LETTERS – APRIL 2025
No blueprint
Your March editorial (‘Advantage Asia’) had several important things to say, not least about ‘much needed reform’ of the current world order by its very founder, the United States, the extent of global dependence on the US security umbrella, and how Asia is well placed both to cope with American disengagement and to challenge the notion of individual rights versus those of the wider community.
Also of interest was the briefly mentioned Munich Security Conference speech by US vice-president JD Vance, which he used to censure increasing restraints on freedom of expression across Europe. I agree this is a growing concern as political elites and netizens, in particular, simply shut down opposing views rather than challenging them in reasoned debate.
However, I would like to point out that the venerable Mr Vance conspicuously refrained from mentioning another glaring failing in the realm of free speech: that Vladimir Putin (whose outlook, Vance suggests, is less of a threat to Western values than the European mindset) is so antagonistic to the idea of open criticism that he kills those who defy him, both at home and abroad.
It is crucial that we are all at liberty to speak out and critique every single aspect of our societies, whether or not it is ‘fashionable’ to do so. But when it comes to espousing free speech, Putin’s Russia is certainly not the blueprint.
Suzanne Woodford
Berlin
Marine lifelines
Thank you Asian Affairs for drawing attention to the vital issue of undersea cables (‘Underwater warfare’, March edition), a matter that is not as widely covered in the press as it ought to be. The significance of these ‘arteries’ of communication in a digital age cannot be overestimated but, as Tanya Vatsa describes, they are ever more subject to cyber threats and sabotage attacks, not to say damage from natural disasters at sea and fishing or shipping activities.
Thanks to innovative engineering and technology, these cables continue to evolve and forge routes around the risks they face – even as the saboteurs find new ways to attack. Until satellite-based connectivity such as Elon Musk’s Starlink become more widespread, it is imperative that the world stays one step ahead of attackers who would effectively shut down the world as we now know it.
Colin T Russell
Windsor
Cutting edge of chips
Sir
Yvonne Gill’s article on the battle for AI and microchip dominance (‘Asia, the new AI battleground?’, March issue) wasa thought-provoking read that highlights the almost‘arms race’ nature of this struggle.
With trade wars, tariffs and ever present security concerns impacting the world, as well as the real possibility of future pandemics, it has never been more important to diversify the microchip supply chain.That India, with its wealth of tech talent, could ‘rise as a semiconductor manufacturing hub and leader in the field of AI application and innovation’ and become a bigger hitter in chip design,is a prospect to be welcomed.
SR Jadhav
Mumbai
Letters with full name and complete address may be emailed to asianaffairsuk@gmail.com; asianaffairs94@gmail.com Letters may be edited and rewritten for space or
clarity.