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ISEAS Library Selects
Daily News on the Southeast Asian Region
14 September 2020 (pm) - 15 September 2020 (am)
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Greetings
This issue of Daily News Alert includes the following commentaries and citations attributed to researchers at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. You can click on their names to go to these articles directly.
This is a daily information alert service containing articles and commentaries from international and regional news sources. The alert is released every Monday to Friday, focussing on Southeast Asia and special topics relevant to ISEAS' research interests. You can click on any of the links below to directly access the subject of your immediate interest. If you think your friends and colleagues would find this alert useful, please invite them to subscribe.
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Country Studies
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Southeast Asia Countries
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Brunei Darussalam
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Laos
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Singapore
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Timor-Leste (East Timor)
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Region
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To view the full articles, please click on the hyperlinks. For those that require passwords (usually assigned to a particular PC in the Library) due to subscription restrictions imposed, please visit the Library during its operating hours. If you have not been receiving our Daily News Alert in your inbox, your email system could be treating this alert as spam. You may add "@iseas-edu.ccsend.com" and "@constantcontact.com" to Safe Senders List (white list) through your email platform. More information is available at the Library FAQ webpage.
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Indonesia
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2.
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Police clarify use of gangs in health role: The National Police's plan to involve community leaders and local gang leaders to help authorities raise awareness about COVID-19 health protocols has been met with strong objections. Deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono said the proposed move was due to the limited number of police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel.
Jakarta Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2020/09/14/police-clarify-use-of-gangs-in-health-role.html
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3.
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The disparity of gig economy and rural-urban poverty: The gig economy is mainly concentrated in urban areas, where people are no longer in the process of catching up - they are already there. The urban gig workers, which dominated the roughly 5 percent of total gig workers in Indonesia, were among the main recipients of negative effects of COVID-19. On the other hand, Indonesia still has much homework to do for its villages.
Jakarta Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2020/09/14/the-disparity-of-gig-economy-and-rural-urban-poverty.html
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The pandemic's effect on education is not being discussed enough, says Indonesian minister: There's not enough discussion globally about the coronavirus pandemic's effect on students' learning, said Indonesia's Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim... "I think everywhere in the world - not just in Indonesia - distance learning will at least in the short term have a negative impact on educational outcomes and qualities," said the minister.
CNBC, 14 September 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/indonesias-education-minister-on-covids-effect-on-students-learning.html
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Indonesia welcomes intra-Afghan peace talks: In 2017, Ghani visited Indonesia to meet Jokowi and requested that Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, play an active role in the Afghan peace process. Indonesia has since been focusing on building two important elements in the peace process in Afghanistan - the role of ulema and women's empowerment in Afghanistan.
Jakarta Post, 14 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2020/09/13/indonesia-welcomes-intra-afghan-peace-talks.html
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Malaysia
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PRN Sabah: Pengundi minta ADUN tidak lompat [Sabah state elections: Voters request state councillors not to jump parties]: Tabiat suka melompat parti yang diamalkan sesetengah ahli politik selepas mereka dipilih sebagai wakil rakyat dan memenangi kerusi dalam pilihan raya, mendapat reaksi negatif rakyat Sabah yang mahukan sikap seperti itu, dihentikan.
Berita Harian (Malaysia), 15 September 2020
https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/politik/2020/09/731460/prn-sabah-pengundi-minta-adun-tidak-lompat
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Crowded field and lost aura could end in 'hung' election: A crowded field in the Sabah state elections could lead to a fractious outcome on Sept 26 after the ballots are counted, say political observers. They wonder if the two contending coalitions, Warisan Plus and Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), could attain a simple majority of state assembly seats when the results are in. Both coalitions face problems of voter confidence.
Free Malaysia Today, 15 September 2020
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/15/crowded-field-and-lost-aura-could-end-in-hung-election/
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Analysts: Kadazandusun Murut seats will be hot battleground in Sabah poll; PBS enjoy advantage over the rest: University Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuok Tiung said although convention put the split in Warisan government's favour, that might not be the case this time. The political analyst said in a one-on-one fight, a split in party support may be in favour of the current government, but in these multi-cornered fights, where credible independents may earn significant votes, it can be anybody's game.
Malay Mail Online, 15 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/15/analysts-kadazandusun-murut-seats-will-be-hot-battleground-in-sabah-poll-pb/1903227
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Clashes expose uneasy Perikatan-BN-PBS alliance: Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi from Universiti Malaya told The Malaysian Insight that although PN controls Putrajaya, it is still a new coalition and it has not gotten a grip of politics with its partners.
Malaysian Insight, 15 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/272646
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Sluggish local economy to cost Warisan Plus votes: Sabah charted the lowest growth in 2019 and 2018 among all 15 states and regions measured by the Statistics Department. Dampened business activity during the past two years will weigh heavily on the Warisan Plus coalition as it seeks another mandate from Sabahans in the September 26 elections.
Malaysian Insight, 15 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/272677
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China ada masa buat pusingan U [China has time to U-turn]: Bagi Persatuan Negara-negara Asia Tenggara (ASEAN) di mana Malaysia adalah pengasasnya pada tanggal 8 Ogos 1967, entiti itu membawa selangkah ke hadapan untuk mengadakan Forum Regional Asean (ARF) pada tahun 1994 yang sering merangkumi semua kuasa besar terutama Amerika Syarikat (AS), Rusia dan China.
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Liew facing eight opponents: Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Christina Liew is fighting for political survival in the heart of the city. Not only is the 69-year-old deputy chief minister defending her Api-Api seat for the third term in a nine-cornered fight, she is also facing three senior leaders.
Star, 15 September 2020
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/09/15/liew-facing-eight-opponents
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Industrial production in Malaysia returns to growth: The increase in output in July was driven by 2.9% growth in manufacturing output, a segment that accounts for nearly 70% of the whole index. Within the manufacturing sector, five out of the seven sub-sectors recorded annual gains, with production of electrical and electronic (E&E) products (the largest portion of the manufacturing sector) growing by a robust 9.6%, year on year. These increases were partly offset by year-on-year declines in the other two major components of the industrial production index: mining and utilities. While utilities recorded a 5.1% drop in year-on-year terms, the 3% dip in mining output was attributable to lower extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas.
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), 14 September 2020
https://www.eiu.com/viewswire/article/1970146780/industrial-production-in-malaysia-returns-to-growth-
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Muslim teachers oppose other groups in suit over vernacular schools: A Muslim teachers group, Ikatan Guru-Guru Muslim Malaysia, has opposed an application by three language-based interest groups to intervene in a suit over the existence of vernacular schools in Malaysia. The group also objects to an application by the Chinese Language Council, Tamil Language Association and Confederation of Former Tamil School Pupils and the government to have the action filed in the High Court here to be transferred to Kuala Lumpur.
Free Malaysia Today, 14 September 2020
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/14/muslim-teachers-oppose-other-groups-in-suit-over-vernacular-schools/
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Of politics, Syed Saddiq and a truly colour-blind Malaysia: The formation of Malaysia set the right framework in terms of political arrangements and administrative matters for Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah. A young and vibrant multiracial, multicultural and multireligious country ready to move forward (without Singapore, post 1965) had never been more promising.
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Patience finally pays off for loyal PBS man after being sidelined in past elections: It's been a long time coming and PBS supreme council member William Majimbon is in a hurry to prove his worth. His sense of urgency is understandable considering that he had been waiting in the wings for almost 12 years to be given a seat to contest. For one reason or another, the well-liked native son of Inanam was sidelined in the past three general elections, the third time being in 2018 when he had quit his job as native court chief to prepare for political office
Free Malaysia Today, 14 September 2020
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/14/patience-finally-pays-off-for-loyal-pbs-man-after-being-sidelined-in-past-elections/
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Hopes and concerns for MP12 and Budget 2021: The disabled community in Malaysia has similar needs and rights as other citizens such as education, employment, health, social protection, and so forth. However, this heterogeneous group of people has diverse specific needs, for instance, in terms of devices and services, thus requiring specific laws, policies, and grants to meet those necessities.
Muhamad Nadhir Abdul Nasir is a doctoral candidate at Universiti Malaya and an independent consultant/researcher focusing on disabled people's issues.
Malaysian Insight, 14 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/272531
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Perikatan is official, confirms RoS: PERIKATAN Nasional has been officially approved by the Registrar of Societies effective August 7, the department said in a statement today. It added the coalition has been approved under the name Parti Perikatan Nasional under the political category.
Malaysian Insight, 14 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/272610
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Palm oil giants say sustainability is the new business norm: Palm oil companies, which have faced criticism in recent years of widespread deforestation, said on Monday that ensuring sustainability across the supply chain was the new business norm as scrutiny on responsibly produced palm oil mounts. In an online conference, plantation companies with estates in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia said supply chain traceability, and policies surrounding no deforestation, no planting on peatland and no exploitation were now a standard requirement from major global buyers such as Nestlé and Unilever. "Sustainability is the new business as usual," said Perpetua George, Wilmar International's Group Sustainability General Manager.
Star, 14 September 2020
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2020/09/14/palm-oil-giants-say-sustainability-is-the-new-business-norm
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Myanmar
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No plans to delay tax hikes on unassessed income, Myanmar government says: Taxes on undisclosed sources of income in Myanmar will be raised during the new 2020-21 fiscal year, and appeals for existing rates to be extended have not been considered so far, U Min Htut, Director General of the Internal Revenue Department (IRD), said on September 14. There is no plan to extend a 3 percent tax on unaccessed income and rates will be raised to 6pc starting from October 1, said U Min Htut.
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UN warns of 'further war crimes' in Myanmar's Rahkine: Myanmar's apparent continued targeting of civilians in the country's Rakhine and Chin states could constitute additional war crimes and crimes against humanity, the UN rights chief said on Monday (Sept 14). Michelle Bachelet demanded action to remedy the serious rights violations suffered by Myanmar's Rohingya minority in particular. Military operations in 2017 forced some 750,000 Rohingya to flee from conflict-torn Rakhine state to Bangladesh in violence that now sees Myanmar facing genocide charges at the UN's top court. Speaking at the opening of the 45th Human Rights Council in Geneva, Bachelet decried that the abuses against the Rohingya and other minorities in the country were ongoing.
Straits Times, 15 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/un-warns-of-further-war-crimes-in-myanmars-rahkine
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Bangladesh Protests Movement of Myanmar Troops Near its Border: Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has summoned Myanmar's ambassador to protest unusual troop movements near its southeastern borders, where refugee camps house close to 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar, authorities said Monday. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and foreign ministry officials said authorities in the region had noted unusual numbers of Myanmar security forces since early Friday, at several points near the border, including in civilian ships.
Radio Free Asia, 14 September 2020
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/troops-09142020203708.html
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Philippines
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Duterte has final say on PhilHealth: President Rodrigo Duterte will respect the findings of the task force probing the alleged irregularities hounding Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), regardless of who will be found liable. "The President ordered the task force to conduct a fact-finding activity to recommend charges against individuals. I think the President will respect whatever evidence the task force finds, regardless of who is involved," said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 September 2020
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1335369/duterte-has-final-say-on-philhealth
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Is Duterte a 'post-modern' Marcos? Such misgivings are now also increasingly relevant among rapidly growing post-colonial nations overtaken by a toxic cocktail of political cynicism, right-wing populism, and systematic disinformation. What we confront is no less than a deliberate perversion of "post-modern" theories, which have reduced the world into a multiplicity of "narratives" and "constructs" at the expense of facts and reason.
This is precisely where Dutertismo and the Marcosian legacy are inextricably linked. On the surface, Duterte and Marcos are nearly alike. But, in fact, and more crucially, they are totally different.
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Palace 'unaware' that banned China firm got Sangley airport project: Despite its P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds this year, Malacañang was "not aware" that a Chinese company that bagged the Sangley airport project had been blacklisted by the United States for its involvement in island building in the West Philippine Sea. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea made the admission on Monday during a House briefing on the proposed P8.2 billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2021.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 September 2020
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1335373/palace-unaware-of-banned-sino-firm
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Unhealthy budget: According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 will "focus on containing the spread and mitigating the effects of the coronavirus while restarting the economy to help the nation reset, rebound and recover'' from the pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 September 2020
https://opinion.inquirer.net/133581/unhealthy-budget
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Philippines to prioritise coronavirus vaccine supply from Russia or China: Duterte: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Monday (Sept 14) to prioritise buying Covid-19 vaccine to be made available by Russia or China, while taking a swipe at pharmaceutical firms of western nations asking for advance payment for their offers. Duterte has expressed optimism that the Southeast Asian country, which has recorded the region's highest number of coronavirus cases at nearly 266,000, would be "back to normal" by December, pinning his hopes on the availability of vaccines.
Straits Times, 15 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-to-prioritise-coronavirus-vaccine-supply-from-russia-or-china-duterte
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Why Are Filipinos Celebrating a Former Dictator?: Earlier this month, the Philippine House of Representatives passed a bill officially declaring September 11 a public holiday in the northern province of Ilocos Norte. The occasion for the holiday? The birthday of the Philippines' former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. ...Far from facing accountability for widespread corruption and human rights violations, the Marcos family were allowed to return to the Philippines after 1989, and quickly returned to political prominence. Imelda, now 91, has served several terms in the House of Representatives, while the couple's eldest daughter Imee was elected to the Senate last year, after nearly a decade as governor of the family stronghold in Ilocos Norte. Marcos's son Ferdinand, Jr., known popularly as "Bongbong," has also served terms as senator and Governor of Ilocos Norte. ...What explains this push to launder the Marcos legacy?
Diplomat, 14 September 2020
https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/why-are-filipinos-celebrating-a-former-dictator/
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Countries at UN should be bold, principled on PH: Last year in Geneva, Iceland put the Philippines in the hot seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council for its murderous "war on drugs." The boldness of a small country with no axe to grind against the Philippine government - acting solely out of its commitment to human rights-elicited widespread admiration from rights advocates everywhere.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 September 2020
https://opinion.inquirer.net/133549/countries-at-un-should-be-bold-principled-on-ph
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Thailand
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Charter motions hit by forgery claims: House Speaker Chuan Leekpai has ordered the Secretariat of the House of Representatives to look into allegations that some MPs falsified signatures of other MPs to support multiple motions on charter amendments. Mr Chuan said on Monday that irregularities involving the signatures were found in three out of four motions on charter amendments, which were submitted to the House last week by the opposition camp.
Bangkok Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1985279/charter-motions-hit-by-forgery-claims
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Mekong-US Partnership heralds united future: On Friday, along with Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai and officials from the four other countries in the lower Mekong basin, the United States launched the new Mekong-US Partnership, which will build on decades of collaboration and $3.5 billion (110 billion baht) in US assistance provided under the Lower Mekong Initiative over the past 11 years. In upgrading our efforts with the Mekong-US Partnership, the United States will support even greater connectivity and development in the region for years to come. With more than $150 million in regional initiatives already in the pipeline, our cooperation through this partnership will expand to include the full range of economic, security, governance, health and environmental efforts -- a fitting approach to collectively address shared challenges in the region, from devastating drought to drug trafficking.
Bangkok Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1985515/mekong-us-partnership-heralds-united-future
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Micro-school 'shows need for reforms': Mr Sompong said the emergence of micro-schools in Thailand reflects the urgent need to reform the education system, to allow students to better catch up with the fast-changing world. "When parents start to think that they can do better than schools and professional teachers, something must be wrong. If the quality of our schools is not upgraded soon, I think we will see more micro-schools in the future," he said. "Perhaps, this can lead to changes within our school system."
Bangkok Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1985507/micro-school-shows-need-for-reforms
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Thailand's Protests: Between the Old and the New: - Over the past few months, Thailand has seen yet another series of rising protests tied to its wider domestic political struggles. Though the evolution of the current protest movement is a notable development on its own terms, it also raises broader questions about how this factors into the country's wider political dynamics, as well as its current and future evolution.
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Thailand's Inconvenient Truth.' Why This Billionaire Is Risking It All to Back Reform of the Monarchy: Meanwhile the relationship between palace and army continues to be extremely close (Thai historian Thak Chaloemtiarana calls it "despotic paternalism") and the stock justification for every military intervention remains "protection of the monarchy." Thanathorn is not alone when he says the generals are responsible for Thailand's cycle of protests and coups. "We have enough evidence to show that a military-sponsored information operation installs hatred into society," he says. "It's divide and conquer."
Time, 14 September 2020
https://time.com/5886694/thanathorn-juangroongruangkit-thailand-protests-monarchy-military/
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Vietnam
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Vietnam must 'go ahead, not follow': Vietnam is at a time, once in a thousand years, of rapid and sustainable development. If we do not take advantage of the opportunity quickly, we will lag far behind and the development gap with other countries will widen, and we will stuck in the middle-income trap, and the goal of becoming a developed country will be more difficult. This is a time that requires us to actively plan and decide for the future of the country.
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Three-Horse Race for Vietnam's Next Communist Party Chief: We are now entering the business end of the period of horse-trading and politicking that typically dominates the months leading up to the National Congress of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party. At this quinquennial event, a new 180-strong Central Committee is elected by 1,600 delegates from across the country and the most important political offices change hands.
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Opinion - How Vietnam has borrowed from China's online censorship playbook: Vietnam is keeping close tabs on public online discourse as it seeks to tap into social media-fuelled nationalism. But it also tolerated online backlash against Jackie Chan over the South China Sea and anger over Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong's Khmer Rouge comments.
[This piece was first published in ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's ISEAS Commentary - 2020/135 on September 11, 2020.]
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ASEAN/Southeast Asia
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Asean issues "extraordinary" bulletin: Asean has further consolidated and displayed its true self amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the most holistic of ways. The empirical evidence can be found in the 12,390-word Joint Communique. The 99-paragraph document requires a careful study as it is rather "extraordinary", as a senior Thai Asean official put it, in both substance and length. The communique this year encompasses elements and ingredients that will make Asean more cohesive and responsive in facing current and future challenges.
Bangkok Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1985499/asean-issues-extraordinary-bulletin
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Palm oil: Sustainability is a shared problem: The problem with studies conducted by the critics is that they tend to single out the oil palm without putting things in perspective, and inform the readers that commodities such as beef, soy, maize, poultry, timber and more account for over 90 percent of the world's deforestation today, and are still in the infancy when it comes to providing consumers with a supply chain that does not come from recently deforested land.
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Philippines' claim on Sabah: a never-ending drama: The Philippines' claim on Sabah is based on the different interpretation of the 1878 Agreement between the then Sultan of Sulu and the British North Borneo Chartered Company (NBCC). The ambiguous term pajakan in the agreement has multiple meanings. The British interpretation of the term as "grant and cede" was inherited by Malaysia, which contradicted the Philippines' understanding of it as "lease" as interpreted by the Sulu Sultanate.
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Asia Pacific
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52.
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Asian Development Outlook 2020 Update: Wellness in Worrying Times: developing Asia's gross domestic product is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020. GDP is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2021. This is the region's first recession in nearly 6 decades. Excluding high-income newly industrialized economies, regional GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year before growing by 7.2% next year.
[contains links to three downloads]
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54.
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ADB forecast Covid-19 to slow growth and impoverishing millions in Asia: CORONAVIRUS-RAVAGED economies across the Asia Pacific will make a "swoosh-shaped" recovery next year, the Asian Development Bank forecast today, but it warned that further restrictions to combat the contagion could derail the region's return to growth.
Malaysian Insight, 15 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/272687
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55.
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Coronavirus could push 160 million more into poverty across Asia, ADB warns: The coronavirus pandemic and the containment measures required to combat it will push millions of people in Asia into absolute poverty and widen inequality within industries and countries in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Asia has seen a dramatic decline in poverty as the proportion of the region's gross domestic product (GDP) rose to one third of the global economy from a quarter over the past 15 years.
South China Morning Post, 15 September 2020
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3101547/coronavirus-could-push-160-million-more-poverty-across-asia
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56.
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Navigating COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific: This book gathers analysis and ideas to help policy makers tackle the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and build a more resilient and sustainable future.
[260-page PDF book]
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57.
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Too Old to Fight? Will Demographic Shifts Alter Asia's Geostrategic Landscape? : Will demographic realities make it impossible for Japan to pursue an assertive foreign policy in the foreseeable future? And more broadly, do aging demographic trends across the Asia-Pacific suggest that concerns over a new Cold War may be overblown?
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58.
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Pursuing principled plurilateralism for Japan: Japan has so much to offer each competing power, from bases and direct support for the US military to critical technologies and enormous gains from trade for China. Japan also has much to lose if these relationships are severed. History and democratic values, as well as long-standing FDI, maintain the US-Japan bond, and economic gravity (size and proximity) as well as complementarities fuel China-Japan ties. Having a less divided polity than the United States and a far freer society than China, gives Japan considerable independence in economic diplomacy.
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59.
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Japan's New Prime Minister Is a Fixer, Not a Leader: Japan's incoming prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, is a master at getting things done. As the long-serving head of the powerful Cabinet Office under his predecessor Shinzo Abe, he has helped to formulate and implement many of the most significant initiatives over the last seven years. At the same time, he is also seen as a policy wonk short on charisma and is best known for the blandness of his daily press briefings. Unless Suga reveals hidden zest, Japan may be fated to return to its cycle of short-lived and unmemorable prime ministers, maneuvered by factions within the Liberal Democratic Party that has ruled Japan for almost all the last 75 years.
Foreign Policy, 14 September 2020
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/14/japan-new-prime-minister-yoshihide-suga-abe/
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60.
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Japan's Suga Will Struggle to Pull off Abe's Defense Transformation: Yoshihide Suga, the low-key son of a farmer who will be named Japan's next prime minister on Wednesday, is in many ways a policy clone of recently resigned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But that doesn't mean Suga will bring anything like the same effort Abe did to bolstering Japan's defense capabilities-a transition in Japanese politics both Beijing and Washington will be watching.
Foreign Policy, 14 September 2020
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/14/japan-suga-abe-trump-defense/
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61.
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Why new Asian security structure is needed for emerging puzzles: Asian countries are faced with common security threats and challenges. However, the current security system in the region is based on two primary frameworks - bilateral alliances centered on the US and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the US, Japan, Australia and India. This formula has not been and will not be key to stopping security concerns in Asia.
Global Times, 14 September 2020
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1200817.shtml
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62.
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No breakthrough in sight for EU-China leaders' meeting ?Europe has gradually been taking steps to rebalance and unify its relationship with China over the past years. In 2019, the European Commission adopted a more assertive stance by labelling China not only a strategic partner for cooperation, but also a competitor and "systemic rival". Later this year, a strengthened screening framework for foreign direct investment will enter into force as concerns about strategic assets being bought by foreign entities have grown.
Interpreter, 14 September 2020
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/no-breakthrough-sight-eu-china-leaders-meeting
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East/South China Sea
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63.
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South China Sea Watch: More talks and more tensions: The Philippine defense chief said his country would adhere "without any possibility of compromise" to a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated most of China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made the remark to his Chinese counterpart on Friday, according to a Philippine statement about the meeting. However, the statement was withdrawn soon afterward, and the contentious comment was removed.
Asahi Shimbun (AJW), 14 September 2020
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13726419
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64.
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South China Sea heats up as Indonesia shadows Chinese ship near Natuna Islands: Jakarta lodges protest with Beijing after Chinese coastguard ship spends two days in its exclusive economic zone. Pursuit of the ship by Indonesia's maritime security agency Bakamla shows a hardening of Indonesia's stance, expert says. "As China in recent years has moved to assert its jurisdictional claims within the nine-dash line, the presence of Chinese coastguard vessels and Chinese fishing boats in waters off the Natuna Islands has increased. It's thus become more normal for China, though very unwelcome for Indonesia," said Ian Storey, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
South China Morning Post, 14 September 2020
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3101519/south-china-sea-heats-indonesia-shadows-chinese-ship-near-natuna
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Climate Change
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Tackling climate change need not be a Sisyphean task: WE LIVE in an unprecedented period in our history, with the "C" pandemic becoming the defining health crisis of our time. Economies need to defend this together and work more closely than ever to build a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future. This is also the time to ensure...
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The Climate Case Against Decoupling: The past few years have seen a heated debate among U.S. politicians and analysts about whether the United States should "decouple" from China by severing the supply chains, trade relationships, and financial links that bind together the world's two largest economies, transforming a one-world economy into two separate spheres of influence. Among American officials and scholars, the debate mostly centers on whether the security benefits of decoupling would offset its economic costs. That framing, however, ignores what should be a major factor in determining the best course of action-a factor that tips the balance against decoupling and in favor of continuing to foster engagement between Washington and Beijing. That factor is climate change.
Foreign Affairs, 14 September 2020
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-09-14/climate-case-against-decoupling
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Superpower relations and the region
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How Meaningful is the New US-Mekong Partnership?: On September 11, the United States and the five lower Mekong nations launched a new framework for multilateral cooperation amid rising concerns about China's expanding influence in mainland Southeast Asia. ...The Mekong-U.S. Partnership represents a welcome and belated engagement with an important region, where China launched the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism in 2014 to guide its own engagements with the region.
Diplomat, 14 September 2020
https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/how-meaningful-is-the-new-us-mekong-partnership/
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