Author Archives: montecyril

China has warned the US not to turn the South Pacific into a sparring contest between the two superpowers. The South Pacific should not become “a boxing ring” for the US-China rivalry, Xie Feng, vice foreign minister in charge of North American and Oceanian affairs, said on Friday, 10 June 2022.   In fact, China isContinue reading “US-China rivalry sees heightened militarisation of Indo-Pacific “

What at all do we resolutely take pride in  Our achievements and our material possessions?  Is our life only worth the meaningless riches  That we wish to pursue, without disheartening glitches?  Our successes live on forever in our memories  Our time is spent in defeating adversaries  We are consumed by revelry with our wins  EvenContinue reading “Pride: A poem “

The nineteen eighties fondness for acronyms was perhaps a characteristic reflection of the computer lingo of the decade. What with `byte’ taking more than a mouthful of your everyday banter. Needless lengthy one-liners were cut to size and became snappy four-letter words that people exchanged over dining tables or heard over communications systems.  The fondnessContinue reading “Am I Speaking English?: Just for laughs “

China has rejected all accusations of human rights violations in Xinjiang, its northwestern province. Less than half the population of this province is Uyghur Muslim, a people that has been the subject of systematic abuse and incarceration by the Chinese authorities.  But China continues to be obdurate that it is not guilty of crimes charged againstContinue reading “China obdurate on atrocities against Uyghurs “

The cocksure religions would have you believe  That the truth is in what they perceive  Where crosses and swords did relive  The callous subjugation of truth without reprieve  And those that deigned to follow the incorrigible deceit  Have their souls unmitigated by falsehoods receipt  For good is not begotten by practices of indulgence  And GodContinue reading “Salvation: A poem “

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has heightened fears that China will take Taiwan forcibly. The escalation of tensions across the Taiwan Strait, prompted US President Joe Biden to state, in Tokyo just before the Quad Summit on 23 May, that the US would intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan.   It is not as if Biden hasContinue reading “US ambiguity on Taiwan could leverage China “

What is the inheritance from father to son  The reaping of material wealth when life is done  Or is it that one goes through life with sincere morality?  The principles to cherish which should be the actual duty  of a father to inculcate his children indelibly with  This is the education with which a home isContinue reading “Inheritance: A poem “

The US’ recent pro-active strategy in the Indo-Pacific, what with US President Joe Biden’s hosting leaders of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) in Washington this month (May 2022), which was followed by his visit to Tokyo, Japan for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meet, and also to Seoul, Korea, and the launch of theContinue reading “US Indo-Pacific strategy sends China ranting “

Life is cherishing the moments that love brings  In generosity of the heart and the small things  The joys of fulfilment, but the timeless waiting  when grief befalls, for the return of laughter to ring  Life is in dreams and wishes for goodness to reign  In the small gifts of giving to ease the pains Continue reading “Life is…: A poem “

US President Joe Biden played host to the leaders of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, at the US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington Thursday, 12 May and Friday, 13 May in a bid to reaffirm US priority for the region in the wake of the increasing strategic rivalry with ChinaContinue reading “US-ASEAN summit: Biden’s bid too small to contain China “