Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict. Vietnam mourns the passing of Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party. Stay updated on the latest developments in international politics and the implications for US-Israel relations and Vietnam's political stability.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world-69219719
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/7/29/n14300519.htm
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/7/29/n14300519.htm
https://theinitium.com/zh-Hans/article/20240726-opinion-vietnam-nguyen-phu-trong
Outline:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:44) Kamara Harris meets the Israeli Prime Minister Neitana: It's time
(00:03:00) Li Jingyu: Politics cannot the economic electric vehicle industry be thunderous? | Fuel vehicle | market economy
(00:05:06) Li Jingyu: Politics cannot the economic electric vehicle industry be thunderous? | Fuel vehicle | market economy
(00:07:12) The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam died: What heritage did he leave in Vietnam's political and economic diplomacy? ｜ Duan Media Initium Media
Simply Politics, from China
Harris Meets Israeli PM, Vietnam Mourns Political Leader
Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict. Vietnam mourns the passing of Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party. Stay updated on the latest developments in international politics and the implications for US-Israel relations and Vietnam's political stability.Sources:https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world-69219719https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/7/29/n14300519.htmhttps://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/7/29/n14300519.htmhttps://theinitium.com/zh-Hans/article/20240726-opinion-vietnam-nguyen-phu-trongOutline:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:00:44) Kamara Harris meets the Israeli Prime Minister Neitana: It's time(00:03:00) Li Jingyu: Politics cannot the economic electric vehicle industry be thunderous? | Fuel vehicle | market economy(00:05:06) Li Jingyu: Politics cannot the economic electric vehicle industry be thunderous? | Fuel vehicle | market economy(00:07:12) The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam died: What heritage did he leave in Vietnam's political and economic diplomacy? ｜ Duan Media Initium Media
- Duration:
- 9m
- Broadcast on:
- 29 Jul 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
Good morning, and welcome to Simply Politics from China. It's Monday, July 29th. On today's show, Kamala Harris meets the Israeli Prime Minister Natana, and we explore the impact of politics on the electric vehicle industry. Plus, we discuss the legacy left by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Vietnam's political and economic diplomacy. Peace coverage, and more, up next. I'm David, and you're listening to Simply Politics from China. Vice President Kamala Harris recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, expressing her unwavering commitment to Israel and its right to self-defense. This comes amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has seen significant casualties on both sides. Here to discuss this further is Bella, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this meeting and its implications? Certainly, David, the meeting lasted for about 40 minutes during which Vice President Harris reiterated the U.S. support for Israel. She pointed out that the conflict began last year when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, leading to 01,000 deaths and more than 250 people being captured. Israel's retaliatory attacks in Gaza have resulted in over 39,000 casualties. And what was Vice President Harris' stance on the Israeli retaliation? Harris stated that Israel has the right to defend itself, but she also emphasized the importance of how it does so. She expressed concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, vowing not to remain silent about the suffering. She called for an agreement to cease fire, end the war, bring the hostages home, and provide urgently needed relief to the Palestinian people. This meeting comes at a time when President Biden's unwavering support for Israel has drawn criticism from many left-wing radicals in the U.S. How does this impact the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming presidential election? Indeed, the Democratic Party may need the support of these left-wing radicals to win the presidential election in November. Therefore, Vice President Harris' stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is of considerable interest, especially since she could potentially replace Biden in the White House. And before meeting with Vice President Harris, Netanyahu had a meeting with President Biden. Can you tell us more about that? The details of that meeting have not been disclosed yet. However, it's clear that the U.S.'s relationship with Israel and its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are topics of significant interest and concern, both domestically and internationally. Thanks for that report, Bella. Shifting gears now, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, has called for a significant reduction in carbon emissions with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, recent trends suggest that consumers are resisting the shift towards electric vehicles, a key strategy in achieving these targets. Here to discuss this further is Michael, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this situation? Certainly, David. The IPCC report highlights that transportation accounts for about 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the net-zero emission target, the report suggests replacing traditional fuel vehicles with electric ones. This has led to a number of countries, including Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, India, Japan, France, the U.K. and Spain, and acting laws to ban the use of fuel vehicles over the next few decades. But despite these political moves, it seems that consumers are not embracing electric vehicles as expected. Can you elaborate on that? Yes, that's correct. A recent survey by the American Automobile Association, or AAA, found that an increasing number of consumers are reluctant to purchase electric vehicles. In 2022, 51 percent of respondents were unlikely or very unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle. This figure rose to 53 percent in 2023, and in 2024, it reached 63 percent, the highest proportion in three years. It seems that despite political policies, market forces are pushing in the opposite direction. That's a significant trend. What could be the reasons behind this reluctance to switch to electric vehicles? The reasons can vary, but common concerns include the higher upfront cost of electric vehicles, the availability and convenience of charging infrastructure, and the range of travel on a single charge. Despite the environmental benefits, these practical considerations can make electric vehicles less appealing to many consumers. Thanks for that report, Michael. Lifting gears now, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, has called for a significant reduction in carbon emissions with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, recent trends suggest that consumers are resisting the shift towards electric vehicles, a key strategy in achieving these targets. Here to discuss this further is Abby, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this situation? Certainly, David, the IPCC report highlights that transportation accounts for about 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the net-zero emission target, the report suggests replacing traditional fuel vehicles with electric ones. This has led to a number of countries, including Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, and Spain, enacting laws to ban the use of fuel vehicles over the next few decades. But despite these political moves, it seems that consumers are not embracing electric vehicles as expected. Can you elaborate on that? Yes, that's correct. A recent survey by the American Automobile Association, or AAA, found that an increasing number of consumers are reluctant to purchase electric vehicles. In 2022, 51% of respondents were unlikely or very unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle. This figure rose to 53% in 2023, and in 2024, it reached 63%. The highest proportion in three years. It seems that despite political policies, market forces are pushing in the opposite direction. That's a significant trend. What could be the reasons behind this reluctance to switch to electric vehicles? The reasons can vary. But common concerns include the higher upfront cost of electric vehicles, the availability and convenience of charging infrastructure, and the range of travel on a single charge. Despite the environmental benefits, these practical considerations can make electric vehicles less appealing to many consumers. Thanks for the report, Abby. Shifting our focus to Vietnam now, the Communist Party there has announced the passing of Mwinton Fu Trung, General Secretary of the Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Military Commission. His death comes at a time of political turbulence in the country. Here to discuss this further is Celeste, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about Mwinton Fu Trung and the impact of his passing? Certainly, David. Mwinton Fu Trung passed away at the Central Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi at the age of 80. Although his health had been weak throughout the year, his death still came as a shock. This is because the current high-level politics in Vietnam is in an unusually turbulent situation, which may continue until after the Party Congress in 2026, before there is a chance for slight stability. Can you tell us more about Mwinton Fu Trung's political career? Mwinton Fu Trung was born into a peasant family in Hanoi City. His political career began with the study of Vietnamese Party Building Affairs. After joining the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1967, he served in various roles, including as a staff member in the data room of the Communist magazine and as an editor in the Party Building Department. He also studied at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Soviet Academy of Social Sciences. He continued to serve as the editor-in-chief of the Communist magazine and entered the Central Committee in 1994. And what does his passing mean for the future of Vietnamese politics? Mwinton Fu Trung's death leaves a significant void in Vietnamese politics. The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam had previously announced that President Toh Lum would temporarily take over the work of the General Secretary. However, the political turbulence in Vietnam is likely to continue until after the Party Congress in 2026, when there may be a chance for stability. Thanks for the update, Celeste. And with that, we wrap up our stories for today. Thanks for listening to Simply Politics from China. We'll see you back here tomorrow. [MUSIC] [BLANK_AUDIO]