Over 60% participants believe China’s global influence rising; world concern war, preserving biodiversity, energy & foods crises more than pandemic

 

People celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, on July 1, 2021. Photo: VCG

A survey released on Saturday at the 2023 Global Times Annual Conference showed that more than 62 percent of participants around the globe believe that China's influence is rising, double the number that believes the US' influence is rising, and more people expect that the China-US tension is likely to turn into "conflict" rather than "easing."

On shared global issues, concerns over inflation, war, energy and the food security crisis have surpassed concern over the COVID-19 pandemic, with analysts saying the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the following serious impact to the world economy have brought more urgent problems and impending dangers to the world, while most countries and people are showing less worry toward the impact brought by the pandemic, which is into its third year, as the virus has become less harmful.

The survey is released annually and conducted by the Global Times Research Center. This year, from October 29 to December 6, the survey which covered 30 questions related to China-US relations, global security and development, received more than 36,000 effective samples from 33 countries all over the world including China, the US, Russia, France, the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, India, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea.

Analysts said the survey reflects that the world welcomes and has strong confidence in China's development and Chinese modernization, even though the US and some of its allies are trying to spread the China threat theory, still more and more people are losing faith in the US and globalization that is dominated by US hegemony.

Which is more influential?

On the question "How has the US or China's international influence changed in the recent year?" more than 30 percent among all participants worldwide believe the US' influence is rising, while a similar number of participants believe the US' influence is declining. More than 62 percent believe China's influence is rising.

In countries like Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Austria, Poland and India, more people believe that the US' influence is rising rather than declining. In the US, 32 percent of participants believe their country's international influence is rising while another 32 percent believe the US' influence is declining, while 56 percent believe China's influence is rising.

"Judging from real national strength, the US still has the upper hand in terms of military, economy and science and technology, but if viewing 'international influence' from a perspective of being a leader to represent values shared by humanity, or the popularity and favorability among other countries, the US' influence is certainly decreasing," Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University told the Global Times.

Lü Xiang, an expert on international relations and research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times there are two main reasons why the majority of the participants worldwide believe China's influence is rising - first, China's sustainable and fast development as well as the powerful national strength are most convincing evidence; second, China's ideas for global development and security have been accepted well worldwide.

China's principles of not seeking hegemony and non-interference, as well as standing with developing countries forever, have been set very long ago. When China was a weak and undeveloped country, other countries did not really care about what China said, according to the expert. Today China has become a major world power with undoubted national strength, and more and more countries have found that China keeps its promise of not seeking hegemony, Lü said.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative have continually brought benefits and development to China's partners worldwide, comparing the destructions and instabilities caused by the US hegemony around the globe, it's very natural for the countries around the globe to be more favorable on China's rising influence, Lü noted.

Although more people in African countries like Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, as well as some European countries like Poland and Austria believe the US' influence is rising rather than declining, the vast majority in these countries (from 56 percent in Poland and 70 percent in Austria, to 78 percent in South Africa and 76 percent in Kenya) also firmly believe that China's influence is rising.

For China's rising international influence, Shen said it could be interpreted from two perspectives. One is that countries around the world do have a better impression about China and they hope China will play more important roles in the future as they have benefited from ties with China, or they want China to be more powerful to balance the negative impacts brought by US hegemony, Shen said.

But in some Western countries, especially the US' allies that follow Washington closely, the reason why they believe China's influence is rising is because of the long-existing hyping of the "China threat" theory in their countries, and they are afraid of the rising influence of China as US propaganda tries to shape an aggressive image of China around the globe, Shen noted.

"The US is not in its prime of life, no longer the protagonists of Hollywood action movies who are handsome, elegant, quick in action and reaction. Today's US is like 'a mafia boss in his later years who can barely walk but still holds particularly large power among the gangsters. Today, the US' position is largely determined by the system it built long ago," said Jin Canrong, associate dean of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China.

China-US relations

The survey also shows that the world is concerned about China-US tension. More of the participants in 19 countries, including the US, expect China-US relations to "maintain the status quo."

In China and the US, the survey results show that 45 percent of Chinese participants expect the China-US tension to ease, and 39 percent expect to maintain the status quo, but only 11 percent in the US expect the two sides will see an easing of tensions in the future, and 44 percent of American participants expect the status quo to remain unchanged.

Lü said China does not have an anti-US propaganda now, while all news reports about China-US relations are objectively introducing the facts and also trying to guide the public to understand the China-US relations based on good will. "But in America, the two major parties are trying their best to make China look like an enemy," and to use Sinophobia to cover their incompetence in internal affairs.

"If you read US mainstream media, you will see their reports are hyping and inciting conflict between the US and China every day, whether in politics or the economy, so US politicians and media should be held accountable for the worsening China-US ties that make the world concerned," Lü noted.

Among the samples collected from the 33 countries, 23 percent of them believe that the most likely cause of a potential conflict between China and the US is that "China imposes more retaliation against the US," about 22 percent believe it would be "troublemaking by Taiwan secessionists" and 19 percent consider it would be "the US strengthening its containment strategy against China."

Chinese analysts said it seems like the most realistic task for China and the US in the future is to keep managing their differences and competition to keep the current situation from losing control, and it would be very difficult to completely ease tensions in the short term.

The US elites should be aware of the danger of China-US conflict, especially on sensitive affairs like the Taiwan question, and to what extent the two major powers can avoid conflict depends on the US' attitude toward China. If the US stops its containment strategy, China does not need to retaliate the US at all, experts stressed.

Future globalization

The survey result also shows that the world is increasingly worried about the danger of conflict between the two biggest economies, while most participants around the globe believe that the world needs to find a new or better way to develop globalization. Chinese interviewees are very confident in "achieving satisfactory globalization in the next 10 years" and they are less concerned than other countries' participants on the problems like "war," "prices rising" and "food and energy crises."

Experts said this shows that China has protected Chinese people well when the world is suffering from the turbulence in recent years, so Chinese people have sensed less negative impacts of the current globalization. This also proves that China is qualified to share its wisdom and experiences to the world to overcome common challenges, and the people around the globe expect China to be more active in providing public goods to reform the problematic world order. 

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UN biodiversity deal adopted at COP15 at watershed moment

Pushing forward deal highlights China’s leading role in preserving biodiversity: experts

 

Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu (centre-rignt), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, David Ainsworth (centre-left), Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema (2nd right) and Inger Andersen Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (right) during a plenary meeting at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference, known as COP 15, in Montreal, Canada on Monday. Photo: AFP

 Nearly 200 countries adopted a landmark deal set to reverse environmental destruction and preserve global biodiversity over the next decades at a marathon UN biodiversity summit on Monday.

The successful adoptionof the deal, under China's presidency, signals the country's leading role and commitment in converging and pushing forward global efforts in protecting the world's biodiversity at a watershed moment, said experts.

Now that the targets have been set, what matters most is whether nations follow through, said experts. The thorniest issue is still finance, and experts have called for this burden to fall largely on developed countries, which are equipped with technology and funds to help developing countries.

A UN biodiversity deal, entitled Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and setting the world on the path to recovery, was adopted on Monday at the UN biodiversity conference, COP15, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

"The package is adopted," Chinese Environment Minister Huang Runqiu, the chair of the COP15 nature summit, declared at a late-night plenary session in Montreal as he struck his gavel, sparking loud applause from assembled delegates, the AFP reported.

The framework sets the target of effective conservation and management of at least 30 percent of the world's lands, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans, with emphasis on areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services, according to the final release the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity sent to the Global Times on Monday.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework prioritizes ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories and practices. Currently 17 percent and 10 percent of the world's terrestrial and marine areas respectively are under protection, according to the release.

It also called for the progressive phasing out or reform by 2030 of subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year, while scaling up positive incentives for biodiversity's conservation and sustainable use. The scheme is set to raise international financial flows from developed to developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing states, and countries with economies in transition, to at least $20 billion per year by 2025, and to at least $30 billion per year by 2030.

After the adoption, EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius tweeted, "DEAL Tonight, we make history at#COP15. The Kunming-Montreal deal for Nature & people all over the world. 30% degraded ecosystems on land & sea to be restored by 2030;30% terrestrial & marine areas conserved & managed by 2030."

A statement the UN Development Programme (UNDP) sent to the Global Times on Monday said it welcomes the historic agreement reached at COP15."This agreement means people around the world can hope for real progress to halt biodiversity loss and protect and restore our lands and seas in a way that safeguards our planet and respects the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities," reads the statement.

The agreement reached today in Montreal is a significant breakthrough for biodiversity. It reflects never-before-seen recognition from countries at all income levels that biodiversity loss must be stopped through high-ambition changes to our society's relationship with nature and the way our global economy operates. It also reflects a determination from political leaders around the world to make this happen, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Monday.

After four years of negotiations and 12 years since the last biodiversity targets were agreed in Japan, the Chinese president ofCOP15put forward its recommendations for a final agreement after two weeks of intense negotiations among 196 countries.

Reaching a consensus on global environment issues, such as protecting biodiversity and climate change, were never easy, as nations' interests on those topics always conflicted, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Monday.

"That is why China put forward such a draft that had won wide applause among delegates from so many countries," said Lin. "This can be seen as a remarkable first step toward global biodiversity protection for the next decades, and this has highlighted China's leading role in this field."

Implementation matters

Speaking at a Saturday conference, Huang admitted that the most challenging remaining divergences lie in the financial mechanisms, resource mobilization and the goals of the framework. "Targeting these three problems, we have invited minister-level officials from Rwanda, Chile, Egypt, Germany, Norway and Canada, and have set up three coordination working groups," Huang said.

The final release said by 2030 at least $200 billion per year in domestic and international biodiversity-related funding from all sources - public and private are to be mobilized.

Developing countries previously pushed for half of that̶$100 billion per year̶to flow from wealthy countries to poorer nations, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Lin pointed out that the proposed targets show China's ambition and pragmatism in pushing forward a workable scheme, as setting the financial targets too high may backfire as many developed countries may refuse to pay.

"Setting up an agreement is for everyone to work on. Yet judging by developed countries' blustery promises on climate issues, whether they will pay the money on biodiversity remains questionable, so the final release lowered the target for developed countries to pay at least $20 billion per year by 2025," said Lin.

The developed countries still haven't fulfilled their pledge of providing $100 billion per year for developing countries to tackle climate damage.

Developing nations have limited capacity to achieve goals set at the current stage, thus the financing onus falls largely on those developed countries that have the technology and money to help, said Lin.

Huang Runqiusaid at a conference last week that the most important factor for a successful COP15 is reaching a framework of protecting biodiversity. What kind of framework is successful depends not only on how much we have agreed, but also how much we will realize, said Huang.

As presidency of the conference, China hopes that all the goals and promises are acceptable to all participants, and will endure the test of time, said the Chinese environment minister. He hoped that both developed and developing countries will feel they have fulfilled their promises by 2030, and only those goals and promises can be counted as a real success. 

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5:14 PM · Dec 20, 2022 from Kuala Lumpur City, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory

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Breaking boundaries: VR solutions to real problems

Whether it’s treating phobias, rehabilitating patients or raising safety standards, virtual reality has become a terrific tool for overcoming the obstacles posed by the real world.

 

Vr makes it practical to enact scenarios that would be impossible or too expensive to do in real life, reducing hassle for users while also cutting costs and saving time. The pods blast air and physically move in multiple directions to make the Vr experience more immersive. — 123rf.com — Photos: angelin yeoh/the Star

IMAGINE you are flying on a plane when the sky grows dark, the weather becomes increasingly turbulent, the plane starts to shake, and your seat rattles violently.

While it would be distressing for anyone, it could be too much to handle for someone with a fear of flying.

However, putting them in such a situation under the supervision of a specialist may help them overcome their phobias.

Tanjina Ashraf Khan, CEO and founder of Mentcouch, a psychology centre in Kuala Lumpur, calls it exposure therapy and recommends it for those who want to overcome their extreme sense of fear over an object or situation.

She says that as they work with a therapist to learn how to deal with their anxiety, they will be gradually exposed to their phobias.

“What we want to see during the sessions is the person developing less anxiety toward their fears. We start with a scale of one to 10.

“At the beginning, they may rate their anxiety level as nine. When it gets to a six, that is progress,” she shares.

However, she says exposure therapies are difficult to conduct physically. For example, if a client has a fear of snakes or cockroaches, it’s not realistic to bring those elements into the room.

Enacting certain scenarios, such as getting on a plane, could also be costly.

“It could also be unsafe for the client if they suffer from severe panic attacks on the plane. We may have to request an emergency landing,” Mentcouch managing director Justin Kung adds.

This was the impetus for using virtual reality – just by putting on a VR headset, a person can be “transported” to a different place or situation safely.

“Most importantly, we can assure them that they are in control,” Tanjina says.

She explains that clients typically spend up to 30 minutes in VR while being monitored on a computer by a trained therapist.

Kung says: “We can communicate with them by giving visual commands. This way, they can stay immersed in the environment without too much outside interference.”

Mentcouch counsellor Syahirah Husna says: “We will typically take a break for 10 minutes and assess their anxiety level and talk about relaxation techniques such as deep breathing.

“When they are ready to continue, they can practise the techniques they’ve learned in their chosen environment.”

Apart from overcoming phobias, Mentcouch is using VR as part of its therapy for stress relief, in which an individual would be guided through techniques like muscle relaxation in a soothing virtual environment like a beach or forest.

“Some people have trouble concentrating during therapy, as they will be stressed thinking about work or what the traffic will be like when it’s time to go home,” she says, adding that such sessions will help them become more mindful and calm.

Kung agrees, saying, “They feel that with VR, less effort is required to help them relax.”

Raising the bar

Over at Taman Desa in KL, chartered physiotherapist Lian Yunperng is using VR as part of physiotherapy treatments, describing the virtual world as a “form of distraction from pain”.

“We recommend this specifically for people recovering from a stroke or those who may be living with chronic pain.

“They may find it difficult to lift an object due to their condition, so we help them achieve upper-limb movement by practising using VR,” says Lian, who owns and operates Ace Physiotherapy.

Lian starts a session by securing the headset for the patient and adjusting the focus so they can see clearly. Patients are not required to walk and will largely be sitting down.

“I will be guiding them throughout the process as I can view what they are seeing on my smartphone.

“The sensors will track their hands and they will be able to perform movements such as picking up an object like a stone or throwing a ball in the virtual environment,” he says.

They may also be tasked with completing a block puzzle. It starts off with three blocks, with the number of blocks and complexity increasing as the patient progresses.

Each VR session typically lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and after undergoing training for three months, Lian will measure patients’ progress by checking their muscle power.

“For severely debilitated patients, we hope to see improvements, including being able to perform movements such as making a fist, moving their fingers or lifting their wrist,” he says.

Lian first integrated VR as part of his physiotherapy services back in 2019 – while exploring ways to improve his services, he stumbled upon a crowdfunding campaign for a VR headset.

“The product was geared for gaming, but I was inspired by the possibilities and started to look into how I could use VR for rehab,” he says.

He eventually decided to go with Oculus after testing several products and finding apps that he felt would be suitable for his physiotherapy plan.

“The headset is light and portable. I don’t need cables (it uses a rechargeable battery) or to carry extra equipment such as monitors.

“I can get it ready in 10 minutes by using my phone and not waste my patient’s time,” he says.

Lian is careful not to introduce VR to patients without first assessing their suitability.

“They must not have conditions like epilepsy or severe balance issues. If they feel dizzy while using VR, then the treatment will cease,” he says.

The feedback for incorporating VR as part of the physiotherapy treatment has been encouraging, saysLian, adding that most patients were open to it.

“They get to try something new and there’s a fun element to it,” he says.

Training tech

Fun is the last thing on the minds of workers at the Genting Tunnel East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) construction site in Bentong, Pahang, as they have to be on their toes to stay safe and minimise risks.

“Safety is a priority for everyone. It is compulsory to attend safety training due to the exposure to various types of hazards,” says Datuk Osman Haron, the health, safety and environment director for China Communications Construction ECRL, the main contractor for the ECRL project owned by Malaysia Rail Link (MRL).

To improve and enhance safety awareness levels at the site, the company said it set up a VR Safety Experience Hall to allow its workers to learn about safety in a more immersive environment.

It has two VR safety experiences, the first being a VR pod that simulates the experience of a fast-moving vehicle.

In a demo, the pod simulated a bumpy cart ride with tight turns and steep slopes in a snowy mountain that was made more real by its ability to blast air and physically move in multiple directions.

“There are trainings to simulate car crashes and falling from great heights. The experiences are meant to serve as reminders to workers to always perform safety checks when on site and to equip themselves with the required gear,” Osman adds.

The other VR service gives the worker freedom of movement within a designated area, allowing him or her to pick up tools and operate them in a virtual world. Depending on the chosen scenario – it’s claimed to offer up to 100 options, including one that was inspired by real construction tragedies in China – the dangers they face will be different. 

Workers may find themselves operating a crane, only for the hosting cable to snap and injure others, or drilling in a tunnel while standing on an unsteady platform that would break.

After each experience, a pop-up will show the actions that led to the mishap.

For example, in the first scenario, the cable could have snapped because no prior inspection was conducted to ensure all equipment was in order, and in the second, it could be due to workers not wearing safety harnesses and the scaffolding not being built according to safety standards. “

Typically, workers would have to sit through hour-long briefings on safety and they may not retain all the information due to the static setting.

“By experiencing what could happen if they are not aware of precautionary measures with VR, it will be a more beneficial learning experience,” Osman says.

Untapped uses

Osman admits, however, that VR can’t replace all aspects of safety training, as practical experience is still an important aspect.

For example, workers have to learn how to operate machinery in real life so that they can feel the “weight” and how objects move in certain weather conditions.

“For some aspects of safety training, we try to find ways to combine it with VR, as it has the advantage of helping workers fully visualise situations,” he says.

He adds that VR also helps to remove constraints such as the need to be in various locations and facilities for training.

“We’ve had issues where training could not be conducted because the trainer was not there.

“But with VR, there is no such issue. We can also upgrade the software with new experiences to keep our workers updated with new safety guidelines when they move to a new site,” he says.

Meanwhile, Tanjina says that with VR “moving fast”, she sees the potential of it being used for online sessions with both the therapist and patient appearing as 3D avatars.

What’s crucial now, she says, is to create more awareness about the benefits of VR and other forms of technology in mental health treatment.

“People were not open to technology being used as part of mental health treatment until the pandemic opened opportunities for people to try online therapy.

“The biggest hurdle is helping more people become aware of the benefits of technology in certain aspects,” she says.

Lian agrees, saying that people have to be more open to trying new forms of tech for physiotherapy treatment.

He claims that robotics, such as an exoskeleton, can be incorporated into rehabilitation therapies, and that an Ai-powered device is being developed to assist stroke patients in performing movements.

“I encourage people to think outside the box and not be limited to what they have learned in university.

“Go to expos and conferences to learn about tech advancements in health. I would also advise them to look into the science and research behind it,” he says.

Osman adds that, in addition to VR, the company is relying on technology such as drones to monitor remote areas that are difficult to access by humans.

“We are closely following the development of technology in various fields to see how it can be implemented.

“Technology is very much an important aspect of what we do,” he says. 

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US is like 'a mafia boss in his later years': expert at GT annual conference

 Photo: Global Times

 

If the US really acts wildly on China over the Ukraine issue, Chinese people will just face it

 

 China-US ties in uncertainty for next 10 years, hit by Russia-Ukraine conflict: observers

  As the Russia-Ukraine conflict aggravated bloc confrontation and has impacted China-US relations, bilateral ties will likely remain in "a turbulent state of uncertainty" for the next five to 10 years until the power comparison of the two countries becomes more balanced, Chinese foreign policy scholars said at the 2023 Global Times Annual Conference. 

Russia-Ukraine conflict is not only the biggest international political event this year, but the biggest since the end of the Cold War. It has crippled the very foundation of the American system, Jin Canrong, associate dean of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, said when addressing the 2023 Global Times Annual Conference. 

Answering the question at the conference as to what impact the Russia-Ukraine conflict has had on China-US relations, Jin said "it will certainly have an impact on China-US relations, but to what extent it will have an impact is hard to judge as the conflict remains ongoing and will probably last two or three more years."

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has shocked the very foundation of the American system, a system that we have to admit we have lived under since the end of the Cold War. But the US is not what it used to be, Jin told the audience.

"The US is not in its prime of life, no longer the protagonist of movies like 007 who are handsome, elegant, quick in its action and reaction. Today's US is like a mafia boss in his later years, can barely walk but still holds particularly large power. Today, US' position is largely determined by its system," Jin said.

Jin noted that the US system creates a world market system, full of opportunities, which lures people in and then controls them by all means. On the surface, financial hegemony, high-tech monopoly, pricing power, international rules, procedures, media appear to be under US control, but in fact, violence is its basic method used in controlling the world.

PLA Navy rear admiral Yang Yi said at the annual conference that as time goes by, maybe 10 years later when the China-US power comparison becomes more balanced, bilateral relations may shift toward a relatively stable status.  

Yang said the dirty tricks used by the US to contain China are useless. "They cannot stop China's development, nor can they stop the narrowing of gap between China's comprehensive national strength and that of the US." 

Some other experts shared their opinions on the China-US relations. They agreed that the China-US relation is still a bilateral question but it must be seen as part of a larger global confrontation, under the influence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

He Weiwen, a former senior trade official and an executive council member of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, said that under the strong push of the US, the world has been divided into two camps: Western and non-Western groups. 

"Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, the US has maliciously tied China and Russia up. Washington used sandbox maneuvers and planned to impose crippling sanctions on China, as it has on Russia. The reason why it has not been implemented is that the US has no grip on China," He noted.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis has brought back and highlighted bloc politics confrontation with the US and NATO on the same line and those disapproving them in the other side, said Fang Ning, a research fellow at the Institute of Political Science from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Geopolitical factors have been placed in an unprecedented important position in bilateral relations which may lead to major confrontation. "Despite that the bottom line for the two sides is to avoid moving toward major confrontation, I have doubts over how much risk will be mitigated," said Huang Renwei, executive vice dean of Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance.

The Ukraine crisis has become a trap for both the US and China on the Taiwan question. The US is worried about the recurrence of what happened in Ukraine and has accelerated military aid to the island while China is alert to a series of US' provocations on the Taiwan question, Huang said. 

Fang pointed out the biggest effect of the crisis on China is that it added uncertainty to the national reunification. "Countries and regions around the Taiwan Straits including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam are assessing the question, choosing sides and even taking action as we can see Japan has made the quickest reaction."  

Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times annual conference that the saying "today's Ukraine is tomorrow's Taiwan" has become very popular in the West but the fact is that Ukraine and Taiwan are two completely separate and fundamentally different issues. 

Yang said the National Defense Authorization Act that passed on December 15 by US Senate proposes to learn from the model of Ukraine, improve the so-called resilience of the Taiwan military by means of military aid, military training and intelligence support, and strengthen the island's so-called self-defense capability against the People's Liberation Army.

Yang also believes the Russia-Ukraine crisis will have a profound influence on China-US relations in the future. He explained that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine comes at a time when the original European security order has failed, and the new order has not yet emerged. Different outcomes of the conflict will lead to different security orders and security rules in Europe, which will inevitably spill over into the international community.

Shen Dingli, a professor from Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said although China hopes that the bilateral relationship will move toward common cooperation, the fact is that relations between China and the US are highly strained and heading toward unprecedented, multi-dimensional and large-scale competition.

"Over the next five to 10 years, the relationship between China and the US will remain in a turbulent state of uncertainty," Shen said. 

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Malaysian judicial appointments need reforms

All for equal justice: Tuanku Muhriz (right) holding a copy of the ‘Upholding The Federal Constitution: The Judicial Thoughts of Datuk Seri Hishamudin Yunus’ with the author Hishamudin at the book launch. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star 

 

KUALA LUMPUR: A more diverse and independent mechanism can be introduced when it comes to the selection of the five eminent members of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), says the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan.

Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir said the persons selected must not only be independent from any form of political influence, but also be inclusive, reflecting the diversity of our multi-racial society and the composition of the Federation, namely the Peninsular Malaysia states, Sabah, and Sarawak.

“The inclusion of members from diverse and independent backgrounds will allow more stakeholders to be represented, thus broadening the expertise in the judicial appointment process whilst maintaining the commission’s independence,” he said in his royal address at the official launch of Upholding The Federal Constitution: The Judicial Thoughts Of Datuk Seri Hishamudin Yunus here yesterday.

Also present at the event was Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat

The Negri Sembilan Ruler also reminded the audience of his recent address as the Chairman of the 260th Ruler’s Conference, where he emphasised the need to reform the existing judicial appointment process.

Tuanku Muhriz said while the main intention of the commission is to uphold the independence of the judiciary, it appears that its governing provisions may not be in accordance with such intent.

“As it stands, the prime minister appoints five of the nine members of the JAC.

“Under the Constitution, he also has the final say in the appointment of judges to the superior courts.

“We need to be guided by the principle of separation of powers of the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

“To achieve this, some reforms need to be considered to strengthen the independence of the commission, and ultimately, the judiciary.

“We could introduce diverse and independent mechanisms when it comes to the selection of the five eminent persons on the commission,” he said, adding that he had also been advised that it is equally important for the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 to be made part of the Constitution, and not remain as an Act of Parliament.

“I urge civil society and other stakeholders to take the lead for meaningful discussions to be taken to achieve this aspiration of judicial independence as a means to uphold the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

“Lest we forget, the rakyat go to court to seek and obtain justice.

“Be it a criminal appeal, an appeal against the decision of the government or one of its agencies, or a private matter, the public sees the courts as their avenue to seek justice,” said His Royal Highness.

“It is no surprise that the recent political developments in Malaysia have led to many discourses on the Constitution.

“Matters pertaining to governance of the nation require us to consult and be guided by the Constitution,” he said.

“Our courts have observed that the Constitution is not a mere collection of pious platitudes.

“It is the supreme law of the land embodying three basic concepts, one of them is that the individual has certain fundamental rights upon which not even the power of the state may encroach.

“In this regard, the judiciary has a constitutional role to perform as they are the guardians of the Constitution,” he said.

On the book launch, he applauded Hishamudin, a former Court of Appeal judge, whom he described as someone who has “given his life to many provisions in the Constitution, especially those 10 relating to fundamental rights”.

“His years on the Bench are remembered for his integrity and independence, which paved his unwavering commitment to uphold the supremacy and sanctity of the Constitution,” said Tuanku Muhriz.

He added that Hishamudin’s decisions, including his many significant dissenting judgments are based on his appreciation of the law, where he had elegantly embraced the ever-evolving common law principles and applied them judiciously with the sole aim of delivering justice without fear or favour.

Currently an arbitrator at the KL Regional Centre for Arbitration, Hishamudin, 73, is a law graduate from the University of London who previously served as the Malaysian Court of Appeal Judge, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Senior Federal Counsel, and the President of the Sessions Court.

With 45 years of legal experience, he has written more than 750 judgments in his illustrious career. 

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US succeeds in hypersonic missile test launch, technology China has long mastered

 

 

US succeeds in hypersonic missile test launch, technology China has long mastered

 

Xinhua file photo of a B-52 strategic bomber

 

After a series of failures, the US Air Force on Monday announced that it has finally succeeded in the test launch of its air-launched hypersonic missile, a technology China has long mastered and even put on public display at a recent air show.  

The US’ scheme is to use the hypersonic missile and the recently revealed B-21 stealth bomber to penetrate China’s air defense, but the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has what it takes to defend the country, experts said on Tuesday.

A full prototype of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, also known as the AGM-183A missile, was launched from a B-52 bomber off the coast of California on Friday, and all of the objectives of the test were met, CNN reported on Monday, citing a statement from the US Air Force.

The AGM-183A is a boost-glide missile that uses a booster rocket to accelerate a projectile to hypersonic speeds, before a glide vehicle separates from the booster and uses inertia to travel to its target, CNN said.

The successful test launch of the missile came after a series of failures in testing last year, forcing the Air Force to delay the project at a time when China and Russia have shown advances in their own programs, CNN reported.

During the Airshow China 2022 held in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province in November, the PLA Air Force put on display an H-6K bomber which carried a type of missile  widely believed to be hypersonic.

China also displayed the DF-17 hypersonic boost-glide missile at the National Day military parade on October 1, 2019 in Beijing.

Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile has also been reportedly deployed in combat in the Ukraine crisis.

With China and Russia taking the lead in hypersonic weapons development, the US is hurrying to build ones of its own, with the rush felt in several previous failures, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Compared with its Chinese and Russian counterparts, as well as air-breathing hypersonic missiles, the AGM-183A should not be considered very advanced, the expert said.

On December 2, the US Air Force’s next-generation stealth bomber, the B-21, made its public debut.. The US wants to use the low-end B-52 bomber which cannot penetrate air defense on its own to carry the strongly penetrative, standoff AGM-183A hypersonic missile, and use the high-end B-21 stealth bomber to drop inexpensive munitions within the opponent’s defense lines, Zhang Xuefeng, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times.

Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times that the AGM-183A can be intercepted before it is launched from the B-52, which is a large and slow target that can never be stealth.

Another option, which can also counter the B-21, is to attack bases and airfields where the bombers are deployed, Fu said. 

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MINIMISE THOSE UNSIGHTLY VEINS

 

 

 

Minimise those unsightly veinsVaricose veins cannot be cured, but there are treatments that can reduce their appearance and relieve discomfort.

 

chronic varicose veins cause problems ranging from solely cosmetic – women don’t like how they look – to discomfort to more severe problems such as blood clots and ulcers. — TNS

ONE out of two women and one out of three men have varicose veins.

Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels that appear under your skin’s surface in your lower body.

Blood backs up in your veins when your vein walls are weak and your valves aren’t working properly.

Your legs, feet or ankles will develop blue and purple bulges as a result.

They may be painful or itchy. The spider veins, which often surround varicose veins, are smaller red or purple lines on the surface of the skin.

While varicose veins can be unsightly and uncomfortable, they aren’t dangerous.

However, it is possible for severe varicose veins to cause serious health problems, such as blood clots.

Injections, laser therapy, or surgery can treat most varicose vein symptoms.

What causes them

As blood pressure in your vein increases, the weakened walls of your veins allow your vein to become larger.

When your vein stretches, the valves that keep blood flowing in one direction can’t function properly.

In a sluggish vein, blood pools or backs up, causing your vein to swell, bulge and twist.

Varicose veins can be caused by several factors.

As we age, our vein walls and valves become less efficient. And as the veins age, they become stiffer and lose elasticity.

Vein walls can stretch as a result of female hormones.

Varicose veins are more common in pregnant women, people taking birth control pills, and women going through menopause.

A study published by researchers at the Universitat Leipzig in Germany noted that all of the men in their study with varicose veins had higher levels of estradiol and lower levels of testosterone compared to the men with healthy veins.

In one recent study, regardless of age, the men with varicoceles (an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles) had significantly lower testosterone levels than the men without them.

There is a family history of this condition (it runs in families).

Varicose veins are more likely to develop in people who use tobacco products.

Sometimes, blood vessels are pressed by excess weight (obesity).

Standing or sitting for long periods of time decreases circulation.

Blood flow can be decreased by wearing restrictive clothing, such as girdles or pants with tight waistbands.

Pressure in the veins is increased by certain health conditions, such as severe constipation or certain tumours.

Usually, varicose veins appear as gnarled, blue or purple veins just under the skin’s surface.

Look out for these signs

Symptoms include:

> Bulging veins: Twisted, swollen, rope-like veins are often blue or purple.

They appear just below the surface of the skin on your legs, ankles and feet. They can develop in clusters. Tiny red or blue lines (spider veins) may appear nearby.

> Heavy legs: After physical activity, your legs may feel tired, heavy, or sluggish.

> Itching: Varicose veins may itch around the area.

> Pain: Your legs may be sore, achy, or painful, especially behind your knees. Muscle cramps may also occur.

> Swelling: Your legs, ankles and feet can swell and throb.

> Skin discolouration and ulcers: Leaving varicose veins untreated can cause brown discolourations on the skin.

Venous ulcers (sores) can result from severe varicose veins.

Are varicose veins common?

Varicose veins affect around a third of all adults, and are more common in women than in men.

Spider veins are commonly misdiagnosed as varicose veins, but there is a difference.

Varicose veins are thicker and larger than spider veins, which resemble red or blue spider webs or branches of trees.

They appear close to the skin’s surface.

There is usually no pain associated with spider veins and they can appear behind your knees, on your feet, or on your face.

On the other hand, varicose veins affects only the legs and feet.

They develop on the lower half of the body, usually in the calves, ankles and feet.

Sometimes, varicose veins can develop in the pelvis (pelvic congestion syndrome), especially in women who have had children.

In men, varicose veins in the testicles can cause infertility.

How a diagnosis is made

During a physical examination, healthcare providers can diagnose the condition.

Your veins will be felt and examined while you sit and stand.

Ultrasounds can show how your valves are working and if there are blood clots.

Varicose veins may not be preventable.

By living an active, healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of developing them.

The following measures are recommended by healthcare providers to prevent and treat varicose veins:

> Avoid long periods of standing: If you work on your feet all day, take frequent breaks to stretch and walk around.

> Elevate your legs: Keeping your feet above your waist will increase blood flow to your heart. 

 > Stay active: Avoid sitting for too long and move frequently to improve circulation. 

> Try compression stockings: They compress your veins and help blood circulate, preventing varicose veins from getting worse. > 

Wear clothes that fit properly: Make sure your waistband isn’t too tight to encourage blood flow.

> Maintain a healthy weight: Losing excess pounds reduces blood vessel pressure.

> Quit tobacco use: Smoking damages blood vessels, reduces blood flow, and causes a variety of health problems.  

Treatment options 

Varicose veins cannot be cured, but these treatments can reduce their appearance and relieve discomfort:

> Injection therapy (sclerotherapy): Medical professionals inject a solution into your veins so that the vein walls stick together as a result of the solution.

Eventually, your vein turns into scar tissue and fades away.

> Laser therapy: Endovenous thermal ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that closes off damaged veins with the use of a catheter (a long, thin tube).

> Vein surgery: A vein is ligated or stripped during these procedures to prevent blood from pooling.

The vein may be removed (stripped) to prevent varicose veins from returning.

Do be aware that treatments for varicose veins have side effects.

The side effects associated with sclerotherapy include redness or bruising for a few days where a needle went into your skin; lumps or hardness for a few months; brown areas (for several months) on skin where the needle touched; and the possibility of developing new varicose veins after sclerotherapy.

After endovenous ablation, varicose veins can also occur again in half of the people who have surgical stripping.

Potential side effects of this treatment include injury to a nerve, deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a vein deep inside your body), skin burns, scarring and infection.

Should I just live with it?

Varicose veins aren’t usually dangerous, but you should see your healthcare provider for an examination.

It’s possible to treat varicose veins if you are worried about how they look or if they are uncomfortable. Your provider should be consulted as soon as possible if your skin or veins are painful, red or warm to the touch, swollen, bleeding or discoloured.

Varicose veins affect millions of people.

For most of them, they do not pose a serious health risk.

At-home remedies and lifestyle changes can relieve symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

You can reduce varicose vein pain and improve their appearance with safe and minimally invasive treatments.

Remember that it’s not just you who suffers from this condition.

Sometimes varicose veins can be prevented with improving the levels of testosterone with testosterone replacement therapy.

Understand that despite treatment, varicose veins can return.

If you are not sure which treatment is best for you, speak with your healthcare provider.

by Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a functional medicine practitioner. For further information, email starhealth@thestar.com. my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.