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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Taiwan will not provoke confrontation with China, does not seek conflict
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Taiwan's vice-president Hsiao Bi-khim said that Chinese pressure on Taiwan had only escalated over the past few years. TAIPEI - Taiwan does not seek conflict with China and will not provoke confrontation and Beijing's 'aggressive' military posturing was counterproductive, Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim said on July 18. China considers democratic Taiwan as part of its own territory and calls President Lai Ching-te a 'separatist'. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim. Speaking to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club in the capital Taipei, Ms Hsiao said that Chinese pressure on Taiwan had only escalated over the past few years but that the island's people were peace-loving. 'We do not seek conflict; we will not provoke confrontation,' she said, reiterating Mr Lai's offer of talks between Taipei and Beijing. For decades, Taiwan's people and business have contributed to China's growth and prosperity, which has only been possible under a peaceful and stable environment, Ms Hsiao added. 'Aggressive military posturing is counterproductive and deprives the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait of opportunities to pursue an agenda of growth and prosperity,' she said. 'Defending the status quo (with China) is our choice, not because it is easy, but because it is responsible and consistent with the interests of our entire region.' REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Philippines' Marcos to discuss trade and security during U.S. visit as tariffs loom
FILE PHOTO: Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attends the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits and Handing Over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia, at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File photo MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will visit the United States next week with a clear message to President Donald Trump that the Philippines must become economically stronger if it is to serve as a truly robust partner, an official said on Friday. The visit, the first by an ASEAN head of state since Trump took office in January, will focus on economic cooperation, with Marcos expected to discuss concerns over proposed U.S. tariffs on Philippine exports. "The President's official visit also aims to address the U.S. tariff proposed to be levied on Philippine exports," Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano told a media briefing. Trump raised reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports to 20% this month from the 17% threatened in April. Talks between Philippine trade officials and their U.S. counterparts are ongoing in Washington to hopefully seal a reciprocal deal that is "mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial" for both countries, Solano said. During the visit, the two leaders will also discuss closer cooperation in defence and security matters, including issues in the South China Sea where Manila and Beijing have had a series of maritime confrontations. Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured under Marcos, who has pivoted closer to the United States, granting it expanded access to Philippine military bases as both countries aim to counter what they have described as China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added "The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States Alliance, to proactively engage the U.S. in all aspects of the relations and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation," Solano said. The United States and the Philippines have a seven-decade old mutual defence treaty and hold dozens of annual exercises, which have included training with U.S. Typhon missile system, and more recently with the NMESIS anti-ship missile system, angering China. Marcos will also meet separately with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as U.S. business leaders who are investing in the Philippines. REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Sexton says Lions need to be great, not good, to win first test
BRISBANE - British & Irish Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton expects Saturday's first test to be decided by small margins and believes the tourists will need a great, not good, performance to beat the Wallabies. The former Ireland flyhalf, who won the first of his six Lions caps in the opening match of the 2013 tour of Australia at Lang Park, dismissed talk of Andy Farrell's team being overwhelming favourites for the match. "We don't pay too much attention to the bookies odds or what people are saying," he told reporters at Lang Park on Friday. "We're just concentrating on tomorrow and trying to put a great performance out there. "Because that's what it's going to need, a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team. "They're a proud nation, they're a top class team, well coached. And we need to get our best version of ourselves out there tomorrow." The Lions won the 2013 series 2-1 but only got off to a winning start in Brisbane after Australia's Kurtley Beale slipped over while attempting a late penalty kick that would have given the Wallabies victory. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added "I think the occasion, the atmosphere, the crowds, that's the thing that always lives with you," Sexton said, recalling his Lions debut. "Obviously when Kurtley slipped and missed the kick, obviously the euphoria that we felt. But again, it just shows the margins of professional sport and top level sport like we're going to witness tomorrow. "It's going to come down to something small like that, and hopefully we'll be on the right side of it." Sexton, who played all three tests in 2013 and in the drawn series in New Zealand four years later, said the Lions were expecting Australia to come hard at them on Saturday. "They'll have been in camp over the last few weeks getting ready for us, and they had a game against Fiji a couple of weeks ago that they'll have learned a lot from," he said. "There's you can talk about all the different ifs and buts and permutations, but ultimately, once you step onto the pitch tomorrow, no one remembers it, and we just get on with the game." REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
G-20 finance chiefs to meet under tariff cloud in South Africa
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Host South Africa has aimed to promote an African agenda, with topics including the high cost of capital and funding for climate change action. DURBAN – Group of 20 (G-20) finance chiefs will meet in South Africa on July 17 under the shadow of US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and questions over their ability to tackle global challenges together. The club, which came to fore as a forum for international cooperation to combat the global financial crisis, has for years been hobbled by disputes among key players exacerbated by Russia's war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow. Host South Africa, under its presidency motto 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability', has aimed to promote an African agenda, with topics including the high cost of capital and funding for climate change action. The G-20 aims to coordinate policies, but its agreements are non-binding. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the two-day meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in the coastal city of Durban, marking his second absence from a G-20 event in South Africa in 2025. Mr Bessent also skipped February's Cape Town gathering , where several officials from China, Japan and Canada were also absent, even though Washington is due to assume the G-20 rotating presidency at the end of 2025. Mr Michael Kaplan, US acting undersecretary for international affairs, will represent Washington at the meetings. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added A G-20 delegate, who asked not to be named, said Mr Bessent's absence was not ideal but that the United States was engaging in discussions on trade, the global economy and climate language. Finance ministers from India, France and Russia are also set to miss the Durban meeting. South African central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said that representation was what mattered most. 'What matters is, is there somebody with a mandate sitting behind the flag and are all countries represented with somebody sitting behind the flag?' Mr Kganyago told Reuters. US officials have said little publicly about their plans for the presidency in 2026, but one source familiar with the plans said Washington would reduce the number of non-financial working groups and streamline the summit schedule. Mr Brad Setser, a former US official now at the Council on Foreign Relations, said he expected it to be 'kind of a scaled-back G-20 with less expectation of substantive outcomes'. 'Turbulent times' Mr Trump's tariff policies have torn up the global trade rule book. With baseline levies of 10 per cent on all US imports and targeted rates as high as 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, 25 per cent on autos and potential levies on pharmaceuticals, extra tariffs on more than 20 countries are slated to take effect on Aug 1 . His threat to impose further 10 per cent tariffs on Brics nations – of which eight are G-20 members – has raised fears of fragmentation within global forums. German Finance Ministry sources said on July 15 that the Durban meeting would seek to deepen global relationships in 'turbulent times'. South African Treasury director general Duncan Pieterse said the group nonetheless hoped to issue the first communique under the South African G-20 presidency by the end of the meetings. The G-20 was last able to take a mutually agreed stance to issue a communique in July 2024, agreeing on the need to resist protectionism but making no mention of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Misbehaving monks: Sex scandal shakes Thai Buddhist faithful
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A Buddhist monk prepares to collect alms in front of a temple in Bangkok on July 18/ BANGKOK - Reverence for the saffron-robed Buddhist monkhood is deeply woven into Thai society, but a sex extortion scandal has besmirched the clergy and left the devout questioning their faith. Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts. The monks are said to have paid nearly US$12 million (S$15.4 million), funnelled out of their monasteries funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation. The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern their status shields them from scrutiny, and soul-searching across society about the role of religion. 'I'm not involved in the religion like I used to be,' 33-year-old motorbike taxi driver Mongkol Sudathip told AFP. 'I don't have full respect for it anymore.' King Maha Vajiralongkorn has cancelled invitations to more than 80 monks who had been due to attend his upcoming 73rd birthday celebrations, citing 'inappropriate behaviour that caused mental distress among the Thai people'. While the 11 monks have been stripped of their robes, the kingdom's National Office of Buddhism has vowed to 'restore public trust' with a sweeping police probe into the grubby affair. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore UOB awarded $17.7 million in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added World Trump threatens to sue WSJ over story on alleged 2003 letter to Epstein 'Splurging attitude' Theravada Buddhism has been the spiritual backbone of Thai identity for more than two millennia, and still shapes national laws banning alcohol on religious holidays and protecting sacred objects. Thai men are traditionally expected to ordain as monks at least once in their lives for a period lasting as short as a few weeks or as long as decades. The clergy are bound by 227 strict rules, including a ban on masturbation, touching women and even handling objects directly from them. Monks traditionally survive on alms, food offerings and a modest US$170 monthly stipend, but some pocket fees for lectures, blessings and ceremonies – blurring the line between faith and fortune. In a TV interview, the woman at the heart of the scandal said she had developed a 'splurging attitude' as her monk lovers lavished her with shopping trips worth up to US$90,000 a day. Motorcycle taxi driver Mongkol said he now prefers to donate to hospitals or schools for underprivileged children. 'It feels more meaningful than giving money to temples,' he told AFP. July's scandal is not the first to rock the monkhood. In 2017, police raided Wat Dhammakaya temple north of Bangkok, arresting its former abbot over allegations of laundering $33 million in public donations. In May 2025, police held another monk in the capital over allegations of embezzling nearly US$10 million from a temple for an online gambling network. Buddhism scholar Danai Preechapermprasit said repeated scandals – especially among senior monks – have 'shaken people to the core'. 'People question whether donations are used for spiritual significance or personal desire,' he told AFP. 'I think Thailand has reached a point where it's difficult for monks to even walk down the street.' A powerful lawmaker has pledged tighter regulations within three months – including mandatory donation disclosures and laws treating monk misconduct as a criminal offence. 'This case does not represent Buddhism as a whole,' said national police chief Kitrat Panphet on Thursday, pledging a new task force to probe misbehaving monks. 'It's about a few individuals doing wrong,' he said. 'Never lose faith' In Buddhist tradition monks are viewed as the Buddha's spiritual heirs, entrusted with preserving and passing on his teachings. But at Wat Bowonniwet in Bangkok – one of Thailand's most revered temples – only 26 monks were ordained in 2025, a steep drop from nearly 100 before the Covid-19 pandemic. A monk there, speaking to AFP anonymously, blamed societal changes after the pandemic, which forced people into isolation – saying nowadays 'people prefer to live outside the temple life'. But independent Buddhism expert Jaturong Jongarsa said temples are increasingly being treated as 'a garbage dump' – where families send drug addicts or LGBTQ youth to be 'corrected'. 'Temples are no longer seen as the sacred spaces they once were,' he told AFP. 'People send their problems to the temple and hope they'll go away.' Still, not all Thais have lost faith. Mr Camphun Parimiphut, a 52-year-old security guard from Maha Sarakham in Thailand's northeast, said: 'Buddhism is about the teachings, not the individuals who fail it'. Because of corruption scandals he now avoids giving money to monks – preferring to donate only food. But his devotion remains steadfast. 'You can lose faith in monks,' he said. 'But never lose trust in Buddhist teachings. They still teach us how to live a good life.' AFP
