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Asia in Review

No. 24, June/2020, 3

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Reader,

Welcome to this week’s Asia in Review (AiR) with which we introduce a new feature in response to suggestions of some readers. Starting with this week, the AiR’s final section will provide you with information on upcoming online events – such as online talks, webinars and virtual conferences – on topics covered by the AiR.

I hope you welcome the feature and enjoy your comprehensive brief on politics, law and power in Asia.

With best regards,

Henning Glaser

Director, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG)

Webpage: www.cpg-online.de, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPGTU

Main Sections

• Law and Politics in East Asia

• Law and Politics in South Asia

• Law and Politics in South East Asia

• International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

• Upcoming Online Events

Law and Politics in East Asia 

China/Hong Kong: Marking protest anniversary as class boycotts and general strike looms

(dql) Over the last week anti-government protesters stage gatherings and rallies in Hong Kong to mark the anniversaries of both the begin of the protest movement on 9 June last year when estimated over one million people took to the streets to protest against the now withdrawn extradition bill of the city's government, and the first major clash between police and protesters on June 12 when both sides clashed outside the Legislative Council after tens of thousands gathered there in an attempt to prevent hearings of the bill. [Aljazeera] [The Guardian] 

In another move on Friday, pupils from at least six schools also marked the one-year anniversary of the anti-government movement by protesting against the Hong Kong national security law. They chanted protest slogans including “Five demands, not one less” and “Hong Kong independence, the only way out” and sang the popular protester anthem “Glory to Hong Kong”. [South China Morning Post]

Meanwhile, organizers of an unofficial referendum set to be held this week to decide whether to stage school class boycotts and general strikes to protest Beijing’s planned national security law for Hong Kong announced to proceed with their referendum campaign in defiance of warnings from Beijing and local officials and undeterred by the arrest of three volunteers who set up referendum promotion booths last Friday. The campaign is backed by the Hong Kong Secondary Students’ Action Platform and more than 20 pro-democracy labor unions with more than 10,000 members representing 20 industries. [Deutsche Welle] [Hong Kong Free Press]

The planned referendum signals rising political heat in Hong Kong over Beijing’s push for the Hong Kong national security law seen among critics as paving the way for Beijing to further tighten its grip on Hong Kong and undermine the city's autonomy and democratic spaces.

In a latest attempt to disperse these claims and concerns the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office announced that the law expected to be passed at the end of this week will not be used retroactively, adding that while Beijing would reserve for itself jurisdiction over a small number of most serious national security cases, Hong Kong would responsible for most enforcement work. [Channel News Asia]

China: Another ‘tiger’ from Chongqing under corruption investigation

(dql) AiR last week reported on corruption cases involving two senior cadres. [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2] In another high profile corruption case, involving a ‘tiger’, the Central Committee for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party’s internal watchdog, announced that Deng Huilin, the Deputy Mayor and police chief of Chongqing, China’s most populous municipality with a population of 30 million, has been put under investigation for suspected “serious disciplinary violations,” an euphemism for corruption. [Caixin]

Chongqing has seen several high profile cases in the course of the nationwide anti-corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping back in 2012. It is believed that the campaign is also used to sideline Xi’s political contenders including the city’s former party bosses Sun Zhengcai and Bo Xilai, both sentenced to life in prison over corruption charges. [South China Morning Post]

China: Zoom shuts down activists’ account over Tiananmen online events

(dql) Teleconferencing company Zoom confirmed last week that it met a request from the Chinese government and shut down the accounts of several activists and online commemorations of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The acknowledgment came after Hong Kong and U.S.-based activists found their accounts suspended and reported to the media. [ABC News] [BBC]

In response to criticism that Zoom bowed to Chinese pressure, the company declared that it is working on technology which separates between Zoom participants inside and outside China so that it would be able "to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders," while it would "also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed." [NPR]

For interesting numbers reflecting Zoom’s global popularity see Brad Glosserman at [Japan Times] who warns of massive security and privacy issues in the face of 300 million daily users in April and an annual run rate at 2 trillion meeting minutes –or the equivalent of almost 4 million years – by April.

Meanwhile, Twitter announced that it removed almost 24,000 China-backed accounts in a latest move to tackle disinformation and influence campaigns on its platform. The accounts predominantly posted in Chinese languages geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China as well as deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong. [South China Morning Post]

China: Parts of Beijing again under coronavirus lockdown 

(dql) Beijing has re-imposed lockdown measures for more than 20 residential compounds in the city and rolled out mass testing after a fresh cluster of novel coronavirus cases emerged from the city's largest wholesale food market. On Monday, the Chinese capital reported 36 new Covid-19 cases, rising the total number to 79 since a locally transmitted infection was reported on June 12 for the first time in nearly two months. [The Guardian]

South Korea: Ruling party unilaterally elects National Assembly committee heads

(dql) In a move further deepening the ongoing spat between the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) over the DP’s unilateral convention of the plenary session to open the 21st National Assambly [AiR June/2020, 2], the DP unilaterally elected heads of the National Assembly's six key standing committees, despite strong protest by the UFP. The DP made use of its absolute majority to push through the elections after weeks-long bipartisan negotiations yielded no results. 

Breaking with parliamentary tradition, the DP allocated itself the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a key committee overseeing major policies. In 20 legislative sessions so far, it had been customary that a member of the main opposition party chaired this committee to provide the opposition the power to hold the ruling bloc in check.  [Yonhap] [Korea Times]

Japan: Lower house approves 297 billion USD extra budget

(mp) On Friday, the Japanese parliament enacted a second extra budget of in total 297 billion USD for 2020 to support fiscal measures against the coronavirus crisis. The budget aims to help small businesses suffering from economic loss by providing subsidies and to support medical staff who dealt with infected patients offering additional payments. The supplementary package comes into effect only six weeks after the first extra budget had been approved in April and will be financed entirely by government bonds. While Japan's fiscal health already is the worst amongst major economies, public debt is expected to rise to 250 % of the GDP. [Nikkei Asian Review] [Bangkok Post]

Japan: Tokyo governor Koike runs for re-election

(mp) Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike announced on Friday to run for a second term in the gubernatorial election, which will take place on 5 July. Tokyo's first female governor has been widely respected for her rational approach during the Covid-19 crisis. In case of re-election, she announced to focus on the fight against a potential second wave of the virus. The winner of the upcoming election will also preside over Tokyo during the Olympic Games, which have been postponed to summer 2021. Koike, who is expected to be re-elected, will face challenges from 73-year-old lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, Taisuke Ono, who is backed by the Japan Innovation Party, and former actor Taro Yamamoto, who leads the anti-establishment party Rewa Shinsengumi, founded in 2019. [Nikkei Asian Review] [Japan Times]

Taiwan: Preparations for refugee influx from Hong Kong

(ef) With the enactment of Beijing’s Hong Kong national security law expected to come soon, Taiwan has started to prepare for an influx of refugees from Hong Kong. Measures under consideration by the Tsai administration include providing a monthly allowance for living and shelter opportunities as well as the establishment of a government panel to vet applications and issue visas for studying or working in Taiwan. A particular challenge will be to detect Chinese spies pretending to be activists from Hong Kong. 

Since the protest began June last year close to 200 Hong Kong people have fled to Taiwan with around 10% of them having been granted visas. [Reuters]

Law and Politics in South Asia 

Bangladesh: Bangladeshi lecturer and student arrested over Social Media post

(lm) On Saturday, Bangladeshi university lecturer Sirajum Munira has been arrested under the Digital Security Act for her alleged derogatory comment on Facebook about Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the country’s State Minister for religious affairs, who had died of complications related to COVID-19 earlier on Saturday. [Dhaka Tribune]

Munira’s detention came after she reportedly posted a status on Facebook allegedly demeaning and humiliating Abdullah, despite she later decided to delete the post and to apologise. As the post had angered both teachers and students on the campus the university’s Registrar filed a complaint with a local police station on Saturday evening.

In a similar incident, authorities of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology on Monday reportedly sued one of its students under the same digital security laws for posting a derogatory comment on the death of Abdullah. [The Daily Star]

These incidents are the latest in a string of arrests over social media posts about the pandemic, and lend credence to concerns that the Digital Security Act is used as a pretence to crack-down on critics of the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. According to media reports, more than 40 people have been arrested and charged since March under the internet laws that Amnesty International in 2018 described as “an attack on freedom of expression and “even more repressive” than the defunct Information Technology Act. [Amnesty International] [The Straits Times]

Nepal I: Lawmakers endorse map including disputed territory with India

(lm) Nepal’s parliament’s upper chamber on Sunday endorsed a proposal to consider a constitutional amendment to formalise and extend Kathmandu’s territorial claims over the Lipulekh Pass and other mountain territory claimed by both India and Nepal. The decision came a day after the Parliament’s lower house on Saturday had unanimously passed the constitutional amendment, paving the way for altering the Himalayan nation’s political map. Before it becomes part of the constitution, the revised map will also have to pass the National Assembly and be approved by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. [SCMP] [Reuter]

The cross-party endorsement of a new administrative map prompted an angry response from India. In a statement issued on Saturday, India’s foreign ministry spokesman denounced Kathmandu’s effort to lay claim to what New Delhi describes as “Indian territory”. [Financial Times]

Nepal decided to issue its revised political map in May after New Delhi earlier last month opened a new Himalayan link road connecting its northern Uttarakhand state with Lipulekh on the border with Tibet that passes through the disputed area of Kalapani. [AiR No. 20, May/2020, 3] [AiR No. 22, June/2020, 1]

Nepal II: Nepal to bar foreign tourists for joining youth-led protests in Kathmandu

(lm) The Nepalese Department of Immigration (DoI) will deport five foreign tourists and ban them from entering Nepal for two years after they joined protests against the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, officials said on Monday. [The Himalayan Times]

Nepal Police on Saturday had arrested three Chinese nationals and one each from the United States, Australia and Norway during a street protest in the capital Kathmandu and had later handed them over to the DoI for violating immigration laws. [Reuters]

Pakistan: COVID-19 cases could rise to 1.2 Million by end of July

(lm) Pakistani officials on Sunday warned that nationwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections could double by the end of June and peak at more than a million infections just a month later. Urging the nation to strictly comply with safety guidelines, Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is leading the country’s response to the pandemic, reported on Monday that many markets and shops had been sealed because of non-compliance with safety protocols. [The Jakarta Post] [Reuters 1]

Earlier last week, in a letter sent to health authorities of Pakistan’s two most populous provinces, Punjab and Sindh, the WHO recommended an intermittent lockdown as a balance between mitigating the risk of the health system collapsing and keeping the economy going. [Reuters 2]

As cases in the South Asian country have begun to take off since most restrictions were lifted last month, Pakistani authorities should reimpose a strict, intermittent lockdown targeting localities with high coronavirus spread, as well as strengthen quarantine, testing and contact tracing, WHO Pakistan chief Palitha Mahipala added. [Al Jazeera]

In March, Pakistan's government, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, had moved quickly to lock down and impose travel restrictions of varying strictness in different provinces. Most measures, however, were eased in late May, ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr. Citing economic hardships threatening the country’s poverty-stricken families, Khan had justified rolling back the lockdown, and has long resisted re-imposing any lockdown restrictions. [Daily Mail]

Just days ago, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had offered to help neighbouring India to disburse cash to the public during the coronavirus lockdown, but India later dismissed the offer. Taking on Twitter on Thursday, Khan had cited a report by the Mumbai-based Center for Monitoring Indian Economy that reported 34 per cent of households across India would struggle to make ends meet without additional assistance due to a drop in financial resources because of COVID-19 lockdown measures. [Reuters 3]

Sri Lanka I: Sri Lanka holds mock election to test coronavirus measures ahead of parliamentary vote

(cm/lm) A mock election was conducted on Sunday to test new health measures that will be implemented at polling booths and counting centres. Sri Lanka is due to hold its general election on Aug. 5, the chairman of the nation’s Election Commission said at a news briefing on Wednesday. The parliamentary vote had originally been scheduled for April 26, but was postponed twice due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. [Reuters] [Al Jazeera] [AiR No. 16, April/2020, 3]

The country is currently caught in a political vacuum, because it is past a three-month period allowed by law to operate without a sitting parliament to check the executive’s power. Last week, the Supreme Court rejected petitions by the opposition parties and civil activists seeking an annulment of Rajapaksa's order dissolving the parliament in March. [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2] [DW]

Sri Lanka II: Senior Army officer to institute legal action against Head of NGO

(cm/lm) The Director of the State Intelligence Services of Sri Lanka (SIS), Major General Suresh Tuan Sallay has sent a Letter of Demand to Ms. Yasmin Sooka, Executive Director of the Foundation of Human Rights of South Africa and the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), the Ministry of Defence reported in a statement on Monday. [Sri Lanka Guardian]

The said letter stated that Ms. Sooka, in her capacity as Executive Director of the ITJP had published an alleged defamatory press statement on the ITJP Sri Lanka’s website on 1 June. The letter further claims that the publication had damaged the intelligence officer’s prestige, and even had “resulted in parties with vested interests making attempts on the life of Major General Sallay”. [see the original statement here: ITJP]

In light of these allegations, Major General Sallay, in his letter states a claim for money damages worth 1 Billion Sri Lankan Rupees directly against the ITJP and MS. Sooka, and further emphasises he was prepared to seek further litigative remedies should neither Ms. Sooka nor the ITJP desist from issuing further defamatory remarks. [Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Philippines: Maria Ressa found guilty of cyber libel – Grave concerns about democracy

(mp/ls) Maria Ressa, head and journalist of the news website Rappler.com, which is known for its critical reports about President Duterte and his war on drugs, was convicted of cyber libel on Monday and faces up to six years of imprisonment. The allegations originate from an article, in which a businessman was tied to illegal activities. Ressa's colleague and author of this article, Reynaldo Santos Jr., was convicted simultaneously. The story, however, was published months before the enactment of the cyber-libel law, on which the judgment was based. Ressa had been arrested early last year but released on bail.

Ressa and Santos Jr. are entitled to post-conviction bail while they exhaust legal remedies in higher courts. Press Freedom groups condemned the decision, saying that it instead was a politically motivated prosecution based on the government's fear of a free press. Ressa denied the charges and stated that they aimed at silencing the political opposition. Her lawyer announced to file an appeal. [Nikkei Asian Review]

Some legal groups and experts argue that the acts in question could not be prosecuted because of prescription. According to them, cyber libel prescribes only in one year, and not 12 years, which was the Department of Justice (DOJ) theory that was upheld by a court in Manila, which made it possible to convict Ressa and Santos Jr. [Rappler]

The verdict came at a time when journalism is under increasing pressure in the Philippines. At the beginning of May, the country’s largest broadcaster, ABS-CBN, was forced off the air after a 25-year operating licence had not been renewed. [AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2]

Philippines: Continuing protests overshadow Independence Day

(mp) Instead of celebrations of the Philippines' independence from Spanish colonial rule in 1898,  hundreds of protesters rallied against the anti-terrorism bill, which is awaiting President Duterte's signature after it passed parliament last week [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2]. 

The legislation, which extends the range of instruments available to the authorities in the fight against terrorism, has been persistently criticized by human rights groups. The UN human rights office raised concerns over the bill, claiming it "diluted human rights safeguards." Government officials argued the protests were overblown. There were no reports of arrests or violence. [New York Times]

Indonesia: The pandemic has given the military a boost

(yo) As Indonesia apparently failed to respond quickly in taking preventive action against the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has been making use of the military instead to compensate for initial inaction. Instead of health experts, senior army leaders are taking charge, which demonstrates that the government did not consider the pandemic as a crisis that would demand long-term health reforms. 

Indonesia has been suffering from a shortage of trained medical staff and personal protective equipment, but structural causes have remained largely unaddressed. An example of the government’s misguided approach has, for instance, benn the Health Minister, Terawan Agus Putranto, who argued that prayers would protect Indonesians from the virus. 

Army officials are responsible for contact tracing, surveillance and border controls. Experts worry such expansive involvement of the military could facilitate military resurgence in civilian affairs and even digress towards authoritarianism. Besides Indonesia, other governments in Southeast Asia have adopted security-heavy strategies, which may be difficult to undo once the pandemic is over. [Foreign Policy]

Malaysia: Ex-Attorney General’s accusations cause uproar in Najib Razak corruption trial

(cm/ls) Ex-Attorney General of Malaysia, Mohamed Apandi Ali, has caused an uproar by claiming that prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who led three cases in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad corruption trial, was “sent” by Mahathir Mohamed. He further claimed that Gopal Sri Ram attempted to influence Apandi to arrest then Prime Minister Najib Razak four months before the May 2018 elections. [South China Morning Post] 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin is eager to have snap polls. He stated that, “I support the idea of having a general election as soon as possible, once we are safe from the coronavirus situation, as it will end the propaganda over legitimacy and help create a more stable PN government”. [Straits Times]

At the same time, former Sabah chief minister and UMNO politician Musa Aman has been acquitted and discharged of 46 criminal charges of corruption and money-laundering linked to timber concessions contracts in the state. The prosecution had withdrawn the charges. Musa Aman is a rival of the current Sabah chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal. [New Straits Times] Moreover, the state’s infrastructure development minister, Peter Anthony, a confidante of Shafie, was charged with money-laundering last week. [Straits Times]

Singapore: Tackling fake news during the upcoming elections

(cm/ls) Facebook’s head of public policy in Singapore stated that the company intends to monitor any “false or misleading” content before the upcoming general elections. The company said that there were a number of Facebook accounts that displayed inauthentic behaviors. Facebook’s spokesperson also said that the company had concerns “over foreign-led efforts to manipulate public debate in another country.” [Today Online].

Though Singapore’s ministers must suspend their POFMA activities during an election and would therefore be unable to issue orders under the country’s Protection against Online Falsehoods and Misinformation Act (POFMA) between the issuance of the Writ of Election and the closure of the polls, an order was published in the Government Gazette according to which permanent secretaries will be authorized to exercise POFMA functions during this period. [Straits Times] 

In recent months, POFMA directions have been addressed to government critics, including Alex Tan who operates the States Times Review. [Asia in Review No. 23, June/2020, 2]

The Elections Department of Singapore (ELD) also announced new measures for paid internet advertising. An individual who paid for an ad, the ad’s publisher, and information about the period for which it will appear online shall be published on the ELD website. [Channel News Asia 1]

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), has stepped down to give way to his successor. It is speculated whether this and other replacements of senior civil servants means that they are preparing themselves to compete in the upcoming elections. [Channel News Asia 2] [Straits Times]

It is not yet clear when the elections, which must take place before 14 April 2021, will be held. Though further corona-related restrictions have been lifted, Covid-19 cases have been rising. This could disrupt the preparation for the general election. The Singapore Democratic Party urged to double the period between this issuance of the Writ of Election and Nomination Day [Channel News Asia 3]. 

Singapore’s tracing device for Covid-19 sparks concern

(cm) Singapore is preparing to hand out tracing devices to the public to control the spread of Covid-19. These TraceTogether Tokens have, however, come under criticism for worries of data protection. In a petition started at the beginning of June, more than 40,000 people were against the wearable device. [South China Morning Post]

Foreign Affairs Minister and head of the Smart Nation Initiative, Vivian Balakrishnan, emphasized that individuals who were not infected by Covid-19 would have their information deleted after 25 days. As of now, the device will not be mandatory, but it is speculated that it might become so if there are not enough users. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand: Local elections maybe this year – Pheu Thai breakaway

(ls) Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said that elections to local government bodies would be held likely this year if the Interior Ministry and the Election Commission (EC) were ready. Local elections have been suspended since the 2014 coup with the official reason of preventing public unrest. An issue of current concern appears to be the availability of the necessary financing as public funds have partly been diverted to contain the spread of Covid-19. [Bangkok Post 1]

Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai party has seen several key party figures leave and set up a separate “Care” group. These include the former party secretary-general, Phumtham Wechayachai. The party leadership said that the party’s unity is not in doubt and that it may even be a strategic move to gain more party list MPs in the next election. [Bangkok Post 2]

Thailand: Government warns those undermining the monarchy

(ls) The Thai government has told those involved in what it perceives to be a movement to undermine the monarchy to cease such activities. At the same time, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that His Majesty the King had mercy and had told him not to use the lèse majesté law against them. The Prime Minister added, “we have never changed the country through violence. Several democratic countries have brought change through violence.” Thailand’s lèse majesté law has not been used over the past two years. Instead, the Computer Crime Act has been increasingly applied.  [Bangkok Post]

Cambodia opening investigation into forced disappearance of Thai dissident

(jn/ls) Cambodia’s national police has declared that it had launched an investigation into the recent kidnapping of Thai political activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, 37, a sudden about-face for the department that had called his disappearance “fake news” only some days earlier [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2]. The same spokesman who had earlier denied any knowledge of an abduction rejected allegations by the country’s opposition and Wanchalearm’s supporters that Cambodian authorities had kidnapped him on Bangkok’s behalf.

Wanchalearm’s abduction in broad daylight on June 4 in Phnom Penh has been met with protests by human rights group that demanded an independent and transparent probe, and also demonstrations in Thailand. [Radio Free Asia]

Observers argue that enforced disappearances, which characterized Latin American politics for decades, are increasingly becoming a feature of Southeast Asian politics, too. Another prominent case is the Laotian community worker Sombath Somphone, who disappeared in 2014 after being stopped by the police, and others could be added. Activists and dissidents appear to be under increasing danger to their lives and well-being. [The Diplomat] 

Laos declared free of Covid-19

(jn) The Laotian government has declared the country free from Covid-19 last week after the last of only 19 patients was discharged from hospital marking a stretch of 59 days without newly reported infections. At a press conference, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith pointed to countermeasures such as social distancing, border closures and lockdown as vital factors in defeating the spread of the coronavirus.

The government had imposed a national shutdown by the end of March with measures prohibiting all residents to leave their homes except for essential grocery shopping, hospital visits, and any other tasks authorized by the government, such as essential work. The restrictions were loosened in late May, gradually allowing various sectors to reopen, including schools, sporting venues, cinemas, and night markets. [The Laotian Times]

Vietnam: Journalist charged with opposing the state

(ls) Police in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a journalist and charged him with “spreading anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the country’s criminal code. According to government reports, he was detained in connection with an investigation against another journalist who is the president of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam and who has been held in detention without trial since last November. [CPJ] [Vietnam Net]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China-USA relations I: US naval posturing in the Pacific

(dql) In a muscle-flexing move against China amid high tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan, the USA for the first time in years has deployed three of its seven active Navy aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean including the USS Ronald Reagan, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Nimitz. With each of them containing over 60 aircraft, it is the biggest deployment of US aircraft carriers in the Pacific since 2017, when tensions with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program were at their height. [CNN]

In a related development, the US Navy has set up the new Warfighting Development N7 office. N7 which combines force planning, strategic thinking, and officer education is tasked with developing the strategic framework for the Navy. Its head, Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch, announced that N7 will also craft a wargaming schedule for the War College which he calls  “most advanced and significant war gaming we’ve done since the 1930s.”  [Sea Power Magazine]

China-USA relations II: Foreign Ministers to meet this week 

(dql) Amid Sino-US tensions running high over trade, the coronavirus and Hong Kong, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is believed to meet this week with Yang Jiechi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office, for talks with focus expected to be on Hong Kong and arms control. 

The meeting comes as in a latest of a string of measures taken by Washington to pressure Beijing over its planned Hong Kong national security law U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced last week that he was working on various capital markets responses to China’s Hong Kong Security law, including restrictions on capital flows through the territory. The meeting also comes ahead of U.S.-Russian arms-control talks in Vienna, scheduled to start June 22. [Reuters 2] [Voice of America]

In another development easing a standoff on travel restrictions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2], China and the USA have agree to allow each side four flights per week between the two countries. [Reuters]

China-Germany relations: Merkel urged Li to commit to continuing market reform 

(dql) In her online meeting with Chinese Premier Le Keqiang which predominantly revolved around trade and economic issues, German Chancellor Merkel has pressed China to commit to market reforms and demanded further necessary steps related to “market access, reciprocity and equal treatment for foreign companies” to be taken by Beijing. [South China Morning Post]

Li, meanwhile, reassured that China was committed to further widening opening-up efforts and providing a good business and foreign investment environment and expressed his hope that Germany – when it assumes the European Union presidency in the second half of this year – will play an active role in advancing relations between China and the EU and in facilitating the conclusion of the China-EU investment agreement. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China]

An opportunity for renewed engagement between China and Germany has opened up as Germany’s ties to Washington have recently come under increasing strain the latest reflection of which is President’s Trumps announcement to remove US soldiers from Germany. [France 24] 

China warns students of studying in Australia

(dql) Relations between Australia and China, already strained over Canberra’s proposal for an international inquiry into how the Covid-19 outbreak in China, have worsened further after Beijing urged Chinese students going overseas to study to think carefully about Australia as destination country, citing  racial incidents targeting Asians in the wake of the pandemic.

The move follows tariffs China imposed on imports of Australian barley and a ban on beef imports from several Australian sources earlier in May. [Channel News Asia] [AiR No. 20, May/2020, 3]

Russian Arctic Scientist accused of spying for China

(dql) Russian state prosecutors have charged Valery Mitko, a prominent, highly awarded Russian Arctic scientist and currently president of the Arctic Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg with treason accusing him of passing classified information related to methods used to detect submarines to China. [TASS]

Russia is a major player in the Arctic region which has been building up its military presence there. While China and Russia are developing a strategic partnership in response to rising tensions with the USA and the West, the allegations of spying against Mitko (and other Russian scientists) points to competition between both nations in this region where climate change has opened up opportunities to exploit the resource-rich region. [South China Morning Post] 

For an analysis of China’s Arctic strategy see Heljar Havnes and Johan Martin Seland at [High North News] who argue that China is not aiming at a military course in the Arctic region, but at commercial development and at “building its capacity to enforce its perceived rights and protect its interests through an increasingly security-focused Arctic strategy that is backed up by the military.” 

Japan advocates G-7 statement on Hong Kong

(mp) Amid heightened tensions between China and the USA and the UK over Beijing’s push to tighten its grip on Hong Kong, Japan announced it wants to take the lead in issuing a statement on the controversial Hong Kong national security law, based on the "one country, two systems" principle. After declining participation in a previous declaration of four western nations, Japan instead plans to use the G-7 platform to express its worries about the recent development of the former British crown colony's decreasing independence. Prime Minister Abe told the parliament that he was "deeply concerned about the Hong Kong situation." [Nikkei Asian Review 1]

As part of this development, Prime Minister Abe further suggested offering refuge to qualified Hong Kong residents employed in the financial sector as a component of Tokyo's strategy to develop into an international business center. [Nikkei Asian Review 2]

Japan: Suspension of Aegis missile defense shield

(mp) Japan has halted the deployment of its land-based high-performance missile defense system, called Aegis Ashore project, due to rising costs and technical issues. The US-built systems were planned to be installed in Akita Prefecture in the east and Yamaguchi Prefecture in the west of Japan and were designed to defend Japan from North Korean threats.

Since the 2.15 billion USD project has been halted, Japan will have to continue to counter missile threats with Aegis-equipped navy ships. [Japan Times]

South Korea says Japanese exhibit “distorts” historical facts

(yo) South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed anger over Japan’s exhibition at the Industrial Heritage Information Center for omitting information on Korean wartime laborers. Anger was incited over one of the 23 major industrial sites built in the 19th and 20th century that have received UNESCO endorsement, called the “Battleship” Island. The Island was a notorious site and the ministry accused Japan of concealing the forced labor that happened under dehumanizing conditions on the island. [United Press International]

Korea had originally withdrawn complaints in 2015 when Japan agreed to provide appropriate information about the exploitation and work conditions. While Japan presents accounts and testimonies claiming that there had been no discriminatory treatment of Korean workers, the Foreign Ministry criticizes Japan for denying the reality of colonial activities. [Japan Times] 

North Korea says Army ready for action on South Korea

(yo) Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong threatened to take military action against South Korea, claiming it is time to break relations with South Korea. She announced that she will exercise her power to instruct the army, which experts comment as a strategy to bolster her authority within the state. The Unification Ministry in South Korea urged North Korea to respect inter-Korean agreements and the past reconciliation efforts that have been made. The Defense Ministry stated they will maintain alert and ready. [Bloomberg]

Although Kim was responding to the activists that have been sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda, the intensifying aggression is considered to be caused by the frustration of “failed diplomacy” as there’s been little progress in peace talks between the two Koreas. [CNBC] [AiR No.23,June/2020, 2]

Taiwan-Japan relations: Fishermen protection vowed amid Japanese renaming effort

(ef) Amid the Japanese effort to rename the disputed Diaoyutai Islands [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2] and in response to the ensuing concerns of Taiwanese fishermen over their fishing rights in the surrounding waters the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vowed to protect those rights and reaffirmed that it expressed serious concerns to Japan over the renaming plans. [Focus Taiwan]

India I: First fatalities in India-China tension, despite talks to further resolve border flare-up

(lm) Three Indian soldiers have been killed during a “violent face-off” with Chinese forces along the countries’ unmarked boundary in the Galwan area late Monday, Indian Army spokesman Col. Aman Anand said on Tuesday afternoon. According to the statement, the soldiers were not shot but were killed in hand-to-hand combat that involved stones and batons. Senior military officials from both sides were reportedly “meeting to defuse the situation”. [BBC] [Al Jazeera]

The sudden escalation on Monday night comes just days after Indian government officials had reported that both sides were making headway in follow-up dialogues to the meeting between senior military commanders on June 6. Earlier last week, Indian defence officials had reported that Chinese troops were observed to have “thinned” out in at least four stand-off points, a confidence-building gesture which was reciprocated by India. These reports had also indicated that both sides had agreed to continue engaging at the level of local military officials to resolve the dispute throughout the week. [Reuters]

Although India’s initial readout following the Sino-Indian talks on June 6 had not given any indication of an agreement on a gradual dis-engagement, defence sources by the end of the week indicated through leaks to media that at the Galwan area, the disengagement had happened earlier and in Gogra and at Patrolling Points 15 and 17A, the limited “de-induction” was already underway. [The Hindu]

Media readouts following the high-level military and diplomatic talks, however, have noted that there has been no change in status at Finger 4, the mountain spur Pangong Tso, where Chinese troops have intruded India’s side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and that no joint statement was released after the series of Sino-Indian ground talks on Saturday. [The Wire]

Despite the ongoing series of bilateral consultations, India reportedly is looking to complete the construction of its strategic Darbuk-Shyok-Daulet Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road until years-end. Running almost parallel to the LAC, the DSDBO is an all-weather artery that provides a reduction in time of travel for Indian security forces moving from Leh to Daulat Beg Oldi, the northernmost corner of Indian territory. Among possible triggers cited for the most recent military contention, diverging apprehensions on border infrastructure along the unmarked boundary seems to be the most consequential. [India Today]

Indian opposition leaders in the meantime have needled Indian Prime Minister Modi on the topic, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday taking on Twitter allegations that the Prime Minister had “vanished from the scene” in the face of “Chinese aggression”. While more Sino-India ground level talks are expected to take place, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi are scheduled to meet at a virtual Russia-India-China trilateral on June 22. [National Herald] [The Times of India]

India II: Two Indian embassy staffers released in Islamabad after being detained over alleged hit-and-run incident

(lm) Two Indian staffers working at India’s embassy to Pakistan have been released on Monday evening after they were detained by Pakistani authorities in relation to an alleged hit-and-run vehicle-pedestrian accident earlier that day. [CNN]

Alarm was raised Monday morning when Indian media outlets reported that two Indian diplomatic officers had gone missing in Islamabad, further suggesting that the case was related to the recent expulsion by New Delhi of two Pakistani diplomatic officials accused of spying. [Times of India] [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2]

According to a police report the duo - later identified as a driver and a security officer - was speeding, crashed into a pedestrian, and then caught trying to flee the scene of the incident. India later summoned Pakistan’s envoy in Delhi and issued a demarche to him over the reported arrest, and the two men were released later on Monday. [The Tribune] [BBC]

Philippines: Military construction on disputed island, while also “strengthening ties” with China

(mp/ls) Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana visited the Philippine-occupied island of Pag-Asa, unveiling a modernized beaching ramp and announcing a new military infrastructure project worth US$ 26 million. Despite their military character and subsequently advanced maritime defense positions, Lorenzana claimed that the measure followed the purpose of creating a liveable environment on the island. [South China Morning Post] [Inquirer, with photos from the island].

Pag-Asa is located in the South China Sea, where China's recently heightened assertiveness caused several disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, countries which have overlapping claims in that region. Manila's 2014 arbitration win against Beijing was meanwhile agreed to be set aside to make way for joint resource exploring. 

Meanwhile, during the marking of 45 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, President Duterte called for "further strengthening of ties" between the countries. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque described their relationship as warm friendship. In a phone call, Chinese President Xi told Duterte that the Philippines would be prioritized once a vaccine against COVID-19 had been developed in China. [CNN Philippines] 

Vietnam decries collision of vessels, laying of undersea cables in South China Sea 

(jn/ls) According to Vietnamese state media, last week a Chinese ship chased and rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat near Lincoln Island, a rock in the Paracel Islands’ waters occupied by China but also claimed by Vietnam. Subsequently, the Chinese crew reportedly seized fish and equipment to the value of $21.000 and also mistreated the Vietnamese captain after he had refused to sign a document. The incident may be the first after the fishing moratorium “Flashing Sword 2020” had been unilaterally imposed by China for the South China Sea north of the 12thparallel last month. [AiR No. 18, May/2020, 1] [AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2]

The Philippines and Vietnam criticized the ban and vowed not to recognize it. The last such incident transpired on April 2 when a Vietnamese fishing vessel sunk in a confrontation with a Chinese coast guard ship [AiR No. 14, April/2020, 1].

As another sign of unabated tensions between the two countries, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday protested against China’s undersea cable construction also near the Paracel Islands, calling it a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty. Vietnam also deployed a coastguard vessel to the equally disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea to drive away Chinese maritime militia around a Vietnamese outpost. [Radio Free Asia 1] [Radio Free Asia 2]

Meanwhile, the US Navy has currently three aircraft carriers patrolling in the “Indo-Pacific”, accompanied by Navy cruisers, destroyers, fighter jets and other aircrafts. The presence of three carrier strike groups, the first in nearly three years, is unusual as they normally take turns throughout repair schedules, port visits, training or deployments to other parts of the world. [Business Insider] Chinese observers interviewed by the government-controlled Global Times called the deployment a “mere show of vanity”. [Global Times]

Singapore: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to open branch in Singapore

(cm) Last Thursday, the President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Paik Jin-Hyun, signed an agreement with Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K. Shanmugam, for Singapore to be a venue for ITLOS hearings. The seat of the tribunal is in Hamburg, Germany. Singapore would thus be the first external branch where ITLOS could exercise its functions. [Channel News Asia]

Upcoming Online Events

Covid-19 related events

17 June 2020 @ 4:00 pm Doha time, Brookings Doha Center

Business as Usual? Arms Sales During COVID-19

This webinar deals with the global arms industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and asks for its implications for both Western arms exporters and for importing countries in the Middle East.

See further information and registration at [Zoom].

17 June 2020 @ 6:00 pm AEST, Australian Institute of International Affairs

The European Union, Brexit, and COVID-19

Colin Chapman, Europe-based fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, speaks in this online talk about the challenges the pandemic and the Brexit post to the European Union.  

Detailed event information is available at [Australian Institute of International Affairs].

18 June 2020 @ 2:00-3:00 pm Indonesia time, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

ASEAN MSMEs in a COVID-19 World: Overcoming Challenges to Succeed in the 'New Normal'

This webinar discusses the question what the 'New Normal' of a Covid-19 world mean for MSME businesses in ASEAN? What challenges do they face and what strategies do they have to succeed?

For the agenda and registration see [ERIA].   

22 June 2020 @ 5:00 pm Spain time, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs

Cities on the frontline: Managing the coronavirus crisis

This online discussion highlights the role cities have been playing in supporting the citizens in the coronavirus crisis and looks at the challenges and opportunities of urban governance in a post-pandemic world.

Further information on the event are available at [Barcelona Centre for International Affairs]. 

24 June @ 9:00 am BST, UK-ASEAN Business Council

UKABC’s Digital Conversation on Southeast Asia Returns to Work

This webinar of the UK-ASEAN Business Council explores what business needs to do to survive and what companies need to do to resume operations as economies are beginning to open up and get back to work after periods of lockdown.

If you are interested in joining the event, see [UKABC].

24 June @ 10:00 am Malaysia time, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

Malaysia’s COVID-19 Response – the Next Steps

This online event asks for the impact of the Movement Control Order (MCO) of March 2020 on Malaysia’s pandemic management regime as well as the country’s economy.

Further event information is available at [ISEAS]. 

24 June @ 2:00 pm Thailand time, Webinar, ASIACENTRE

COVID-19 and Vulnerable Communities

This webinar tackles critical questions and issues related to the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable communities, including hate speech against vulnerable communities and measures to address this issue.

Follow [ASIACENTRE] for more details and registration.

24 June @ 6:00 pm AEST, Australian Institute of International Affairs

The Battle for the South China Sea in the Time of COVID-19

In this online talk recent developments in the South China Sea will be examined with the aim to explain why they matter and what they tell about China’s intentions. It will also assess the likely success of any code of conduct for the South China Sea.

Further information on the event are accessible via [Australian Institute of International Affairs].

25 June @ 6:00 pm IST, Observer Research Foundation

Tech, innovation and the pandemic: Discussing responses from South Asia and Africa

This event explores the deployment of ‘Technology Solutions’ and ‘Governance Innovations’ to support the most vulnerable in a way that assists in responding to the pandemic, while at the same also helping to meet future development and growth aspirations.

See more details at [Observer Research Foundation] 

25 June 2020 @ 6:00 pm Spain time, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs

Will Covid-19 threaten or foster global cooperation?

This webinar addresses the challenges multilateral institutions are facing in the wake of “my country first” approaches to global politics reinforced by the pandemic.

Seminar details are accessible at [Barcelona Centre for International Affairs]. 

2 July 2020 @ 6:00 pm AEST, Australian Institute of International Affairs

Global INGO Advocacy in Times of a Pandemic

This online presentation provides insights into how World Vision, the world's largest child-focused INGO, is mobilising and coordinating its 37,000 staff to influence global, regional and national agendas during the pandemic.

See further event details at [Australian Institute of International Affairs].

Online events on other topics

17 June 2020 @ 3:00-4:00 pm CET, Chatham House

The UN's Vision for a Digital Future

This event reflects on recommendations for strengthening cooperation in the digital space, putting a particular focus on the UN secretary-general’s Roadmap on Digital Cooperation which lays out the United Nation's vision for how to engage on key issues including digital connectivity, human rights and trust and security.

If you are interested, follow the link at [Chatham House].

June 18, 2020 @ 1:00 pm USA time, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)

U.S.-China Relations: The Great Disruption

This event is an online discussion of U.S.-China relations with former U.S. Trade Representative, Charlene Barshefsky.

More details are available at [CSIS].

19 June 2020 @ 3:00 pm EDT, Brookings Institution

Race, artificial intelligence, and systemic inequalities​

In this webinar computer, social scientists and legal experts discuss the intersection of race, AI, and systemic inequalities and explore how to better address fairness, equity, and ethics  in the development of AI systems.

For agenda, speakers and registration see [Brookings Institution].

19 June 2020 @ 1:30 pm Thailand time, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) Research Support Office

European Funding and Fellowship Opportunities for Researchers in Thailand

This webinar provides an opportunity to obtain insights into funding and fellowship opportunities for researchers in Thailand planning to do research in Europe. Participants will also received information about how to apply for these fundings.

For further information on the event, see [Webex].

30 June @ 11:00 am UTC, DiploFoundation

A historic 2020: Six months in review

This online briefing of the Geneva Internet Platform reviews main trends in digital policy in the past first half of the year taking in account the impact of the pandemic on technology and policy, and the question how technology has been helping to curb the spread.

For more details, see [DiploFoundation].

1 July 2020 @ 9:00 am CET, Chatham House

Rethinking Supply Chains in Asia, Europe and the US: From Global to Regional or National?

This webinar discusses economic as well as political and geopolitical issues of global supply chains under pressure of the pandemic.

See more information at [Chatham House].

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