by Editor | Sep 17, 2023 | News
Minh Nguyen is the Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
While there were no major events this week, there were still a handful of developments in the space of the Four Pillars. Let us visit them in this segment:
European Commission President and BGF 2020 World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipient Ursula von der Leyen launched an investigation into Chinese electric vehicles. Critics deride this move as a protectionist hindrance and one backed by the European auto industry, but it is worth noting that Chinese EVs have been heavily subsidized by the government. This investigation could also invite retaliation from Beijing. This move should be seen in the light of rising tensions and distrust between the EU and China, as the Union seeks to develop a plan to move away from dependence with the East Asian power.
Furthermore, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock labeled Xi Jinping as “dictator,” adding that Europe must cut down on its dependence with China – not fully de-couple, but de-risk. In an interview with Bloomberg, she backed the Commission’s investigation into the Chinese EVs subsidies.
Remember the Chinese Spy Balloon incident in February this year? It is now reported that China has suspended its spy balloon program after the incident, which led Anthony Blinken to cancel his visit. It is unclear how long this suspension will last though, if it is merely a token concession as the program becomes public knowledge. In the same vein, it is revealed that the balloon was not intentionally flying over continental North America, but rather its target was Hawaii. And once the US was made aware of its presence, it was no longer capable of sending data back due to jamming.
There is a development worth keeping an eye on: the “disappearance” of two Chinese cabinet ministers in recent months. Foreign minister Qin Gang mysteriously disappeared and was replaced this summer. Less than two months later, the defense minister Li Shangfu met a similar fate. It appears that Xi’s grip on the state apparatus in China is tightening even further, perhaps in anticipation of an invasion of Taiwan.
Minh Nguyen
Read more about these topics:
- [Politico EU] Von der Leyen hits China with electric vehicle subsidy probe
- [The Telegraph] Brussels launches fightback against cheap Chinese electric cars flooding Europe
- [Politico EU] Germany’s Baerbock calls China’s Xi Jinping a dictator
- [Bloomberg] Europe Must Cut Down on Its Dependence With China, Baerbock Says
- [CNN] China appears to have suspended spy balloon program after February shootdown, US intel believes
- [CBS News] The bizarre secret behind China’s spy balloon
- [Financial Times] Then there were two: disappearance of second Chinese minister sparks speculation
Credit: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg | Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, highlighted the threat Chinese auto subsidies pose to EU manufacturing
by Editor | Sep 17, 2023 | Global Alliance for Digital Governance
Some Japanese researchers feel that AI systems trained on foreign languages cannot grasp the intricacies of Japanese language and culture.
Japan is building its own versions of ChatGPT — the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot made by US firm OpenAI that became a worldwide sensation after it was unveiled just under a year ago.
The Japanese government and big technology firms such as NEC, Fujitsu and SoftBank are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into creating AI systems that are based on the same underlying technology, known as large language models (LLMs), but that use the Japanese language, rather than translations of the English version.
“Current public LLMs, such as GPT, excel in English, but often fall short in Japanese due to differences in the alphabet system, limited data and other factors,” says Keisuke Sakaguchi, a researcher at Tohoku University in Japan who specializes in natural language processing.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02868-z
Boston Global Forum contributed the concept of AI-Government for G7-Summit 2019 as a part of AI World Society, and AIWS was recognized by the Civil 20-G20 Communique, India July, 2023.
AI World Society introduced AIWS Assistants and Framework for Global Governance of AI at BGF High-level Conference on Global Governance of AI at Harvard University Faculty Club on April 26, 2023.
The Japanese supercomputer Fugaku has been put to work digesting Japanese texts in order to develop a Japanese version of ChatGPT.Credit: Kyodo News via Getty
by Editor | Sep 17, 2023 | News
The Boston Global Forum announces its upcoming celebration on October 3, 2023, where we will bestow the prestigious World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2023 upon the Esteemed humanitarian and spiritual leader, Amma. This ceremony will not only honor her contributions to peace and security but also celebrate her 70th birthday.
The award ceremony will be a focal point of Amma’s 70th birthday celebration, a momentous occasion attended by dignitaries, leaders, and well-wishers from around the world. This dual celebration is a testament to Amma’s lifelong commitment to serving humanity and fostering a more compassionate world.
Additionally, during this event, the Boston Global Forum will announce the establishment of the “Amma House” within the prestigious House of Honor at AIWS City.
Amma’s legacy of selfless service and her dedication to the betterment of humanity are values that align with the core principles of the Boston Global Forum and AIWS City. The Amma House will serve as a symbol of her enduring influence and a beacon of inspiration for future generations committed to creating a more peaceful and secure world.
The Boston Global Forum looks forward to celebrating Amma’s remarkable journey, her 70th birthday, and her indelible contributions to peace and security on October 3, 2023. It is an occasion to honor a true global luminary and to reaffirm our shared commitment to the ideals she embodies.
Link: https://bostonglobalforum.org/news/the-mata-amritanandamayi-math/
by Editor | Sep 11, 2023 | News
Minh Nguyen is the Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
Note: We at BGF introduce to you a new section in BGF Weekly – the Four Pillars. It will cover global security, focused on the Four Pillars of the US, the EU, Japan, and India.
The G20 Summit, hosted in Delhi, India, was attended by President Biden. He would pitch the idea of a global alliance of democracies over the authoritarian systems of China to not just friendlier states of the EU and NATO, but also developing countries, who may not have been as receptive. Biden was also able to reach a compromise with G20 nations on a stronger communique on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which while did not produce the strongest condemnation of Russia, was a minor concession.
India, the host of the summit, also took the opportunity to stake its claim as the leader of the Global South, as Xi Jinping was absent in what many consider to be a boycott of the event. The US backed this effort in a statement supporting India with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Japan, another Pillar and an attendee at the summit, backs India in this rivalry too.
Biden also seized on the opportunity for a photo op with leaders of Brazil, India, South Africa, taking advantage of Xi Jinping’s absence. This indicates a signaling that the US have been making inroads with members of the so-called BRICS bloc, which seeks to rival US economic influence.
Furthermore, Biden visited Vietnam in a trip that elevated the two countries’ relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest status (other countries with the status are Russia, China, India, and South Korea).
Overall, these events signal a development in the strengthening of relations between the Four Pillars. While the headline is to be the deepening of American-Indian cooperation, it also involves India’s play to overtake China as “leader of the Global South,” and Japan’s support for India in this endeavor. With the strengthening of connection between the Pillars, as shown by these events, it leads to one further step towards a global alliance of democracy.
Minh Nguyen
Read more about these topics:
- [President Biden on Twitter] Together, the United States, India, Brazil, and South Africa reaffirm our shared commitment to the G20 – delivering solutions for our shared world.
- [The White House] Joint Statement from India and the United States
- [Politico] At G-20 and in Vietnam, Biden to sell American partnerships — all at China’s expense
- [Bloomberg] India’s G-20 Win Shows US Learning How to Counter China Rise
- [The Hindu] At G-20, Japan backs India, not China, as bridge to Global South: Japanese experts
- [Nikkei Asia] U.S. upgrades Vietnam ties as Biden blasts China for ‘changing rules’
by Editor | Sep 11, 2023 | Event Updates, News
The Concept of the ‘Four Pillars for Peace and Security’ first gained prominence during the Riga Conference 2021, as promulgated by the BGF, as a way to connect the four leading democracies in the world. At the C20-G20 Summit in India in 2023, BGF’s CEO, Nguyen Anh Tuan, played a pivotal role in emphasizing the significance of the ‘Enlightenment Tech Economy Alliance.’ This alliance is composed of the Four Pillars, which include the United States, Japan, the European Union-UK, and India. It represents a commitment to guiding technological developments under democracies, not authoritarian states, and the promotion of a rules-based global order. The importance of the Four Pillars for Peace and Security was further underscored during the G20 Summit held in India on September 8-9, 2023. This historic gathering featured the participation of global leaders, including President Biden and Prime Minister Modi, marking the Four Pillars as a driving force for international stability and cooperation.
Here are some notes from Joint Statement from India and the United States:
President Biden reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member.
Prime Minister Modi and President Biden reaffirmed technology’s defining role in deepening our strategic partnership and lauded ongoing efforts through the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to build open, accessible, secure, and resilient technology ecosystems and value chains, based on mutual confidence and trust, which reinforce our shared values and democratic institutions.
The leaders reiterated their support for building resilient global semiconductor supply chains.
Read the full statement at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/08/joint-statement-from-india-and-the-united-states/?fbclid=IwAR0dCoqS9-gSce0ocSwGZrf-1_uTHyxbhmO2xMsXetPlL8JeCnmod0FXhHA
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for the first session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 9, 2023 (Image of CNBC)
