Halsey is on TIME cover!

I have always been right about her larger-than-life power. Last year, I did wrote a very long article about her in Vietnamese  💗

 

Nhu Nguyen's Hightlights on David R. Stilwell's speech at Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations

(Sep., 2020 - Washiongton D.C)

...It is now clear to us, and to more and more countries around the world, that the CCP under General Secretary Xi Jinping is not seeking to join the free and open international order we and our allies and partners have fought and died to defend for generations. Instead, PRC foreign and security policy seeks to disrupt and reshape the international environment around the narrow self-centered interests and authoritarian values of a single beneficiary, the Chinese Communist Party.

...In recognition of the geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific, President Trump announced the U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific  three years ago in Da Nang, Vietnam, to advance a vision for the Indo-Pacific region in which all countries prosper side by side as sovereign, independent states.  The Indo-Pacific Strategy is fundamentally about supporting the autonomy of Indo-Pacific states facing PRC attempts to dominate the region.

...We are not asking countries to choose sides, but rather to stand up to protect their own national sovereignty, security, values, and economic well-being.

DAVID R. STILWELL - ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS

Nhu Nguyen's Hightlights on David R. Stilwell's speech at Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations

(Sep., 2020 - Washiongton D.C)

...It is now clear to us, and to more and more countries around the world, that the CCP under General Secretary Xi Jinping is not seeking to join the free and open international order we and our allies and partners have fought and died to defend for generations. Instead, PRC foreign and security policy seeks to disrupt and reshape the international environment around the narrow self-centered interests and authoritarian values of a single beneficiary, the Chinese Communist Party.

..In recognition of the geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific, President Trump announced the U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific  three years ago in Da Nang, Vietnam, to advance a vision for the Indo-Pacific region in which all countries prosper side by side as sovereign, independent states.  The Indo-Pacific Strategy is fundamentally about supporting the autonomy of Indo-Pacific states facing PRC attempts to dominate the region.

...We are not asking countries to choose sides, but rather to stand up to protect their own national sovereignty, security, values, and economic well-being.

DAVID R. STILWELL - ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS

Nhu Nguyen's Q&A with Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell on the validity of Eyes on Earth's data

David R. Stilwell, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, accused that China has been manipulating the water flows along the Mekong for 25 years, with greatest disruption in natural flows. Mr. Stilwell also criticized the Chinese government's major dam construction and operation and their lack of transparency on water data. In the context of the newly-launched U.S - Mekong Partnership, Nhu Nguyen, an independent journalist from Vietnam, asked the Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell for his comment on a sensitive diplomatic situation, in which Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian condemned Stilwell's statement as an action of creating a dispute between China and the Mekong countries. Meanwhile, some researchers also question the validity of the U.S. scientific data publicly published by the Eyes on Earth organization. From Washington D.C today, Mr. Stilwell answered Nhu Nguyen's question as follows:

Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell

Nhu Nguyen (Vietnam): Recently, the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed your comment on the cause of China’s lack of data sharing of hydro power in the Mekong River system. Meanwhile, some independent scientific research from Finland and the Mekong River Commission said that the data collection and the scientific research submitted by the Eyes on Earth organization is not scientifically correct. Do you have any comment on this?

Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell (Washington D.C): I do. In the most broad terms, in the biggest picture, I think the information that comes from an open, transparent, and verifiable source is preferable to information that comes from two Chinese scientific outlets that you can’t verify, that you can’t talk to, and whose information is not readily accessible. And again, and the larger picture here is the information environment in the PRC being so closed and with the Great Firewall and all of those things, it has demonstrated the reason why you have a free media, and why you answer question like this to regional Media Hubs like this and all the rest, because the media has a very important role in terms of transparency.

And so, if the media chose to check the facts on whether one source of data is accurate or not, the Eyes on Earth data is, it’s readily available and easily checked, whereas I don’t think you’ll have that same luck with the data the Chinese put out from their two supposedly independent sources. You need transparency. And that’s a big part of this message, is there a restriction of water into the region? In Vietnam, it’s having devastating effects in the Mekong Delta both on the fertility of the land and on fisheries and all the rest. I mean downstream water rights is an issue that absolutely needs to be addressed and has to be addressed in a way that’s respectful of the rights of those downstream.

Quick facts about Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell

Current position: the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific. Date of appointment: June 20, 2019.

Important facts:

He is a veteran of Misawa Air Base, two tours, six total years of flying F-16s. He speaks Korean, Chinese, and limited Japanese.

He served in the Air Force for 35 years, beginning as an enlisted Korean linguist in 1980, and retiring in 2015 in the rank of Brigadier General as the Asia advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He served multiple tours of duty in Japan and Korea as a linguist, a fighter pilot, and a commander. He also served as the Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 2011-2013. Most recently, Mr. Stilwell served as the Director of the China Strategic Focus Group at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii 2017-2019 and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu from 2016-2019. He earned a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy (1987), and a Master’s Degree in Asian Studies and Chinese language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1988) and is a 2009 graduate of the Executive Leadership program at the Darden School, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Awards:

David R. Stilwell was awarded the Department of Defense Superior Service Award in 2015.

Nhu Nguyen's note on AidFlow Watch - September 2020

1.The third Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF)

The U.S. will work with Vietnam to co-host the third IPBF during the last week of October. The IPBF fosters millions of dollars in corporate deals and builds stronger connections across U.S. and ASEAN private sectors.

2.YSEALI Academy at Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV)

The U.S. Department of State is working with Congress to provide $5 million for the new YSEALI Academy at FUV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Mid-level professionals ages 25-40 from across Southeast Asia are targeted recipients.

Themes for next coming YSEALI seminars will focus on technology and innovation, public policy, and entrepreneurship.

The U.S. government has provided more than $1.7 million in small grant funding to support young Southeast Asian leaders’ innovative ideas for civic engagement, economic development, education, and sustainable development.

3. COVID-19 Aid

ASEAN countries have received from the United States over $87 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance provided to combat COVID-19.

4.The launch of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership

More than $150 million in additional funding to combat transnational criminal activities in the Mekong, including the trafficking of persons, drugs, wildlife, and natural resources, has been announced.

BlueCamp Note: Nhu Nguyen's note in a teleconference with Navy Vice Admiral, Commander of the Third Fleet Scott D. Conn.

Manila Hub - Hawaii - Da Nang (Aug. 27, 2020)

Scott D. Conn

What is the message delivered from RIMPAC, the world’s largest maritime exercise?  

RIMPAC 2020 began August 17th, with a formidable team of 10 navies from Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic Of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.   There are 22 surface ships, one submarine, and approximately 5,300 men and women presently at sea.  RIMPAC is a means by which the United States can reassure all allies and partners that we’re staunchly committed to the values of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

What have they done during RIMPAC?

Over the last week and a half, the U.S Navy and allies have completed numerous live-fire exercises including:  maritime interdiction exercises, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare exercises, as well as replenishments at sea. The purpose of this event is to show a multinational commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, even in times of crisis, in this case, it’s the COVID-19 pandemic.

What  did the U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, Commander of the Third Fleet Scott D. Conn say about TRUST?

RIMPAC 2020 has demonstrated that like-minded nations and their navies have the resolve to come together And whether we find ourselves facing a threat to the free flow of goods and services across the world’s oceans or where a response is needed as a result of a natural disaster, the time to establish interoperability and forge key relationships is not in the midst of crisis.  We must have those personal relationships and trust already well established because, while we have the ability to surge ships and people, what we cannot surge is trust.  It has to be built.

What was his comment on recent PLA missile exercise?

The U.S. Navy has 38 ships underway today in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, and we continue to fly and sail and operate anywhere international law allows to demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and reassure our allies and partners.  Our forces continually monitor exercises throughout the region to include the recent that you mentioned, and our naval forces remain ready to respond to any threats to our allies or partners throughout the region.
RIMPAC has been planned for the last two years, and they occur every two years.  China, I’m aware of their exercise.  As long as they’re doing it in accordance with international law and norms, they have every right to do so.  I would think one of the main differences that I’m aware is that I have 10 nations here participating in our exercises; I’m pretty sure the number of nations participating in China’s exercise is probably less than two.  And in terms of launching of the ballistic missiles.

What was his comment on a shared access to the Indo-Pacific region?

If you look at the amount of trade that transits the world’s oceans and how important that is to all of our economies and our people, and it’s having our like-minded navies ensuring that that free flow of goods continues to traverse our seas.  And the fact that in the past, oceans have mainly been looked at as barriers and boundaries, and that is no longer true.  It’s the collective medium that brings us all together for shared success, shared access, and shared opportunities.

How did Covid-19 change the preparation process for RIMPAC? 

Normally, RIMPAC takes two years to plan.  We re-planned this event in less than three months.  And it wasn’t we, meaning my team; it was every partner nation that’s participating, that was doing things virtually, where we normally go face-to-face.  It was trying to have video teleconferences across the world at different times and different days.  And they did a phenomenal job of getting us where we are, and able to execute this exercise.

What did he say about the military  ties between the U.S and Australia? 

In terms of the U.S. and Australia, [we] have very, very strong ties that go back to World War I, and you have been by our side, we have been by your side I think pretty much ever since then, and I think that’s going to continue.  And I think we look for all opportunities to continue to strengthen our very strong relationship as we move forward in day-to-day operations and future exercises.

What did he say about whether Taiwai's request to be an observer of RIMPAC? 

I am not aware of Taiwan requesting to be an observer status as part of RIMPAC.  And I can go back and look at that.  So I can’t – I wasn’t aware of it, so I can’t really answer that portion of the question.
I will say that we will continue to work with [all] who are generally supportive of the free and open Indo-Pacific values and then look to find opportunities to further enhance our capabilities and proficiencies towards that aim.

What did he say about miscalculation in international water space?

We always have to be prepared for any type of miscalculation.  And we’ve managed that by abiding by international laws, number one, and norms, as well as conducting ourselves in a safe and professional manner.  And as long as all nations abide by that, you can have the same ships in the same water space as professional sailors, and we can work our way through that in international water space.  You can have pilots, aviators, aircraft, flying aircraft in international airspace and be in relative, close proximity to other aircraft, as long as all parties are operating safely and professionally.

And finally, what I would say is, in terms of miscalculation or the potential crisis, one of the best means to avoid a crisis is being able to demonstrate to others our collective ability to face it and confront it, which is one of the things we’re doing in RIMPAC.

What did he say about the on the Philippines' again/off again approach to RIMPAC?

We are very happy to have the Philippines participating in RIMPAC here with their ship, Jose Rizal.  And that group of sailors, led by their captain, is doing a phenomenal job.  And I think, as with all RIMPAC participants, those countries – and I’ve said it before – that share the values of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, we are glad to have them on.  And that team is doing a very, very good job.
In terms of the on again/off again approach, I’m not going to make those comments.  I respect the fact that individual nations have to make choices.  We continue to stress our free and open values, and we are just more than happy to have Philippines here with us this year.

What did he say in closing the teleconference?

In closing, I want to reiterate that our collective prosperity depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific.  Not just the prosperity of one or two or three nations, but, all of our nations.  All of our livelihoods depend on the freedom of the seas and skies.  And as my boss, Admiral Aquilino, Commander of Pacific Fleet, has said, “the Indo-Pacific is one of the largest and most diverse regions on earth.  These differences are our strength, and the thousands of miles of ocean and sky between us do not divide us, they are the connective elements that bind us all together.”
Exercises like RIMPAC demonstrate that we all have something to offer, regardless of the size of our nations, the militaries, or defense forces.  We all have something to teach each other, and we all have something to learn from each other.  And that is what we’re doing here at RIMPAC this year.

My Note from BlueCamp: Teleconference with U.S Health Secretary Alex Azar (12 August 2020)

U.S Health Secretary Alex Azar praises Taiwans' Covid-10 response. He, as many other Americans, felt touched for Taiwan's generosity in giving aid to the U.S people even when they were facing inadequate supply of medical equipment during the beginning of the pandemic. The U.S government will continue to support the presence of Taiwan as a vibrant democratic political entity on the international stage. The U.S government currently invests in 6 different types of vaccines to handle Covid-19 in the future. They continue to attack Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the lack of transparency of information sharing. However, in response to my question, Mr. Anzar denied his implication on the correlation between a certain type of political regime and the transparency of information sharing.

Climate Data: NASA

The BAWA project: In Conversation with Veronica Pini (Questions 1-4):

Question 1: In the scientific article "The changing concept of animal sentience" written by Ian J.H Duncan, the author described a brief history of animal sentience research. According to the author, what was the time for the changing concept related to the ability to fear and suffer of an animal occur?

The greatest intellectuals of the Renaissance period (14th-17th century), in Europe, started to notice and support the ability of animals to have feelings. Despite that, some scientists and philosophers didn’t agree with this idea, claiming that animals had no sentience. One of them, Descartes, even wrote that animals were machines unable to think and feel anything.

After Renaissance, in the Age of Enlightenment - the Age of Reason – this point of view was abandoned: in the 19th century the scientific community agreed on animal sentience, the ability of animals to have feelings.

In the 20th century, though, new problems emerged. In 1913 a new approach in psychological science developed: Behaviorism. According to this research methodology, only observable events were considered. As emotions and thoughts are not easily observable in animals they weren’t believed to exist. Only in the second half of the century, the focus slowly came back to animal sentience and welfare. 

Question 2: What did happen at the International Ethology Conference in Parma, Italy in 1975? What was the meaning of this event to the study of animal sentience? 

This is an important data for animal sentience: it’s the time when it started to be considered in the ethological research. Ethology is a biological discipline that studies animal evolution through the observation of their behaviours and, like Behaviorism, it mostly considered observable events. At the International Ethology Conference, in 1975, Donald Griffin presented his paper on animal subjective feelings. From that day on, this topic became of central importance in ethological research and it opened the road to a large amount of studies on animal sentience and welfare.  

Question 3: What did inspire and incite the author of the book "Animal Machines" to write her book? 

When the British activist Ruth Harrison published her book “Animal Machines”, in 1964, European animal welfare consideration was still under the influence of Behaviorism. Animals were treated without any consideration of their feelings, as they were believed to have none. In the agricultural industry, biomedical research and product testing, animals were just treated as production units. 

Harrison decided to write her book after acknowledging the bad condition of these animals and she described and reported the suffering of livestock in intensive farms.

Her role was crucial for the changes in British and European legislation in animal welfare: thanks to her book, in 1965, the British government appointed a Committee with the task of investigating on animal welfare in farm industries. The Committee published a report indicating Five Freedoms that must be respected in order to guarantee animal welfare; Freedoms that were adopted by several organisations all over the world, including the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Question 4: Since when behavioral scientists step by step agreed on the role of animal feelings in their investigations into animal welfare problems?

The view on animal welfare in behavioral scientists started to change in the ‘80s, with the publication of Marian Dawkins’ “Animal Suffering”. In this book, she stated that animals’ feelings are an important element in animal welfare. With time, this idea gradually evolved to considering feelings as all that matter in determining the welfare. 

(to be continued)

A reminder of the power of LGBTQ community!

A reminder of Women Powering Event at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City

A reminder of the charity Trip to Quang Binh