti-democratic, but also touches the sanctity and wisdom of the royal institution, which is free and above politics," he added. 

READ: Malaysian king meets party leaders, COVID-19 crisis top on the agenda

The opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition also called on Mr Muhyiddin to advise the king to reconvene parliament at the soonest. 

“If the prime minister continues to dally, or gives excuses to delay parliament session, it does not just mean he has set aside His Majesty’s view. It also gives the impression that the Prime Minister has lost confidence to continue governing," said the PH statement. 

It added that if  the Prime Minister still refuses to advise the king soon, he should take the honorable step by resigning. 

Selanor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari. (Photo: Bernama) 

Among state governments, Selangor chief minister Amirudin Shari announced on Thursday that he would meet with the state assembly speaker to begin plans to reconvene the legislature, including obtaining assent from the state ruler. 

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram 

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL21hbGF5c2lhLWdvdmVybm1lbnQta2luZy12aWV3cy1mb2xsb3ctdXAtbWVhc3VyZXMtbXVoeWlkZGluLXBtby0xNTAzMzA4NNIBAA?oc=5

2021-06-17 10:25:45Z
52781672202380

Putin and Biden will not be friends but see path together - CNA

GENEVA: There was no talk of gazing into Vladimir Putin's "soul" and the Russian president didn't try to gaslight a rookie US leader.

Instead, Putin's first summit with the fifth US president of his tenure, Joe Biden, was about mutual respect - and the meeting in Geneva could, both of them said, lead to a more predictable, if still tense, relationship.

In contrast to his predecessors, Biden made no suggestion he expected to reset the relationship and he has already piled pressure on Russia over concerns including alleged election meddling, attacks by cybercriminals against the Colonial Pipeline and other US infrastructure and over the poisoning and jailing of dissident Alexei Navalny.

But after earlier remarks that included calling Putin "a killer", Biden on the eve of the summit described the Russian leader as "a worthy adversary" and at a news conference afterward said that they would see where they had common interests.

Putin, who at his 2018 summit with Donald Trump in Helsinki was widely seen as dominating the reality television star turned president, called Biden "a very experienced politician" who was able to speak in rare detail in the "very constructive" more than three hours of talks.

"Biden generally is someone who wants constructive relations. He doesn't consider Putin a friend," said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group political risk firm.

Similar to his view of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden "doesn't trust them but he does expect Russia will act in its interest and the two countries have some interests that overlap and where we should work together," Bremmer said.

READ: Biden queries China's desire to find origin of COVID-19

Bremmer said the test of the relationship will come afterward.

"I want to see that in the next three months we have materially fewer ransomware incidents and nothing of the scale that we had against Colonial Pipeline that comes from Russia. That's absolutely critical."

GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE

Putin made no promises at his news conference on cybercrime, appearing to deny Russian involvement, but Biden, signalling that he sent a warning, said that Putin "knows there are consequences" for Russian actions.

The leaders said they would return ambassadors to each other's capitals and that diplomats would work on the release of prisoners.

"I'm not sure how much better it could have gone but it could have gone much worse. This could have been name-calling, posturing, lecturing, talking past each other," said Yuval Weber, a Russia expert at the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute and professor at Texas A&M's Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington.

Unlike in the Cold War, when US and Soviet leaders would come together to sign accords on major issues such as nuclear weapons, Biden and Putin never expected breakthroughs in Geneva, Weber said.

"What they were looking for was whether they can get along well enough in person to keep the conversation going," Weber said.

READ: Little warmth despite the heat at Biden-Putin summit

Weber said that Putin was "notoriously a very thin-skinned person" who was likely unsettled by Biden's initial comments on him.

By calling Putin a "worthy adversary" and speaking of Russia as a powerful nation, Biden is following a strategy of "saying things that Putin can then latch onto," Weber said.

US PARTISAN DIVIDE

Former president Barack Obama infuriated Putin by calling Russia, which backs separatists in Ukraine, a "regional power" acting "not out of strength but weakness".

But Obama, like previous presidents, took office hoping to restore relations with Russia. George W. Bush famously said after meeting Putin in 2001 that he could "get a sense of his soul."

Trump broke the mould by voicing admiration for Putin. After his 2018 summit in Helsinki, Putin drew criticism even within his own Republican Party when he appeared to take at face value Putin's denial of election interference - even as Putin also openly said he wanted Trump to be president.

Republicans quickly attacked Biden over the Geneva summit, saying he should have been more confrontational.

"Summits are about delivering results," said Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "To learn there was no tangible progress made with Russia on any issue is both unfortunate and disappointing."

But Senator Bob Menendez, the Democrat who heads the committee, praised Biden for "bluntly speaking truth" to Putin.

"This was a necessary reality check for Putin and a welcome departure from the past four years of Trump's coddling of the Kremlin," Menendez said.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9wdXRpbi1hbmQtYmlkZW4td2lsbC1ub3QtYmUtZnJpZW5kcy1idXQtc2VlLXBhdGgtdG9nZXRoZXItMTUwMzAzNzLSAQA?oc=5

2021-06-17 09:45:00Z
52781671282824