Opinion: Learning from the Taiwan Model [Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila / Asia News Network]
Dec. 22 Taiwan’s trailblazing digital minister, Audrey Tang, was the main speaker at the “Kaya Pala! (It Can Be Done)” forum the other week, which focused on lessons from Taiwan’s evident success in containing both the coronavirus pandemic and the disinformation phenomenon, the so-called infodemic. (It was my happy task to serve as forum moderator.)Tang offered a close-up view of Taiwan’s “three pillars in social innovation,” which she summarized as the 3 Fs: Fast, Fair, Fun.
She started with the by now well-known fact that Taiwan responded immediately to the first public report of a SARS-like illness, posted by the Chinese whistleblower Li Wenliang (who later succumbed to the new disease) on Dec. 30, 2019. It was shared on Taiwan’s PTT platform the next day, where different people, experts and laymen alike, “triaged the message,” Tang said, to confirm that “it’s
PM approves list of priority technologies for research and development [Vietnam News, Hanoi / Asia News Network]
Dec. 21 HÀ NỘI Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has approved a list of priority technologies for research and development in a bid to facilitate participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
These belong to four areas, digital technologies, physics, biotechnology, and energy and environment.
Digital technologies include artificial intelligence, internet of things, big data analytics, blockchain, cloud computing, quantum computing, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, intelligence-remediation-adaptation cyber security, and precision agriculture.
Physics includes robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology, technology for designing and manufacturing micro and small satellites, and photonic technology.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Japan finalizes policy to build 2 Aegis ships, develop long-range missiles [The Japan News, Tokyo / Asia News Network]
Dec. 21 Japan will build two Aegis-equipped ships to replace the ground-based interceptor system known as Aegis Ashore and also develop a long-range cruise missile that can strike beyond the range of enemy missiles, the government decided at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
In June, the government abandoned plans to deploy the Aegis Ashore system because of the risk of missile propulsion units landing outside bases, endangering nearby residents.
Three alternative proposals were studied: deploying destroyers including Aegis ships; using private ships; and building floating facilities offshore. A decision was made to install the system on destroyers, which are more resistant to enemy attacks and can be flexibly deployed across wide areas.
Scientists lauded for research on Asian genetics, light at nano-level [The Straits Times, Singapore / Asia News Network]
Dec. 21 SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN) Research into the human genome has grown over the past decade but Asian populations remain under-studied.
Professor Liu Jianjun, 57, is trying to change that and gaining recognition for it. Last Friday, he received the President’s Science Award.
“My research on the genetics of Asian populations has revealed new insights into the biological mechanisms of diseases that are prominent in Asian populations,” said Prof Liu, deputy executive director at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Genome Institute of Singapore.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Next-gen Aster 30 missile system now deployed, boosting Singapore’s air defence network [The Straits Times, Singapore / Asia News Network]
Dec. 18 SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN) The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF’s) next-generation Aster 30 missile system that is designed to neutralise air threats far away has been conducting round-the-clock operations since August.
The ground-based system has also been integrated into the RSAF’s networked Island Air Defence System, which can now counter a range of threats, from fighter jets to unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided munitions.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the system’s defence capabilities today marked a significant milestone since it was first developed about 15 years ago.