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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008865

There will be “good results” in the Seoul-Washington discussions on declaring the end of the Korean War, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun said Sunday in the US, ruling out a potential rift between the allies in regards to the matter.

Speaking in Washington, Choi said he expects to see a “good result soon,” in regards to the ongoing discussions with the US on Seoul’s proposal for an end-of-war declaration.

Choi is in Washington to hold series of talks, including a bilateral session with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Tuesday and three-way talks with Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori the next day.

“South Korea and the US do not differ on the push for an end-of-war declaration, and they have been discussing details on when and how to do this,” Choi told reporters at Washington’s Dulles International Airport. “It’s the year-end season and I think there will be a good result soon.”

Choi said he expects the result to come out soon, and that the next step is to make the proposal to North Korea.

“What’s important is how Pyongyang will respond (to the proposal),” he said adding how to get that response is another task for the allies.

There have been series of high-level talks between Seoul and Washington officials in recent months, following up on President Moon Jae-in renewed push for an end-of war-declaration in September — in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the stalled peace process on the Korean Peninsula before he leaves office in May.

The two Koreas are technically still at war, as the Korean War concluded not in a peace treaty but in an armistice agreement signed by the US-led United Nations Command, China and North Korea.

Seoul sees the end-of-war declaration as a trust-building political gesture that could serve as a starting point to resume the stalled talks with Pyongyang.

Hinting at a possible disaccord with Seoul, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, however, said last month that the allies “may have somewhat different perspectives on the precise sequence or timing or conditions for different steps” in regards to the end-of-war declaration.

Brushing off such discrepancies, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong last week told the parliament that coordination between Seoul and Washington over the end-of-war declaration is in its final stages. He, however, acknowledged that adopting the declaration will not be as easy.

By Ahn Sung-mi

Published : November 16, 2021

By : The Korea Herald

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008864

BEIJING – Leaders of China and the United States will meet via video link to have candid and in-depth discussions on strategic issues concerning the future of Sino-US relations and important issues of common concern, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a news briefing when asked to comment on the upcoming virtual meeting between the two presidents.  

As agreed by each side, Xi Jinping will meet with Joe Biden on Nov 16 morning (Beijing Time), he said. 

As China-US ties are now at a critical crossroads, the virtual meeting is a crucial event in China-US relations and international relations, said Zhao. 

It is the shared hope of the two countries and the international community that the meeting will yield outcomes beneficial to both nations and the world. 

It is hoped that the US will work with China to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, effectively manage differences, properly handle sensitive issues, and explore the way of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between the two major countries in the new era, to bring bilateral relations back on the right track of sound and stable development, Zhao said.

Published : November 16, 2021

By : China Daily

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008863

This may be the “Asian century”, but pitfalls still abound for the region, among which contested geopolitics are the most prominent, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said in a report.

In fact, the Asia region is now looking similar to late 19th-century Europe (not a good sign), with territorial disputes among neighbouring countries; intensifying competition between a rising power (China) and an established one that is reluctant to cede influence (the US); and the lack of a recognised arbitration framework with which to manage this conflict, the report said.

A geopolitical split in Asia, driven by the US-China rivalry, would derail Asia’s economic prospects, the EIU said.

Most countries are desperate to avoid taking sides, as they balance economic ties to China with support for the security role played in the region by the US. Their ability to be neutral, however, will be tested as superpower competition deepens and is dictated more by ideology. Any conflict in the South China Sea or a Chinese attempt to annex Taiwan, for instance, would force the issue.

If obliged to choose sides, Asia’s democracies, led by security allies such as Australia, Japan and South Korea, will lean towards the US. China only has one formal ally to call upon, and a weak one at that, in North Korea but, in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has developed a recognised economic bloc while simultaneously cultivating closer security ties with Russia. This makes it challenging to predict the side that many Asian countries would choose.

The emergence of competing cold war-type blocs in Asia would have far-ranging consequences. First of all, it would unwind the connections and supply chains that have been at the core of the region’s economic success. Fiscal priorities in the region would shift from development needs to those of national defence, fuelling poverty and delaying economic convergence. The broader policy agenda, including climate change, would also be sidelined. It is an outcome that nobody wants, but one that all must prepare for, EIU said.

In a related report, EIU said around 15 years ago, even close observers of Chinese politics would have struggled to predict that Xi Jinping would become not only the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also that he would reshape domestic politics and China’s international relations. A low-profile regional leader at that time, the party elders that signed off on Mr Xi’s appointment as CCP leader in 2012 did so thinking he would be a consensus-builder and a safe pair of hands.

“On the contrary, Xi has proven ruthlessly ambitious and a consistent risk-taker. He has centralised power, dismantling the idea of collective leadership; backed an anti-corruption campaign that has affected all levels of society; attempted to defuse the debt problems that pose the greatest risk to China’s economic trajectory; launched hardline security and ideology drives in Hong Kong and Xinjiang; and gone toe to toe with three US presidents in what has become an all-encompassing US-China rivalry,” the EIU said.

The recent crackdown by the Chinese government to curb the country’s technology giants suggests Xi has no intention of letting up. The individual’s role in shaping history can be difficult to discern against broader, structural forces, but it is difficult to imagine Xi’s predecessors or rival candidates for CCP leadership charting a similar course.

Debate over the wisdom of the direction in which he has taken China at home and internationally will last for many years, but there can be little doubt over the force or permanence of his impact, the EIU said.

Published : November 16, 2021

By : The Statesman

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008812

Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino, departed for New York on Sunday with her new husband Kei Komuro.

Komuro lost her status as an Imperial princess upon her marriage to Kei, who was a university classmate.

They are expected to arrive in New York on Sunday morning local time.

The Komuros left the condominium in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, where they had been staying since their marriage after 8 a.m. Sunday. After arriving at Haneda Airport, they bowed to about 100 members of the press without making any remarks. They then proceeded to their boarding gate.

Kei Komuro is working at a legal firm in New York.

Published : November 15, 2021

By : The Japan News

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008811

South Korea has the highest ratio of household debt to gross domestic product (GDP) among major economies in the world, a report showed Monday, indicating it could crimp consumption and weigh on the economy down the road.

The country’s household debt stood at 104.2 percent of its GDP as of end-June this year, the highest among 37 economies, according to the report by the Institute of International Finance.

Hong Kong came next with 92 percent, followed by Britain with 89.4 percent, the United States with 79.2 percent, Thailand with 77.5 percent, Malaysia with 73.4 percent and Japan with 63.9 percent.

South Korea’s ratio was up 6 percentage points from a year earlier, also the fastest growth rate.

South Korea is the only country among those economies that has more household debt than its economic size.

South Korea is striving to rein in household debt, which has grown at a faster clip since 2020 amid nationwide efforts to stimulate the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Household credit reached a record high of 1,805.9 trillion won ($1.53 trillion) in June, up 41.2 trillion won from three months earlier, according to central bank data.

Household debt swelled 7.9 percent on-year in 2020, a faster growth pace than a 4.1 percent hike the previous year. The debt jumped 10.3 percent on-year during the second quarter of this year.

Analysts said households’ debt service burden could rise down the road, weakening consumer consumption and becoming a drag on the recovery of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

The report also showed South Korean companies’ debt ratio coming to 115 percent in the second quarter of the year, the fifth highest among those economies. Hong Kong had the highest ratio with 247 percent, trailed by China with 157.6 percent and Singapore with 139.3 percent.

South Korea’s state debt-to-GDP ratio came to 47.1 percent, 26th among the nations, pointing to its relatively good fiscal soundness. (Yonhap)

Published : November 15, 2021

By : The Korea Herald

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008810

SINGAPORE – E-sports events have the ability to boost tourism as the Republic gradually recovers from the pandemic, says Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng.

Dr Tan, who is also the Minister for Manpower, shared his thoughts on the sport as he graced the conclusion of the $10,000 OUE E-Cities Championships on Sunday (Nov 14), which saw competitors “racing” along a virtual Orchard Road street circuit.

During a panel discussion after the proceedings at The Gym along Jalan Besar, he explained: “The way Orchard Road is transformed into a visually stimulating and adrenaline-pumping race is amazing and (shows) the spirit of creativity.”

He added that organisers could consider showcasing other parts of the island in future editions, saying: “Orchard Road is very iconic, but you can also consider a race up and down Mount Faber… with a nice view of both sides looking over Telok Blangah and the Greater Southern Waterfront.

“You could also try something in the north-east, in Sungei Buloh, have an ‘eco’ kind of thing and introduce a new part of a garden within the city.”

He also welcomed the idea of Singapore hosting e-sports competitions, noting that “in addition to simulated racing, it would be great if we could bring the racers here so that they can all come together when the easing of restrictions come about”.

This year’s event attracted 25 entries from six countries, with the foreign racers competing remotely from their home bases.

E-sports have grown in stature in Singapore in recent years with big-money events such as the US$2 million (S$2.71 million) Free Fire World Series 2021 Singapore and the upcoming US$800,000 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M3 World Championships in December.

Dr Tan felt that such events provide a “tremendous platform for youth engagement”, as they learn teamwork, discipline, focus and control, while increasing opportunities for business development and career paths such as in the areas of software development and coaching.

After half an hour of racing 15 laps, Indonesia’s Andika Rama Maulana claimed the chequered flag and $4,500, while compatriot Presley Martono took second place and $3,000. Singaporean Dillan Tan, 12, was third and bagged $1,500 as well as another $500 for being the fastest qualifier.

Event organisers shared that the circuit will be extended from 3.2km to 5km next year, and have started working on a street circuit in Jakarta.

Legion of Racers and E-Cities Championships co-founder Melvin Moh added that the vision is to take the programme regional and “include the creation of digital twin street circuits in cities around the region”, with a grand finale held in Singapore next year around the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

He added: “We will keep our fingers crossed that travel will be a lot easier by the time next September comes, so we can put together a physical sim racing championship event which brings together the top sim racers from Singapore.”

His team also announced the setting up of Race Box, a motorsports-themed pop-up at Mandarin Gallery, which will open in December and feature sim racing, food and beverage offerings, retail and a sim-racing academy.

Published : November 15, 2021

By : The Straits Times

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008809

Myanmar has seen its foreign trade value decrease by nearly US$310 million over the past one month in the current mini budget period as both export and import decline, according to the figures released by the ministry of commerce.

The foreign trade value was US$2.553 billion from October 1 to November 5 in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, whereas the same period of the previous fiscal saw up to US$2.863 billion in foreign trade value. In comparison with last year, this year saw a decrease of over US$309.766 million.

From October 1 to November 5 this year, export value was just over US$1.3 billion with a decrease of over US$164 million and import value US$1.25 billion with a decrease of over US$145 million.

Myanmar exports agricultural produce, animal products, marine products, mineral products, forest products, finished industrial products (CMP) and other goods. It imports capital goods, raw materials, consumer goods and CMP raw materials.

According to the annual data released by the commerce ministry, the country’s foreign trade value was US$18,045.929 million in 2012-2013 fiscal year, US$27,714.826 million in 2015-2016, US$29,209.607 million 2016-2017 and US$33,578.052 million in 2017-2018.  

Published : November 15, 2021

By : Eleven Media

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008808

BEIJING – Renowned epidemiologist and academic Liang Wannian said Chinas pandemic containment strategy has proved to be effective.

China has successfully contained dozens of sporadic COVID-19 resurgences over the past year or so, ensuring a balance between epidemic prevention and economic development, Liang, professor at Tsinghua University, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He reminded the public to exercise caution against the virus and called for unremitting efforts to prevent both domestic resurgence and imported infections.

Minimizing Adverse Impact

“The COVID-19 pandemic situation across the world remains grave with increasing virus mutations, and there hasn’t been any significant drop in the mortality rate associated with the disease,” Liang said.

Inadequate preventive measures will lead to a resurgence of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the number of severely ill patients and deaths will continue to increase, which was seen in several countries, said Liang, noting that China should stick to its current strategy of clearing COVID-19 infections in a timely manner.

He, however, pointed out that such a mechanism does not equal a zero-tolerance policy against any infections. “The regular prevention measures aim to ensure early detection, swift response, targeted containment, and effective treatment of COVID-19 patients to prevent community infections.”

“This approach can help curb infections and avoid strain on medical resources so as to better serve people’s medical needs while minimizing the impact on social and economic development,” Liang said.

Restoring Normalcy

Liang called for adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures in a scientific way.

Prevention policies should be consistently improved aligning with changes in the epidemic situation, he said, adding that risk grades for COVID-19 infection in different regions should be assigned precisely and properly.

Liang also urged efforts in accelerating vaccine and drug development, as well as strengthening the training on epidemiological investigation, treatment, and management.

While the COVID-19 patients and their close contacts might face inconvenience in the short term, swift containment of outbreaks will only help restore normalcy in the economy and society, he said.

Shedding light on the future of China’s anti-epidemic strategy, Liang said things will depend on multiple factors such as how the COVID-19 situation pans out globally, virus mutation, the seriousness of the disease and China’s vaccination rate.

China’s epidemic prevention policies are constantly evolving, Liang said, noting that the country will be “closely watching the global pandemic situation, accelerate vaccination and adjust policies in due time.”  

Published : November 15, 2021

By : China Daily

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008782

Its always fun to explore a new place, especially if that place has an interesting history or community, or is shrouded in mystery.

And it is even better if you were to go without reading up too much on the destination prior to your visit. Just get basic information like how to get there and where to stay.

Of course, there are many types of travellers: Some would want to know and plan for everything beforehand, while others – like myself – prefer to just… wing it. Fortunately for me, I usually end up getting the best experiences from travelling this way.

One example is when I walked through the Sea Of Trees or Aokigahara in the Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. I was in Tokyo a few days earlier for work, and had extended my stay. From the city, I took a bus to Lake Kawaguchi or Kawaguchiko, which is about two hours away.

Kawaguchiko is near Mount Fuji, and even though I wasn’t going to climb the mountain, I thought it would be a nice place to explore and hike. It was only when I got to the train station at Kawaguchiko, and ruffled through the tourist brochure, that I realised just how close I was to the infamous Aokigahara forest.

OK, cool.

The brochure was very useful and it gave me all the details I needed about hiking to Aokigahara. (Many of us now would just Google or check an app for information, but don’t dismiss the value of a physical tourist brochure, especially if there is no WiFi available in the area!)

I got on the tourist bus that would take me to the starting point of the Aokigahara walking trail, or so I thought. I must have missed the stop because when we got to the end of the route, it did not look like the picture in the brochure. I was the only one left on the bus so I asked the driver, “Aokigahara?”

He looked at me, nodded and pointed at the door.

OK.

There was a visitors’ centre or something at the place, but when I went into the building there was no one around I could speak to.

OK.

I found a trail behind the building that led into the forest. There was a sign in Japanese which I could not read, but since it did not have the “No Entry” symbol on it, I figured it was safe to enter the forest.

The trail was clear and looked like it had been properly built for walking or hiking purposes; it was also big enough for a whole horse carriage to go through.

As I was trying to decide which direction to go, an elderly man and a teenage boy suddenly appeared and the former cheerily said “Ohayo!” (good morning). “Tourist?”

“Yes.”

“OK, enjoy!”

I took another path, one that had a little more light than where the men went. It was a wonderful trail and very easy to navigate, as long as you stayed on the path. Every now and then I came across distance and direction markers, but none were in English. No big deal, I thought, because I seemed to be going the right way… until I came to a section that… felt different.

Suddenly the beautiful forest was all quiet, and I could no longer hear the insects, bugs and small animals. The air also felt… it felt like there was no air, no breeze. Had I accidentally walk over to the “forbidden” part of the forest?

(The forbidden zone is clearly marked, although there is no large barrier – just a rope – that would prevent anyone from walking in.)

I started to get a little paranoid and looked around, but then I didn’t want to “see” anything so I stopped and kept walking instead.

There was more vegetation in this part of the woods, and the tree roots grew everywhere so the path was no longer clear. I had to stop every few meters to make sure I was moving straight forward and not to the left or right.

It was a little eerie but I was mostly afraid of getting lost than anything, as my phone signal was also very weak.

About 20 minutes later, I finally came across a sign nailed to the root of an interesting-looking tree with a pinkish bark. Again, I had no idea what the sign said, but it was a welcome sight nonetheless.

There was a bench nearby so I sat down and took a lunch break. As I was eating, I heard some children laughing in the distance… it was a group of schoolboys and their teachers having a field trip in the forest.

“Konnichi wa!” some of them said as they walked past me, a few bowing their heads.

“Hello!” I replied.

One of the boys stopped, smiled and said, “Good afternoon.”

I continued my walk, all the way to the Saiko Bat Cave Information Centre, which is the actual starting point of the Aokigahara walking trail. I had missed the Bat Cave tour (yes, there are some caves you can explore here), so I went back into the forest to see how much further the trail would take me.

As it turns out, it took me back to where I started. Perfect.

For a pictorial guide on how to get to the Aokigahara walking trail, check out the Yamanashi Prefecture tourist website (shorturl.at/awAJP).

Published : November 14, 2021

By : The Star

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40008781

HÀ NỘI — The rights to music by composer Nguyễn Văn Chung have been brought by Chinese artists, with the intention of re-recording and releasing in the Chinese market. Chung will be the first Vietnamese musician whose songs are copyrighted in China. 

The four hits that Chung has the rights to have sold are: Vầng Trăng Khóc (The Crying Moon), Chiếc Khăn Gió Ấm (The Warm Handkerchief), Bay Giữa Ngân Hà (Flying in the Galaxy) and Đêm Trăng Tình Yêu (Moon Night of Love).

In an interview with Tiền Phong newspaper, the 38-year-old musician said that some singers in China really liked his ballads and wanted to perform them in Chinese.

“My friend introduced me to some Chinese singers who wanted to buy the rights to my songs, so they could adapt them to Chinese, perform, and release them in the Chinese and global markets.

“They also told me I am the first Vietnamese musician whose songs are copyrighted in China,” Chung said.

According to Nguyễn Văn Chung, his songs are loved by many people, perhaps because of their gentle melody and ease of listening.

The HCM City-born composer added that Chinese music producers are also interested in some of his other works, including Mùa Đông Không Lạnh (Winter is Not Cold), Ngôi Nhà Hoa Hồng (House of Roses) and Em Luôn Trong Tâm Trí Anh (You are Always on My Mind).

“I am very happy and proud that my songs are not only well received by the domestic audience, but also by foreigners. The Chinese music market is a big market. The fact that a Vietnamese song is loved there will be an opportunity for many hit songs by other Vietnamese musicians to be known by the global audience,” Chung added.

In 2017 and 2018, the song Nhật Ký Của Mẹ (Mother’s Diary) by Nguyễn Văn Chung, was released in Germany and Japan, to international acclaim. — VNS

Published : November 14, 2021

By : Vietnam News