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HCM City one of best cities in Asia for expats: survey (nationthailand.com)

HCM City one of best cities in Asia for expats: survey

Dec 09. 2020HCM City ranked 19th out of 86 cities globally for expats to live and work, according to one survey. Photo courtesy of the city Department of Tourism 

By Viet Nam News/ANN

HCM CITY — HCM City ranked 19th out of 86 cities globally for expats to live and work, and was only surpassed in Asia by Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, according to the Expat City Ranking 2020 by InterNations.

In Asia, Singapore ranked fifth, Kuala Lumpur eighth, Shanghai 21st, Bangkok 30th, Tokyo 53th and Beijing 55th. Hong Kong, once ranked as one of Asia’s top cities to live and work, ranked 57th.

HCM City ranked high in the Cost of Living Index (4th) and the Finance & Housing Index (5th). Nearly three out of four expats (74 per cent) rated the cost of living positively, which is 28 percentage points above the global average (46 per cent). 

“Even though the overall cost of living has increased, it is still affordable,” said an expat from Australia. In fact, about two-thirds (67 per cent) said their disposable household income was more than what they needed to cover expenses (compared to 51 per cent globally). 

In addition, housing is seen as affordable (63 per cent compared to 41 per cent globally) and easy to find as well (88 per cent compared to 55 per cent globally).

Expats said they were satisfied with their jobs in general (6th) and were pleased with the status of the city’s economy (81 per cent compared to 63 per cent globally) and their work-life-balance (72 per cent compared to 64 per cent globally). 

The city was praised for its people’s friendliness, with 79 per cent of expats rating their attitude towards foreign residents as generally friendly and sincere (compared to 66 per cent globally). 

On the downside, the city performed poorly in the Quality of Urban Living Index (55th). It ranked among the bottom 10 worldwide in the Transportation subcategory (60th), as fewer than one in four expats (24 per cent) rated its public transportation infrastructure positively (compared to 66 per cent globally). 

The city also received poor results in the Health & Environment subcategory (59th). Only 27 per cent of expats said they were happy with the city’s urban environment. According to one American expat, the southern metropolis is noisy and polluted, and there are few green spaces. 

HCM City’s ranking dropped this year, after ranking third best city for expats to live and work globally last year.

InterNations, an expat network that publishes annual rankings on the world’s best and worst countries, asked more than 15,000 expats to rank the best cities in the world to live, work and make friends in 2020. They represent 173 nationalities living in 181 countries or territories. VNS  

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China summons US envoy over sanctions, vows countermeasures (nationthailand.com)

China summons US envoy over sanctions, vows countermeasures

Dec 09. 2020

By Zhou Jin
China Daily/ANN

BEIJING – Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang on Tuesday summoned Robert W. Forden, chargé d’affaires of the United States embassy in China, to lodge stern representations over US sanctions on 14 officials of the National People’s Congress over Hong Kong issues. 

China will take reciprocal countermeasures against the US move and will take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, Zheng said.

The US sanctions seriously violated the basic norms governing international relations, interfered in China’s internal affairs, and undermined China-US relations, he said.

China expressed strong indignation and condemnation of the unreasonable and wicked move, he said.

He urged the US to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the decision, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China’s domestic affairs, or it will fully bear serious consequences.

Also on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying urged the United States to withdraw the “erroneous decision” of imposing sanctions on relevant officials of the National People’s Congress (NPC) over Hong Kong issues, vowing “firm and strong countermeasures” against the egregious act by the US side to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

“The above-mentioned move by the US side severely violates basic norms governing international relations, interferes in China’s internal affairs and harms China-US relations,” Hua said.

“The Chinese government and people express strong indignation at and strongly condemn the outrageous, unscrupulous, crazy and vile act of the US side,” she added.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council expressed similar sentiments on Tuesday, calling the US sanctions “hysterical political bullying.”

The move totally violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, said a statement by the HKMAO.

No country would turn a blind eye to actions and activities that jeopardize its national security, and no country would consent to someone who seeks to split the country, subvert state power or collude with external forces holding public office, according to the statement.

The United States itself has long established a well-enforced legal system of safeguarding national security, as well as strict laws and regulations regarding the qualification and oath-taking for its senators and representatives, it said.

Yet, the US side has blatantly slandered, interfered with and suppressed the NPC Standing Committee’s justified actions to improve the legal system supporting the principle of “one country, two systems,” and safeguard national security and the constitutional order in the HKSAR, which are in line with China’s own laws and international practice, said the statement, adding that the actions of the US side are nothing more than double standards and hegemonic logic.

The US side has repeatedly wielded the stick of sanctions, fully revealing the political agenda of some US politicians to disrupt Hong Kong, undermine the practice of “one country, two systems” and contain China’s development, it said.

The repulsive tricks of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his ilk will fade into nothing and simply will not work, the statement noted.

Every so-called sanction imposed by the US side will only strengthen the will of the Chinese people to safeguard their national security, it said, adding that such acts will not shake the Chinese government’s determination and confidence to firmly implement the principle of “one country, two systems,” nor will they stop the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

With Xinhua inputs

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[South Korea] Prime minister declares all-out fight against virus spread in in Seoul, nearby areas (nationthailand.com)

[South Korea] Prime minister declares all-out fight against virus spread in in Seoul, nearby areas

Dec 09. 2020Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presides over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters held at the provincial government office of Gyeonggi Province in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on Wednesday. (Yonhap) 

By The Korea Herald/ANN

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday that the government will concentrate “all of its capabilities” on countering the rapid spread of COVID-19 in and around Seoul.

“(The government) will focus all of its capabilities (in the greater Seoul area),” he said, stressing the significance of turning around the situations in the region where around half of South Korea’s 52-million population reside.

“The trend of COVID-19 spreading in the capital region is very serious,” he said during a government meeting of top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic.

The meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters was held at the provincial government office of Gyeonggi Province in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul.

Since Tuesday, the government has imposed the second-toughest curbs of the five-tiered virus restriction system in Seoul and the nearby city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, which have experienced a rapid climb in new cases, and mid-level restrictions in the rest of the country.

Chung said the government is meticulously planning its vaccine administration program, including the selection of first recipients and the logistics of vaccines, and pledged to do the utmost to administer vaccines to the general public when needed after monitoring the situations in other countries.

President Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, plans to convene an emergency meeting later in the day to review the virus response situation in the capital region, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

The meeting is to take place at the national crisis response center at the presidential compound and attendees will include Noh Young-min, Moon’s chief of staff; Suh Hoon, director of national security; and Health Minister Park Neunghoo. Top officials from the Seoul and Incheon city governments, and the Gyeonggi provincial government will also participate in it through video link. (Yonhap)

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India buys the largest number of Covid-19 vaccine doses in the world (nationthailand.com)

India buys the largest number of Covid-19 vaccine doses in the world

Dec 09. 2020

By Rohini Mohan
The Straits Times/ANN

BANGALORE – India has bought 1.6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, which is more than any other country, according to a global analysis.

Using its massive manufacturing clout, the country purchased 500 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, one billion from the American company Novavax and 100 million doses of the Sputnik V candidate from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, said the USA-based Duke University Global Health Innovation Centre.

India, a middle-income country, bought more doses than high-income countries such as the USA and the UK, and more than the EU as a whole, all of which have in-country vaccine development capacity.

The European Union has pre-booked 1.58 billion doses and the United States 1.01 billion doses.

Before any vaccine candidates have been approved by regulatory agencies, there are confirmed purchases for 7.3 billion vaccine doses, with another 2.5 billion doses under negotiation.

“Many of these countries will be able to vaccinate their entire populations – and some will be able to do so many times over – before billions of people are vaccinated in low-income countries,” said the Duke report.

India’s 1.6 billion doses would cover 800 million people, or 60 per cent of its population. In November, India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said 400 million to 500 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were estimated to be made available for 250 million to 300 million people in India by July-August 2021.

The Duke report explained that rich countries negotiated purchases by investing public funds into vaccine research and development, and by using their purchasing power to strike early deals. Since none of the vaccine candidates has received regulatory approval, the countries hedged their bets by purchasing multiple vaccine candidates, in case some don’t materialise.

As a middle-income country, India has been able to move to the front of the queue by using another strategy: leveraging its large manufacturing infrastructure.

“Countries with manufacturing capacity, such as India and Brazil, have been successful in negotiating large advance market commitments with leading vaccine candidates as part of the manufacturing agreements,” said the Duke report, which was compiled after government officials across the world – including Indian officials – were consulted to explain their high procurement strategy.

India is the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world, making 60 per cent of the global vaccine supply. It is also home to the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine producer.

Of the three vaccine candidates the South Asian country has booked, SII is manufacturing two within India: the Oxford University/Astra-Zeneca vaccine and the Novavax candidate.

Of the 3.73 billion doses of the Oxford and Novavax vaccines purchased by all countries, about 3 billion would be produced by SII.

Russia’s Sputnik vaccine is also being manufactured by Dr Reddy’s Lab in Hyderabad.

India’s two domestic vaccine candidates have also received approval for entering Phase 3 of their clinical trials.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and Gujarat-based Zydus-Cadila “could also add about 400 million doses annually”, said virologist Shahid Jameel, director of the Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, to Press Trust of India.

India’s vaccine distribution strategy is in line with the World Health Organisation’s guidance about priority groups. Accordingly, the first doses will go to frontline workers, healthcare workers, sanitation, emergency services, and security services.

Next to get vaccinated would be those with the highest risk of mortality, that is people with co-morbidities and those older than 65 years of age.

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CE says 4th coronavirus wave ‘worrying’, mulls more stimulus (nationthailand.com)

CE says 4th coronavirus wave ‘worrying’, mulls more stimulus

Dec 08. 2020Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor holds a press conference before the Executive Council meeting at the Central Government Office on Dec 8, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY) 

By China Daily

HONG KONG – Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that the government is mulling to roll out more stimulus aid to bail out affected businesses as her administration further tightened social distancing rules to curb the city’s fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, which she described as “worrying”.

Meeting the press before an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Lam said dine-in service at restaurants would be prohibited after 6 pm while fitness clubs, sports venues, as well as massage and beauty salons would be closed.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said dine-in service at restaurants would be prohibited after 6 pm while fitness clubs, sports venues, as well as massage and beauty salons would be closed

ALSO READ: 29 untraceable cases among 78 new virus infections in HK

Lam said the fourth wave is “very worrying”, citing health data showing that a total of 661 new cases were recorded over the past week, nearing the peak reached during the third wave.

Worse, more patients, who are relatively younger, are in critical condition, she added.

Lam said the measures rolled out last week, including the closure of leisure venues and the ban on groups of more than two people from gathering, did not have a satisfactory effect as many people were seen together on the streets during the weekend.

Citing data on the use of Octopus cards, the city’s major means of transport payment, Lam said there were more people on the streets last weekend than during the height of the third wave.

Many of these people visited restaurants and shopping malls, and therefore, tougher measures are needed, she added.

READ MORE: HK: Free testing for residents at virus-hit public housing block

Sector-targeted handouts will be rolled out to avoid widespread layoffs after the secretary discusses with players from impacted sectors, and details will be later disclosed.

Carrie Lam, HKSAR Chief Executive

Lam said the government was considering a new tranche of subsidies to bail out affected businesses, especially entertainment venues that were closed due to the pandemic. 

“The Financial Secretary will be instructed to introduce support measures as some premises are to be shut down under the latest social-distancing guidance,” Lam said. “Sector-targeted handouts will be rolled out to avoid widespread layoffs after the secretary discusses with players from impacted sectors, and details will be later disclosed.”

As the government continues to pump money into financial rescue packages, it now forecasts the budget deficit in this fiscal year will soar from the original HK$139.1 billion to a record high of over HK$300 billion (US$38.7 billion).

The government has already allocated more than HK$300 billion to shore up the beleaguered economy roiled by the novel coronavirus outbreak, accounting for 11 percent of the city’s gross domestic product. Fiscal reserves have dwindled to HK$800 billion, equivalent to 13-14 months of government spending, the same level as during the SARS outbreak in 2003, Chan told the Legislative Council’s Panel on Financial Affairs on Monday.

While the city’s economic recession may still linger for some time, US-based credit rating company Fitch Ratings said the Hong Kong economy will gradually recover due to the strong growth of the mainland economy.

“Economic activities in Hong Kong will be supported by strong growth in the Chinese mainland. Export and import activities will resume growth and certain segments of the tourism sector will recover through the implementation of travel bubbles. The city’s economic recovery will also be supported by its prudent public finances,” Fitch Ratings said.

ALSO READ: HK reports 100 new virus cases, revives ban on evening dine-in

Regarding the new cluster in Kwai Shing West Estate, Lam said the Executive Council would amend government regulations so that people subject to mandatory testing will not be allowed to leave designated areas. 

A total of 15 cases involving eight units on the fifth floor of the public housing estate’s Block 8 had already been reported as of Monday. 

Residents living on the same floor will be issued quarantine orders and will be transferred to quarantine centers to stop the spread of the virus, the government said in statement on Monday night. Other Block 8 residents can still get free specimen bottles from a mobile station set up by the government at the estate.

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VN promotes digital transformation to develop ASEAN into a start-up centre (nationthailand.com)

VN promotes digital transformation to develop ASEAN into a start-up centre

Dec 08. 2020

VNPT and VCCI have signed a deal to support the domestic enterprises in implementing digital transformation. — Photo courtesy of VNPT 

By Vietnam News

Viet Nam has carried out digital transformation programmes for enterprises and dialogues between companies and senior leaders of ASEAN countries to turn the bloc into a hub for innovative and sustainable start-up development.

These activities also accelerate digital transformation and technology start-up development in ASEAN, according to the Ministry of Information and Communication.

ASEAN countries have an advantage with about 60 per cent of the population under 35 years old, promising strong start-up potential. Therefore, as Chairman of ASEAN 2020, Viet Nam has organised the ASEAN Startup Forum to discuss promoting start-up co-operation in the bloc.

Ngo Dien Hy, general director of VNPT Information Technology Company (VNPT-IT), said the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication Corporation (VNPT) and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have signed a deal to support the domestic enterprises in implementing digital transformation.

Per the agreement, VNPT will work with VCCI and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) to implement the Digital STARS Showcase 2020 project, which aims to build a network connecting technology start-ups in ASEAN to create opportunities to exchange experience, expand partnerships and promote digital transformation.

Pham Dinh Doan, an ASEAN BAC member, said Digital STARS Showcase 2020 also includes innovative and practical digital transformation solutions for firms to upgrade their business models and participate in the digital economy, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Digital STARS Showcase 2020 has had more than 100 solutions from large companies and potential start-ups since it was launched in September.

The system of those solutions is expected to expand to other ASEAN countries to build a common database on regional digital transformation.

At present, digital transformation models are creating convenient services. However, this kind of model also brings difficulties for local start-ups because it fundamentally changes the traditional business model and poses new challenges.

To survive and thrive in an age of constantly changing technology, domestic start-ups must change because they could be eliminated if they are slow to carry out digital transformation.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said they should choose small projects for digital transformation. That would reduce damages and take experiences to implement the digital transformation for larger projects.

Besides smart technology, the key of digital transformation is to change the people, mindset and culture of a start-up, Duy said.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still complex and harming business activities in the ASEAN region.

However, according to a report on digital transformation supporting enterprises amid COVID-19 published by the VCCI and VNPT, the pandemic is driving domestic enterprises to promote digital transformation.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has requested the Government to issue a plan to ensure cyber information security for 2021-2025.

The Government is also required to strictly manage foreign digital platforms, promote the development of social networks in the country and issue an e-Government Development Strategy.

By 2021, Viet Nam is hoped to have basically complete national databases and build platforms to promote national digital transformation.

The Ministry of Information and Communications will issue solutions to support and accelerate digital transformation, especially digital transformation in enterprises.

Over the past time, Vietnamese enterprises have mainly applied digital transformation for management, logistics and marketing activities but not much for production, according to some experts.

Enterprises have gradually improved to carry out digital transformation, but the transformation is basic. The digitalisation rate in products and services is still low due to barriers like high cost, lack of infrastructure for digital transformation, corporate data leakages and a lack of qualified workers.

Therefore, besides developing infrastructure, the Government needs to give financial support for local enterprises in implementing digital transformation and justify rules about data management. — VNS

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Singapore to host World Economic Forum in May next year (nationthailand.com)

Singapore to host World Economic Forum in May next year

Dec 08. 2020The World Economic Forum will be held in Singapore from May 13-16, 2021.PHOTO: EPA-EFE 

By Straits Times

SINGAPORE – Singapore will host the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting next May, which will see top political, business and academic leaders gather to discuss pressing global issues.

Announcing its decision to shift the annual forum from Switzerland in view of the Covid-19 situation in Europe, the WEF said last night that the meeting in Singapore “will be the first global leadership event to address worldwide recovery from the pandemic”.

The WEF said it decided Singapore was best placed to host the meeting in the light of the current Covid-19 situation worldwide.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said on Monday (Dec 7) that the WEF’s decision reflects its confidence in the country’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and will also boost the Republic’s meetings and conferences sector.

Singapore had two community cases in the past week.

Said WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab: “A global leadership summit is of crucial importance to address how we can recover together.

“The Special Annual Meeting 2021 will be a place for leaders from business, government and civil society to meet in person for the first time since the start of the global pandemic. Public-private cooperation is needed more than ever to rebuild trust and address the fault lines that emerged in 2020.”

Hosting the WEF will give a boost to Singapore’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) sector and other sectors like hospitality, said MTI.

The annual forum saw about 3,000 participants gather in Davos in January.

It will be held from May 13 to 16 next year, before returning to Davos, Switzerland, in 2022.

The annual forum will – in a first – include a virtual component to allow greater participation amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said MTI.

This is only the second time the WEF meeting will be held outside of Switzerland since it began in 1971, and the first time it will be held in Asia. The 2002 edition was held in New York, to show solidarity with the United States and the people of the city after the Sept 11 terror attacks the year before.

During the usual “Davos week” next year, the forum will hold a virtual event from Jan 25 to 29. It will also host a global technology governance summit in Tokyo in April, said the WEF.

The MTI stressed that the health and safety of the local community and event attendees will be its “foremost priority”.

Singapore has successfully rolled out new protocols at large-scale meetings and conferences like the Singapore International Energy Week, it noted. These protocols include on-arrival tests, pre-event and periodic antigen testing, as well as contact tracing.

“All international conferences held in Singapore will similarly adhere to strict public health and safety measures,” MTI said.

In a Facebook post last night, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said the WEF’s decision “speaks volumes of the international community’s trust and confidence in Singapore’s handling of the pandemic thus far”.

Singapore looks forward to supporting the WEF in its efforts to effect positive change globally via dialogue and engagement, he added.

“May we be a positive example of how to resume economic activities safely and sustainably,” Mr Chan said. “Successful execution of such high-level meetings will help re-establish ourselves as a premier global business hub.”

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Suga Cabinet’s approval rating falls to 61% amid virus surge, Go To woes (nationthailand.com)

Suga Cabinet’s approval rating falls to 61% amid virus surge, Go To woes

Dec 08. 2020

By The Yomiuri Shimbun
The approval rating for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Cabinet has fallen by 8 percentage points to 61% from the previous month, while the disapproval rating has risen by 5 points to 27%, apparently influenced by a sharp increase in the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus, a nationwide poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun between Friday and Sunday showed.

Asked about Go To Travel, the government’s domestic travel support campaign, respondents who said that the campaign “should continue” stands at 21%, while 57% said it “should be suspended temporarily” and 20% said it “should be ended,” showing nearly 80% of respondents consider the campaign in a negative light.

About 49% of respondents said the government’s overall handling of the coronavirus is unfavorable, up 10 percentage points from the previous poll taken between Nov. 6-8, while 42% of them viewed it favorably, down 14 percentage points.

The poll also found that 67% of respondents said that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s responsibility is “grave” for his explanation made in the Diet that there were no expenses whatsoever made by his support organization in connection with the allegation that the organization covered part of the expenses for a dinner party it hosted on the eve of cherry-blossom viewing events hosted by Abe.

It also found that 72% of respondents said Abe should explain himself regarding this matter, while 24% said he does not have to do so.

Regarding the effort made by mobile phone operators that have announced their lowered fee plans in response to the government’s request, 50% of respondents said their effort is “insufficient,” while 39% said it is “sufficient.”

When asked which party respondents support, 42% said the Liberal Democratic Party, down from 48% previously, 5% said the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, up from 4% previously, while 40% said no particular party, up from 36%.

In response to a question about people taking trips or visiting relatives in their hometown during the New Year’s period, 75% of respondents said “people should refrain from doing so as there is a danger of spreading infections,” considerably surpassing the 23% who said “there would be no problem as long as people thoroughly take measures to prevent the infection.”

In the poll taken from Aug. 7 to 9, when the country was hit by a second wave of infections, 76% of respondents said people should refrain from making similar visits to hometowns during the Bon Festival holidays, while 22% said there was “no problem” in doing so.

By region, the percentage of respondents who said people should refrain from taking New Year’s trips or visits stands in the 80% range in the Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions, and in the 70% range for other regions. By age, 65% of respondents 18-39 said so, 72% of respondents 40-59 said likewise, and 85% of respondents 60 and over said so.

After the passage of a vaccination-related law on Dec. 2, residents are eligible to be administered with a free vaccine, when one becomes available. When respondents were asked whether they want to be vaccinated, 15% said they want to be vaccinated immediately, while 69% said they would like to but not in a hurry, and 15% said they do not want to be vaccinated.

Asked about respondents’ fear of becoming infected with the virus and developing serious symptoms by taking trips or making hometown visits during the New Year’s period, 23% said they are worried about it greatly, while 50% said they are to some degree. The combined 70% is almost unchanged from the poll taken in August.

Responses were obtained using the random digit dialing method from 536 of 917 randomly selected households with eligible voters and 538 of 1,194 mobile phone numbers called for a total of 1,074 responses.

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Trump’s defense chief to visit Manila for ‘meet and greet’ with PH execs (nationthailand.com)

Trump’s defense chief to visit Manila for ‘meet and greet’ with PH execs

Dec 08. 2020

MANILA, Philippines—Acting US Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller will visit the Philippines on Tuesday (Dec. 8) in an apparent attempt to highlight Southeast Asia’s importance to the United States.

Miller was appointed by outgoing US President Donald Trump to replace Mark Esper last Nov. 9 following a fallout between Trump and Esper over the use of soldiers to quell protests in the US.

The Philippines will be Miller’s next stop after Indonesia. It would be his first trip as acting US defense chief to Manila.

He is also scheduled to visit the US-Indo Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, according to reports.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. would meet Miller. “It’s just a meet and greet,” Lorenzana told INQUIRER.net partly in Filipino.

A Philippine official privy to the meeting said the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the South China Sea will be on the agenda of the meeting with Miller.

The Philippines suspended the effectivity of its termination of the VFA with the United States last month, but negotiations continue for a long-term arrangement.

Locsin and Lorenzana, who pushed for a review of the VFA rather than its outright termination, earlier said that the Philippines’ other bilateral agreements with the US cannot be implemented without the VFA, which provides the legal framework.

President Rodrigo Duterte scrapped the VFA last February in response to the revocation of the US visa of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, his former police chief who led his war on drugs.

In June, the Philippines backtracked from the termination that was supposed to take effect in August due to “political and other developments in the region.” The suspension “shall continue for 6 months.”

But in November, the Philippines said the suspension of the termination will be extended by another six months. This will give the new US administration under Joe Biden, who will assume on Jan. 20, more time to negotiate a more stable arrangement.

The Philippines and US share concerns on China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea.

Miller’s trip to Manila follows other senior US officials’ visit in the past weeks—National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett.

O’Brien had promised that the Philippines could count on the US when push comes to shove in the South China Sea.

“We got the Philippines’ back when it comes to the South China Sea,” he said, reiterating a statement made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s during his Manila visit in 2019.

O’Brien said his visit to the Philippines meant that US foreign policy would stay the same regardless of who occupies the White House.

“We’re here to let people in Asia know, especially our close friends like the Philippines know, America’s not leaving, we’ve got your back,” O’Brien had said.

“We’re here and whatever happens in the domestic politics of the United States, this is a critical alliance for us,” O’Brien added.

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Joint efforts urged to mend Sino-US ties (nationthailand.com)

Joint efforts urged to mend Sino-US ties

Dec 08. 2020

By China Daily

Foreign minister emphasizes that the door for dialogue between Beijing, Washington is open

China and the United States should work together to seek a resumption of dialogue, put bilateral ties back on track and rebuild mutual trust in the next phase, and Beijing expects and believes that Washington’s China policy will regain objectivity and rationality sooner or later, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Wang made the remark in a videoconference on Monday with board members of the US-China Business Council, which includes executives of some leading US businesses such as General Motors, FedEx, Visa and Qualcomm.

The top priority for both sides is to rule out various disturbances and resistance and to achieve a smooth transition for China-US ties, Wang said when noting the serious difficulties clouding the relations in recent years.

The bilateral relationship is at a critical historical juncture, Wang said, and he mentioned President Xi Jinping’s recent congratulatory message to US President-elect Joe Biden, which highlighted the significance of promoting the healthy and stable growth of ties.

The root problem of the relations’ serious situation is that some people in the US cannot break from an outdated Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, meaning they view China’s development and China-US relations as part of a zero-sum game, he said.

Such people regard China as a rival or even an enemy, and they attack the system and path chosen by the Chinese people, attempt to contain China in every way, and even agitate for “decoupling” and a “new cold war”, which is a mistake in terms of history, direction and strategy, Wang added.

China has always adhered to peaceful development, he said. It is determined to embark on a path of revitalization that features win-win cooperation with other countries, and this is why it expects and believes that US policy toward China will shift back to objectivity and rationality sooner or later, he added.

Wang said the door for dialogue is always open. Beijing and Washington should begin to have talks at all levels, with the ability to put any issue on the table, whether it be a strategic, an overall or a long-term one, or a need to discuss a specific issue, so as to seek breakthroughs and solutions and build trust, Wang said.

In view of possible bilateral cooperation in the next stage, Wang named three promising areas: the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery and climate change.

China is ready to further its support for the fight against the virus in the US within its capabilities, and the two sides can strengthen economic and trade cooperation, restart macroeconomic policy dialogue and coordination, consider resuming negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains afloat and contribute to the economic recovery of the two countries and the world, Wang said.

In response to allegations that China takes advantage of the US in trade and economic areas, Wang pointed to the fact that there are more than 70,000 US enterprises investing in China, 97 percent of which are profitable.

Most of these enterprises are more profitable in China than their branches outside China, he added.

Economic cooperation has created about 2.6 million jobs for the US, he added.

Wang urged the two countries to ensure mutual respect in three areas. They should respect each other’s historical and cultural heritage, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and respect the system and path adopted by their peoples.

Both countries should seek and expand consensus through proactive communication, and problems that cannot be solved in a short time should be controlled first in a constructive manner to avoid escalation and negative impacts on overall relations, Wang said.