East Asia Blog

Donald Trump and East Asia

2016-12-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

What will the election of Donald Trump mean for East Asia?

Let's look at some of the areas where he probably, if not already, will get himself involved in.

Trade, the Economy and and Trade Deals >> He will probably scrap the TPP
Taiwan-China issue >> Phone call with Madam Tsai will not be his last move
Role of China in East Asia (e.g. expansion in the South China Sea) >> Let's see
US positioning in East Asia (e.g. military basis and security role) >> The generals will probably not accept any hand-sitting
North Korea >> Expect strong rhetoric, but I doubt this will result in much more than Twumping (a conflagation of Twitter and Trump), which is really more from the to-be-built media- and entertainment wing of the White House.

The outcome and perspective of all of these naturally depends on who is making the analysis (e.g. the view from Singapore will be quite different from China), but generally it's quite clear that Donald Trump cares little for the long-term prosperity of most of the souls in East Asia -- although I would be happy to stand corrected if you can prove otherwise -- and that he might turn down a great possibility for further cooperation to instead turn the trans-pacific relationship into a mercantile, zero-sum game, and generally hostile environment in favor of winning favor back 'home'.

Most of the topics require skilled diplomacy, but that is surely not his strong suit and with an apparently penchant to choose either ex-generals or 'deal makers' (e.g. Tillerson), it's clear that the US-East Asia relationship is subject to significant changes in the coming four years.

Better buckle up and get ready for a dramatic and action-packed presidency, as Donald Trump exerts his influence on East Asia.

Looking forward to your comments.

Hong Kong Protests: Possible End Games

2014-09-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

It's the 5th night and there are still thousands of people camped out.... As the "Occupy Central" protests in Hong Kong carry on, I'm speculating about the possible short- and long-run outcomes.

One thing is clear: China will not accept any loosening of their grip on Hong Kong as it could trigger similar movements in other parts of China. Let's imagine that the protests trigger political reforms in Hong Kong and a step closer to full democracy....... No , highly unlikely.

Another possible outcome is the opposite end-game whereby China will assert a tighter grip on the political scene in the entrepôt. It could be with more Chinese-mainland representatives in HK or perhaps police and/or armed forces. But provided that Beijing recently attempted - but obviously failed - to reform the political scene with the new election rules (from a panel decision to having Beijing pre-approve all candidates), this would not be consistent, and I cannot see the benefits of a flip-flopping Beijing.

So my guess is that the most possible solution for Beijing is to maintain the status quo in the long run but find a quick-fix to get the city back up and running. Such a quick fix could be either by removing the Chief Executive Mr CYLeung , or perhaps make confusing promises that could defuse the situation.

The chants if the protesters this evening are at lease calling for Mr Leung to resign and might be the outcome..... For now.......

At least they haven't occupied the Chek Lap Kok airport yet.

GE cements leadership position in Vietnamese wind market with MOU for new project

2014-09-28T04:33:00.001-04:00

Just as we mentioned Vietnam yesterday, GE is close to another project win in the upcoming market:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/business/22727/ge-to-provide-technology-turbines-for-235mn-wind-farm-project-in-vietnam

The project will be in the province of Dak Lak.

Vietnam Wind Farms

2014-09-27T09:52:00.003-04:00

Been wondering how many wind farms there are in a Vietnam?

Check this out:
http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_74_vietnam.php

Looks like GE has the most, with a few Fuhrlanders and three Vestas V80s.

A shame there are not many more: Vietnam had terrific kite surfing.

Source: USGOV

October in East Asia

2014-09-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

October in Asia is around the corner.

Christmas music will ostensibly start playing at the supermarket.

Possible types of October weather:
Japan: nice
Korea: Dry but nice
China: Polluted, National day and nice
Taiwan: Typhoons, National Day and nice
Thailand: Chulalongkorn Day and nice
Singapore: Humid and Nice
Malaysia: Hot, humid and nice
Vietnam: Woman's day and nice

October is not a bad time to travel in Asia but watch out for:
- Typhoons
- Gazillion of tourists from China during the first week of October.
- Silly Christmas music

Giving Christmas CDs for Christmas

2013-12-02T07:29:00.000-05:00

I always find it hilarious when people buy Christmas CDs for friends or family for Christmas.

Is it because they were given the CD the previous year and want to get rid of it?

Can't be! Otherwise there wouldn't be so many Christmas CDs sold every year.

Unless, of course, all Christmas CDs are unwrapped prematurely before Christmas eve (day) since people just can't wait to hear more of the same Christmas music

Can't be because then people would run out of ideas for Christmas gifts, since giving Christmas CDs continues to be such hot business….

Unless, of course, you're in Singapore where Christmas is a wonderful season that usually starts pretty much around the of Halloween (October), where Christmas CDs are blasted through the speakers of most malls, stores and restaurants.

Can't be! …. No, it's true. Christmas is an important part of Singapore, where you can see fake snow, which feels wonderful when it touches your sweaty brow...

Unless, of course you're giving Christmas ornaments to your friends or family for Christmas (which is actually quite common in Denmark), which is another activity that can easily translate to the "passing-on-of-the-gift" since no one remembers what they gave other people the previous year.

Can't be! I always take note of what people give me for Christmas to avoid giving the same thing back the following year.

Ahh. Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.

Opinion: Bulkhead travel on B777 (with Toddlers)

2012-01-28T15:15:00.001-05:00

Don't you love it when people step on your toes?
Well, that's what happened to me on a recent AA flight and probably to thousands on other airlines as well.

On a recent flight from Buenos Aires to Miami, we were sitting in the bulkhead on an American Airlines B777 flight. In the economy class sections, there was no way of getting to the other aile on this flight, except for passing through the galley, or of course, one of the two bulkhead rows. Some flights have an aile in the middle in an area which is also used for the galley, but on this jet this area was used for crew sleeping quarters. As a result, many a passenger accidentally stepped on my toes (I usually take off my shoes on flights as my feet tend to swell).

The bulkhead does not allow passengers for bag space (except for in the overhead compartments) since there is only a wall ahead of us, so we had to put our toddler's toys and various bags with snacks, books, etc. on the floor. When he was sleeping on our laps (which is also an important substitute to a crying baby), it was also inconvenient if people bumped into him during their travails across the bulkhead row. So this made it extra inconvenient for people with kids, in addition to the normal annoyance of people wandering across our already limited space.

So my strategy was to block off the entire row by telling people politely, while our fellow bulkhead passengers followed through by telling people from the other direction.

As we neared our destination, a more aggressive passenger asked for me to move while I was on the floor picking up toys, as he needed to get through to the other aisle. I told him directly, that this wasn't an aisle (camino), only to be abruptly corrected by the AA flight attendant passing through who told me that he was entitled to pass through the aisle if the galley was blocked (which only is a temporary phenomenon that we all know from single aisle flights). This was not the answer I had hoped to hear, and I think this is an awful solution for an airline.

Firstly, let's analyze why most people use the bulkhead as an aisle:
1) To use the toilet on the other aisle as people often don't have the patience to wait for the single toilet in the middle section (flights without the sleeping section usually have more toilets in the middle).
2) Visiting friends or family at the other end of the cabin. A good reason, which we can all understand.
3) Kids playing. Also a good reason, since especially boys usually have ants in their pants and parents appreciate the time they can go out and burn some energy.

So what should the solution be?

In theory, the airlines should ensure there is a cross-aile connecting the two parrallel ailes in order to ensure that people can be brought together.

BUT going through the bulkhead rows is NOT the optimal solution: it only annoys passengers sitting in the bulkhead who -- as mentioned -- don't have the luxury of bag space in the seats in front of them. Furthermore, airlines like to put families with children in this row.

SO the airlines need to make space for a hallway/aisle somewhere in the middle. BUT this probably means 5-7 fewer seats on that given flight, which in turn would hurt the bottomline of already cash-strapped airlines.

In conclusion, we thus have three options:
a) Slightly higher ticket prices (as a result of removing seats)
b) Ticked-off bulkhead passengers.
c) Getting rid of the crew sleeping area

.... why do I have the feeling that option B will prevail, and I can continue whining indefinitely ????

Having unrested and edgy flight attendants is certainly to noone's benefit.

Do you have a good solution for this?

East Asia Map from Ksiom

2011-12-11T08:19:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Ksion for bringing us this great topographical map of East Asia (link to Wikipedia article)

东亚地形图。

‪

東亞地形圖。

東アジアの地形図。

동아시아의 지형도.

Bản đồ địa hình khu vực Đông Á

Maps of East Asia

2011-05-24T16:24:00.000-04:00

Picture by Ksiom

And an old one from 1770:

Airport Updates: Your new blog for what is happening at airports around the world

2011-05-24T16:18:00.001-04:00

Stop by airportupdate.blogspot.com and see what is new at airports around the world.

This week we are following the Grimsvotn volcano eruption and what it means for airport and air travel.

See you there!

Hue Airport To Close Down from mid-May to mid-June

2011-04-20T16:00:00.002-04:00

Hue airport (known locally as Phu Bai Airport) in Vietnam will be closed from May 13 to June 16 for runway maintenance.

In the meantime, you can fly to Danang.

Or ask your all-resourceful travel agent or HR department. Im sure the latter will not help you.

Link: http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2011/4/91675/

Fly from Malaysia to Pyongyang

2011-04-20T15:49:00.003-04:00

BusinessWeek writes this week about the opening of a new route between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang, DPRK (North Korea).

Although chartered flights have been operating on the route for years, this is the first time that regular scheduled flights will initiate on the route.

What is surprising, is that the article mentions that the airline already flies to a bunch of countries (e.g. Switzerland and the Czech Rep.) and that Air Koryo has its own website!

Link to article: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MMN7HO0.htm
Link to Air Koryo: http://www.korea-dpr.com/airkoryo.htm

East Asia Map

2011-04-20T15:19:00.002-04:00

Nutbars A'Plenty in the World

2011-04-01T16:23:00.002-04:00

We have invented the internet, microwave, sliced bread, what have you.

But on a near daily basis, the world still seems to demonstrate just how messed up we are.

Just look at the Koran story from Florida and the subsequent turmoil in Afghanistan:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12940014

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_florida-pastor-terry-jones-supervises-koran-burning_1522999

...

There are too many nutbars out there!

Support Red Cross' efforts in Japan

2011-03-17T05:55:00.002-04:00

Help the earth quake/Tsunami/Nuclear victims in Japan.

Support Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/en/

Tell us how you are helping those in need.

We start by encouraging everyone to donate at least USD 10 to the good cause.

Defining East Asia

2011-02-26T04:58:00.002-05:00

The boundary, the map, the way we define East Asia

Mop Sourcing

2010-09-15T20:35:00.003-04:00

Are you interested in meeting your mop needs through purchasing in East Asia?

Let East Asia Blog be your guide!

This web site seeks to promote mops made in East Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Philippines, etc.).

Share you company profile in the comments section - or if you're looking for a strong source, leave you company details in the comments section and you might be contacted back by your future mop supplier.

A few suggested places to search for your mop sourcing:

Thailand
Philippines
Vietnam
China

Top "Mop" Image

2010-03-18T12:33:00.004-04:00

If you search "mop" under Google images, the first image you will find is:

What's even MORE interesting, is that the article has a short story about the history of the "mop":

The mop was first patented in 1893 by Thomas Steward of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Links to the mop date as far back as Roman times. The mop patented in 1893 was made up of a clamping system that allowed the mop to be secured to the handle and released with a simple flip of the lever. Stewards mop in very close in style to the screw type mops we have today In 1950 the sponge mop was born making the everyday household chore a little easier. The quick action lever system allowed for easy wringing on the mop all done from a standing position. Peter Vosbikian the inventor of the mop used a sponge attached to a piece of metal connected to a lever. When the lever was pulled the sponge would be compressed by the two pieces of metal.
(Source: LuckyBogey's Blog)

Today's Mop News

2010-02-26T17:31:00.002-05:00

Today's Mop News:

- Mop discovered at murder site in Kuala Lumpur
- Mob uses Mop to Mop up Evidence
- Asian Prices for Mops Rising higher: Economist considers making global "mop index"
- Women uses mops as wig in Xi'an
- Mops are good for your health according to the East Asian Mop Health Organization

The number one hit in Google when searching for "mops asia":
http://62.189.48.160/qn-product-61725.html

Mops

2010-02-12T18:16:00.002-05:00

... The snow was heavy in the streets of London, and a young sea mate of the trading ship

The Cleaner had just disembarked the legendary vessel in hope for a new future in the misty city. He had just spent the past three years and two months on the seas to and fro Japan, Cathay and the Malukkas.

He had discovered some interesting sights. And many of those he shared with me in a pub near Knightsbridge, willing to network (1600s-style) his way to rich and fame after a well-deserved tour of duty in the Far East. The most interesting sight was that of the mop....

The Doubleminded Cleaner - An East Asian Crime Thriller

2009-07-29T10:32:00.007-04:00

... Stormy weather never deters me. Mud, water, snow or sleat never hurts me. I was born to be of pure purpose, swift justice and wild imagination. The call me the sweeper, the cleaner, the relentless workhorse that never relinquishes a chance to express a chance to take hold of a mysterious situation. Usually murders; murder of my favorite places: clean floor spaces.

This is my life. To never give up in the quest for peace, cleanliness and the use of soap or detergent.

So why am I here? Honestly, its a long story, or a series of them to be exact. I was never meant for much but through my life as an international servant of clean shoe soles and white socks, my mission never ends. I am what you might call me, what you may see - but never understand ..... i am the mop!

So what is the story - where did it all begin? ... let me begin by telling you a story of my childhood as a young, inexperienced and goalless mop.

It all began in 1654 .....

[to be continued].....

Bangkok Airport Closed

2008-11-25T09:39:00.004-05:00

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport Partially Closed

Breaking News
Read more on IHT

Only one day after protesters blocked, the Prime Minister's office in Bangkok, thousands of anti-Government demonstrators today blocked the main entrance of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to IHT. CNN furthermore reports that protesters have broken through police lines, most likely to cause flight delays tonight and tomorrow morning.

This blog will not be posting updates. Watch CNN or something...

What a map!!

Wind Power in East Asia

2008-11-15T06:03:00.002-05:00

What's the current status of wind power in Asia? Are China and india the only countries with wind turbine developments?

Why aren't any other Asian economies investing into this green source of energy?

What do you think will happen in the future?

Map of East Asia

2008-11-10T07:57:00.003-05:00

It's time. We need to show it to you again. It's the best map of East Asia on the internet.

What Obama will mean for East Asia

2008-11-08T05:59:00.001-05:00

What will the election of Barack Obama mean for politics, trade and the economy of East Asia?

Who will benefit and who will not? What will Obama do with the North Korea "dilemma"? How will relations between China and the US be in the coming years? Will Obama seek to increase US foreign investments in the emerging markets (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, etc.)?

Please share your thoughts and comments with us.