Thailand: Meechai defends one-candidate one-number system

Meechai, chief of the Constitution Drafting Committee, has defended the value of the proposed “one-candidate, one-number” election method as compared to the “one-party, one-number” method. He believes it would incentivize individual politicians to work harder to win votes, rather than counting on their party’s popularity.

(Bangkok Post)

Thailand: More North Koreans are escaping to Thailand via an 'underground railroad'

Despite the 3,000 miles separating North Korea and Thailand, the risky North Korea-to-Thailand route is becoming increasingly popular with North Korean defectors wishing for an escape to South Korea. At the current rate, Thailand is expected to receive about 700 to 800 North Koreans this year, on their way to South Korea through China, Laos, and Thailand.

(Public Radio International)

Indonesia: New election bill, new hope for democracy

Indonesian legislature passed a new bill reforming the general election process for the 2019 simultaneous elections. Despite dissent from opposition parties, the reform introduces thresholds for the acceptance of presidential candidates, and for representation of parties in the House. The changes are expected to consolidate democratic processes, through a more effective presidency and House, and an easier-to-understand and less costly political system.

(The Jakarta Post)

Indonesia Again Silences 1965 Massacre Victims

Reflecting the traditional unwillingness on the side of the Indonesian government and security forces to allow public discussion on the mass killings of communists in the years 1965-66, a workshop dealing with the issues of financial compensation for victim of those killing was cancelled in the last week.

(ABC News)

Singapore: Next generation target in Singapore family feud

PM Lee Hsien Loong’s nephew has to face potential contempt of court proceedings initiated by the Attorney-General’s Chambers after he had posted an allegedly critical Facebook post last month. He stated that Singapore had a litigious and pliant court system and linked to a 2010 NYT op-ed regarding the use of lawsuits as a censorship tool.

(Asia Times)

Singapore: Halimah Yacob announces bid to be Singapore's next President

Halimah Yacob, former Speaker of Parliament, has confirmed that she will run in the upcoming Presidential Elections in Singapore in September. The position is this time reserved for a Malay candidate.

(Channel News Asia)

LKY School professor Huang Jing banned, has PR cancelled, for being agent of influence for foreign country

Dr Huang Jing, former Director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation and Lee Foundation Professor on US-China relations at the LKY School of Public Policy has been permanently banned from Singapore as allegations arose that he is an “agent of influence of a foreign country”. Dr Huang claims that he is not convoluting with any foreign government or intelligence agency.

(The Strait Times)

Malaysia debates Mahathir's 'Malayness'

Public accusations against former Malaysian Prime Minister and current opposition leader  Mahathir Mohamad of having an Indian father, has triggered discussions on strategies of political parties in the struggle for power and the role racial and religious issues will play therein, a year ahead of the next general elections in August 2018.

(The Strait Times)

Politicized Enforcement in Vietnam: Anti-Corruption Campaign Under CPV General Secretary Trong

The fierce anti-corruption campaign pushed by the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party has resulted in the prosecution and conviction of high ranking state officials and part members. The General Secretary’s motives for the campaign appear to be manifold, including political ones.

(Forbes)

Vietnam to launch online censorship system

Based on a recent approval of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, the launch of a censorship system against misleading information and cybercrime activities on the internet in Vietnam will start soon.

(Xin Hua Net)

Cambodia: Ministry Says Most NGOs Ignore Government Requirements

According to information of the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, only 4% of domestic NGOs have provided banking details to which they are obliged under the country’s Law on Associations and NGOS.

(The Cambodia Daily)

Cambodia Orders Expulsion of Christian Charity Fighting Sex Trafficking After CNN Report

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Shen has ordered the shut down of Agabe International Missions (AIM), an American Christian anti-trafficking NGO, over a CNN report about AIM’s rescue of girls sold by their mothers to sex-traffickers.

(The Christian Post)

Portrait of a grass-root newcomer in Cambodian politics

Portrait of one of Cambodia´s most prominent political and right activists Thep Nanny who currently is still arrested for “insulting a public official” after she has lost her appeal.

(Cambodia Daily)

Myanmar Military Closes Off Shan State Township After Ambush by Rebel Army

As a reaction to the rebels’ taking one person of each resident’s household as new recruits, Myanmar military saw itself forced to close exit points in addition to initially only closing the entry point of Mantong Township. In consequence of the closure, many difficulties arise for residents in their daily routine.

(Radio Free Asia)

Japan: Constitutional reform postponed - LDP to delay its revision of top law

In the face of sagging poll numbers, Prime Minister Abe’s has delayed his timelines for his ambitious plans to revise Japan’s Constitution. The revisions, which include providing a constitutional basis to the Self-Defense Forces, may now have wait beyond 2020 for implementation.  The Japanese public does not seem concerned, though, with 80 percent of those polled saying the economy and employment should be first priority and only 29 percent rating constitutional revision highest priority.

(The Japan News)

China: What to expect from Xi Jinping’s Communist Party congress power play

The 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, upcoming in fall, will end up in nothing else but a further re-enforcement of President and Party General Secretary Xi Jinping as he has managed through his anti-corruption campaigns and reshuffle rounds to secure the rise of his men to power in the election of the new leader at the Congress. 

(South China Morning Post)

Junk today’s secularism: India needs a reinvented secularism 2.0 rooted in separation of religion and state

India is in need of a new definition of secularism to finally end the state’s power of granting religious freedoms and its involvement in religious activities, the root cause for India’s failed securalism.  

(The Times of India)

Pakistan: Nawaz seeking to destroy judiciary, democratic system after disqualification: Imran

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plan to travel to Lahore in calcavade is perceived by political opponents as an attempt to brings politics to the streets and destroy the judiciary and democracy in Pakistan.

(Pakistan Ki Awaz News)

The Opposition Disappears in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, hundreds have gone missing and many killed, including political opponents of the regime, suspected criminals, and Islamist militants.  The UN and human rights activists have called for these “enforced disappearances” to stop. But the pace of illegal detentions, disappearances, and deaths is on the rise.

(New York Times)

Thailand: Moving forward to improve Thailand’s geopolitical position? Influential Thais in push for Kra Canal project

Building a canal that cuts right through Thailand at the latitude of Phuket would represent a major political and economic shift in Southeast Asia. As a notably shorter alternative to the Malacca, Lombok, and Sunda Straits, the Kra Canal would definitely boost the Thai economy. Influential proponents in Bangkok are pulling strings to place the canal on Prayut’s agenda, but many other geopolitical, technical, and financial challenges await.

(Nikkei)

India and Bangladesh in talks for a gas pipeline from Chittagong to Tripura

To mitigate a cooking gas shortage in populous northeast, India has begun diplomatic negotiations with Bangladesh to a lay a natural gas pipeline astride a rail line from Chittagong to Tripura.

(The Dollar Business)

India-Myanmar: China's Silk Road

Strategic rivalry with China and economic opportunity are driving India to invest nearly $5B USD in road development with its eastern neighbors over the past two years.  Meanwhile, Myanmar looks to China’s “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) as the way ahead as it seeks to leverage its strategic location to benefit from China’s land and maritime expansion plans. The first article below examines India’s regional development ambitions, and the second Myanmar’s push to exploit OBOR for its own protection and economic benefit.

(The Economic Times, Eleven)

Pakistan says not bound by treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons

Pakistan does not consider itself bound by any of the obligations enshrined in the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty endorsed by 122 countries at the United Nations headquarters in New York last month when Pakistan had refused to sign the Treaty reiterating its right to defend itself.

(The Nation)

United Nations bans key North Korea exports over missile test

The latest UN sanctions against rogue nuclear regime North Korea could slash one-third of its annual export revenue.  Russia and China joined the unanimous UN Security Council vote, but some say the sanctions do not go far enough to truly reduce North Korea’s nuclear threat.  Meanwhile, at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, China chastised North Korea and the U.S. and South Korea equally over their conduct: China told North Korea to abide by U.N. resolutions regarding its missile launches and nuclear tests, and told the U.S. and South Korea “to stop increasing tensions”.  The first article below examines the UN sanctions, and the second details China’s perspectives regarding the increasingly tense situation on the peninsula.

(Reuters, The Washington Post)

New Indian Weapon Systems

India is enhancing its combat technologies with the development of an unmanned “tank” and advances in producing its own stealth fighter.  While the “robot tank” could save lives in dangerous mine-clearing, reconnaissance, and biological-chemical-nuclear warfare environments, it is not clear the Indian military will purchase or field it.  And while the indigenous stealth fighter appears promising, great challenges lay ahead in its radar, engine, and radar absorbant material technologies development.  The first article details the Muntra unmanned armored vehicle, while the second examines the road ahead for the stealth fighter.

(The National Interest)

China Cancels Vietnam Meeting Over South China Sea Spat

The South China Sea remains a flash point, as China continues to press its claims for nearly the entire body of water and ASEAN foreign ministers express concern over its expansionist tactics.  The latest spat: China’s foreign minister cancelled a planned meeting with Hanoi’s chief diplomat in Manila in a pique over Vietnam’s leadership in this expression of concern.  Will the long-awaited SCS Code of Conduct (CoC) make any difference in reducing such tensions?  Is it a meaningful breakthrough between Southeast Asian states and Beijing? And will it help do regulate actual Chinese conduct in the maritime realm.  Some are skeptical.  The first article below reports on the aborted PRC-SRV foreign ministers’ meeting, and the second assesses the value of the so-called SCS CoC. 

(Bloomberg, The Diplomat)

Vietnam ‘may tilt towards US’ in regional power play with China

Amidst heightened tensions between China and Vietnam, Hanoi might be inclined to lean towards the USA in its stance against China.

(South China Morning Post) 

VN urges Mekong, India ties

At the 8th Mekong-Ganges Co-operation Ministerial Meeting, in which the participated, Vietnam’s proposals to deepen the existing co-operation between the partner countries were responded positively by the participating Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and India. 

(Vietnam News) 

Pakistan has landed itself in deep trouble

Facing increasing external pressure to do more against terrorism, Pakistan is forced to act if it wants to prevent a worsening of the country’s situation, including violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity by US drones.

(Daily O) 

Indonesia – Pakistan: Indonesia Scraps Calling Visa Requirement for Pakistanis

In an act reflecting a significant shift in the relationship between Indonesia and Pakistan, the Indonesian government has decided to abandon the requirement for ‘calling visas’ for Pakistani businessmen and tourists.

(Tempo) 

Indonesia - Russia: Lavrov: Russia, Indonesia Prepare Draft Paper on Countering Terrorist Ideology

Indonesia and Russia have jointly drafted a paper on combating the ideology of terrorism which foresee a closer cooperation between ASEAN and Russia.  

(Sputnik News) 

Pakistan – China: Old state, new client

Pakistan is dealing with its grim economic horizons by placing its hopes in the promise of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  Some worry Pakistan will become overly reliant on China, and will morph into a version of China’s North Korea proxy in South Asia:  kept “alive” by its nuclear weapons capability, with a moribund economy and its terror establishment a permanent cause of worry for India.

(The Economic Times) 

China – ASEAN: China's pleasant ASEAN picture

Beyond the potentials and fallacies of the Manila-Statement of the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN is in need of a grand vision in dealing with China.

(ABS-CBN) 

Cambodia and ASEAN: Cambodia upset over ASEAN standalone statement on North Korea -diplomat

Testimony to the structural difficulty of ASEAN to speak with one unified voice, Cambodia has expressed annoyance over the wording of the ASEAN ministerial statement on North Korea on Saturday at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila and accused ASEAN of a solo effort.

(GMA News) 

China – Cambodia: The Politics behind Cambodia’s Embrace of China

 Cambodia’s leaning towards China has a variety of reasons, among the economic strength of neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, Chinese development aid, as well as a low appreciation of ASEAN solidarity.

(ISEAS) 

China – Laos: What is China’s PLA doing in Laos?

In the latest effort to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia in general and in Laos in particular, China sent a People’s Liberation Army team of 90 persons to the bordering country to deliver medicine and medical equipment and facilities.

(Asia Times) 

How has China managed to get along with Trump?

The North-Korean crisis is a significant test for the resilience of the US-China relationship, in particular in the light of US President Trump’s Asia security policy.

(East Asia Forum) 

Pakistan-India skirmishes: Protests erupt as India troops kill Kashmir fighters

A gun battle between Indian troops and suspected fighters in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir last week led to the death of at least three men belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a terrorist organization whose self-declared aim is to liberate Muslims in Indian Kashmir.  

(Aljazeera) 

Dhaka hails US support of Bangladesh’s military

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA lauded Washington’s support and contribution the professionalization of Bangladesh’s armed forces’ at a reception on Wednesday at the Embassy in Washington attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps and senior civil and military officials from Department of State, Department of Defense and other US organizations.

(The Daily Star) 

Philippines – US: Duterte to Tillerson: ‘I Am Your Humble Friend’

After the U.S. have provided the Philippines with surveillance capabilities, training, information and aircraft to help it fighting the Islamist militants the recent meeting between Rex Tillerson and President Duterte seems to have been dominated by security issues with US ‘rights talk’ being toned down amidst a much more pleasant atmosphere than under the Obama administration.

(NBC News)

'Abu Adam' uses chilling video to urge attacks in Australia and Philippines

In a propaganda video, Australian Islamic State militant Abu Adam has  encouraged like-minded viewers to join the fight in Marawi and conduct attacks in Australia re-enforcing the fear that the region becomes retreat area and base for Islamic State militants.

(Queensland Country Life) 

Marawi: Indonesia keeps eye on battle for Philippines city amid fears Islamic State contagion will spread

According to a source of the Indonesian National Agency for Combating Terrorism young Indonesians continue trying to get to Marawi and join the IS-combatants, as the fighting of the city has entered the third month.

(ABC News) 

Bangladeshi militant Abdullah was radicalised in Indian madrasa

The case of Bangladesh national Abdullah Al Manum who was arrested by India’s Anti-Terrorism Squad and who had been radicalized in Muzaffarnagar in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh shows that India – as the country with the second highest Muslim population in the world – is a hotbed for Islamic radicalization.

(BD News) 

What’s Behind Malaysia’s Latest Mass Terror Raid?

Over the weekend, Malaysian security forces conducted a mass raid at a popular shopping district in the country’s capital arresting over 400 potential suspects ahead of the 29th iteration of the Southeast Asian Games later this month reflecting growing fears of widespread infiltration and increasing activities by Islamist militants

(The Diplomat) 

India’s Barefoot Lawyers

Namati, an international non-profit with the mission to democratize law in the US, Asia, and Africa, employs community paralegals to teach people laws and regulations, as well as their legal rights. Collecting some notable wins all over the globe, the organization aims to give a voice to the historically powerless through legal empowerment.

(New York Times) 

China First Ruling Against Government Monopoly Ever

Ending a three years trial, Guangdong High People’s Court in a landmark ruling confirmed a previous lower court decision on the violation of China’s antitrust law by the provincial education department which granted exclusive rights to a software company. It is the first ruling against a government monopoly since the antitrust law came into force in 2008.

(Sixth Tone) 

Malaysia: Islam encroaches on Rule of Law

The recent banning of a book on moderate Islam and the announcement of the National Registration Department to defy a recent court order and to instead rely on fatwa provisions on name-giving for Muslim children born out of the wedlock, clearly indicates  a growing influence of religious conservatism in Malaysia.

(The Strait Times) 

Malaysia: New Chief Justice

Md Raus Sharif, formerly President of the Court of Appeal, is the new Chief Justice of Malaysia following his oath-taking on 3 August.

(Malaysiakini) 

India: New Chief Justice

India has a new Chief Justice. The appointment of Justice Misra as the Supreme Court’s new chief Justice follows the recommendation of his predecessor Justice Khehar. In a time in which the bench is marked by four vacancies at present and with six more that will arise during the new Chief Justice’s term the latter will have the responsibility to appoint as many as 10 judges giving him a unique opportunity to shape the institutional face of India’s Supreme Court with its altogether 31 Justices. With some controversy surrounding his appointment, Justice Misra who is rather restrictive with rights and considered by many as a hard-liner, is favored especially by conservatives

(Business Standard) 

Philippines: Japan investments plunge 57%

Japanese foreign direct investments in the Philippines decreased at a rate of 56.6 percent in the first five months of the year. One possible reason brought up to explain this development is the Philippine government’s leaning towards China and Russia.

(The Philippine Star) 

Vietnam: A more critical view on free trade agreements: Do free trade agreements really create prosperity in Vietnam?

Experts of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade cautioned against to high expectations of benefits of free trade agreements for the country.

(The Voice of Vietnam) 

Indonesia: Campuses with low accreditation must improve

According to the Indonesian National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education, only 12% of the total of more than 20.000 universities in Indonesia meet standards for an A-accreditation which allows universities to issue diplomas. Facing these numbers, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir has urged all universities to work together to elevate higher education standards at Indonesian universities.

(The Jakarta Post) 

Bishop in Philippines lauds free tuition law

A new law on free tertiary education at state universities and colleges signed by President Duterte on 3 August has earned praise from the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines migrant’s ministry lauded the law as it will ease the hardship of Philippine overseas workers who work abroad to meet their children’s needs.

(Vatican Radio) 

Why Myanmar needs foreign policy think tanks

After more than half a century of self-isolation under military dictatorship Myanmar is in urgent need of knowledge of the outside world. Foreign think tanks and research projects play an important role in this regard.

(Asia Times) 

Malaysia government minister calls for atheists to be 'hunted down' and 're-educated'

Reflecting a regional trend of an advancing illiberal conservatism a MP from the Prime Minister’s inner circle said Atheists in Malaysia should be “hunted down” “vehemently” and “re-educated” as they would violate the Constitution.

(The Independent)