1. "Mount Kinabalu quake 2015: Completing the climb - The Sunday Times 05 June 2016
Almost a year after a deadly earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, 20 Singaporeans who lost loved ones in the disaster began their own ascent up the mountain.
They are making the climb to finish what the victims could not, and pay tribute to those who perished on this day last year. Ten Singaporeans died, of which seven were Primary 6 pupils from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS).
Donning white T-shirts with the tag Omega Challenge Braveheart, the group did a cheer and said a prayer with family members of the late Sabah trainers before setting off from Kinabalu Park headquarters yesterday morning to Timpohon Gate, the starting point for the trek."
I watched the Part 1 of the CNA documentary this week before the group left for the actual climb. I am glad that they had made it safe and sound.
It was a heart warming Part 1 of 2 of the CNA documentary. I revealed tremendous courage to want to confront the painful loss and the determination to find a proper closure. At the same time, accomplishing what the surviving group members of that fateful trip did not achieve last year.
It is most traumatic to lose a loved one so young and so unexpectedly. A bright future cut short mercilessly by nature's fury. Seconds was what it took to crush the life out of the victims. Seconds was what it took to crush the lives of those who lost their loved ones.
It will be totally understandable that one will never be able to feel exactly the same sense of loss and confusion. So, it is very encouraging to see these people accomplishing the climb on the anniversary. May there be total closure. May there be peace with the dead and the living. May there be happiness after this as life must go on. Will go on. The dead will wish the surviving members of their families and friends good life. Let their wishes be fulfilled.
2. "China hits at US 'provocations', says doesn't fear 'trouble' - The Sunday Times 05 June 2016
SINGAPORE: China on Sunday (Jun 5) denounced US "provocations" in the South China Sea and said it does not fear "trouble" over its territorial disputes with neighbours in the area.
"The South China Sea issue has become overheated because of the provocations of certain countries for their own selfish interests," Admiral Sun Jianguo told a security summit in Singapore.
Sun, who stressed China's desire for a peaceful solution, spoke one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that Chinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt unspecified "actions" by the United States and other nations.
On a visit to Mongolia Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also warned Beijing against setting up an air defence identification zone over the disputed waters, saying it would be a "provocative and destabilising act".
Rhetoric has escalated ahead of a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines, a longtime US ally and former colony, against China, which has shunned the proceedings and says it will not recognise any ruling.
The Chinese admiral, in a clear reference to Washington, said "freedom of navigation" patrols in the South China Sea were a display of "military muscles" and that China was being forced to "accept and honour" the tribunal's ruling.
"China firmly opposes such behaviour. We do not make trouble but we have no fear of trouble," Sun said in prepared remarks.
"We were not isolated in the past. We're not isolated, and we will not be isolated in the future. Actually I am worried some people and countries are still looking at China with a Cold War mentality and prejudice," the Chinese admiral said in response to questions from other delegates.
Apparently referring to the Philippines, Sun said that China was "by no means" a bully and charged that "some hegemonic countries have empowered small countries to make provocations against big countries".
Beijing claims nearly all of the strategically vital sea and has developed contested reefs into artificial islands, some topped with airstrips."
A most delicate situation for China and Singapore, its valued allies that has been placed on the spot between the devil and the deep blue sea!
We love China. For its immense consumers market. We love USA. For its world only superpower and a somewhat democratic and technologically advance military hardware.
We have 2 lovers and it would had been great if they are fairly open and inclusive. Alas, lately the 2 lovers are not on too friendly terms and that make the lover in the centre a bit awkward!
It is clear that everyone is after the so-called 'immensely rich resources in the waters all claimed'. It will be one of the most stupid acts if the nations go to war for this. In a war, no one will have the time to explore and extract those 'rich resources' for peaceful development where prosperity, hopefully the sustainable type, can build on.
Indeed, China won't create troubles though it clearly did by insisting it has claims over the other nations by using their own unilateral territorial rules vs. those using the international territorial rules, and feared no troubles. Yes. It is a big boy now capable of standing up to the only superpower in the world, USA. Yes, it is no longer the 'sick man of East Asia' during the WWII Japanese invasion time. YET, what world roles does Beijing want to play? Counter-balance on its own or counter-balancing USA and Russia as leader of South East Asia, given that South Korea and Japan are too big and too long an USA ally to switch camp?
May there be less emotion and more logic in approaching this delicate situation. Lest it spins out of control to nobody's benefits! Or benefits with a heavy price paid, unnecessarily!
Almost a year after a deadly earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, 20 Singaporeans who lost loved ones in the disaster began their own ascent up the mountain.
They are making the climb to finish what the victims could not, and pay tribute to those who perished on this day last year. Ten Singaporeans died, of which seven were Primary 6 pupils from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS).
Donning white T-shirts with the tag Omega Challenge Braveheart, the group did a cheer and said a prayer with family members of the late Sabah trainers before setting off from Kinabalu Park headquarters yesterday morning to Timpohon Gate, the starting point for the trek."
I watched the Part 1 of the CNA documentary this week before the group left for the actual climb. I am glad that they had made it safe and sound.
It was a heart warming Part 1 of 2 of the CNA documentary. I revealed tremendous courage to want to confront the painful loss and the determination to find a proper closure. At the same time, accomplishing what the surviving group members of that fateful trip did not achieve last year.
It is most traumatic to lose a loved one so young and so unexpectedly. A bright future cut short mercilessly by nature's fury. Seconds was what it took to crush the life out of the victims. Seconds was what it took to crush the lives of those who lost their loved ones.
It will be totally understandable that one will never be able to feel exactly the same sense of loss and confusion. So, it is very encouraging to see these people accomplishing the climb on the anniversary. May there be total closure. May there be peace with the dead and the living. May there be happiness after this as life must go on. Will go on. The dead will wish the surviving members of their families and friends good life. Let their wishes be fulfilled.
2. "China hits at US 'provocations', says doesn't fear 'trouble' - The Sunday Times 05 June 2016
SINGAPORE: China on Sunday (Jun 5) denounced US "provocations" in the South China Sea and said it does not fear "trouble" over its territorial disputes with neighbours in the area.
"The South China Sea issue has become overheated because of the provocations of certain countries for their own selfish interests," Admiral Sun Jianguo told a security summit in Singapore.
Sun, who stressed China's desire for a peaceful solution, spoke one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that Chinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt unspecified "actions" by the United States and other nations.
On a visit to Mongolia Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also warned Beijing against setting up an air defence identification zone over the disputed waters, saying it would be a "provocative and destabilising act".
Rhetoric has escalated ahead of a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines, a longtime US ally and former colony, against China, which has shunned the proceedings and says it will not recognise any ruling.
The Chinese admiral, in a clear reference to Washington, said "freedom of navigation" patrols in the South China Sea were a display of "military muscles" and that China was being forced to "accept and honour" the tribunal's ruling.
"China firmly opposes such behaviour. We do not make trouble but we have no fear of trouble," Sun said in prepared remarks.
"We were not isolated in the past. We're not isolated, and we will not be isolated in the future. Actually I am worried some people and countries are still looking at China with a Cold War mentality and prejudice," the Chinese admiral said in response to questions from other delegates.
Apparently referring to the Philippines, Sun said that China was "by no means" a bully and charged that "some hegemonic countries have empowered small countries to make provocations against big countries".
Beijing claims nearly all of the strategically vital sea and has developed contested reefs into artificial islands, some topped with airstrips."
A most delicate situation for China and Singapore, its valued allies that has been placed on the spot between the devil and the deep blue sea!
We love China. For its immense consumers market. We love USA. For its world only superpower and a somewhat democratic and technologically advance military hardware.
We have 2 lovers and it would had been great if they are fairly open and inclusive. Alas, lately the 2 lovers are not on too friendly terms and that make the lover in the centre a bit awkward!
It is clear that everyone is after the so-called 'immensely rich resources in the waters all claimed'. It will be one of the most stupid acts if the nations go to war for this. In a war, no one will have the time to explore and extract those 'rich resources' for peaceful development where prosperity, hopefully the sustainable type, can build on.
Indeed, China won't create troubles though it clearly did by insisting it has claims over the other nations by using their own unilateral territorial rules vs. those using the international territorial rules, and feared no troubles. Yes. It is a big boy now capable of standing up to the only superpower in the world, USA. Yes, it is no longer the 'sick man of East Asia' during the WWII Japanese invasion time. YET, what world roles does Beijing want to play? Counter-balance on its own or counter-balancing USA and Russia as leader of South East Asia, given that South Korea and Japan are too big and too long an USA ally to switch camp?
May there be less emotion and more logic in approaching this delicate situation. Lest it spins out of control to nobody's benefits! Or benefits with a heavy price paid, unnecessarily!
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