Eric Loh

Europe's ability to replace the US is limited but is evolving. France, UK and EU are driving alternative peace frameworks. US military and diplomatic weight are big factors. At the moment, Europe's proposal risk being undermined by Russia's intransigence and Trump's transactional approach. I believe at the end of the day, success will hinged in Europe manintaining unity, accelerate defense spending and reduce dependency on Washington. I also believe that Putin's hold on Russia in this war has a limited time span. Sooner than later he will be "sidelined" by events and a genuine peace plan with Europe will happen. Just my humble opinion.

Wow that's another level of Putin a-kissing. The collapse of Minsk agreement is well documented and can be viewed in public domain that in early January 2015, Russia sent another large batch of its regulars, which together with separatist forces of DPR and LPR began a new offensive on UKraine and broke the agreement.

Russia which you support broke the ceasefire agreements in which they were signatories. Not total failure but total dishonesty of Putin. THis time, he is doing his tap on Trump to arm wristing on Ukraine. Forget USA, Europe must do it on their own.

Putin asked for 3 days ceasefire so he can have his annual military parade in Red Square. He is never genuine with any peace plan unless he gets 25% of Ukraine land, Ukraine de-militarized and no Nato membership. He and Trump can't never be trusted for a amicable peace plan with security guarantees. Europe should step in and lead the negotiation as it is their future that is at stake.

Aspiring dictator Trump can be impeached for many offenses including defying the Supreme Court order in the case of Kilmar A Gracia, abuse of emergency order, emoluments violations and dismantling government oversights and even due to the escalating street protests. Not now because of the cowardly Republicans that control the House and Senate but maybe next year when there are signs that the Democrats can win the majority in both Houses. Let's hope they succeed to save America from tyranny.

100 days of chaos & destructions that has no equal in US history. Failed in every form of measurement. Economic, foreign policy, constitution and even legislative failures with only 5 bills signed into law and none major. Cosy up to global despots, lost allies and fractured Nato. His border pledge of mass deportation not fulfilled (Biden already reduced border crossing). DOGE with their made-up numbers and disregard for law and order. If America has a parlimentary system, he will be called up for a vote of no confidence.

Trump's cryptocurrency ventures are just perfect for geopolitics dirty money from Russia that may have influenced his soft stance on Putin. He is just so corrupted that this can't be ruled out.

I think your problem is that you don't understand the meaning of concessional loan and a standard loan.

It is clear by now that Trump has failed dramatically in Ukraine. He has not ended the war in 24 hours and will not do so in 100 days either as he promised. His leadership and mediating drive has stalled and its strategy unclear. He is indecisive and ineffective. His only strategy out of this is to pressure Ukraine into capituating to Russia. Putin shunned any meeting with Trump and he is waiting for Trump is stop military aid before launching a big scale invasion. Ukraine will have to fight for the life. Trump's legacy will be a disgrace and will further drive a wedge with allies. Trump lack the leverage to make Putin reconsider and Putin is playing Trump like a fiddle.

The damage to the Tesla brand will take years to recover. Musk not managing the situation well by continuing his role in DOGE. If Tesla go under, it can bankrupt Musk. He may be force to sell SpaceX. He will regret bigly the day he kiss up to Trump hind. He should know better that Trump is a poison ivy.

You can ditto all that you said about Trump winning the trade war with China.

Foreign investments are boon not a bane for UK or for any countries. How’s foreign investment a major problem. UK financial problem stemmed from a combination of factors including cost of living crisis, high inflation, Brexit related labor shortages and low wage growth.

From ending the war in 24 hours to giving this peace plan a pass is a big fall from grace. The smart money from the beginning is that he is a serial shameless b<deleted>ter and most are not wrong. 4 more years of shameless boasting then.

I will clear up 2 of your points as they are facts. 1. GDP is tracked and analysed by IMF and OCED and private financial houses like Reuters. It will be economically catastrophic to massage critical economic data. 1. Chine’s debt to GDP is half of USA. Rest of your opinion, I am not bother to respond.

It has already been stated that export to US is 12% of total export trade. Here is another fact for you. Chinese export to US only account for about 3% of China total GDP. China Q1 was 5.4% higher than forecast while US Q1 decline -2.8% and facing recession. Goldman Sachs forecast that the drag from US trade tensions will cut their China forecast to 4% which is still much higher than US. The tariffs will hurt both sides but China is better positioned to absorb much of the pain by diversification, financial stimulation, subsidies and new export markets. Meanwhile US is isolated economically and staring at high inflation. You really need to take off your blinders and be intellectually rationale. You don’t seem to know much.

It’s healthy for US and China to compete in every domain not check or prevent. US can’t stop China ascension economically or militarily. Even with allies, US can’t stop China; even more so when USA is isolated and alone. The 2 superpowers and the rest of the world can benefit from a measure of cooperation and preventing a major catastrophic war. Not a zero sum game for both countries to cooperate. Thailand and asean will benefit immensely from China growing economic strength although it has to be managed based on national interests. Trump is handling foreign policies poorly and have given the edge to china influence globally. Wealthy Chinese are already in Thailand as well as in Malaysia and other asean countries. Poor Chinese have no means to travel and acquire assets.

You don't see that as a problem?

Sure not that clever to wear a made-in-china dress when attacking China's trade practices. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/white-house-karoline-leavitt-trump-made-china-dress-5071816

Trump will never get all the trade deals completed in 90 days as he keep changing the goal post. His trade officials involved in negotiations are all in the dark on clear policies. The Japan negotiation has grinded to a halt because Trump just willy nilly added a non trade requirement to the table. He added remuneration on military bases as aspect of the trade deal with Japan. The Japan team is blind sighted on this last minute addition. Japan Diet is frustrated with the ambiquity of the deal. This trade negotiation is far from close and going no where due to Trump idiosyncrasy.

Erroneous data entry that has been widely reported. Surely you intelligent enough to believe that the uninhibited islands have electronic manufacturing facilities. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/04/revealed-how-trump-tariffs-slugged-norfolk-island-and-uninhabited-heard-and-mcdonald-islands

There are no inhabitants on the island. A simple fact that you seem to miss. The McDonaldnians are more amused than worried by Trump's ridiculous tariffs on the island chain. reuters.com/markets/asia/tiny-australian-outpost-gets-steep-trump-tariff-despite-few-exports-2025-04-03/

He already had trade surpluses with the countries that I mentioned and an uninhibated country. What better deals is he trying to get? Kindly explain. Perhaps you shopuld stop digging yourself into a hole. Trump's action can be explained in one word i.e. corruption.

Perhaps you can explain why countries like the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE and Australia that US enjoyed a trade surplus are out of balance. Also please explain why an uninhabited McDonald Island has trade out of balance. Thank you.

So Trump has 90 days to do 150 trade deals. Financial markets aren't buying it. Stocks, bonds and dollar tanking. He was handed a economy envied by the world by Biden and he is ruining the country and lives of the people. Only his oligarchy buddies will come out oif this economic mess smiling all the way to the bank. This is the most corrupted government in USA history.

This kind of condescending statement will only hardened China to put off any negotiation. Arrogance of Trump to boast that countries rush to kiss his butt for a trade deal and hillbilly Vance calling Chinese peasants will not sit well with China. China has responded that they are open to talks if US shows respect. The days of arrogance by Trump and his surrogates are numbered as countries are beginning to exclude USA in new trade alliances. China hold many of the trump cards (no pun intended).