OPINION

Licence doubts

Re: "China-made sub engine is now 'okay'", (BP, Nov 21).

BP published an article quoting the navy chief about engines for the submarines purchased by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). I trust the chief has verified the facts in the article and is not relying on a statement by the Chinese shipbuilder. Verification could be achieved by talking to MTU Germany about the licence to manufacture the engine in China. Also, the RTN could seek verification from the German embassy in Thailand.

My view is MTU would not have given a licence to China for the manufacture of diesel engines for use on military platforms as it would break the international embargo on the sale of equipment for use on military platforms by China.

The consequence for MTU, now owned by Rolls Royce UK, could result in sanctions and/or fines against the company. It should be noted that MTU and other engine suppliers have set up manufacturing facilities in China to supply diesel engines to be fitted in buses and trucks.

Time to bow out

Re: "Biden turns 81 as voter polls show concern over his age", (World, Nov 22) & "Candid advice as Joe Biden mulls re-election", (Opinion, Nov 22).

I fully agree with the 74% of Americans who consider President Biden too old for another term in office.

David Karols' assessment of Mr Biden, that he is lucid, could be incorrect, as Mr Biden is about as lucid and fragile as a frosted window.

He is not only doddery, but also incapable of holding a sustained conversation, which was obvious in his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco, when he resorted to prepared prompt cards.

As Maureen Dowd, the NYT columnist, suggests, Mr Biden should gracefully retire while he is still lucid enough and give someone younger a chance. If he refuses, he has no chance of winning the next election.

Doesn't add up

Re: "Crash course on India", (PostBag, Nov 18) & "India's Hindu BJP seeks 'friends' for 2024 election", (Roundup, Nov 11).

PostBag contributor Jayut Jayanandana gave readers a crash course on India but failed miserably in his mathematics.

He says there are 250 million Muslims in India, making up 30% of its almost 1.5 billion people. According to my calculations, 30% of 1.5 billion is 450 million. Perhaps a crash course in maths is required!

Ducking diplomacy

Re: "Thai diplomacy in focus," (Op-ed, Nov 21).

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should make our policy towards Myanmar's junta conform with the rule of law as reflected in the UN and Asean stances. Yet this topic wasn't even on the agenda for his ministry-wide meeting with our ambassadors.

We claim we are no longer junta-led ourselves and are well on the road to democracy, yet we undermine the UN and Asean by continuing to recognise the Myanmar junta's nominee as their nation's ambassador. We should reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and support the UN and Asean. In particular, as we have a long, common border with Myanmar, we should take the leadership role on this issue in international forums instead of ducking.