Japan says China's military activity a 'grave concern' in annual defence white paper
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
6 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'We admire Singapore deeply': Johor calls for end to rivalry, urges deeper regional partnership
SINGAPORE: Johor and Singapore must shift from a mindset of rivalry to one of partnership if they are to unlock the full potential of their shared geography and economic interdependence, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Speaking at the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship dinner in Singapore, Onn Hafiz called for the two neighbours to embrace each other's strengths and pursue joint strategies for regional development. 'Let's stop thinking in terms of rivalry and focus on shared strategy. Together, we can build regional supply chains, renewable energy projects, data infrastructure and food security frameworks,' he said, as quoted by the New Straits Times. Complementary strengths offer regional potential Onn Hafiz highlighted how Singapore's capital and connectivity, combined with Johor's land and labour resources, form a naturally complementary partnership. Rather than compete, the two should collaborate to build a 'corridor of prosperity' stretching from Woodlands to Iskandar Puteri and beyond. 'If we plan wisely, we can create a corridor of prosperity,' he said, urging both sides to fully realise the potential of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), a key initiative currently under development. Praise for Singapore and call for mutual respect Onn Hafiz also paid tribute to Singapore's transformation and its founding leader, calling Mr Lee Kuan Yew 'a statesman whose vision uplifted not only Singapore, but leadership standards across the region.' His remarks underscored Johor's admiration for its neighbour, even amidst the frequent public comparisons between the two. 'It's not always easy being Singapore's neighbour when your people constantly compare roads, airports and customer service! But the truth is, we admire Singapore deeply,' he said, according to the New Straits Times . A relationship beyond GDP Framing the Johor–Singapore relationship as one of Southeast Asia's most important bilateral dynamics, Onn Hafiz emphasised that genuine cooperation rests on goodwill, not merely economic figures. 'It is goodwill, not just GDP, that sustains partnerships,' he said. His remarks come at a time when both sides are looking to deepen economic integration, particularly through cross-border infrastructure projects like the RTS Link and the JS-SEZ. See also SDP's finalised slate of candidates for GE2020 An open invitation to Singaporeans The Menteri Besar extended a warm invitation to Singaporeans, encouraging them to view Johor not just as a destination for food and shopping, but as a partner in progress. 'Our friends in Singapore are always welcome in Johor, not just for better food, but for real partnership and shared progress,' he said. The event, attended by Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and other dignitaries, marked Onn Hafiz's participation as a Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow — a programme that honours regional leaders who have made significant contributions to diplomacy and development. His comments signal a diplomatic shift toward closer ties and shared growth, a message both symbolic and strategic as Johor and Singapore navigate a new phase in regional cooperation. Read also: Tourism sector welcomes heritage-focused investment zones in Johor Bahru under 13MP
CNA
13 hours ago
- CNA
China and Russia start joint drills in Sea of Japan
BEIJING: China and Russia began joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan on Sunday (Aug 3) as they seek to reinforce their partnership and counterbalance what they see as a United States-led global order. Alongside economic and political ties, Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their military cooperation in recent years, and their relations have deepened since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The "Joint Sea-2025" exercises kicked off in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok and would last for three days, China's defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The two sides will hold "submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat". Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises alongside Russian ships, the ministry said. After the drills, the two countries will conduct naval patrols in "relevant waters of the Pacific". China and Russia have carried out annual drills for several years, with the "Joint Sea" exercises beginning in 2012. Last year's drills were held along China's southern coast. The Chinese defence ministry said Friday that this year's exercises were aimed at "further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership" of the two countries. China has never denounced Russia's more than three-year war nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine's allies, including the US, believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow.
CNA
19 hours ago
- CNA
Myanmar military courts sentence 12 to life for human trafficking, including Chinese nationals
BANGKOK: Myanmar military courts have sentenced a dozen individuals, including five Chinese nationals, to life imprisonment for their involvement in multiple human trafficking cases, state-run media reported on Saturday (Aug 2). According to the Myanmar Alinn newspaper, the convictions stem from a range of offenses including the online distribution of sex videos and the trafficking of Myanmar women into forced marriages in China. In one case, five people, including two Chinese nationals identified as Lin Te and Wang Xiaofeng, were sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court in Yangon, the country's largest city, on Jul 29. They were found guilty under Myanmar's anti-trafficking in persons law for producing sex videos involving three Myanmar couples and distributing the footage online for profit. In a separate case, the same court sentenced a woman and three Chinese nationals — Yibo, Cao Qiu Quan and Chen Huan. The group was convicted of planning to transport two Myanmar women, recently married to two of the convicted Chinese men, into China, the report said. Additionally, three other people received life sentences from a separate military court for selling a woman as a bride to China, and for attempting to do the same with another woman. In another case, a woman from Myanmar's central Magway region was given a 10-year sentence on Jul 30 for planning to transport two Myanmar women to be sold as brides to Chinese men, the report said. Human trafficking, particularly of women and girls lured or forced into marriages in China, remains a widespread problem in Myanmar, a country still reeling from civil war after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The persisting conflict in most areas of Myanmar has left millions of women and children vulnerable to exploitation. A 2018 report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT), which works to prevent and respond to trafficking in northern Kachin and Shan states bordering China, estimated that about 21,000 women and girls from northern Myanmar were forced into marriage in China between 2013 and 2017. In its latest report published in December, KWAT noted a sharp decline in the number of trafficking survivors accessing its services from 2020 to 2023. It attributed the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures caused by ongoing conflict following the army takeover. However, it reported a resurgence in 2024 as people from across Myanmar began migrating to China in search of work. Major-General Aung Kyaw Kyaw, a deputy Home Affairs minister, said during a June meeting that the authorities had handled 53 cases of human trafficking, forced marriage and prostitution in 2024, 34 of which involved China, according to a report published by Myanmar's Information Ministry. The report also said that a total of 80 human trafficking cases, including 14 involving marriage deception by foreign nationals, were recorded between January and June this year.
