Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 135

What is high bandwidth memory and why is the US trying to block China’s access to it?

The US government has imposed fresh export controls on the sale of high tech memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications to China. The rules apply to US-made high bandwidth memory (HBM) technology as well as foreign-produced ones. Here’s everything you need to know about these cutting-edge semiconductors, which have seen demand soar along with the global frenzy for AI.Read more

Chinese aid cannot overcome Myanmar junta’s declining finances and morale

Despite being bolstered by an unprecedented degree of Chinese diplomatic and material support, Myanmar’s military has had mixed results in the past few weeks, in the face of mounting economic and fiscal challenges. The State Administrative Council (SAC) - as the junta is officially called - has continued to suffer military setbacks that have economic implications of their own.With the capture of

Nepal’s leader visits Beijing, joint statement uses ‘Xizang’ to refer to Tibet

Nepal referred to Tibet as “Xizang” in a statement issued after its new Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli completed a four-day visit to Beijing this week, his first trip outside the country after his election -- not India, as is traditionally the case.  Xizang is a term promoted by Beijing, but Tibetan advocates say it is yet another attempt by China to erase their distinct cultural heritage.Both

3 years on, displaced families await compensation for Lao-China Railway project

At least 371 families displaced by the construction of the Laos-China Railway project, completed three years ago, have yet to receive full compensation after refusing to accept what they say are inadequate offers from the Lao government. The families, who mostly live in the capital of Vientiane, were forced from their land by the project, part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “Belt and Road

Trump picks former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he is choosing former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China.Trump said in a social media post that Perdue, a former CEO, "brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China." Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for Georgia governor. Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat

Paraguay kicks out visiting Chinese envoy for urging lawmakers to turn their backs on Taiwan

Paraguay on Thursday kicked out a Chinese envoy for allegedly interfering in its domestic affairs and urging the South American nation to break off ties and long friendship with Taiwan. The Chinese diplomat was given 24 hours to leave the country. In a curt statement, Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had revoked the visa of Xu Wei, a senior Chinese envoy to Latin America who was in

South Korea’s ruling party leader appears to throw weight behind presidential impeachment efforts in dramatic reversal

The leader of South Korea’s ruling party said Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeoul needs to be immediately suspended from duty to protect the country from “grave danger,” in a dramatic reversal of opinion that appears to signal his support for opposition efforts to impeach the embattled leader. The apparent U-turn by Han Dong-hoon, chief of Yoon’s own People Power Party, comes after he received “

Taiwan president’s visit to Guam stokes fears of being targeted by China

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Guam to strengthen ties has raised residents' fears of the U.S. territory being further targeted in escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. Lai is on his first overseas tour since being elected in May, choosing to visit three Pacific nations - Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau - that still maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. He has

Hong Kong officials learn neighborhood surveillance from China

Hong Kong is sending district councilors and other local officials to mainland China to learn how the ruling Chinese Communist Party uses local networks of volunteers to monitor the population and target potential unrest before it happens. China’s “red armband” brigade of state-sanctioned busybodies have been dubbed the biggest intelligence network on the planet by social media users, and have

South Korea: President Yoon’s Speech Declaring Martial Law

President Yoon Suk Yeol made the extraordinary declaration in an unannounced speech to the nation on Tuesday night.«Honorable citizens, as President, I appeal to you with a feeling of spitting blood.Since the inauguration of our government, the National Assembly has initiated 22 impeachment motions against government officials, and since the inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly in June, it