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Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Trump and the yellowing of white privilege

Whether he returns to power or not, the US president and his ilk have ruined America and curdled how such privilege is viewed.

 Battling Americans: South Koreans watching a news programme on the Trump (right) and Biden battle for the US presidency. — AP
 
 AS you read this, Americans are on tenterhooks as they await the results of their most contentious presidential election in decades.


And the rest of the world waits with them.

Like many non-Americans, I have been consumed by what is happening in that country and closely followed first the race for the Democratic presidential nomination and then the campaigns of the final two candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Trump must be defeated but, sadly, too many Americans, the so-called Republicans and conservatives, remain steadfast to him, having fallen for his fabrications and misinformation on just about everything, which proves that if a lie is repeated often enough, people will believe it.

Still, we hope enough right-minded Americans will vote him out and from the huge, record-breaking numbers of early voters, it appears they are determined to save their nation from further damage by this narcissistic, corrupt and immoral president.

How strange that America today feels like Malaysia circa 2018. The desperation and the grassroots movements to oust Trump recall Malaysians’ own struggle and determination to change things in the last general election.

Trump has become the unsavoury poster boy for white supremacists who believe white privilege is their God-given right.

I used to look up to the white man. As a baby boomer, my generation studied British, American and European history and practically nothing of the past of neighbouring countries. Communism was our great enemy in the 1960s and 1970s which was probably why we were barely taught Chinese history.

Western entertainment dominated our TV and cinema screens, our radio stations and record stores. Our idols were white singers and actors. The only black actor we knew was Sidney Poitier.

And so my generation grew up subconsciously believing that white people were superior and their way of life desirable.

As colonial masters of many parts of Africa and Asia, the whites came to lift the brown and yellow natives from backwardness and ignorance for God and king. Or so they projected themselves.

Western colonialism was pure exploitation for the most part but it was tempered by genuinely good-hearted people who came as teachers and missionaries (a prime example is how Australian missionaries saved the Lun Bawang orang asal in Sarawak from self-destruction in the 1930s).

We so-called people of colour put the so-called whites on pedestals, treating them with deference and respect. We didn’t put a name to it then but now it’s widely referred to as white privilege.

While white privilege in the United States is greatly manifested as racism and extreme prejudice and ill-treatment of black and, increasingly, Hispanic people, in other parts of the non-white world, it was simply the vestigial awe and deference left over from the colonial era and dominance of the West in the previous century.

For example, a common complaint a decade or two ago was how white passengers on Asian airlines were treated better than other races.

My own pedestal on which I had placed white people only started to wobble during my first trip to Britain in the early 1980s when I saw, to my huge surprise, white people who were homeless or doing menial tasks like sweeping the streets of London.

But by the late 1970s, change was coming from the East, namely Japan. Among Asians, the Japanese were the closest to the whites in terms of progress and wealth. What’s more, they were (and still are) so polite!

The Japanese, who had built a reputation for quality electrical products and cars, were also gaining world attention as sought-after tourists and art collectors with great spending power.

A friend who travels extensively recalls how people in Africa would greet Asian-looking people with “Konnichiwa” in the 1980s and 1990s.

Two decades into the 21st century, white influence has been steadily eroded by East Asia.

The Japanese may have started it but they are now joined, and somewhat eclipsed, by the Chinese and South Koreans.

My well-travelled friend tells me Africans now greet East Asians with “Ni hao” which is not surprising since Chinese tourists made 149 million overseas trips in 2018, with total spending amounting to US$130bil (RM540.4bil).

Many countries in Africa and Asia are China-friendly, not just because of tourism but because Beijing has been investing in them for decades.

In an op-ed for Aljazeera.com titled, Why Africa loves China, Dr Mehari Taddele Maru argues that, contrary to what the West believes, Africans do not see themselves as victims of Chinese economic exploitation. He says Africans are well aware of the shortcomings of Chinese assistance and business in Africa but it is China that is a preferred partner for Africa because “China’s unconditional cooperation has allowed African governments to enjoy access to finance, expertise and development aid”.

The China Africa Research Initiative at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, also reports that despite Western governments’ claims that China’s lending to Africa was creating debt threats, it did “not see China attempting to take advantage of countries in debt distress”.

“There were no ‘asset seizures’ in the 16 restructuring cases that we found. We have not yet seen cases in Africa where Chinese banks or companies have sued sovereign governments or exercised the option for international arbitration standard in Chinese loan contracts, ” the study noted.

And then there is South Korea which has become a driving force with its technological prowess and tremendously influential K-pop culture.

Its goods, from cars and washing machines to mobile phones, are widely accepted as affordable yet high-quality products.

Seoul’s effective handling of the Covid-19 pandemic won global respect and even its coronavirus test kits and personal protective equipment are deemed to be more reliable and of higher quality.

Both China and South Korea have learned from Hollywood the massive influence of soft power, that is, the use of popular culture and entertainment to build their brand and fuel national pride.

If America gave us Armageddon, Saving Private Ryan and Sully: The Miracle on the Hudson, China now has The Wandering Earth, The Eight Hundred and The Captain (which is also based on a real incident involving Sichuan Airlines Flight 8633).

And as I have written several times, K-pop culture has won millions of devotees around the world, and the fan clubs, especially that of the group BTS, have proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

Trump himself is a major contributor to the rapid erosion of respect for white America. He is the ugliest face of white racism, privilege and entitlement. With his egging, his supporters show how stupid, ill-informed and racist they really are in their response to the pandemic and many other issues and that has reflected so badly on the nation itself.

Asians could only shake our heads in amazement at how Americans and people in Europe and Australia fought against wearing masks to reduce Covid-19 infections in the name of human rights and democracy. How daft is that?

Make no mistake: I still have much affection, admiration and gratitude for the Western books, movies, music and other educational and entertainment fodder I grew up with and that helped shape me into what I am today.

So too the many inventions and technologies that have made our lives easier, safer and more convenient.

But I am no longer in thrall of the two Ws – Western and white.

White people may have ruled the world in the previous century and claimed their white privilege. But no more.

No matter how hard he has tried to denigrate and blame China for America’s ills and woes, Trump and his ilk cannot stop white privilege and supremacy in the 21st century from slowly but surely turning yellow. Still, I prefer not to call it yellow privilege because Asians are generally more humble. Shall we just say yellow is the new black?

The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

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Pompeo is poison that Asian countries should guard against: Lying not to make America 'great again'




Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Watch TV News' special coverage of the 2020 U.S. election ...



 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2020/nov/03/us-election-2020-live-results-donald-trump-joe-biden-who-won-presidential-republican-democrat


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 U.S. cities brace for unrest ahead of Election Day



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US election stalls global COVID-19 fight: Global Times editorial

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Pompeo is poison that Asian countries should guard against: Lying not to make America 'great again'

 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded his Asia tour after completing his surprise trip to Vietnam. Vietnam and China have maritime territorial disputes, but China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and both are socialist countries. China-Vietnam relations are strong, important and subtle.

Pompeo scolded China during his trip, but he seemed to be some kind of restraint in Vietnam. Before he boarded the returning airplane, there was no reports about him talking about China on either Vietnamese or Western media. He only said, "We have enormous respect for the Vietnamese people and your country's sovereignty," as if he was hinting at something. Some media outlets also quoted his empty words about constructing regional security, peace and prosperity. It seems Vietnam has put some pressure on Pompeo to not take Vietnam as another stage to attack China.

Pompeo hoped that the five Asian countries he visited can follow the US in confronting China. But as The Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday, this is "an impossible mission." Pompeo not only attacked China but also bullied some small nations during his trip. At joint press conferences, he often tried to create the impression that these countries share the US' attitude on China. However, people have noticed the difference between Pompeo's statements and those of the host countries, and how these countries tried to clarify their position during or after Pompeo's speeches.

Many regard Pompeo's tour as his farewell trip. If the Republican party loses the upcoming presidential election, then many things Pompeo negotiated or signed during his trip will have to be reassessed. Even if Donald Trump is reelected, Pompeo is also likely to be replaced.

In Sri Lanka, Pompeo accused China of being a "predator" and said the US is Sri Lanka's "friend" and "partner." This was the main theme of his visit. But is there any country that doesn't want to have more friends? How annoying it is when a person walks over and says that your friend is a bad person you need to guard against! How could the US secretary of state have such a low EQ?

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with the US in 1966. But the US has just announced it would be establishing an embassy there. Since 2004, no US secretary of state had visited the Maldives until Pompeo's recent trip after a hiatus of 16 years. How can Pompeo condemn China, the biggest investor and source of tourists for the Maldives, on the island nation? The Maldivian people understand that if it were not because of the development of China-Maldives relations, Pompeo would not have visited the island nation or promised to open an embassy.

The Indonesia-claimed exclusive economic zone near the Natuna Islands overlaps with China's maritime claims, but the two sides have successfully managed their disputes. However, Pompeo made an issue of the dispute, trying to make Indonesia a frontline against China on the South China Sea issue. Pompeo is humiliating the political wisdom of Indonesians, thinking that a few words can mislead Jakarta over where its national interest is.

Vietnam and China have comparatively the most maritime disputes. But Vietnam is a land neighbor that has close exchanges and relations with China in various areas. Pompeo in recent years launched scathing attacks on the Communist Party of China, portraying the CPC as tyrannical. Vietnam is under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The US approach against socialist China also poses long-term threats to socialist Vietnam. Vietnam should strike a balance between developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China and handling territorial disputes.

Pompeo is a typical spoiler, and what Asia needs now is construction. There are disputes across Asia, but there is no reason to let any dispute dominate the region. Pompeo wants himself to be the reason. He has become poison in the area. Normally, no one wants to drink poison. Pompeo has come and left, and these Asian countries will carefully put the memory of him as poison in the corner of the house.

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Monday, November 2, 2020

Blockchain unlocks travel amid the coronavirus pandemic

Blockchain technology allowed 17 million people to travel between China’s Guangdong province and Macau amid the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Macau and China’s southern Guangdong province have a mutually recognised health code system powered by blockchain
  • This allows both sides to validate the health status of travellers without directly exchanging personal data, hence complying with local privacy laws

Pedestrians wear face masks as they walk outside the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau on January 22, 2020. Photo AFP

EVEN amid a global travel standstill due to the coronavirus, more than 17 million people travelled between Macau and China’s southern Guangdong province since May.

This is thanks to a mutually recognised QR health code system using a crucial piece of technology: blockchain.

Blockchain technology is seen as a secure way to transfer data as it stores records in a network of computers instead of a centralised system. Each new record is linked to previous ones, making it extremely difficult for anyone to make changes.

The mainland China-macau health code system, based on technology by Chinese opensourced blockchain platform Fisco Bcos and Webank, a fintech developer backed by Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings, provides a solution to a major challenge to crossborder travel, Fisco Bcos said in a press release.

“Health authorities in Chinese mainland and Macau need to verify the health information submitted by users crossing the border and yet they are not supposed to exchange data directly with each other to stay in compliance with their corresponding regulations,” the blockchain platform said.

The health code system uses blockchain to encrypt the identification and personal health information of travellers, storing it in a consortium blockchain network which grants access only to authorised organisations.

This way, health authorities on both sides are able to verify whether travellers are in good health and have been in contact with any known Covid-19 cases without actually accessing personal data, thus complying with privacy regulations on both sides of the border that prohibit the direct exchange of such information.

With the code and valid negative coronavirus test results, Macau travellers are now exempt from a 14-day quarantine when entering China.

Chinese travellers from outside Guangdong province can also participate in the system to travel into Macau without quarantine requirements as long as they allow Guangdong authorities to access their data.

“The whole process does not involve transmission of data between back-end platforms,” said Fan Ruibin, head of blockchain technology at Webank.

“The original data is still stored in the local authority’s data centre.”

The technology “greatly improves the efficiency and accuracy of information verification across borders” and saves travellers the trouble of filling in personal information repeatedly on different platforms, Fisco Bcos said.

The average time of setting up the mutually-recognisable health code for the first time is 100 seconds and it takes less than three seconds to repeat the procedure thereafter, according to the statement.

Technically speaking, the system allows “both authorities to recognise a person’s health conditions through asymmetric cryptographic technology”, which uses a pair of related keys to encrypt and decrypt a message and protect it from unauthorised access or use, said Gao Chengshi, a cryptography expert and a member of the Blockchain Committee of the China Computer Federation.

“The technology itself isn’t complicated, and can be easily introduced to other countries and regions as long as the authorities are willing to conduct such mutual recognition of health identities,” Gao said.

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