Day: February 22, 2023

Rohingya Doctoral Candidate Helps Earthquake Victims in Turkey

Chin@Strategy

WASHINGTON —  Residents along the Turkey-Syria border were just beginning to return home to inspect the damage from the massive Feb. 6 earthquake when another tremor struck this week, said Myanmar psychology student Aung Naing Shwe, who is in the region serving as a humanitarian aid volunteer. “It went on for what felt like 10 minutes,” Aung said in a Zoom interview with VOA from Hatay, the city hit hardest by the earlier quake. “We looked on in shock as we saw debris caused by collapsed structures, women crying and…

US, Taiwan Officials Conclude Substantial Talks on Security Issues

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state department —  Senior officials from the United States and Taiwan have concluded discussions on a range of “security and diplomatic” issues, including the situation across the Taiwan Strait, tensions between the U.S. and China amid Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, high-level visits between Washington and Taipei, and Taiwan’s outreach to European nations that also face threats from Russia, a diplomatic source told VOA on Wednesday. The substantial U.S.-Taiwan high-level meetings followed consultations between the two hosted by American Institute in Taiwan on Jan. 6. FILE – The American Institute in…

Putin and Biden Shore Up Alliances in Dueling Appearances

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WARSAW — In a day of dueling efforts to shore up allegiances, President Biden wrapped up a three-day trip to Europe Wednesday with a promise of America’s commitment to its allies as President Vladimir V. Putin warmly welcomed China’s top diplomat to Moscow and rallied pro-war Russians. With the anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine approaching, Mr. Biden met in Warsaw with leaders from NATO’s eastern flank, acknowledging that “you know better than anyone what’s at stake in this conflict, not just for Ukraine, but for the freedom of democracies…

Back-to-back patriotic February holidays prove exhausting ordeal for North Koreans

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North Koreans have come to dread February because of back-to-back patriotic holidays that require them to attend a seemingly endless stream of propaganda lectures, political events and commemorative performances in the days leading up to them, sources in the country tell Radio Free Asia. Feb. 8 is the anniversary of the formation of the Korean People’s Army, which this year ended with a huge military parade in Pyongyang. As soon as that’s over, preparations begin for the next holiday eight days later, the “Day of the Shining Star” – the…

Lawmakers Return From Taiwan Clamoring to Speed Up Weapons Deliveries

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WASHINGTON — House lawmakers, returning from a pair of official trips to Taiwan aimed at bolstering ties with the self-governing island, called on Wednesday for the U.S. government to speed up weapons deliveries to shore up the enclave’s defenses against China — and bemoaned that existing channels had not lived up to their potential. “We have to prove that we’re willing to deliver,” said Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, the Republican chairman of the House’s new select committee on China. He argued that Taiwan could not be expected to build…

Pentagon releases selfie of US pilot flying above Chinese spy balloon

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The Pentagon has released a selfie photograph snapped by the pilot of an U2 spy plane that was hurtling through the skies above the Chinese spy balloon as the US military pursued and shot it down off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month. The image clearly shows the mysterious, silvery-white sphere of the balloon with panels dangling below it and, whether intended artistically or not, a striking sight of the shadow of the US aircraft cast against the balloon. The picture was snapped by the airman on the…

India is keeping close ties with Myanmar, even transferring weapons, NGOs say

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India, the world’s largest democracy, has nurtured closer relations with Myanmar’s military junta over the past two years, including providing weapons at least four times since the 2021 coup d’etat, two humanitarian and advocacy organizations in India said. The Indian government and Indian companies sold radar technologies and remote control air defense systems to Myanmar’s military government in 2021, said India for Myanmar, which helps refugees from the war-torn country who have fled to neighboring India.  Last year, heavy artillery weapons, detonators for bombs and thermal imaging devices used with…

US pilot took selfie with Chinese ‘spy balloon’ before it was shot down

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A US Air Force pilot managed to capture a selfie with an alleged high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon the day before it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday. A U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane under US Northern Command authority was sent to monitor the balloon as it flew over the continental US during the final days of January and into early February. A pilot took a picture of the balloon from the cockpit, and it began circulating online earlier this week. Deputy…

Vietnam arrests Facebook user for allegedly posting ‘illegal content’

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Authorities in Vietnam arrested activist Le Minh The for allegedly posting “illegal content” on his Facebook page, in violation of a vaguely worded law routinely used to suppress independent bloggers and journalists.  The was charged with “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the State’s interests and legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals” under Article 331, state media reported.  International human rights organizations have said Article 331 and other vaguely written and arbitrarily applied laws are tools for the government to silence dissenting voices and restrict…

NATO Chief Sees ‘Some Signs’ China Could Back Russia’s War

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warsaw, poland —  NATO’s chief said Wednesday that the military alliance has seen “some signs” that China may be planning to support Russia in its war in Ukraine, and he strongly urged Beijing to desist from what would be a violation of international law. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also told The Associated Press in an interview that the alliance, while not a party to the war, will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” Asked whether NATO has any indication that China might be ready to provide arms or…