Author Archives: montecyril

It is not unseemly to cry when we are in despair  Our tears are only a giving vent to miserable fare  But would be wrong to make a mountain of a molehill  Or as a result of our troubles to perpetrate ill-will  That benevolence in words and deeds will rain on the deserving  If weContinue reading “Laughter and smiles: A poem “

While the war in Ukraine has now stretched on for over six months, the US is keen to prove to its Indo-Pacific allies that it has no less prioritised the region. In fact, it has sought to launch a counterpoise to China on three fronts – Taiwan, to the south; Japan to the east; and India,Continue reading “US aims to launch a three-pronged counterpoise to China “

In this dog-eat-dog world, the spoils are for those that win  Where cut-throat ruthlessness is the result of incorrigible sin  Opportunism becomes a deliberate weapon, not a mere whim  Even competition is aimed at creating monopolies above the din  How can we forget that we are simple minds dabbling in complications  That greed for victoryContinue reading “Survival of the fittest: A poem “

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban walked into Kabul without facing any resistance, effectively taking control of Afghanistan. This transpired because of the withdrawal of US troops from the country, following the Doha agreement between the Taliban and the US in 2020, leading to the collapse of the Western-backed government. US forces left Afghanistan after almostContinue reading “Afghanistan: Taliban, one year on; no place for women “

Sometimes to wonder why there’s tribulation so much  When with goodness our conscience is always in touch  As we reckon, we do not deserve the overwhelming suffering  And worry and lament that life is not worth its offerings  Those with consummate poise have a deep lustre within  And those that ignore integrity for gain, areContinue reading “It is only a lifetime: A poem “

On the night of 15 June 2020, in freezing temperatures, Chinese troops, armed with homemade weapons, including iron rods studded with spikes and wooden clubs wrapped with barbed wire, ambushed a battalion of Indian soldiers in the high altitude Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh, India’s northern-most territory. The attack left 20 Indian soldiers dead andContinue reading “India-China relations: trade with one hand, feud with the other “

Taiwan can heave a sigh of relief. China has ended its wargames in the Taiwan Strait that many speculated were a rehearsal to an actual invasion of Taiwan. But this relief is albeit temporary, as China has sworn that it is ready to “use all necessary means to reunify” the self-governed island with the mainland. Continue reading “A war over Taiwan would be pyrrhic to either side “

Can we reckon there is hope in good  That despite the pitfalls it is understood  as we struggle with woes that we should  bravely bear the torch and resist the crude  Life is not about how much success we attain  True success is in evil spurned and done in vain  Our achievements should not beContinue reading “Patience will bring windfall: A poem”

Taiwan is under siege. Taiwan on Saturday, 6 August 2022, said it noted a number of Chinese aircraft and naval ships conducting military drills around the Taiwan Strait, and claimed it could be a possible simulated attack against the island.  Taiwan’s ministry of defence reported some of the Chinese aircraft and vessels had crossed the sensitive median lineContinue reading “China could debilitate vulnerable Taiwan with sanctions “

Seldom do we realise that there is immense joy in giving  That in such sharing we find the truest meaning of living  Those that have and selfishly only seek what they are entitled  should bear witness to the magnanimity of those who have a little  They that give, however, should not expect any returns forContinue reading “The joys of giving, and gratitude: A poem”