|
ISEAS Library Selects
Daily News on the Southeast Asian Region
17 September 2020 (pm) - 18 September 2020 (am)
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Country Studies
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Southeast Asia Countries
| |
|
|
Laos
| |
|
Singapore
|
Timor-Leste (East Timor)
| |
Region
| |
|
|
| |
|
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.
|
|
 Brunei Darussalam
|
1.
|
Civic engagement essential to promote SDGs in Brunei: The upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN could offer an opportunity for Brunei Darussalam to show leadership and vision to come up with a stronger regional approach to the SDGs, one that puts the youth of the region at the center.
|
Cambodia
|
2.
|
Hun Sen's labor sop will cost Cambodian industry: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's political move to hike the minimum wage for textile and footwear workers threatens to undermine the crucial industries, which combined account for two-thirds of the nation's exports. Under the executive order, announced last week, garment and footwear factory workers' minimum wages will increase around US$2 to $192 per month beginning January 1, 2021. Employer groups that have argued for wage reductions for next year say that this additional burden could make the sector even more uncompetitive and hinder recovery amid the pandemic-induced economic crisis.
Asia Times, 17 September 2020
https://asiatimes.com/2020/09/hun-sens-labor-sop-will-cost-cambodian-industry/
|
|
3.
|
Parsing Washington's Latest Cambodia Sanctions: The United States Treasury Department this week imposed sanctions on the Chinese company Union Development Group (UDG), which since 2008 has been building a $3.8 billion tourism project in Cambodia's Koh Kong province, alleged to be a front for a future Chinese military installation. As such, the rumor mill in Cambodia is back up and running, at a difficult moment for Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People's Party. Rumors that China was trying to station its troops somewhere in Cambodia bristled the Phnom Penh grapevine for much of 2018, thanks in part to reports by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, a Washington-based research group.
Diplomat, 17 September 2020
https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/parsing-washingtons-latest-cambodia-sanctions/
|
Indonesia
|
4.
|
Why China may want a military base in Indonesia - and why Indonesia is right to reject the idea: After expanding its influence economically and culturally, China is likely hoping now to strengthen its military presence in Indonesia. As the largest nation in Southeast Asia, and one without a US military base, Indonesia could be seen by Beijing as a crucial gateway to expanding military influence in the region, and to balancing American military presence in Southeast Asia.
|
|
5.
|
Building comprehensive protection against unemployment: The current cash benefit scheme under the Pre-Employment Card, though the government intends well, may fall short of providing sufficient support for the unemployed if the pandemic prolongs. First, it is publicly funded, thereby the scheme cannot be expanded without straining the state budget.
|
|
6.
|
Hard work pays off: The government's efforts to reduce deforestation and forest fires have paid off. Indonesia has secured a grant of US$103.8 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for avoiding 20.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from 2014 to 2016. The country has also received a $56 million grant from Norway for reducing deforestation and carbon emissions. Notwithstanding the amount, the grants are proof of the international community's trust in Indonesia, which has been struggling to protect its remaining forests and the environment amid expansion of the agro-industry sector, such as palm oil.
Jakarta Post, 18 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/09/18/hard-work-pays-off.html
|
|
7.
|
Remote communities find alternatives to 'online' learning, bridge digital divide: The use of walkie-talkies in remote learning is just one of the many grassroots initiatives to emerge in light of the PJJ policy's limitations. Other initiatives help students from disadvantaged families in accessing online classes, like Wartawan Lintas Media, a movement founded by journalists of various media outlets in Jakarta. In its latest project, the group is collecting donations of used but still functioning smartphones to give to students who don't have digital access. It is also raising funds to purchase mobile data plans for students in need.
Jakarta Post, 18 September 2020
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/17/remote-communities-find-alternatives-to-online-learning-bridge-digital-divide.html
|
|
8.
|
OJK highlights Indonesia's potential in sharia economy: Indonesia has the potential to develop its sharia economy and become a global-hub of the Islamic economy, chairman of the board of commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Wimboh Santoso, said. Indonesia was ranked first in the global sharia financial market in 2019 with a score of 81.93, according to the Global Islamic Financial Report (GIFR). This serves as one indicator of the nation's potential, Santoso said during an online discussion here on Thursday.
Antara, 17 September 2020
https://en.antaranews.com/news/156830/ojk-highlights-indonesias-potential-in-sharia-economy
|
|
9.
|
Is Indonesia's Health Care System Crumbling? Worryingly, the archipelagic nation of Indonesia has the highest number of fatalities in the region to date, standing at 9,100 - about 64 percent of all deaths in the region. Unfortunately, a significant number of its health front-liners are included in the grim tally. Indonesia ranks among the countries with the highest number of health worker deaths due to COVID-19. Amnesty International has recorded the COVID-19 fatalities of 181 medical workers in Indonesia in the last six months, which include 112 doctors and 69 nurses.
ASEAN Post, 17 September 2020
https://theaseanpost.com/article/indonesias-health-care-system-crumbling
|
|
10.
|
Indonesian bill an environmental, economic disaster: Indonesia's parliament is poised to pass a massive "omnibus bill" stimulus package by early October to help offset the economic damage incurred by the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, that package currently contains provisions that will allow unbridled deforestation that will both harm the environment and sabotage the bill's economic growth potential.
Asia Times, 17 September 2020
https://asiatimes.com/2020/09/indonesian-bill-an-environmental-economic-disaster/
|
|
11.
|
Lawmakers, academics want education issues ditched from job creation omnibus bill: Indonesian lawmakers and academics have demanded education issues be scrapped from the omnibus bill on job creation, arguing that some provisions within the draft may end up being "counterproductive" to the efforts to improve quality education in the country. The bill, currently being discussed by the House of Representatives and the government, would amend a number of articles in Law No. 20/2003 on the national education system, Law No. 14/2005 on teachers and lecturers as well as Law No. 12/2012 on higher education.
|
|
12.
|
Kritik Ahok, Pencitraan atau untuk Menyelamatkan PERTAMINA [Ahok's criticism, for branding or saving Pertamina?] Pengamat ekonomi energi dari Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta Fahmy Radhi berpendapat kritik dari Ahok bertujuan agar perusahaan migas negara tersebut lebih transparan. "Saya rasa itu bukan membuka aib perusahaan, tapi bermaksud agar secara tata kelola perusahaan Pertamina agar lebih transparan kepada publik," kata Fahmy ...
Republika, 17 September 2020
https://republika.co.id/berita/qgscxn328/kritik-ahok-pencitraan-atau-untuk-menyelamatkan-pertamina
|
Malaysia
|
13.
|
What we learnt about Parti Islam Se-Malaysia's political direction from its general assembly: Last weekend, the party held its first general assembly, also known as "Muktamar", since becoming part of the federal ruling coalition. Given the need to comply with strict health protocols due to COVID-19, the meeting was smaller compared to previous years. The size of the assembly in Kelantan - about 400 delegates reportedly gathered inside the main hall, was not the only noteworthy point.
Channel News Asia, 18 September 2020
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-parti-islam-se-malaysia-pas-muktamar-takeaways-13120342
|
|
14.
|
Musa at PM's event seen as morale booster: A political analyst sees Musa Aman's appearance at an event attended by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday as a morale booster for the Sabah opposition. Tony Paridi Bagang of Sabah UiTM told FMT the former chief minister's attendance at the event in Beaufort must have brought relief to his supporters in both Umno and PPBM as it gave an assurance the two parties could work well together in the election campaign.
Free Malaysia Today, 18 September 2020
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/09/18/musa-at-pms-event-seen-as-morale-booster/
|
|
16.
|
Analysts: Warisan Plus has more to lose if Sabah voters don't return to vote, especially in hot seats: Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said he believes that there will be fewer Sabah voters returning to the state to cast their vote when compared to previous elections. He listed several reasons, including the polls not being a national-level general election, and some Sabah voters feeling that their votes would be wasted even if they return to vote as elected representatives in Sabah could easily switch political camps.
Malay Mail Online, 18 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/18/analysts-warisan-plus-has-more-to-lose-if-sabah-voters-dont-return-to-vote/1904217
|
|
17.
|
Sarawak MP claims formation of MA63 special council a delay tactic: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government's move to form a special council on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has been labelled a delay tactic in the move towards the devolution of autonomous powers to Sarawak and Sabah. Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii claimed this is because there was already a Special Cabinet Committee for MA63 formed under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, which consisted of both chief ministers of Sarawak and Sabah as well as leaders from both states, legal experts, academicians, and activists.
Malay Mail Online, 18 September 2020
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/18/sarawak-mp-claims-formation-of-ma63-special-council-a-delay-tactic/1904274
|
|
18.
|
In the battle for votes to improve roads, Star says it'll get a 3km road fixed: Star's incumbent Bingkor candidate Robert Tawik says he has managed to get a project to pave 3km of the dirt and gravel road in Mukim Bunga Raya to be carried out under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). The Star (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku Rakyat) candidate said this in response to villagers who promised to cast their ballots for whoever can get the village's main road paved.
Malaysiakini, 18 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/543049
|
|
19.
|
Loke challenges PM to declassify cabinet memorandum on KVDT 2: This came after the party youth wing's information chief Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir questioned the former Pakatan Harapan government's decision to award the project through direct negotiation to Dhaya Maju Infrastructure (Asia) Sdn Bhd (DMIA) at the cost of RM4.475 billion.
Malaysiakini, 18 September 2020
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/543050
|
|
20.
|
5 years on, odds against Amanah: AMANAH, which turned five on Malaysia Day, is facing an existential crisis, said analysts. They said the PAS splinter party has survived only because it depended on allies PKR and DAP in elections, drawing support from mostly non-Malay and non-Muslim voters.
Malaysian Insight, 18 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273216
|
|
21.
|
Don't let DAP dupe you, Ku Li tells Malay youth: MALAY youth eager to join DAP must be mindful not to be used by the party but instead work towards dominating the Chinese-based organisation, said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. The Gua Musang MP also reminded the Malays in the party, especially federal lawmakers and assemblymen, to be careful against being used by the party to take over "Tanah Melayu".
Malaysian Insight, 18 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273242
|
|
22.
|
For Sabahans, clean water, roads trump mega-projects: VOTERS and analysts are all for a bridge linking Labuan and Sabah but said basic amenities, such as good roads and clean water, are more important for the state. They comments come after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) nine-point manifesto on Wednesday in Kota Kinabalu.
Malaysian Insight, 18 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273218
|
|
23.
|
Pengundi muda jadi penentu di Sabah [Young voters are the determinants in Sabah]: Berdasarkan statistik Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), jumlah pengundi pada PRU14 adalah seramai 12,229,514 orang daripada 14,940,624 pengundi berdaftar. Justeru, pecahan pengundi muda berjumlah lebih tujuh juta mewakili lebih 50 peratus daripada jumlah keseluruhan pengundi pada ketika itu.
|
|
25.
|
Sabah election: Most unusual election in the history of Malaysia: Firstly, for having the most number of candidates, 447 candidates for 73 seats, with one seat facing a 11-cornered fight, one-seat a 10-cornered fight, three seats nine-cornered, five seats eight-cornered, 13 seats seven-cornered, 26 seats six-cornered and 15 seats five-cornered fights. Secondly, with the most number of political frogs in the fray, whose golden moment will come when they can demand their highest price - whether monetary or political position - if the outcome of the Sabah general election is a dumb one with no political group with a clear majority to form the State government.
|
|
26.
|
RM2.1 billion Prihatin aid disbursed to Sabah, Sarawak: [Finance] minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said nearly 100,000 businesses including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the two states have received assistance totalling RM1.4 billion through the Wage Subsidy Programme, Special Prihatin Grant, and micro financing from Tekun and Bank Simpanan Nasional.
Malaysian Insight, 17 September 2020
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/273221
|
|
27.
|
阿兹敏只能受委最高理事[Azmin can only be appointed Supreme Council member]: 虽然土团党是成立不久的政党，但是与巫统和伊斯兰党相似，党内领袖等待轮候上位。对于新加入政党的人（阿兹敏与其团队）来说仍会存在一个问题。
|
|
29.
|
Pas lebih layak ketuai Muafakat Nasional berbanding UMNO [PAS is more suitable to lead Muafakat Nasional as compared to UMNO]: Dalam pada itu, kajian turut mendapati sebab utama kaum Melayu meletakkan kepercayaan terhadap Muafakat Nasional kerana ia dilihat dapat memperkukuh kedudukan Islam, Melayu dan Bumiputera.
|
|
30.
|
Young Malaysian lawmaker, 27, forms new political party Muda with multiracial outlook: A lawmaker who holds the record as Malaysia's youngest Cabinet minister, Mr Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, on Thursday (Sept 17) formally applied to register a new political movement targeting youth members. Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, or Muda, if approved, will add to the country's confusing mix of parties and alliances. Mr Syed Saddiq, the 27-year old MP for Muar in Johor, applied to register Muda at the Registrar of Societies (ROS) headquarters on Thursday, The Star online news reported.
Straits Times, 17 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/young-malaysian-lawmaker-27-forms-new-political-party-muda-with-multiracial-outlook
|
Myanmar
|
31.
|
The Problem with the Myanmar Army's Admissions of Guilt: For decades, Myanmar's military has used brutal tactics, including intimidation, harassment, torture and murder, to suppress and silence civilians. ...In recent weeks, despite previous dismissals and denials, the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, has offered several admissions of guilt, including its first acknowledgement of "possible wider patterns of violations" against the long-persecuted Rohingya minority in Rakhine State. ...But there is reason to doubt the integrity of the army's admissions, which come weeks, months, and in some cases years after the crimes were committed.
|
|
32.
|
Myanmar's Rakhine War Produces Grim Child Casualty Toll: A recent rise in child casualties in northern Rakhine state comes as U.N. observers note an increased use of airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks on civilian communities by the Myanmar military in its 21-month-old conflict with the Arakan Army (AA)...
Radio Free Asia, 16 September 2020
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/child-casualties-09162020200647.html
|
Philippines
|
33.
|
In Search Of An Independent China Policy In Post-Duterte Philippines: "The enemy, too has a vote!" said the late strategist Colin Gray. Yet the current independent foreign policy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte struggles not to name China as its enemy since it tries to moderate its relations with Beijing. Manila thus tries to be friends to all and enemies to none. But Beijing too has a vote in this. As the author argued elsewhere, avoiding any confrontation with China is not working. In this regard, a post-Duterte era Philippines should occupy a position of strength by developing a long-term strategy.
|
|
35.
|
UK, France, Germany refute China's expansive South China Sea claims:In a joint note verbale submitted to the United Nations in New York on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), the three European nations said China's "historic" claims in the South China Sea do not adhere with international law and with provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 September 2020
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/190953/uk-france-germany-refute-chinas-expansive-south-china-sea-claims
|
|
36.
|
Encouraging abuse: foreign terrorist designations of the CPP/NPA: When the US declared a "war on terror" after 9/11, states around the World began reconceptualising long standing insurgent groups as "terrorists", including those with no record of organising random mass casualty attacks on civilians. The US designated the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA) as a terrorist organisation in 2002... Filipino legal scholar, Jayson Lamchek argues these designations emboldened the Philippine authorities to embark on a particularly abusive counterinsurgency campaign against the CPP/NPA.
|
|
37.
|
UNICEF: Pandemic 'worsening' child online sexual abuse, exploitation in PH: Incidence of child online sexual abuse and exploitation in the Philippines is "worsening" amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an official of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said that as children stay at home due to quarantine restrictions, they are at risk of falling victim to online sex trafficking and exploitation, which are circumstances that are "harmful to their development and well-being."
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 September 2020
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/190923/unicef-pandemic-worsening-child-online-sexual-abuse-exploitation-in-ph
|
Thailand
|
38.
|
Department of Trade Negotiations pushes ahead utilisation of RCEP privileges: Mrs. Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, said, "After the eight RCEP Ministers, including from ASEAN, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, met through a teleconference and concluded negotiations on all outstanding issues, the department is in the process of proposing to the Cabinet to consider approving Thailand to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. The ministers confirmed that they are ready to sign the agreement at the 4th RCEP Summit in November 2020 during the ASEAN Summit in Vietnam."
Bangkok Post, 18 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/1987199/department-of-trade-negotiations-pushes-ahead-utilisation-of-rcep-privileges
|
|
40.
|
Somkid B2m richer since taking office: Somkid Jatusripitak, a former deputy prime minister, gained 2.4 million baht worth of assets after joining the cabinet, while Suvit Maesincee, former education minister, was half a million baht poorer, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as it revealed their finances. The NACC on Thursday published the declared assets and liabilities of Mr Somkid, Mr Suvit and Prasit Pathumarak, a newly appointed senator.
Bangkok Post, 18 September 2020
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1987291/somkid-b2m-richer-since-taking-office
|
|
41.
|
Confidence index in August hits highest level in a year, as mood on economy improves: The chambers of commerce also expect that the government's "Let's Go Halves" campaign, which aims to promote the purchase of consumer products by subsidising 50 per cent of product prices, with a budget of Bt30 billion, and the handing out of an additional Bt1,500 to holders of state welfare cards, with a budget of Bt21 billion, would help inject up to Bt150-Bt200 billion into the economy in the next three months.
Nation, 18 September 2020
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394752
|
Vietnam
|
43.
|
Vietnam loses 2.4 million jobs in first two quarters: ...Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh underlined the severe impacts of the pandemic on production and business activities in most industries and sectors. A large number of enterprises had to suspend operation or dissolve in the past months, seriously affecting the labour market.
VietNamNet, 16 September 2020
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/society/vietnam-loses-2-4-million-jobs-in-first-two-quarters-674158.html
|
ASEAN/Southeast Asia
|
44.
|
Stethoscope: How Southeast Asia's health systems can collaborate better: Several structural reasons prevent meaningful collaboration, integration or capacity-sharing between countries in Southeast Asia. The first hurdle to collaboration lies in the tame mandate for health in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Asean was formed as an intergovernmental (not supranational) entity with a core principle of non-interference in the sovereignty of member states. The Health Division is one of 46 divisions in the Asean Secretariat based in Jakarta and is understaffed and undercapitalised in financial and political terms.
|
|
45.
|
Diplomatic Doldrums: ASEAN Loses Momentum in the Pandemic as Security Tensions Rise: As Southeast Asia struggles to gain traction in the COVID-19 pandemic and address its economic damage, leaders are hobbled by conditions that make forging a regional approach to the virus more difficult. Although most states have launched partial and cautious reopening strategies, most intergovernmental business is still conducted online. This will remain the case for the rest of 2020, given widespread fears of a second surge of the coronavirus. In the meantime, several leaders face political challenges as their domestic populations struggle under the worst recession in years. Diplomatic traffic is ordinarily busy in the summer in Southeast Asia, but this year the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore was cancelled, the ASEAN Summit forced to go online, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) pushed into the early fall, also to be conducted by video. Yet, security tensions were not held in abeyance by COVID, and may have been exacerbated by it.
[Published September 2020 in Comparative Connections · Volume 22, Issue 2]
|
Asia Pacific
|
46.
|
Now is the time for China to win friends: Chan Chun Sing: CHINA now has an opportunity to win friends by reaching out to a world suffering from the fallout of the pandemic, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Thursday. "How it reaches out to the rest of the world and sets standards in its behaviour will inspire...
|
|
47.
|
An "Alliance of Democracies": Is There Any There There? - The "cold peace" between Washington and Beijing continued to heat up, with implications throughout and beyond the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. US pronouncements during the last four months should dispel any doubt that the US Asia strategy is aimed first and foremost at China, and more specifically at the Chinese Communist Party. Not only does the "Quad"- the US, Australia, India, and Japan-show signs of coordinated backbone, it seems to be forming the basis for a new "Quad-Plus" that includes other "like-minded states." Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer regional economies and the recovery is likely to be long and uneven. It looks like there may be a new model that describes its impact, and it doesn't augur well for those countries.
[Published September 2020 in Comparative Connections · Volume 22, Issue 2]
|
|
48.
|
Coronavirus, China and the US New Normal: Challenged by COVID-19 and China, Australia confronts deteriorating strategic prospects and its first economic recession in nearly 30 years. The pandemic has worsened strained relations between Australia and China. Canberra's call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 was attacked by Beijing as a betrayal and Chinese trade retaliation has followed. Even before the pandemic hit, Australia talked of a "new normal" with China of "enduring differences." Whatever the US election result, the phrase "new normal" is also being applied to changes wrought by President Trump. The US alliance is hugged anew as Canberra abandons a central strategic tenet it has held for 50 years-the idea that Australia would have 10 years warning of any direct military threat.
[Published September 2020 in Comparative Connections · Volume 22, Issue 2]
|
|
49.
|
India in the Indo-Pacific: Reining in China in the new theatre of great power rivalry: In recent times, the Indo-Pacific has evolved from being a geographical concept to a political and strategic construct that means different things to different countries. With Covid-19 turning the international tide against China, proponents of ensuring a "free and open Indo-Pacific" have found more incentive to rally together. Among them, dominant stakeholders such as India can play a bigger role to balance the perceived threat.
|
|
50.
|
Rise of the Minilaterals: Examining the India-France-Australia Trilateral: Last week, India, France, and Australia held their first trilateral meeting. The senior officials' meeting, held in a virtual setting, was co-chaired by Vardhan Shringla, India's foreign secretary; François Delattre, secretary-general of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; and Frances Adamson, secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said that the trilateral meeting was an effort at strengthening cooperation among the three countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The statement also noted that the three countries plan to meet on an annual basis.
|
|
51.
|
Suga steps in, at least for now: There is little to suggest that Suga will deviate from the Abe agenda in the interim. Perhaps his international profile will be somewhat downplayed, as he emphasises his "regional" credentials. He is unlikely to push constitutional reform to the extent Abe aimed to do, although his political affiliations lean to the conservative side and the enormous factional support will entail obligations as well. The result of the US presidential election will be greatly anticipated, and perhaps expectations for Suga and Japan (and the world) in the near future must be tempered a little until then.
|
East/South China Sea
|
52.
|
China Faces Stronger US Opposition in South China Sea: Officials from Xi Jinping on down reached out to Southeast Asian countries with emphasis on growing economic relations and cooperation in countering COVID-19. Top-level officials generally eschewed public criticism of the United States on South China Sea issues, while government ministries and official and unofficial media used sometimes tough language in criticizing Washington. Overall, Beijing registered satisfaction that ASEAN adopted a neutral stance and most other states showed little sign of leaning toward the US against China.
[Published September 2020 in Comparative Connections · Volume 22, Issue 2]
Robert G. Sutter is professor of practice of international affairs at the Elliott School of George Washington University.
|
Superpower relations and the region
|
54.
|
Has the United States lost Southeast Asia to China? In the past, ASEAN member states have avoided taking sides when it comes to the ongoing competition and animosity between Washington and Beijing in the region and globally.
|
|
55.
|
US-China Relations in Free Fall: President Trump blamed China for the spread of the coronavirus, which opened the door to tougher US policies on a range of issues from Hong Kong to Xinjiang. The Phase One trade deal remained intact, although Chinese purchases of US goods lagged targets in the agreement. Senior Trump administration officials delivered a series of speeches that condemned Chinese policies and suggested that the CCP poses an unacceptable threat to the United States and other democracies. Charging that the Chinese consulate in Houston was engaged in espionage, the US demanded it be closed. Beijing retaliated by shutting down the US Consulate in Chengdu. The US aligned its South China Sea policy more closely with the July 2016 tribunal ruling and declared China's "nine-dash line" claim and actions based on it to be illegal. Tensions increased over Taiwan as the US took several steps to strengthen ties with Taipei and deter Chinese coercion
[Published September 2020 in Comparative Connections · Volume 22, Issue 2 ].
Bonnie Glaser is a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at CSIS.
|
|
56.
|
War by other means: Sino-US rivalry is growing in many areas: Talk is growing about a "New Cold War", or even outright war, between the United States and China. This impacts not only the two giants. It ripples to countries in between, as seen in the meeting of foreign ministers convened last week by Asean. While Asean had a much wider agenda of its own priorities, the competing claims in the South China Sea came particularly in focus. There was, moreover, considerable finger pointing between the US and China, which strained the unity and consensus of the group. There is no denying that Sino-American rivalry spans many sectors, from politics and security to trade and technology. It is also true that differences are accelerating and direct (if limited) conflict cannot be ruled out. Yet, Asean and other countries must resist the analogy of war. Such a mindset risks focusing on the wrong things. They must seek ways that allow space in between.
Straits Times, 18 September 2020
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/war-by-other-means
|
|
|
Disclaimer: Best effort has been made to ensure the external links provided are valid as of the date of collation. We welcome your suggestions to help us improve the quality of this service. Please take a moment to give us your feedback via the online feedback form. If you do not wish to receive our Daily News Alert, please click here to unsubscribe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|