China 🇨🇳 and India 🇮🇳... Neighbors Separated by the Roof of the World!

This posting is inspired from my recent readings that India beats China as the Number One most populated country of the world.💚

... Neighbors Separated by the Roof of the World!

Although China and India share the longest mountainous border on Earth, the contrast between them—in appearance, identity, and culture—is striking to anyone unfamiliar with the secrets of geography.

The recurring question is:

Why don’t Chinese and Indians look alike, despite being neighbors?

The answer lies in a colossal geological barrier: the Himalayas

The Himalayas... More Than Just Mountains:

This mountain range isn’t just the tallest in the world—it’s a towering natural wall that separates two ancient civilizations. To the north lies the cold, arid Tibetan Plateau; to the south, the warm and humid Indian subcontinent.

For over 40 million years, these peaks have formed an impenetrable barrier to migration, allowing each people to evolve in relative isolation—shaping their languages, features, and beliefs independently.

Deep Ethnic Differences:

- The Chinese, especially the Han majority, belong to Mongoloid ethnic groups, with East Asian features such as narrow eyes and lighter skin.

- Indians, from north to south, span Aryan and Dravidian groups, with traits closer to West Asian peoples—darker skin tones and strong facial features.

This divergence isn’t recent—it’s the result of millennia of separate development, shaped by geography.

Borders That Whisper, Not Shout:

In regions like Chinese Tibet or India’s northeastern states, mixed features emerge, reflecting limited interaction between the peoples.

Yet even there, the mountain stands as a silent guardian—restricting deep cultural fusion.

Two Civilizations, Two Paths:

- China built its civilization around the Yellow River, cultivating rice and developing Confucian and Taoist philosophies.

- India flourished around the Ganges, embracing the Vedas, Buddhism, Hinduism, and epic tales like the Mahabharata.

Despite trade routes through passes like Nathu La and Sikkim, exchanges remained modest, and the mountain remained more of a cultural wall than a geographic one.

If the Mountain Disappeared... What Then?

Would we have seen a unified Asian civilization?

Or would rivalry between two giants have ignited earlier?

Would Confucianism have met Yoga?

Or would the differences have persisted, even without the mountain?

💚India tops China as Most Populated Country in the World for 2025

Meanwhile, here’s the latest update  on whether India and China are drawing closer—and whether that shift stems from Trump’s tariff policies:

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Key Factors Behind India–China Rapprochement

1. Tactics, Not a Full Realignment

Experts emphasize that any thaw between India and China is strategic and cautious—tactical, not indicative of a sweeping alliance or diplomatic realignment. A warming of ties reflects pragmatism, not foundational trust or deeper partnership.
CNBCIndia TodayAl Jazeera

2. Trump’s Trade Tensions as a Catalyst

President Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy—like the 50% surcharge on Indian goods—has created economic friction. India and China have both found themselves navigating uncertainty, leading to moments of pragmatic cooperation: joint business ventures, eased border rhetoric, and expanded economic discussions.
ReutersThe Washington PostAl JazeeraThe Times of India

India has proposed reducing dependence on the U.S. and diversifying its trade—including ramped-up pharmaceutical exports to China, even as China signals a willingness to welcome more Indian investments.
ReutersThe Times of India+1

3. Strategic Hedging, Not Pivoting

India is increasingly seen as hedging its bets amid U.S. unpredictability—but this doesn’t imply abandoning its U.S. ties. Strategists urge India to maintain strategic autonomy by engaging with both powers on its own terms.
The Times of India+1The Economic TimesAl JazeeraBusiness Today

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Summary: Is India Getting Closer to China Because of U.S. Tariffs?

Partially—but cautiously. India’s pragmatic engagements with China seem to be influenced by the need to reduce reliance on the unpredictable U.S. trade environment. However, there’s no sign of India abandoning its U.S. partnership; its moves reflect calculated balancing, not allegiance shifts.

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In Their Words

• From CNBC: efforts by India and China to improve ties may ease some tariff pain—but “experts say it signifies a ‘tactical,’ not fundamental, shift.”
  CNBC

• From Al Jazeera: warming ties may help New Delhi mitigate U.S. tariff risks, yet India remains wary of overdependence on China.
  Al Jazeera

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Final Thoughts

• Yes, Trump’s tariffs have influenced India’s outreach to China—offering economic alternatives and strategic cover amid disruptions.

• No, this does not signal a long-term diplomatic pivot. India's actions still emphasize flexibility, self-reliance (e.g., the "Swadeshi" push), and maintaining U.S.–India cooperation.
  The Times of India+1ReutersAP News

India under Modi seems to be projecting strength through diversification—partnering where beneficial and preserving autonomy amid shifting geopolitical currents.

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Related news on the topic

Reuters

India looking beyond US for pharma exports amid tariff tensions

5 days ago

The Times of India

'Completely unlinked to...': Piyush Goyal says India's China shift not linked to US trade talks; hints at 'tons' of reforms

15 days ago

The Times of India

'Won't end well': Trump's aide Navarro's new warning to India over tariffs; takes 'Maharaja' jibe again

Today

Lastly, My Lucky Day Today: Won the THD Monday Night FootBall Lottery

The West Coast Health Alliance

From My FaceBook Page This Week

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that California is teaming up with Oregon and Washington (and now also Hawaii) to launch a new “West Coast Health Alliance” with the goal of preserving scientific integrity in public health policy, particularly around vaccine guidance.

Here’s what reliable sources report:

• News outlets confirm that on September 3, 2025, the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington announced the formation of the West Coast Health Alliance, a regional effort to issue unified, science-based vaccine recommendations — in response to growing concerns about the politicization of the CDC under the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Daily BeastSan Francisco ChronicleAP NewsAxios.

• The governors cited actions such as the dismissal of CDC leadership, including its director and advisory committee members, as compromising the agency’s credibility, prompting them to take independent action The Daily BeastSan Francisco Chronicle.

• The initiative is meant to ensure that residents in these states receive consistent, evidence-based guidance, informed by respected medical organizations — regardless of shifting federal guidance The Daily BeastSan Francisco ChronicleAxiosGovernor of Californiagovernor.wa.govLos Angeles TimesWikipedia.

• The alliance has a growing membership: Hawaii joined just a day after the initial announcement, expanding the coalition beyond the original three West Coast states governor.wa.govGovernor of CaliforniaCBS NewsWikipedia.

• A summary article even refers to the alliance as a formal coalition formed by interstate compact aimed at coordinating health guidelines independently from the CDC Wikipedia.

Further reading

The Daily Beast

Newsom Takes on RFK Jr. With Own Vaccine Safety Panel

2 days ago

San Francisco Chronicle

As CDC declines, California will join West Coast public health alliance

2 days ago

Axios

3 western states form vaccine alliance to counter feds

2 days ago

Meanwhile, Did you know that.....

 

The Philippines is home to over 9,250 vascular plant species—and more than one-third of them are endemic, found nowhere else on Earth.

From rare orchids and delicate ferns to giant dipterocarp trees, the country stands as one of the world’s richest centers of plant diversity. This extraordinary endemism underscores the Philippines’ vital ecological role and the urgent need to protect its forests.

Lastly, My photo of the Day-Sunrise in Kauai, Hawaii

Interesting Two Topics on Fareed Zakaria GPS Broadcast

Fareed Zakaria GPS TV Show is one of my favorite show on Sunday Morning on CNN. His September 7 broadcast was as expected very informative.  

Here is my blog post summary on the 2 topics, I found very interesting: 

1. His interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about his new book on chronic pain  

2. The Trump administration's impact on the medical establishment:

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Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Chronic Pain and America's Medical Landscape: 

In a recent compelling conversation on Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta discussed the pressing issue of chronic pain alongside his latest book, It Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life. The interview not only shed light on innovative, science-backed approaches to managing chronic pain but also explored the disruptive effects that the Trump administration’s policies have had on the medical establishment.

1. Chronic Pain: A Complex Challenge with New Hope

Chronic pain affects an estimated 52 million Americans, a staggering number that impacts quality of life, productivity, and emotional well-being. Dr. Gupta argues that pain, fundamentally created by the brain, can be modulated and even diminished through various strategies beyond traditional pharmaceuticals and procedures. His book presents a comprehensive guide based on the latest research, emphasizing the transformative power of lifestyle factors such as sleep, nutrition, mindfulness-based pain management, yoga, psychotherapies, and even social engagement.

Gupta also highlights exciting treatments ranging from hands-on therapies like myofascial release and trigger point injections to emerging options such as psychedelics and specialized exercises aimed at “prehabilitation” before surgery. His message is empowering: with more awareness and the right interventions, chronic pain doesn't have to dominate lives.

2. The Trump Administration’s Impact on Healthcare: A Disruptive Force

The discussion then turned to how the Trump administration’s policies have upended the American medical landscape, especially in government funding, research, and regulatory oversight. Dr. Gupta shared concerns about large-scale staff reductions at key Health and Human Services agencies, cuts to funding for scientific research including NIH and FDA, and executive orders that have reshaped Medicare, hospitals, and chronic care programs.

These moves have, according to experts, resulted in unprecedented disruptions such as undermining long-term care oversight, limiting access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations, and creating uncertainty for vital clinical research. In their wake are challenges not only for patients but also for healthcare providers trying to navigate a shifting system.

3. Bridging Pain Management and Policy Realities

Dr. Gupta’s insight links the clinical frontlines of chronic pain treatment with the broader healthcare policy environment, underscoring how political decisions ripple down to impact everyday medical care. His perspective is clear: medical progress and patient outcomes depend on both innovative treatments and stable, well-supported healthcare infrastructure.

The interview challenges listeners to rethink pain not as an insurmountable fate but as a manageable condition, while also calling attention to the importance of protecting healthcare institutions from policies that undercut their mission.

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This conversation with Fareed Zakaria captures a timely dialogue about hope, science, and the stakes of health policy in America. Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s new book serves as a vital resource for those seeking relief from pain and a broader understanding of how systemic changes shape the future of medicine.

Meanwhile,

Yale University will begin offering Filipino (Tagalog) courses in fall 2025, following successful advocacy by the student group Tagalog @ Yale under the Filipinx club, Kasama. #Filipinosinthe6ix

Lastly,

A breath-taking shot of tonight’s Full Red Moon rising over Paris behind the Eiffel Tower during a total lunar eclipse.

This is a real-style capture made possible through a technique called telephoto compression (or lens compression).

Here’s how it works:

A telephoto lens with a long focal length (300mm–600mm) is used.

The photographer positions themselves far away from the Eiffel Tower.

Because of the long focal length, the Moon — which normally looks small to the naked eye — appears magnified and dramatic relative to the tower.