Secretary (n) Duffy: a couple of quick wins that will please Your President
Former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., arrives to testify before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on his nomination to be Transportation Secretary. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The US now has a new President with a strong initiative to restore our presence around the world. He has nominated a former Congressman to head the DOT. Two articles below should be considered by Sec.(n) Duffy to show his leader that he gets the new agenda—
one about the Peoples’ Republic of China’s (PRC) expanding portfolio of airport investments around the globe
and
the second focuses on the Republic of Korea’s urgent need to bring its aviation safety standards, particularly at airports, up to global criteria.
President-Elect Donald Trump nominated former Wisconsin Congressman SEAN DUFFY to be his Secretary of Transportation earlier this week. While Duffy’s direct experience in transportation is limited, his background in public service, law, and media provides a foundation for his role as Secretary.
While the Trump campaign was largely silent on infrastructure policy, candidate Trump has been known to speak about how far the U.S. has fallen behind China in developing high-speed rail networks. “[Duffy] will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports,” said Trump.
These broad national policy directions plus the President’s predilection for the private sector as an effective collateral resource in government might help the Secretary nominee to consider
- trying to outflank the PRC’s attempts to use its YUAN to gain influence by threatening the underlying assets controlled by the PRC= US investment bankers will need governmental support to finance these risky investments
and/or
- encouraging American safety consultants through (USTDA and State’s Center of Business Administration) to assist RoK.
These effective measures will improve the US diplomatic stature (especially with countries with which our relations merit improvement) as well as help restore the stature of the FAA and Boeing around the globe.
Examples of similar opportunities that were missed:
- Kenya has aviation safety problems– #USTDA should offer help–jdasolutions.aero Ambassador Godec, Director Fitts & Sec. Foxx, Kenya asks for aviation help | JDA Journal
- #ICAO says Members need “alignment”; #EASA has the mission and money to helps these #CAAs; #FAA has neither: #USTDA to the rescue? #aviationsafety #internationalaviationhttp://jdasolutions.aero/blog/icao-calls-for-help-in-aligning-caas-to-safety-standards-ustda-to-the-rescue/
- ICAO calls for help in aligning CAAs to safety standards—USTDA to the rescue ? | JDA Journal ICAO says that its Members need safety alignment due to COVID-19 List of needs is long and includes SMS for Civil Aviation Authorities EASA will act; FAA does not have $; USTDA…
- Other Nations bolster their AERONAUTICAL presence- what’s the US doing
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is an independent agency of the United States government, formed in 1992 to advance economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle income countries. Its work with the private sector includes successes like:
- U.S. Technology Helps Colombia Improve Aviation Safety– fostered partnerships with the U.S. aviation industry, whose infrastructure solutions have created safer airways over Colombia for tens of millions of passengers each year.”
- Expanding Rural Electricity Access in Haiti-partner EarthSpark International.
- Success in Vietnam: Expanding Water Distribution Through ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
- Building Climate Resilience in Africa with Innovative U.S. Weather Technologies— Earth Networks
This agency has the experience to support the Secretary with either or both identified opportunities.
Another option or supplement might be to involve the OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS (CBA.) This office employs U.S. government resources to assist and advocate for U.S. business interests abroad, inter alia. The overseas investments necessarily involve potential sovereign risks and bankers will likely need some legislative protection for their investments. This is a dialogue with Congress in which CBA will likely assume the role of negotiator for which CBA has experience and expertise.
Soon-to-be Secretary Duffy, taking one or both of these initiatives likely will register a quick win to report at an early Cabinet Meeting.
Tracking China’s Investment in Overseas Airports
January 16, 2025 9:49 am (EST)
Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in northwest Cambodia’s Siem Reap Province was officially inaugurated on Thursday, raising hope for the recovery of the kingdom’s tourism industry. Liao Hongqing/Xinhua via Getty Images
Since 2007, Chinese entities have invested in SIXTY OVERSEAS AIRPORT projects, a much smaller number than the 129 overseas port projects documented in “Tracking China’s Control of Overseas Ports.” While it is common for Chinese entities to own equity shares in overseas ports, only in one out of forty-six overseas active airport projects does China have equity ownership.
The “China Overseas Airports Tracker” visualizes and details China’s investment in overseas airports across regions and over time. The database supporting this interactive includes sixty airport projects financed, constructed, leased, or acquired by various Chinese entities. Various state-owned entities and private companies have invested in a wide range of different-sized airport projects, from thriving international hubs such as London’s Heathrow Airport to a singular airstrip on Kanton Island, Kiribati.
Of the sixty projects, forty-six are active, one has been paused indefinitely, nine have been canceled, and four have been sold. Reasons for cancellation, sale, and suspension of airport projects include financial issues (on the side of the Chinese entity and on the side of the host government), the host country government deciding they no longer needed the project or did not consent to the proposed terms of the deal, legal opposition (resulting in cancellation of the contract), and national security concerns, as well as local residents’ opposition and the need to compensate local inhabitants for land.
46
Total active projects
1
Project where China holds an equity stake
$437M
Average investment total for active projects
Minister Park Sang-woo vows to enhance aviation safety after Jeju Air disaster
Minister Park Sang-woo emphasizes commitment to improving air travel safety measures following the Jeju Air incident
By
MINISTER PARK SANG-WOO of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport provides an explanation regarding the Jeju Air passenger aircraft incident, including navigation safety facilities, at the government Sejong office press room on Nov. 7 in the afternoon. /Courtesy of Yonhap News
Minister Park Sang-woo of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 20th regarding the 12·29 Jeju Air passenger plane accident, “We must feel a sense of responsibility as the responsible ministry for this accident that absolutely should not have happened.”
During the expanded executive meeting held that day, Minister Park said, “We need to thoroughly analyze the cause of the accident from multiple angles and ENSURE THAT SUCH AN INCIDENT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN THROUGH CALM AND SINCERE REFLECTION.”
Minister Park noted, “As the responsible ministry for ensuring public safety in aviation, transportation, and construction, we must accurately assess the situation on the ground and ensure that those in charge can manage risk factors without gaps. Safety policies must be shifted to be more ground-centered,” adding, “We must seriously acknowledge the reality in which many lives are still lost due to traffic accidents and safety incidents at construction sites and thoroughly examine what the issues are.”
Minister Park stated, “I plan to visit the site directly during the Seollal holiday to inspect the status of safety management,” urging, “Each executive should also thoroughly check and manage their respective responsibilities.”
…
The expanded executive meeting was attended by the first and second vice ministers of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the chairperson of the Metropolitan Transport Committee, heads of various departments, and regional aviation office directors.
