Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
30 November 2023 | 09:04am CAT
1-min read

US military crash, MH370 probe, and Huawei’s electric vehicle

In the Asia-Pacific Report this week, Ashraf Patel, a Master of Arts graduate from the Graduate School of Public and Development Management at WITS, discussed developments in the region.

A United States military aircraft crashed into the sea off the Japanese coast on Wednesday, 29 November 2023. The Osprey jet was traveling overnight and had eight people on board. At the time of publication, one person was confirmed dead by the Coast Guard. The strategic significance of the Sea of China and Japan for the US military adds complexity to this developing story, Patel noted.

On the topic of the renewed probe into the vanished Malaysia Airlines MH370, Patel highlighted its significance, noting, “The MH370 that crashed in March 2014 was one of the most intriguing stories in aviation history.”

Families of the victims, representing 44 nationalities, are urging a new investigation and seeking compensation from Boeing and Rolls Royce.

Theories surrounding the disappearance, including the possibility of the flight carrying strategic technology for Beijing, were discussed, drawing attention to Florence de Changy’s book, The Disappearing Act.

“What the investigative journalist has uncovered is that it’s quite a very deep military kind of operation that went wrong, and that is probably closer to the truth,” Patel said.

Regarding the legal complexities of the MH370 case, Patel conveyed the intricate dynamics which involve Rolls-Royce, the Malaysian government, and Allianz Germany, highlighting the challenges in attributing responsibility.

Shifting gears to technology, Patel discussed Huawei’s foray into developing electric vehicles. Huawei launched an electric vehicle, the S-class, to compete directly with Tesla.

As global discussions centre around emissions reduction and green technology at the COP28 UAE, China, a leader in green innovation, takes a significant step forward. Patel discussed China’s readiness for the green economy, backed by substantial investments in research and development, robust supply chains, and the financial strength of state-owned companies.

Patel discussed China’s position as a driving force in cutting-edge technologies, stating, “China has a surplus of $3 trillion. And therefore, they’re investing it in cutting-edge technologies. And they’re ready to scale into the green economy.”

Listen to the Asia-Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.