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ISEAS Library Selects
Daily News on the Southeast Asian Region
16 September 2020 (pm) - 17 September 2020 (am)
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Greetings
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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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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Cambodia
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1.
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Cambodia Slams US Sanctions on Chinese Developer as Attack on Sovereignty: The Treasury said that in order to obtain the land for the U.S. $3.8 billion-dollar project-which includes an airport, deep water seaport, and casino resort as part of an investment zone in the middle of the jungle-UDG falsified its registration to say that it was Cambodian owned before reverting to its true Chinese ownership and continuing to operate without repercussions.
Radio Free Asia, 16 September 2020
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/reax-09162020170033.html
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Indonesia
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2.
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Indonesia's fading media oligarchy：President Suharto's fall from power in 1998 brought great change to the Indonesian media sector thanks to deregulation and the abolition of the previously mandatory and highly political press operating license (the SIUPP). By 2002 the government had issued more than 900 television and radio licences, and hundreds of television channels are now available through Telkom 4, Palapa D, ChinaSat 11 and other satellites.
The true beneficiaries of this change were not the Indonesian public but a handful of powerful media oligarchs who have grown through conglomeration and concentration.
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Forest Fires: Indonesia Experience Highlights Prevention Challenges：Indonesia's massive peatland fires have exposed millions of people in Southeast Asia to toxic haze and have made the nation one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. In response to these and similar environmental disasters, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) launched the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative, envisioned as a mechanism for high carbon-emitting countries and companies to pay rainforest-rich nations and communities to conserve forests. A pilot REDD+ project initiated by the Indonesia-Australia Forest Carbon Partnership illustrates some of the challenges these efforts experience on the ground.
Eurasia Review, 17 September 2020
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17092020-forest-fires-indonesia-experience-highlights-prevention-challenges-analysis/
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Covid-19 and Indonesian monetary policy: Funding the deficit is a necessary short-term measure, but "free money" can lead down a dangerous path.
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Solving Indonesia's invisible infection clusters: ...its earnest intentions aside, the relief package has not sufficed in holding citizens accountable to proper preventive practices, nor does it enforce such measures in communal living areas - as reported by Bloomberg, 60.6 percent of Indonesians surveyed by independent pollster Indikator Politik oppose tough mobility restrictions. This is precisely why bringing strict, standardized health safety to communal spaces may be the next best solution.
Jakarta Post, 17 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/09/17/solving-indonesias-invisible-infection-clusters.html
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Vice President Ma'ruf can 'do more' to develop sharia economy: The role of Islamic social finance in Indonesia cannot be underestimated, with Islamic charity and social movement networks reaching deeper and further into the grassroots than most state-led social safety net initiatives. The government launched a masterplan for the sharia economy last year, which provides a five-year development roadmap with a focus on industries such as the food and beverage sector, among other things.
Jakarta Post, 17 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/16/vice-president-maruf-can-do-more-to-develop-sharia-economy.html
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7.
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Fiqh Siyasah Indonesia [The doctrine of Siyasah in Indonesia] (4): Penerapan dan konsolidasi konsep dan praksis fiqh siyasah klasik Indonesia tak berlanjut dengan kedatangan kekuatan Eropa (Portugis, Belanda, Spanyol). Ketiga kekuatan kolonial ini tak hanya mengganggu, tapi juga menaklukkan kerajaan di Kepulauan Nusantara.
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Prolonged pandemic could derail Indonesia's recovery, ADB, economists warn: The ADB projects that Indonesia's economy will shrink 1 percent in 2020. The figure is a downward revision from ADB's April projection that the country would grow 2.5 percent this year. Last year, Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent. For 2021, the regional development bank estimates that the country's GDP will grow 5.3 percent, up from its April projection of 5 percent.
Jakarta Post, 16 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/16/prolonged-pandemic-could-derail-indonesias-recovery-adb-economists-warn.html
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Ex-Jakarta governor Ahok blasts Indonesian state firms, suggests creation of Temasek-like company: Outspoken former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has used YouTube as a platform to lambast bad bureaucracy, rent-seeking and systematic inefficiency in Indonesia's state-owned companies. Speaking on YouTube channel "Poin", which has more than a million subscribers, Mr Basuki - who is popularly known by his Chinese nickname Ahok - expressed his frustration over the management of state-owned oil company Pertamina for acquiring overseas oil fields on borrowed money while ignoring prospective businesses domestically.
Straits Times, 16 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ex-jakarta-governor-blasts-indonesian-state-firms-suggests-creation-of-temasek-like
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Editorial - Chaotic Response to the Pandemic: So far, Indonesia has yet to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standard in carrying out tests on a minimum of 1,000 people per 1,000,000 head of population per week. Apart from Jakarta, a number of regions are dragging their feet in pursuit of this target. Most regional heads do not care and even give the impression that they are happy with the small number of reported Covid-19 cases resulting from the limited number of tests. However, with the right testing and proper tracing, Indonesia would be able to map the coronavirus, which is particularly important in producing vaccines and medical treatments.
Tempo, 16 September 2020
https://en.tempo.co/read/1386859/chaotic-response-to-the-pandemic
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Malaysia
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New faces needed to retain Bidayuh seats, GPS told：Speaking to FMT, Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Awang Pawi said voters would protest if GPS were to allow old faces to contest in the eight Bidayuh seats namely, Tasik Biru, Opar, Tarat, Serembu, Mambong, Tebedu, Bukit Semuja and Kedup. State Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Michael Manyin Jawong, who is also the most senior Bidayuh leader in GPS, said recently he was confident that GPS could win all the eight Bidayuh-majority seats in the next state elections.
Free Malaysia Today, 17 September 2020
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/17/new-faces-needed-to-retain-bidayuh-seats-gps-told/
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Candidate Muhyiddin in Sabah election: Make no mistake, Muhyiddin's political fate hinges on the outcome of the elections. The stakes for Muhyiddin are extremely high, if not higher than that of incumbent Chief Minister Shafie Apdal. It is a battle between Shafie and Muhyiddin!
Malaysiakini, 17 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/542936
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Oldies see something fresh in Syed Saddiq's Muda: At a roadshow in Penang last week to create awareness about the party, currently dubbed "Muda", several older Malaysians told The Malaysian Insight it is timely for a new party of younger people to replace the "old political narrative" that has dominated the country for decades.
Malaysian Insight, 17 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273023
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16.
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Perikatan banks on 'abah' to sweep Sabah: Posters and billboards of "abah", Muhyiddin's nickname, dot the 29 areas PN is contesting in Sabah, most of which are Muslim Bumiputera constituencies. Political analysts see it as an attempt to leverage on Muhyiddin's high ratings nationwide, which stand as high as 69%.
Malaysian Insight, 17 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273053
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17.
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Project Youth: Departing from Malaysia's status quo: The challenging task ahead for bold youths such as Syed Saddiq and his team is to translate interest in politics from mere coffee-shop opinions and online forum discussions into a proper voting bloc, especially the sizeable young urban migrators returning to home towns to vote.
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Pembangunan negara boleh terbantut jika tidak dibanci [National development can be stunted if not counted]: "Kerajaan memerlukan data bancian ini untuk mencorakkan kehidupan rakyat yang lebih baik. Jadi data-data ini akan digunakan untuk mengurangkan jurang kemudahan antara bandar, menyediakan peluang-peluang pekerjaan dan sebagainya," kata Mohd Uzir kepada Sinar Harian di sini semalam.
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Malaysian MPs seek end to political party hopping: Several Malaysian parliamentarians have formed a rare bipartisan group to try to put an end to the party-hopping culture that caused the collapse of the federal government and five state governments in the last six months. But with an anti-hopping law already declared unconstitutional by the country's highest court, the MPs are looking at other possible solutions which, if approved and ratified, could mean significant changes to the electoral system.
Straits Times, 17 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-mps-seek-end-to-political-party-hopping
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Bung Moktar: Nine-point GRS manifesto to boost Sabah's economy, people's welfare: The Aku Janji Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) manifesto contained proposals to drive Sabah's economic growth and improve state residents' welfare, Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said today. The manifesto comprised nine core areas of focus such as economy, infrastructure, job employment, public service, health, general wellbeing, security, youth, women development and human capital education.
Malay Mail Online, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/16/bung-moktar-nine-point-grs-manifesto-to-boost-sabahs-economy-peoples-welfar/1903775
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Muhyiddin unveils Perikatan-led Opposition manifesto that aims to address Sabah's woes: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today unveiled Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) manifesto that focuses on reviving the state's economy, which he said can only be fulfilled if the federal and state governments work together. Dangling the carrot of federal funding in front of voters as crucial to fulfilling the promises, the Perikatan Nasional chairman said that Sabah, with its dispersed population and vast land areas, needed major development to take it to the next level.
Malay Mail Online, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/16/perikatan-led-opposition-unveils-manifesto-that-it-says-will-address-sabahs/1903791
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22.
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WWF-Malaysia survey: Seven in 10 Sabahans will vote based on lawmakers' commitment to environment: Seven in 10, or 71 per cent of Sabahan voters who participated in a survey told that their ballots in the upcoming state election will be determined by a politician's commitment towards protecting the environment. The survey by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia also showed that out of the same group, eight in 10 said they would like to know more about what each political party plans to do for the state's environment.
Malay Mail Online, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/16/wwf-malaysia-survey-seven-in-10-sabahans-will-vote-based-on-lawmakers-commi/1903752
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23.
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After GRS manifesto launch, Kit Siang reminds voters of 'unfulfilled promises: Speaking at a Malaysia Day ceramah in Tanjong Papat, Lim said there were at least five main promises made by BN during its campaign for the 1994 Sabah state elections and general elections held a year later.
Malaysiakini, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/542885
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Muhyiddin tries to glue together 'hot and cold' Sabah allies: Perikatan Nasional, BN and PBS may call themselves allies in the Sabah election but the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance has been sending confusing signals since the campaign started on Sept 12. From clashing on the chief ministerial candidate and seat allocation to endorsing independents contesting against their own allies and accusing each other of betrayal, PN, BN and PBS don't seem sure that they want to be friends.
Malaysiakini, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/542867
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Usno manifesto promises RM1,000 gift for first marriage: Sabahans marrying for the first time will receive an RM1,000 wedding gift if the United National Sabah Organisation (Usno) wins the 16th Sabah state election on Sept 26. This promise is contained in the Usno election manifesto unveiled by its chief Pandikar Amin Mulia today.
Malaysiakini, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/542871
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26.
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Warisan Plus launches manifesto to develop Sandakan: All seven Warisan Plus candidates in the larger Sandakan area covering three parliamentary constituencies have launched a joint development agenda - "Sandakan Berpadu, Sabah Baharu".
Malaysiakini, 16 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/542815
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27.
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Dr Mahathir's popularity is declining, says Husam: DR Mahathir Mohamad's popularity has plummeted and Pakatan Harapan should be careful about allocating parliamentary seats to his new party Pejuang in the next general election, said Husam Musam. The former Amanah vice-president said since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in March this year, Dr Mahathir is no longer the top draw he was in the run up to the last general election.
Malaysian Insight, 16 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273007
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28.
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Kerajaan PN komited pastikan Sabah, Sarawak terpelihara: PM [The PN government is committed to ensuring that Sabah, Sarawak are protected: PM]: "Isu yang berkait dengan hak-hak Sabah dan Sarawak seperti yang termaktub dalam Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 antaranya kedudukan Sabah dan Sarawak sebagai rakan sekutu, hak negeri di bawah Perkara 112 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, MA63 dan Laporan Jawatankuasa Antara Kerajaan (IGC), keselamatan negeri dan pendidikan akan dibincangkan melalui penubuhan majlis ini," kata Muhyiddin.
Sinar Harian, 16 September 2020
https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/101394/BERITA/Nasional/Kerajaan-PN-komited-pastikan-Sabah-Sarawak-terpelihara-PM
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Malaysia as a Regional Manufacturing Hub: This briefing paper aims to initiate a conversation on revisiting Malaysia's macroeconomic policy for post-COVID growth and development. Given the recent relocations, Malaysia should pursue policies to attract multinational corporations (MNCs) in regionally competitive industries through developing a strong domestic industrial ecosystem in these sub-sectors, rather than through direct investment incentives. Adopting a 'race to the top' approach will better ensure that this outward-oriented strategy benefits a broad segment of the population-promoting a more inclusive recovery.
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Myanmar
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Rohingya: The Perils Of The Boat People: This scenario, to some extent, is straining inter-state relations in ASEAN and beyond, due to the spill-over effect. Thus, the plight of the Rohingya, is no longer just a domestic issue in Myanmar but a problem that needs a regional solution and intervention. In the context of Southeast Asia, migration and statelessness are in many ways very much interconnected.
ASEAN Post, 16 September 2020
https://theaseanpost.com/article/rohingya-perils-boat-people
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32.
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Myanmar army probes 'wider patterns' of abuse against Rohingya: The Myanmar military has said it is investigating "possible wider patterns of violations" before and during a 2017 crackdown in Rakhine State that the United Nations has said was executed with genocidal intent against Rohingya Muslims. ...The army has denied genocide, saying it was carrying out a legitimate operation against Rohingya militants, but says it has court-martialed some troops over incidents in certain villages though details on the perpetrators, their crimes, and sentences have not been released.The military, in a statement carried in state media on Tuesday (Sept 15), acknowledged for the first time a possible broader pattern of abuses.
Straits Times, 16 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/myanmar-army-probes-wider-patterns-of-abuse-against-rohingya
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Of Guarantees and Stalemates: An Assessment of Myanmar's Fourth 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference: This year's edition culminated in the signing of the third Union Accord (UA-III), which is a formal compendium of political, social, economic and security sector agreements between the stakeholders. While the UA-III shows willingness among the key stakeholders to continue dialogue, it only offers a modus operandi to implement previous agreements. It does not do much to resolve the main stalemates in the peace process.
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Philippines
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Former US Bases in the Philippines Prompt Mixed Feelings: Yesterday marked 29 years since the Senate vote that brought the curtain down on the giant U.S. naval base at Subic Bay. For much of the twentieth century, the U.S. Naval Station Subic Bay, and its companion U.S. Air Force base at Clark, some 50 kilometers to the north, had been a critical node of America's military operations in the Pacific. Blessed with abundant deep water anchorages, and commanding close access onto the strategic South China Sea, it had played a part in every major U.S. military deployment of the century, from the Boxer Rebellion to Operation Desert Storm.
Diplomat, 17 September 2020
https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/former-us-bases-in-the-philippines-prompt-mixed-feelings/
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30 infra projects to be built via PPP: Amid a COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession putting pressure on the government's meager resources, about 30 of the big-ticket infrastructure projects in the updated "Build, Build, Build" pipeline worth a combined P1.75 trillion will be rolled out by tycoons' deep pockets.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 September 2020
https://business.inquirer.net/307500/30-infra-projects-to-be-built-via-ppp
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Menace in the pattern: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stunned legislators last week with the disclosure that, after some initial hesitation, he had signed the agreement that would allow Dito Telecommunity Corp. to put up key telecommunications facilities in a number of military camps run by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 September 2020
https://opinion.inquirer.net/133645/menace-in-the-pattern
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PSA targets registration of 45 million Filipinos for nat'l ID system in 2021 - NEDA: The Philippine Statistics Authority is targeting to register 45 million Filipinos for the national ID system in 2021, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Karl Kendrick Chua said Thursday during the online hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance on the proposed 2021 budget of NEDA and its attached agencies, including the PSA.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 September 2020
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1336575/psa-targets-registration-of-45-million-filipinos-for-natl-id-system-in-2021-neda
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War chest vs pandemic rises to $8.96B: The Philippines' financial war chest versus COVID-19 composed of external borrowings for budgetary support and grants for specific projects rose to $8.96 billion as of mid-September, the latest Department of Finance data showed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 September 2020
https://business.inquirer.net/307502/war-chest-vs-pandemic-rises-to-8-96b
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Philippines still engaging Western pharma firms for Covid-19 vaccine, despite President Duterte anger: The Philippines continues to negotiate supply deals with a wide range of Covid-19 vaccine makers, its health ministry said on Wednesday (Sept 16), despite its president scolding Western firms and saying he wanted Chinese and Russian vaccines. The Philippines, which has the most infections and second-highest number of deaths in South-east Asia, is potentially a large market for vaccine makers, with its population of 107 million.
Straits Times, 16 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-says-engaging-western-pharma-firms-despite-president-duterte-anger
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Singapore
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Singapore Wants Cold War's Casualties, Not Cash: Amid the drumbeats of a U.S.-China cold war, the Southeast Asian island-state is often talked about as a sanctuary for capital looking to flee the clash of superpowers. But aging Singapore, with excess savings of its own, doesn't want a truckload of new money. Business investments, however, are very different from potentially destabilizing financial flows. They create jobs, provide new orders to local vendors, and spark optimism about the future, something rather badly needed amid the Covid-19 despondence. That's why Singapore must be pleased to see Tencent Holdings Ltd., Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. coming to the city with investment plans worth billions of dollars.
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Thailand
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Thais question king's spending as economy takes hit from Covid-19: Thailand's royal family has amassed an airline-sized fleet of 38 jets and helicopters, a leading opposition figure has disclosed after undertaking an unprecedented probe into spending by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, his family and employees. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit made the revelation as Thailand battles a deep recession brought about by Covid-19, and a few days before a rally planned by student protesters who are breaking longstanding taboos by questioning royal spending.
Financial Times, 17 September 2020
https://www.ft.com/content/5982dd0c-5312-4918-847e-f206b1a0b192
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'Deter Malaysia': Thailand's navy wants Chinese submarines as both bargaining chip and deterrent: Thailand's navy made a fresh funding push to complete the purchase of three Chinese submarines before a maritime agreement with Malaysia expires. The boats would give Bangkok more leverage in negotiations and help protect economic interests of some US$77.2 billion per year, navy officials say.
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Vietnam
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45.
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Vietnam restarts flights with six cities in Asia for business travellers, citizens: Foreigners travelling for business or study from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, as well as Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei are included. Observers say Vietnam is keen to reopen to 'safe partners' to mitigate the pandemic's economic impact and encourage foreign investment inflows. Vietnamese economists have said unemployment rates are expected to continue to increase at least until the end of the year. Vietnam, the sole Southeast Asian economy not forecast to tip into recession this year, is keen on becoming one of the first in the region to reopen its borders, which would help improve its international reputation and the government's domestic popularity, according to Le Hong Hiep, a fellow at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore who works for its Vietnam Studies programme.
South China Morning Post, 16 September 2020
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3101746/vietnam-restarts-flights-six-cities-asia-business-travellers
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46.
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Vietnam exports first batch of coffee to EU with zero tariffs: Since the EVFTA was first implemented on August 1 this year, the EU has eliminated tariffs on all of the country's unroasted or roasted coffee products from their previous levels of between 7% and 11%, while processed coffee will also enjoy a 0% tariff compared to the previous rate of 9% to 12%.
Voice of Vietnam, 16 September 2020
https://vov.vn/en/economy/vietnam-exports-first-batch-of-coffee-to-eu-with-zero-tariffs-779162.vov
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ASEAN/Southeast Asia
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47.
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ASEAN's energy future landscape post-pandemic: For energy resiliency in post-COVID-19, quality energy infrastructure will need to be promoted and adopted in ASEAN as it will ensure inclusive growth to bring harmony of people, development, and environment sustainability. However, ASEAN leaders should take the COVID-19 impact and the period of low oil prices as an opportunity to make serious energy policy reforms such as fossil fuel subsidies.
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U.S. envoy accuses China of insincerity toward Southeast Asia: A U.S. official accused China on Tuesday of bullying and insincerity in its dealings with Southeast Asian nations, but said Washington isn't forcing the region to choose sides between the two world powers. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell emphasized American resolve in maintaining its presence in the region and preventing "unwelcomed and certainly unhelpful military adventurism," including in the disputed South China Sea.
Asahi Shimbun (AJW), 16 September 2020
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13732467
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51.
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Polarisation a pre-existing condition in Asia's troubled democracies：COVID-19 has unleashed a new wave of democratic erosion across South and Southeast Asia. In India, the government arrested activists who protested against a discriminatory citizenship law and in August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi furthered his Hindu nationalist vision by laying the cornerstone for a Hindu temple on the site of a destroyed mosque in Ayodhya. In neighbouring Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is on the cusp of passing a constitutional amendment to expand his executive powers after his party clinched a two-thirds supermajority in parliament. The Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai governments have all clamped down hard on critics during the pandemic.
East Asia Forum, 16 September 2020
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/09/16/polarisation-a-pre-existing-condition-in-asias-troubled-democracies/
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Asia Pacific
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52.
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Welcome to the Era of Vaccine Diplomacy: It is the rich countries that are calling most of the shots when it comes to vaccines. In this respect, China may be unique: It has some properties of a rich country (a big, advanced scientific establishment), but it has a poor country's willingness to take risks. That's one reason China might end up leading on vaccines. The U.S. is ahead of China technologically, but Chinese priorities are more in sync with those of many other countries in the world.
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East/South China Sea
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53.
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The Sino-Japanese Maritime Disputes in the East China Sea: In August 2020 China lifted the annual summer ban on its fleet's fishing in the East China Sea (ECS). Amid speculation that China may use the opportunity to assert its claim over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, U.S. and Japanese naval forces conducted a joint exercise in the ECS to deter China. While much focus is paid to the Chinese claim of sovereignty over the Senkakus (China calls them Diaoyu), the dispute over the islands is partially nested within a larger dispute over the broader Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ)/Continental Shelf boundary dispute between the two countries. As such, the implications of the islands' sovereignty over the broader maritime boundary dispute and the respective strategies of China and Japan warrant closer examination.
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54.
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Is China Escalating Tensions With Japan in the East China Sea?: Tensions between Japan and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute have recently increased. Japan's Defense White Paper released in July 2020 stated that China has "relentlessly continued attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by coercion in the sea area around the Senkaku Islands" and that "Japan cannot accept China's actions to escalate the situation." Lt. General Kevin Schneider, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, stated that "the United States is 100 percent, absolutely steadfast in its commitment to help the government of Japan with the situation in the Senkakus."
Diplomat, 16 September 2020
https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/is-china-escalating-tensions-with-japan-in-the-east-china-sea/
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Superpower relations and the region
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55.
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China's great power play puts Asia on edge: China's southern and eastern reaches are ringed with anxiety, raising fears of conflict sparked by miscalculation or even by design. The potential flashpoints are familiar: Taiwan; disputed islands in the South China and East China Seas; and India's Himalayan border. What is unusual is that tensions have risen in unison and some commentators have warned that there are risks of military flare-ups potentially involving the US.
Financial Times, 16 September 2020
https://www.ft.com/content/de4df609-2599-47cb-ba37-0b754d4f3b57
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56.
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Experts: China Renewing Effort to Squelch US Influence in Southeast Asia: The Chinese defense chief's whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia this month will start to roll back growing U.S. influence in the region if China follows up with peaceful action, analysts believe. Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met his regional counterparts September 7 to September 11 in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, a Chinese government website says. His visits coincided with a series of statements by U.S. officials criticizing Beijing's expansion in the South China Sea and U.S. commitments to protecting countries that feel slighted by China. ...Wei's trip was aimed first at sustaining China's relations around Southeast Asia, where governments may otherwise be tempted into a U.S.-led, anti-Chinese alliance, scholars say.
VOANews, 16 September 2020
https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/experts-china-renewing-effort-squelch-us-influence-southeast-asia
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