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Asia in Review

No. 28, July/2020, 2

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers,

The AiR team is presenting you another update on the latest happenings and developments in politics, law, governance and power in Asia.

We wish you an informative read.

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 Asia

• Law and Politics in East Asia

• Law and Politics in South Asia

• Law and Politics in Southeast Asia

• International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

• Upcoming Online Events

Law and Politics in Asia 

UN report on repressive COVID-19 responses: China, India, Cambodia, and Myanmar singled out as Asian examples for crackdown on free speech

(jn) The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, voiced serious concerns over new state measures restricting and punishing the free flow of information globally while presenting his latest report on freedom of expression and disease pandemics to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Many states had used the pandemic as a front to crack down on journalism and silence criticism. 

According to the Special Rapporteur states should address the following five challenges: 

• “Reinforce access to information and share as much as possible about the course of the disease and the tools people should use to protect themselves and their communities. 
• End the practice of internet shutdowns and other limitations on access to the internet.
• Refrain from all attacks on the media and release all journalists detained, […].
• Do not treat the so-called infodemic as a problem that criminalisation will solve. […].
• Ensure that any public health surveillance measures are consistent with fundamental legal standards of necessity and proportionality and are transparent, non-discriminatory, limited in duration and scope, subject to oversight, and never be used to criminalise individuals.”

Cambodia’s mission to the UN in Geneva immediately denounced the Kingdom’s mention as misleading and faulty. It said that Kaye failed to recognize that the government was simply intensifying its efforts in containing disinformation and fake news amid the pandemic. [Phnom Penh Post]

Find a press release on the report here and [OHCHR] and the full report under [United Nations] 

The Special Rapporteurs are the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system and part of the Special Procedures off the Human Rights Council which is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For an interview with David Kaye on “COVID-19 and freedom of expression” see [Just Security].  

Law and Politics in East Asia 

China: Massive turnout at primaries of Hong Kong’s opposition parties

(dql) Defying government warnings of breaking the new security law for Hong Kong and sending a strong message to the city’s government and authorities in Beijing, more than 600.000 Hongkongers cast their ballots at the primaries of Hong Kong’s opposition parties, which were held at the weekend to determine the opposition’s candidates for the upcoming elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo), Hong Kong’s parliament, in September, in which the opposition hopes to win for the first the majority in the 70-members chamber. Preliminary results indicate that candidates from the traditional opposition parties suffered a defeat against localist challengers. 

While the primaries were celebrated among the candidates and organizers, as the turnout of the electorate represented 35% of those who supported the opposition camp in the district council elections last year in which the opposition won 17 out of 18 districts, they were strongly rejected by the Hong Kong’s government as well as by Beijing. Chief Executive Carrie Lam warned that it could be considered subversion to seek a majority in the LegCo with the aim to vote down initiatives and policy proposals of the government, as candidates and organizers had expressed at the primaries. Meanwhile, China’s liaison office in Hong Kong described the vote as “illegal” adding that it “seriously damages the fairness and impartiality of the Legislative Council Election, and seriously harms to the legal rights and interests of other candidates.” [South China Morning Post] [Hong Kong Free Press]

In an earlier move, China’s central government last Wednesday – a week after the national security law for Hong Kong had come into force – officially opened its national security agency in Hong Kong. The Office for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is an integral part of the new security legislation aimed to secure and cement Beijing’s grip on Hong Kong. The move places, for the first time, mainland Chinese agents in Hong Kong who hold enforcement powers and operate without being subject to control of the HKSAR city administration. [Reuters] [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

China: Pilot scheme for new anti-corruption campaign kicks off

(dql) Last week, China has launched a new "education and rectification" campaign that aims to get rid of “corrupt elements” in the country’s police and other security bodies as well as the judiciary and to purge “two-faced” officials believed to only pay lip service to the Chinese Communist Party’s rules and orders. 

The campaign, led by the Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission – China’s top law enforcement agency –, kicks off with a three-month pilot scheme covering five cities and four counties in five provinces. It will expand nationwide next year and end in the first quarter of 2022, coinciding with the expected end of Xi Jinping’s term as party leader. 

The move signals another effort of the Chinese leadership to further strengthen its control over political and social stability amid uncertainties rising from the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout. It comes only a few days after the creation of another new law enforcement agency: a special task force in charge of handling threats to the country’s political stability, including “subversive activities, terrorist acts, ethnic secession and religious extremism in accordance with the law.” [South China Morning Post] [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

For a comparison between this campaign and the so-called Yan’an Rectification Campaign from 1942-1944 under Mao Zedong to which the Commission’s Secretary General referred when he announced the new campaign and in which according to scholars more than 10000 had been executed, see Massimo Introvigne at [Bitter Winter].

Meanwhile, the US FBI director accused China of using “Fox Hunt” – an anti-corruption campaign targeting overseas Chinese launched in 2014 – as a tool to chase and ‘bring home’ Chinese nationals considered as threats to the party’s rule, including  “political rivals, dissidents, and critics seeking to expose China's extensive human rights violations." [VoA]

China: Human rights lawyer seeks reversal of subversion verdict

(dql) In a rare move, prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, who was released in April after spending almost five years behind bars for subverting state power [AiR No. 14, April/2020, 1], has filed a petition with the Chinese judiciary to request the overturning of his guilty verdict of subversion against the state. He also filed complaints against individual police and court officials accusing them of wrongfully trying, defaming and torturing him. [RTL]

Wang, who defended political campaigners and victims of land seizures, as well as followers of the banned spiritual Falun Gong movement, was detained along with more than 200 other human rights lawyers and activist in a crackdown in July 2015.

South Korea: Prosecutor General backs down to obeys Justice Minister

(dql) In the politically heated spat between Justice Minister Choo Mi-Mae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over the handling of an controversial investigation case, the latter backed down to accept a directive of the former to stay away from that investigation which involves one of Yoon's key aides who stands accused of conspiring with a journalist to frame for corruption a liberal politician close to President Moon’s administration. 

Yoon’s move came after Choo refused to accept a compromise proposed earlier by the prosecution, which suggested that Yoon would form an investigative team to handle the case, and insisted on the strict compliance with her order of Yoon’s complete withdrawal from the case. [Joongang Daily]

The conflict between the two has triggered to political wrangle in which legislators from the ruling Democratic Party demand that Yoon step down for disobeying Choo, while lawmakers from opposition parties consider to initiate impeachment proceedings against Choo over charges of power abuse to oppress Yoon. [Korea Herald]

South Korea: Missing Seoul Mayor Park found dead

(yo) Seoul’s three-terms mayor Park Won-soon, the second most powerful man in South Korea after President Moon Jae-in, was discovered dead after reported missing for several hours. Authorities announced Park to have committed suicide plausibly due to the recent allegations of sexual harassments made by his former secretary.

As a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, many regarded him as a potential presidential candidate for the 2022 elections. Park previously was a respected human rights lawyer and civil rights advocate known for humanistic and fair policies, such as putting efforts in housing and welfare programs, as well as for establishing numerous organisations centered at promoting human rights and democracy. Park also represented the first sexual assault case in South Korea, and was thus praised as a “feminist” politician.  

While many are mourning his death, there are many others who feel anger because justice will not be achieved as the courts will not hear the charges against him. Under South Korean law, when a suspect dies, investigations are halted and prosecutors are not allowed to make an indictment. Many have begun to sign a petition demanding Seoul to withdraw its plans for a city funeral, due to the message the ceremony may communicate.

Recently, South Korean citizens have been confronting traditional views on sexual harassment, largely based on a misogynistic culture, and an increase in sexual assault allegations have followed. [Korea Herald] [CNN]

Taiwan: Opposition party calls for impeachment of Control Yuan nominee

(ef) Two weeks after the Legislative Yuan was occupied over the nomination of Chen Chu, [AiR, No. 26, June/2020, 5] the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) called for her impeachment over donation abuses. Previously, the KMT brought forth that she would lack impartiality as a member of the Control Yuan. Now, they presented the Control Yuan with a petition to investigate and impeach Chen Chu as there was new evidence of her illegal handling of funds. The vote on the nominees for the Control Yuan – one of the five branches of the government monitoring the other branches and consisting of 29 members are appointed by the president and approved by the Legislature Yuan every six years – is expected to take place this week. [Focus Taiwan]

In a latest development, members of the KMT on Tuesday blocked Chen from entering the parliament to attend a hearing resulting in a brawl between lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the KMT. [France 24]

Law and Politics in South Asia 

India arrests 12 LG Polymer officials for gas leak at chemical plant

(lm) The Indian police last Tuesday arrested 12 LG Polymers officials, including its South Korean CEO, two months after toxic styrene gas has leaked from the company`s chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, leaving 15 dead and hundreds hospitalised. The arrests were made under cases of culpable homicide, filed against the company's South Korean parent, LG Chem Ltd, in wake of the incident in May. [The Straits Times 1] [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2][The Straits Times 2] [The Indian Express] [BBC]

In June, India’s National Green Tribunal had already invoked a “strict liability” clause against LG Polymers and ordered the company to deposit an initial amount of Rs 50 crore, after finding the company liable for loss of life, negative effects on public health and ecological damage caused by the gas leak. [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2]

India asks court to stymie potential challenge to Chinese app ban

(lm) India’s government filed a caveat at the State Court of Rajasthan to prevent a ruling in favour of the Chinese companies whose apps it recently outlawed. While none of the companies has hitherto mounted legal action, the filing suggests that New Delhi expects one or more of them to attempt to obtain an injunction to block the order. [Reuters] [AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5]

Indian Congress Party under stress in Rajasthan, removing Deputy Chief Minister

(lf/lm) India’s National Congress (INC) may see another major political setback, as the Congress-led state government in Rajasthan currently finds itself in the midst of a political crisis that bears resemblance to the situation that brought down the party`s government in Madhya Pradesh earlier this year. On Tuesday, the party removed hitherto-Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot from the State Cabinet as well as from the Pradesh Congress Committee President post, citing Pilot`s alleged attempts to topple the state government. [The Hindu] [AiR No. 11, March/2020, 3] [AiR No. 14, April/2020, 1]

The latest round of political uncertainty was triggered by a statement released by 20 Congress lawmakers on Friday, accusing the (state) opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring to overthrow the state government by “luring” Congress lawmakers to switch sides. Responding to the allegations, the BJP denied that it was involved in horse-trading. [The Wire]

Tensions between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot had already been ripe ever since the Congress High Command gave Mr Gehlot a third shot at Chief Ministership in 2018, despite Mr Pilot heading the Rajasthan Congress since 2014, after it had suffered one of its worst defeats under Gehlot. The straw that broke the camel`s back came later on Friday, when Mr Pilot was summoned by the Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad and the Special Operations Group, after Mr Gehlot had issued orders to question the Deputy Chief Minister in an investigation into the alleged attempts to topple the Congress-led state government. While Mr Gehlot later said that he too had received summons for questioning, lawmakers close to Mr Pilot called it a “joke” designed to “humiliate” the Deputy Chief Minister and to “undermine” his authority. [India Today] [Indian Express 1] [Indian Express 2]

While Chief Minister Gehlot on Sunday called for a Congress Legislature Party meeting at his residence in the state capital of Jaipur on Monday morning, Mr Pilot and a group of legislators loyal to him flew to Delhi. In a statement issued late on Sunday, his camp announced that the Gehlot-led government was in minority, after 30 legislators in the 200-member assembly had chosen to back the Deputy Chief Minister. At a press conference on Monday, however, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary General Avinash Pande brushed off Mr Pilot`s assertions, saying that 109 MLAs were in support of the Gehlot-led state government, and further claiming that more legislators would follow. [Hindustan Times] [NDTV]

UP launches judicial probe into criminal Vikas Dubey’s rise and alleged nexus with the police

(lm) The Uttar Pradesh government sets up a one-member judicial panel to probe the death of criminal Vikas Dubey. The inquiry by a retired High Court judge will also examine all aspects of the deaths of eight policemen in a shoot-out with Dubey`s gang in Kanpur earlier this month. Additionally,  a Special Investigation Team is supposed to look into the said shoot-out. [The Indian Express] [The Times of India]

The top suspect in the ambush killings of eight police officers on July 2 and dozens of other crimes, Vikas Dubey last Thursday had given himself up, after he had been on the run for nearly a week. On Friday, then, he was fatally shot by police officers while allegedly trying to flee, after the police vehicle carrying him had overturned on a highway. As Dubey was believed to have links with state politicians and the police, the commission`s brief is to unearth how Dubey and his associates allegedly formed a nexus with police personnel and officials and other departments. In the wake of the shoot-out, two police officers were arrested for allegedly tipping Dubey off, and are being probed for links with the criminal. [SCMP] [BBC] [For more information on Vikas Dubey see: The Indian Express]

The killing of Vikas Dubey by the Uttar Pradesh Police is the latest in a string of events that have put the spotlight back on executive killings and deaths in police custody, after the deaths of son and father last month. [AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5] [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

Nepal: While ruling NCP seemingly patches things up, new party officially registers

(lm) Amidst ongoing intra-party differences over issues of power-sharing, a crucial meeting of the Standing Committee of Nepal`s ruling Communist Party (NCP) to decide on the political future of embattled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was once again deferred on Friday. In an address to the nation later that day, Prime Minister Oli further downplayed the intra-party rift, saying such disputes were a "regular phenomena". [The Hindu] [The New Indian Express]

Prior to the latest developments, supported by other senior party members, NCP Executive Chairman Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal `Prachanda` had publicly demanded Prime Minister Oli`s resignation over his recent anti-India remarks, saying the comments were “neither politically correct nor diplomatically appropriate.” [The Wire]

Meanwhile, a newly-formed Madhesi party - Madhesi are different groups of people with Indian ancestry living in southern Nepal for which India claims a kind of responsibility - officially registered with Nepal’s Election Commission. Formed after the merger of Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, the new Janata Samajbadi Party of Nepal (JSPN) holds 32 seats in the Lower House, making it the third-largest party, after the NCP with 173 seats and the main Opposition Nepali Congress with 60 seats. While it has supported the Constitutional Amendment Bill, passed by the Nepal government to alter the country’s political and administrative map, the JSPN has opposed the new Citizenship Amendment Bill pushed more recently by government. [AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5] [Hindustan Times]

The border blockade of 2015 whose imposition India is accused of by Nepal and which is still in vivid memory in Nepal goes directly back to disputes over the status and interests of Madhesi which remained unresolved when the Nepalese Constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly in September 2015.

Pakistan: High Court rules on construction of Hindu temple

(lf/lm) The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday ruled that legal objections against the allotment of land for the construction of a new Hindu temple and cremation site were invalid. The construction of the temple is, however, not assured, as the Ministry in charge of the project forwarded the case to the country`s Council of Islamic Ideology to request advice on the issuance of government funds for the construction of the temple. The Council is expected to rule on the government`s request in September. [APP] [Al Jazeera]

Soon after the land had been allocated to the city`s Hindu community in 2017, the City District Administration of Islamabad had put the construction on hold, responding to massive public disapproval and political uproar against the project. Pakistan, a majority Muslim country, has a small minority Hindu group of 3.5 million people which make up 1.6 % percent of the whole population. Most of them live the province Sindh. Pakistan has been struggling to protect its religious minority groups, and religious minorities have been targeted under Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to protect the right of religious minorities regarding religious freedom, and called the decision a major set-back, after the opening of the Sikh temple in Kartarpur Sahib to pilgrims in 2019. [Amnesty International]

Sri Lanka: Election Rallies Postponed due to Spike in Covid-19 Cases

(cm) In the north-central town of Rajanganaya, voting was postponed indefinitely due to threats of COVID-19 cases as 500 new infections arose in clusters in the respective district. [Devdiscourse]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Is Indonesia failing to control its coronavirus outbreak?

(yo) According to some health experts, the Indonesian government is struggling to handle the coronavirus with a lack of testing, poor communication strategies, and the “promotion of bogus cures.” Private hospitals and clinics in Indonesia are charging patients up to $1450 for a coronavirus test, more than three times the monthly minimum wage. While Indonesia is the fourth most populous country, testing rates is one of the lowest in the world. International organizations urge Indonesia to bolster public health communication and tracing. Experts are concerned that the government is not taking the matter seriously enough. The Minister of Agriculture recently caused controversy by claiming to have developed a “eucalyptus necklace” that can prevent the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has revealed a lack of crisis proficiency and awareness in the country, as restrictions have begun to be eased although cases are rising. [Sydney Morning Herald][The Guardian] [The Sydney Morning Herald]

Malaysia: Continuing political uncertainties over PM Muhyiddin’s majority and a frailing opposition 

(cm/ls) Malaysia’s first proper parliament sitting since the Covid-19 outbreak brought uproar on Monday as the Lower House Parliament’s speaker and deputy speaker were replaced in what appeared to be a move by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin side-stepping ordinary procedures. After lawmakers were not given advanced notification to nominate candidates and after much debate, the motion to replace the speaker passed by the slightest possible margin of 111 to 109. However, the new speaker was then directly appointed by Muhyiddin without a further vote. 

The parliament sitting was Muhyiddin’s first political test since becoming PM in March after the end of the Pakatan Harapan coalition government. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed questioned the validity of the new speaker as he was not appointed by the House. [Reuters] [The Star 1] [AiR No. 20, May/2020, 3]

Under the Westminster system of parliament, a speaker determines for instance if a no-confidence vote is to be held. Prime Minister Muhyiddin has been trying to avoid the initiation of a no-confidence vote since becoming PM over fears that he might not command a majority in parliament. Monday’s sitting has shown that these concerns are fully justified.

Meanwhile, the presidential council of opposition Pakatan Harapan decided to have Anwar Ibrahim as the PM candidate. Anwar has long awaited to become Prime Minister since Mahathir had pledged in the past to hand over this post to him. Mahathir and five former Bersatu MPs, however, now support Shafie Apdal, the president of Parti Warisan Sabah, as PM candidate. [The Star 2] [AiR No. 48, November/2019, 4] [Free Malaysia Today]

The political instability in Malaysia creates greater uncertainty for economic growth and recovery. The governmental debt is currently at 52 percent of the GDP. Due to the lack of political consensus or urgency in Muhyiddin’s policy team, parliamentary discussions are being delayed. [Nikkei Asian Review] [Straits Times]

Malaysia: New threats to free speech under the new administration

(ls/cm) Since the end of the Pakatan Harapan coalition government under Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir in March, Malaysia’s level of free speech protection under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration appears to be backsliding to what has been the state of affairs under previous Barisan Nasional governments.

On Monday, the Federal Court heard a contempt case brought by the government against the independent news portal Malaysiakini and its editor-in-chief, Steven Gan, over readers’ comments posted on its website. The government argues that the portal’s filtering systems had been insufficient to prevent undue comments from being posted. [Reuters]

Another case in point has been the questioning by Malaysian authorities of five Australian journalists who recorded the treatment of undocumented workers in Malaysia. The journalists are facing possible charges of defamation and sedition which may carry jail terms. The authorities denied allegations of mistreatment and labeled the documentary as unfair, misleading and potentially tarnishing Malaysia’s image. [ABC] [Straits Times 1] [Al Jazeera]

Previously, the police had initiated, and ultimately dropped, a criminal probe on a South China Morning Post journalist over a series of social media posts about migrant raids. Two weeks ago, the Home Ministry banned a book on the 2018 elections, saying its cover illustration had insulted the Malaysian coat-of-arms. [Straits Times 2]

Malaysia: Allegations of abuse on palm oil plantation 

(cm) One of Malaysia’s palm oil plantations, Sime Darby, is the subject of allegations of forced and child labor abuse. The Hong Kong-based activist group Liberty Shared said that it has collected numerous interviews with workers who stated threats of sexual harassment, varying conditions of undue accommodation, deductions of pay, physical threats and abuse. The issue may not only have negatively impacted Malaysia’s ongoing palm oil exports, in particular to the US, but also its recent legal action against the EU for restricting palm oil imports. [South China Morning Post] [Reuters] [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

Philippines: Lawmakers shut down ABS-CBN network

(mp/ls) On Friday, the Philippine´s largest TV network ABS-CBN lost its broadcasting license after a majority of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Franchises voted not to issue a renewed 25-years-license for the group. ABS-CBN, which had a reach of over 60 million viewers, employs more than 11,000 people whose jobs are at risk now. Lawmakers insisted that the license was a privilege, not a right, so that the case would not raise any constitutional issues. [ABS-CBN]

Civil rights organizations condemned the vote and saw a further assault on the Philippine´s free press by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, who had previously threatened the channel, which is known for its criticism of the government. ABS-CBN became particularly famous for its reports about human rights issues in Duterte´s “war on drugs.” The network´s President Carlo Katigbak expressed his disappointment and announced that he would look for alternative ways to resume business.

The decision comes after the executive editor and CEO of Rappler, Maria Ressa, was convicted of cyber libel last month [AiR No. 24, June/ 2020, 3], possibly facing several years in jail. President Duterte officially denied any involvement in both cases. The Philippines are ranked 136 of 180 countries in the latest report on press freedom by the NGO “Reporters Without Borders.” [Nikkei Asian Review]

Singapore: PAP wins election but falls short of its aims

(ls/cm) Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has comfortably won the General Elections held last week. The PAP will take 83 of the 93 elected seats in parliament. However, the party gained only 61.2 percent of the popular vote. This is 8.6 percent less than in the 2015 election. The oppositional Worker’s Party (WP) was able to gain support, winning about 50.5 percent of the popular vote in the constituencies in which the party contested, which is a plus of more than 10 percent as compared to 2015. The WP retained its six seats and added four more. [Election results: Straits Times]

Most spectacularly, the PAP lost the group representation constituency (GRC) of Sengkang, where a young WP team was able to prevail against three incumbents. In addition, Lee’s designated successor, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, obtained only 53.41 percent of the popular vote in his constituency, which makes the PAP’s leadership transition appear in less appealing light. What is more, the PAP’s call for a strong vote of confidence in its handling of Covid-19 was not answered by the voters. Comprehensive analyses: [South China Morning Post] [Channel News Asia]

Thai politics’ volatility on display as ministers walk out of ruling party

(ls) Last Thursday, three ministers of the Thai government resigned from the Palang Pracharath Party that leads the ruling coalition. The development comes after a leadership change in the party was made effective in June. The three ministers who resigned are Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, who has recently been replaced as party leader, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, who was made to step aside as the party’s secretary-general, and Higher Education, Science and Innovations Minister Suvit Maesincee. In addition, the deputy secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Office also resigned from the party. [Bangkok Post 1]

The move makes a Cabinet reshuffle appear imminent. However, Prime Minister General (ret.) Prayut Chan-o-cha postponed the redistribution of the ministers’ positions after the annual budget debate in September, saying there was no unrest in the ruling party of which he himself is not a member. [Khaosod English]

Within the Palang Pracharath Party, ten politicians close to its new leader, Deputy Prime Minister General (ret.) Prawit Wongsuwon, have been appointed as party deputies. Prawit is therefore expected to consolidate his position in the party. [Bangkok Post 2]

Some of the newly appointed party deputies are illustrative of Thai party politics’ general fluidity: Suriya Jungrungruangkit was a member of the former Thai Rak Thai Party led by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a minister in Thaksin’s Cabinet from 2002 to 2005. Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in 2007 and became the People's Power Party which, after another dissolution in 2008, became Pheu Thai, currently an opposition party. Suriya is also the uncle of Thanathorn Jungrungruangkit, the former leader of the opposition Future Forward Party who was banned from politics by the Constitutional Court in a media shares case. Another newly appointed Palang Pracharath deputy is Paiboon Nititawan who, in last year’s elections, campaigned as the leader of the People’s Reform Party, then decided to dissolve the party and became a member of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. A further interesting personality is Thamanat Prompow, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, who is currently facing a Constitutional Court probe over his qualification as a political office-holder due to a heroin trafficking conviction in Australia to four and a half years.

Meanwhile, the Kao Klai Party (KKP), which replaced the Future Forward Party after its dissolution in February this year, has pledged to field a candidate in the Bangkok governor elections which will likely be held in the last quarter of the year. Bangkok’s current Governor Aswin Kwanmuang was appointed in 2016 by the military government. All local elections were suspended in 2014 by the National Council for Peace and Order in power at the time. [Bangkok Post 3] [Thai Enquirer]

Thailand: Cabinet approves Civil Partnership Bill

(ls) Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a civil partnership bill that would allow same-sex unions legal rights largely similar to married couples. If the bill is passed by parliament, Thailand would become the second Asian country to allow one form of partnership registration after Taiwan legalized a full same-sex marriage last year. According to the Thai bill, one partner must be Thai for a partnership to receive registration. [Reuters]

Though civil partners would have the same asset management and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples and can also adopt a child, some opposition politicians said the government’s draft does not go far enough to ensure full equality as LGBT people would still be treated under different laws than heterosexual couples. [Khaosod English]

Thailand’s legal system has a comparatively liberal approach towards homosexuality since long having decriminalized homosexuality already in 1956 long before many Western countries.

Vietnam’s continued crackdown on online activists 

(jn) A Vietnamese court has sentenced pro-democracy activist Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuong to eight years in prison on criminal charges of “disseminating information against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”. It is believed to be the longest ever prison term for posting content on social media. Before his arrest in 2019, Nguyen had decried the corruption and autocracy of the ruling Communist Party in an online livestream. He had also touched on land confiscation cases, political prisoners, and his support for protests in Hong Kong.

Human Rights Watch condemned the sentence as outrageous while the US state department voiced concern noting: “the lengthy sentence is another in a number of troubling arrests and sentences of journalists, bloggers, and activists aimed at denying freedom of speech in Vietnam.”

Radio Free Asia has counted about a dozen recent cases in which activists or ordinary citizens were prosecuted for their activities on Facebook [see also AiR No. 18, May/2020, 1]. [Radio Free Asia 1] [Channel News Asia]

In another case, journalist and author Pham Doan Trang said she would quit working for “Liberal Publishing House”, an independent and dissident publisher of books, because of the intense harassment by the police over her work and the abduction and abuse of colleagues. [Radio Free Asia 2]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China-USA relations: High tensions continue unabated

(dql/ef) High running tensions between China and the USA continued unabated last week. 

The USA announced sanctions against Chinese politicians considered by Washington to be responsible for human rights violations against Muslim minorities in China’s western province Xinjiang. The sanctions include visa restrictions preventing them from entering the USA, freezing their assets in the USA, and making it a crime to conduct financial transactions with them. Among those hit by the sanctions is Xinjiang Communist Party boss and Member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party Chen Quanguo. Chen, widely seen as mastermind of Beijing’s Xinjiang minority policies, is the highest-ranking Chinese official ever to be targeted by the sanctions. [BBC]

China retaliated with similar sanctions against US officials, including Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio who both sponsored China- and Xinjiang-critical legislation. [The National]

In a another confrontational move, US Secretary of State Pompeo declared most of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea “completely unlawful”, adding that "America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law […],” to “reject any push to impose 'might makes right' in the South China Sea or the wider region." 

Pompeo’s announcement on Monday – almost exact four years after the ruling of Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the South China Sea Arbitration invalidated most of China's claims for maritime rights in the South China Sea – signals Washington’s hardening stance compared with previous calls for a peaceful resolution to the dispute through arbitration backed by the United Nations. It is also reflected in the recently intensified presence and actions of the US military in the South China Sea. [Al Jazeera] [CNN] [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

China was quick to hit back and accused the USA of “stirring up tension and inciting confrontation in the region.” [Breaking News]

Further angering China, the USA approved a 620 million USD missile upgrade package for Taiwan that entails surface-to-air-missiles produced by US arms technology manufacturer Lockheed Martin. In a thinly veiled allusion to China as the target of the deal, the US Department of Defense commented on the deal by stating that “the recipient will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defence”. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defence expects the sale to be completed in August. This marks the seventh US-Taiwanese arms deal since 2017; by now most of the Taiwanese military hardware is US-made. [New York Times] 

In response to the arms sale, China reiterated its strong objections to arms sales to Taiwan and announced sanctions against Lockheed Martin as main contractor of the deal. [Reuters]

Further signalling Washington’s push to improve relations with Taiwan, USA State Secretary Pompeo reiterated the disappointment of the USA over Taiwan’s exclusion from the Word Health Organization (WHO), calling it an example of the deficiencies of the agency. However, the Trump administration notification to the Congress and the United Nations that the USA, the biggest contributor the WHO's budget, is formally withdrawing from the body, with withdrawal becoming effect next July. [Focus Taiwan] [VoA]

While China has been persistently blocking Taipei’s efforts to join the agency, the WHO has been facing critcism for being China-centred in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Japan: Strengthening bonds with Australia

(mp) Last Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Abe and his Australian counterpart Morrison held a virtual summit on the question of how to intensify their countries´ security relationship to come up with a joint answer towards China´s increasing activities in the Indo-Pacific. Both leaders expressed their support for the so-called “Quad,” a security and defense alliance by the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, officially founded last year, aiming to strengthen ties against rising Chinese military activities. Further, the Japanese and Australian space agencies entered into a bilateral research agreement. Both leaders additionally called for granting Taiwan observer status at the World Health Assembly as well as for the peaceful solution of disputes over claims in the South China Sea. [Sydney Morning Herald]

Regarding the implementation of the new security law for Hong Kong, both leaders expressed concerns over the freedom of Hong Kong´s citizens. Abe further called the law a “step back” for the “one country, two systems”-framework. [Nikkei Asian Review 1]

In a related latest development, Japan´s yearly report on defense accused China of making use of the coronavirus outbreak to implement changes to the territorial status quo in the South China Sea and the East China Sea – accusations that are also shared by the US. Moreover, the report criticizes the provision of medical pandemic help by Beijing as propaganda measures to increase China´s reputation amongst further countries of strategic weight. [Nikkei Asian Review 2]

South Korea-India relations: Defense ministers vow to beef up cooperation

(yo) The Defense Ministers of South Korea and India last week held pone talks and reassured to bolster ties and increase cooperation in combating non-traditional security threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and cyber threats. Both sides also discussed the possibility of other collaborative initiatives, including defence cooperation of the armed forces and defence technology. [Yonhap News] [DNA India]

North Korea announces retaliation against U.K.’s sanctions 

(yo) Last week the U.K. issued sanctions against North Korea, targeting the country’s Ministry of State Security Bureau and Ministry of People’s Security Correctional Bureau considered by London to be involved in humanitarian crimes, including forced labour, torture, and murder. The sanctions include asset freezes on both targeted agencies. [NK News]

In response, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry criticized Britain for following US’s hostile policy and making a “violent interference in domestic affairs” and announced that it “will pay the price” for what it called a as the institutions are directly responsible for the state’s security. [Bloomberg]

North Korea reassures: US concessions before third Trump/Kim summit

(dql) Amid stalled talks between North Korea and the USA, US President Trump announced last week his readiness for another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It would be the third summit after the first in June 2018 and the second in February 2019. [VoA]

In response, Kim's sister demanded that Washington offers major concessions in order to re-open keep diplomatic channels for talks on Pyongyang's denuclearization, adding that " if there is a need for summit talks, it is a U.S. need, while for North Korea, it is “unpractical and does not serve us at all.” [AP]

Cross-strait-relations: Taiwan annual military drill 

(ef) Taiwan has started its annual military drill to test combat readiness of the Taiwanese military forces. The exercise includes a simulation of an attack by China’s People’s Liberation Army. [Focus Taiwan]

Meanwhile, in response  to the Covid-19 caused halt of cross-strait travels, China has intensified its efforts to take its reunification campaign to the virtual world and make use of live broadcasts, online conferences and video-making competitions to strengthen a sense of ancestry and ‘knowing your roots’ in order to reignite Chinese patriotism in Taiwanese hearts and minds.

However, the campaign may not have the desired, if any, effect with 27% of citizens of Taiwan currently supporting its formal independence and only 0.7 per cent wanting to reunify with the PRC. [Reuters] [New York Times]

Bangladesh: Pakistan, Bangladesh hold talks in possible thaw

(yo) Bangladeshi and Pakistani diplomats met to discuss bilateral relations amid frigid relationships. After briefing one another on the coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken, they agreed to further conversation on “bilateral economic and commercial cooperation.” [Anadolu Agency]

China expands scope of border disputes, stoking another with neighbouring Bhutan

(lm) Earlier this month, the Chinese government for the first time publicly put on record that is has a border dispute with Bhutan over the country`s eastern sector saying to a newspaper that “[t]here have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time”. In a tangential reference to India, the Foreign Ministry added that “a third party should not point fingers” in the Sino-Bhutan border dispute. [Hindustan Times] [The Straits Times]

Beijing`s assertion follows attempts at a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in late June to stop the funding for the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) in eastern Bhutan’s Trashigang district, claiming that the location was “disputed”. Bhutan objected to the claim over the sanctuary, issuing a demarche to Beijing’s embassy in New Delhi. The Global Environmental Facility council later passed the project for funding. [The Hindu 1]

Between 1984 and 2016, Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve their border dispute. According to discussions in the Bhutanese parliament and other public records of these meetings, the discussions hitherto have only been limited to three areas of dispute in the western and central sections of the boundary. Talks have been frozen, however, since the last round in 2016, partly due to the heightened tensions that erupted during the 2017 Doklam standoff. Back then, India supported Bhutan's claims as the area is also strategically close to India's Silliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch of land that connects the country's north-east to the mainland. The issue ended inconclusively when both India and China agreed to withdraw from the plateau in August 2017. [AiR 29. December 2017]

Observers believe the addition of the eastern sector to be not so much a contest over territory as it is of Beijing’s desire to punish Bhutan for allying with its regional rival India. China seems determined to complicate the special relationship between India and Bhutan by creating a wedge between the two South Asian neighbours. In late June, India and Bhutan signed a pact for their first-ever joint venture hydropower project. [The Diplomat] [The Hindu 2]

As the wildlife sanctuary borders the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety as part of “south Tibet”, the development will likely be seen as coercive by India. Partly in response to China`s new claims on the eastern region, New Delhi last week already dusted off proposals over the construction of a road that would allow India to mobilise its troops across the disputed boundary with Beijing in Arunachal Pradesh, but also towards the eastern region of Bhutan. [Deccan Herald] [The Economic Times]

India to invite Australia for naval drill

(lm) Amid ongoing tensions with China, India is reportedly planning to invite Australia to join its annual Malabar naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal at the end of this year. The hitherto-trilateral exercise thus will for the first time ever bring together all four members of the regional grouping known as the Quad (India, Japan, Australia, USA) to engage at a military level. [The Straits Times] [SCMP]

A formal invitation is yet to be issued, but New Delhi is expected to clear the way this week following a final government clearance and consultations with the USA and Japan. In early June, both sides had already agreed to improve their defence cooperation at a virtual summit. [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2]

Considering the timing of the invitation, New Delhi seems willing to strengthen its relationship with other Asia-Pacific countries by putting away its defensiveness on choosing its partners for security cooperation. In June, within days of each other, two Quad member states – Australia and Japan – had already announced their intentions to boost defence spending and switch to a more aggressive footing. [The Indian Express] [Al Jazeera] [AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5]

The inclusion of the Australian navy would represent a significant step forward for both countries’ rapprochement in the framework of the ‘Quad’ after Australian navy sources informally expressed disappointment with not being invited in the past.

Former India navy officer allegedly refuses to appeal spying death sentence in Pakistan

(lm) Former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who currently is on death row in Pakistan, has refused to lodge an appeal against his conviction, and instead chose to “follow-up” on his pending “mercy” petition. [The Straits Times]

In May 2017, India had approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with a request for immediate stay on the death sentence a Pakistani military court had handed down against Mr Jadhav on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017. Last year in July, then, the ICJ ruled that Islamabad had breached its obligations under the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations by denying consular access to Mr Jadhav. While it did not upheld India’s petition to annul the sentence, the ICJ found that Pakistan was under an obligation to conduct an “effective review and reconsideration” of Jadhav’s conviction by “means of its own choosing”. [ICJ] [The Wire 1]

In keeping with the ICJ`s decision, Islamabad reportedly offered Mr Jadhav on May 17 2020 to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court, and enacted an Ordinance three days thereafter. The official also stated that Pakistan had “repeatedly written to the Indian High Commission to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court and to initiate the process of review and reconsideration of the sentence and conviction of Commander Jadhav before the deadline”, and had further “offered a second consular access to India”. In August 2019, Pakistan had allowed an Indian diplomat to meet with the incarcerated Mr Jadhav for the first time in three years. The meeting, however, was recorded and held in the presence of Pakistani officials. [The Hindu]

India`s response, in a statement issued on Wednesday night, did not comment on the second consular access offer, but outrightly dismissed Pakistan’s Ordinance saying that Mr Jadhav had “clearly been coerced” into not appealing against his 2017 conviction. Describing the Ordinance as violating the ICJ judgement, New Delhi further said Islamabad would continue to “to deny India free and unimpeded access” to Mr Jadhav. [The Wire 2] [read the full statement here: Hindustan Times]

Nepal-Indian relation further deteriorate

(lf/lm) Nepal’s diplomatic gap with India continued to widen over the course of last week, as New Delhi on June 24 sent a diplomatic note to Nepal to protest Kathmandu`s decision to unilaterally change the country`s map, showing the disputed territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani within its borders. [The Himalayan Times] [AiR No. 22, June/2020, 1], [AiR No. 24, June/2020, 3]

On Thursday, then, Nepal Cable TV operators stopped airing Indian news channels, accusing them of airing reports hurting the country's national sentiment. Nepal also sent a diplomatic note to India, urging New Delhi to take steps against the broadcast of materials what it called "fake, baseless and insensitive as well as abusive" to the country and its leadership by a section of the Indian media. [NY Times] [Al Jazeera]

In the light of most recent events, observers urge India not to burn all the bridges between Kathmandu and New Delhi, as the dispute already pushed Nepal closer to China. Over the past months, the Chinese Ambassador to Kathmandu, Hou Yanqi, has been going door-to-door, paying visits to leaders of Nepal`s ruling Communist Party (NCP) in order to prevent a split and save Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s job. [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1] [Business Standard]

India – EU: Talks about free trade deal

(lf) India and the EU have opened talks about a free trade deal. While the ultimate goal of the meeting is to come to a free trade deal between the EU and India, a preferential trade agreement is also acceptable according to the Indian ministry of trade. The last trade agreements stalled in 2013, and since then no trade agreement has been made between the two. Furthermore, the Ministry states it is looking at finding a free trade agreement with the UK. Since economic relations are strained with India´s neighbour China, due to the political tensions, India is looking at the EU to boosts its economy. [Times of India] [Reuters]

Sri Lanka reviews Colombo Port Deal amidst rising tensions between India and China

(lf) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has recently issued examinations and reports from five designated committee members, within 45 days, that lays out maximum benefits towards Sri Lanka in regards to the East Container Terminal (ECT) at Colombo Port. The development of the ECT is an agreement between Japan, India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka wants guarantee of full control of the facility. The port customarily “handles more than 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo annually”.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s government is additionally reviewing an existing port deal that was signed between India and the Sirisena Government in the past. This could potentially hinder India relations as Sri Lanka is amidst the China and India tensions. Sri Lanka is currently under debt to China. Especially since China assisted Sri Lanka in many financial crises, one of them being COVID-19. [Nikkei Asia Review] [SCMP]

Indonesia seizes Chinese fishing ship over alleged maltreatment of Indonesian fisherman on board

On Wednesday last week, Indonesian authorities seized a Chinese fishing vessel over suspicions of mistreatment of Indonesian fishermen. On board, they found a dead sailor in a freezer. In May, reports surfaced that at least three bodies of Indonesian sailors had been thrown from Chinese boats into the Pacific Ocean in recent months, while the overall number of deceased is allegedly higher. Indonesia's foreign ministry has demanded China to disclose the facts of the cases. [Nikkei Asian Review]

Thailand and U.S. sign strategic security pact

(ls) On the occasion of U.S. Army Chief of Staff General James McConville’s visit to Thailand, the U.S. and Thailand have signed a Strategic Vision Statement on the continued military and security cooperation of the two countries. McConville met with Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as well as with army chief Apirat Kongsompong. [Reuters]

The agreement follows a Joint Vision Statement 2020, which was signed in November last year. [Text of Vision Statement: U.S. Embassy]

The signing comes at a time when the U.S. is eager to demonstrate its presence in and support for Southeast Asia as China gains increasing economic and military influence in the region. At the same time, the agreement is army chief Apirat's last major signing event before his retirement at the end of September. Apirat has been a supporter of a strong Thai-US alliance. The Bangkok Post has published an analysis on the agreement’s implications. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand and the United States foster close military ties since the emerging Cold War. The partnership took off with a military aid and assistance program materializing since 1950. In that year a permanent ‘Military Assistance Group’ (MAAG) – today ‘Joint United States Military Advisory Group’ (JUSMAGTHAI) – has been established and significant overt and covert aid programs been granted to build up the armed forces and police in Thailand. 

US and Vietnam celebrating 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties

(jn) On the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam, leaders of both countries exchanged congratulatory notes, vowing to further strengthen their ties in the future. 

President Donald Trump wrote in a letter to Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong on Saturday that the US was committed to enhancing and expanding the bilateral ties based on a shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and respect for each other’s sovereignty and regulations. 

In his own congratulatory letter to the US, President Trong said that US-Vietnam relations throughout the last 25 years had "surpassed differences and geography" to develop positively and stably, making the US Vietnam’s leading partner in various areas.

After the Vietnam War, during which up to 3.8 million Vietnamese people and almost 50,000 US soldiers perished, Washington maintained sanctions against the unified, communist-led country well into the 1980s.

The normalization of US-Vietnam relations was phased in during the early 1990s, starting in 1991 with a roadmap plan presented by the Bush administration that included opening a US office in Hanoi on “Missed in Action” (MIA) issues. Bush’s successor Bill Clinton lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam in 1994 and on July 11, 1995, he announced the normalization with Vietnam. Shortly after, then Vietnamese Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt followed by declaring diplomatic relations to be established and a new chapter to be opened. In 2000, both sides signed a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

In recent years, both nations have experienced a growing trade relationship and have expanded their military ties, establishing a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013. The US lifted its arms embargo in 2016.

The US is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner after China. Despite the pandemic, trade increased by almost 8% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year. Experts see this as a trend only to grow in the coming years as American firms are eyeing Vietnam as an alternative haven for investment in light of Washington seeking to “decouple” supply chains from China.

However, the major reason for both Vietnam and the US striving for reconciliation is owing to Vietnam’s ever-increasing geopolitical tensions with China, in particular over territorial claims in the South China Sea [see e.g. AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2, AiR No. 24, June/2020, 3]. The US serves as the alternative superpower that Vietnam can turn to and that has even proclaimed itself a defender of the international rule-based order and freedom of navigation in the region. 

As a sign of this development, only in March a US aircraft carrier docked in Vietnam for the second time in recent years [see AiR No. 10, March/2020, 2]. At the same time, Congress is weighing the so-called Pacific Deterrence Initiative that could send almost $7 billion in military spending to US allies in Asia, including Vietnam.

Vietnam might upgrade its relationship with the US to a Strategic Partnership or Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the coming years, experts estimate.

Although China continues to enjoy a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership with Vietnam, Sino-Vietnamese relations have constantly deteriorated. At the same time, Vietnam has become that ASEAN country in recent years that showed the most unequivocal signs of a strategic rapprochement with the US accompanied with closer relations to other Quad-nations as well. 

Still, the overall picture of the strategic triangle might change, US-Vietnamese relations be tested if the US foreign policy would turn to a more value prone approach. Disputes about human rights and democracy would then become emblematic for the major challenge to bridge the difference between both countries’ disparate political systems. In parts, degree this lingering conflict potential has not flared up because of the American focus on China’s unbridled striving for power and abysmal human rights record. [Nhan Dan] [Philippine Daily Inquirer] [VN Express] [VN Express 2] [Asia Times]

Cambodia on track to several new bilateral free trade agreements

(jn) Cambodia is on the verge of either initiating or concluding talks on bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with three Asian nations:

China 

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen is scheduled to sign an FTA in Beijing on 12 August. The FTA is expected to further deepen relations between Cambodia and China, boosting agricultural trade and building on existing trade ties.

The deal can be seen as another sign of the intensifying relationship with China that has become the Kingdom’s largest investor and its geopolitical backer in contrast to the West and sometimes even ASEAN.

According to government figures, bilateral trade in 2018 was around $7.4 billion and heavily skewed towards China that accounted for more than 80 percent of trade. Cambodia exported around $800 million, mostly in agricultural products, and imported large quantities of raw materials for the manufacturing and construction sectors.

This FTA is Cambodia’s first bilateral trade agreement with a foreign country and was negotiated against the backdrop of growing Chinese influence and investments in Cambodia’s economy. It has thus sparked not only concerns about China bear-hugging Cambodia and benefiting disproportionately, but also that it would do nothing to raise labor and environmental standards.

At the same time, on said 12 August when the FTA with China is expected to be signed, Cambodia is likely to see its long-standing ties with the European Union further decline with the expected partial suspension of the “Everything But Arms” (EBA) trade privileges. In a press release in February, the European Commission announced that it had decided to withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the EU's EBA trade scheme due to the serious and systematic violations of human rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The withdrawal and replacement with the EU's standard tariffs (“Most Favored Nation”) will affect selected garment and footwear products, travel goods and sugar. The goods in question amount to about one-fifth or €1 billion of annual exports to the EU. The new tariff regime will take effect unless the European Parliament or the Council object.

Phnom Penh hopes that the FTA with China will help offset losses incurred from the partial suspension of the EBA. [VOA][EC Press Corner]

India 

The Cambodian Minister of Commerce said that in a meeting with the Indian ambassador to Cambodia on Wednesday they had discussed the possibility of concluding a Cambodia-India bilateral FTA. They had agreed to strengthen bilateral trade relations by establishing a Cambodia-India Joint Trade and Investment Working Group to facilitate trade and investment between the two states.

According to data from the Indian embassy in Cambodia, the trade volume between the two countries reached almost $250 million in 2019, up by more than 10 per cent compared to 2018. Cambodia exported goods to India worth about $80 million last year, up about 70 per cent from 2018, while imports amounted to almost $170 million, down 5.8 per cent. India invests almost $20 million annually, being among the top ten foreign investors in Cambodia. [The Star]

South Korea

Cambodia and South Korea agreed last Thursday to start official negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), with a first round of talks expected later this month. 

A statement by the South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy said that amid the spread of Covid-19 it had become more important for South Korea to expand cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. He said that FTA negotiations with Cambodia could potentially make it a future hub of production and trade among the ASEAN nations. The two countries would make efforts to come up with a meaningful result within this year.

The countries’ bilateral trade volume was at $1 billion last year, a six per cent annual growth since 2018, according to the Korea International Trade Association. Cambodia exported $336 million worth of goods to South Korea last year and had imports as high as $700 million. [Phnom Penh Post]

Construction of largest railway station of Laos-China railway to begin

(dql) The construction of the Vientiane railway station, the largest railway station of the Laos-China railway, a strategic project under the Belt and Road Initiative, is set to start this week in the capital city of Laos. The station with more than 14.500 square-meter is one of 20 new stations that have been constructed for 6 billion USD 414 kilometre-long rail construction project. It is expected to be operational be end of 2021. [Construction Review] 

Correction: In the entry on "Thailand-China relations to be deepened" in last week's issue Taiwan was wrongly put in the text instead of Thailand. 

Upcoming Online Events

15 July 2020 @ 6:00 pm IST, Observer Research Foundation, India

Re-imagining slums post COVID-19

This webinar will explore the future role of slums, how they have been affected by the coronavirus crisis, and which role the climate change plays.

Further event information is available at [ORF].

15 July 2020 @ 4:00 pm CEST, GLOBSEC, Slovakia

European Defence Cooperation in the Post-COVID-19 World

This webinar discusses defense ambitions of the EU in the light of the Covid-19 crisis and the upcoming negotiations on the EU budget.

Please find registration details here: [GLOBSEC].

15 July 2020 @ 4:00 pm EST, Center for Strategic & International Studies, USA

Online Event: Countering Chinese Influence Activities in Australia

This event will discuss China's efforts to influence democratic politics and society in Australia and other regions and how democratic countries can respond to Beijing's activities.

Please visit [CSIS] for details about the event.

15 July 2020 @ 5:00 pm WET, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, UK

Global Legislative Responses to Coronavirus

This event shows how states around the world struggled to provide legislative responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. It examines the role of the legislature, executive, and courts and discusses whether "regular" laws are sufficient or there is a need for emergency measures.

Please find registration details here: [Bingham Centre].

15 July 2020 @ 1:00 pm EDT, Rand Corporation, USA

Mass Migration and Labor Markets

This webinar belongs to a series of webinars that discuss on migration-related trends, opportunities, challenges, and solutions. It shows how migration has affected labor markets in several contexts.

For further details, visit [Rand].

15 July 2020 @ 9:30 am ET, Center for Global Development, USA

The Role of Parliamentarians in Strengthening COVID-19 Response & Recovery

This event debates on the role which members of Parliament have in dealing with Covid-19 and assuring the health of their citizens. It shows challenges brought by the coronavirus and which legislative actions were taken so far.

Please find further details here: [CGDEV].

16 July 2020 @ 9:30 am CEST, Instituto Affari Internazionali, Italy

The challenges of digitalization and the role of the G20

This event debates the part of the G20 in promoting global responses to the challenges and opportunities – such as digital transformation – brought by the coronavirus.

Visit [IAI] to join the event.

16 July 2020 @ 11:00 am EDT, Middle East Institute, USA

European Security and Strategic Autonomy

This event explores Europe's path towards strategic autonomy and its challenges, such as the annexation of Crimea, the migration crisis, and Brexit. Further questions include how transatlantic security relations are affected by Europe's effort for strategic autonomy.

Please find details here: [Middle East Institute].

16 July 2020 @ 1:00 pm GMT+2, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa

Addressing insecurity in the Sahel

This webinar reviews the state of the Sahel region since insecurity is on a rising path and brings together policymakers to share their perspectives on human security in West Africa and the Sahe.

Details are available at [ISSSA].

16 July 2020 @ 1:00 pm EDT, CATO Institute, USA

The Future of the World Trade Organization

This webinar discusses what the future holds for the World Trade Organization, which has recently experienced several crises.

Please find registration details here: [CATO].

16 July 2020 @ 11:00 am EDT, Wilson Center, USA

Maduro's Authoritarian Gambit and Economic Crisis: Whither Venezuela?

This event discusses recent political and economic developments in Venezuela after the coronavirus crisis and the role of President Maduro.

Follow [Wilson Center] for further details.

16 July 2020 @ 11:30 am, UTC+8, Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore

IPS Webinar Series: Borders in Moments of Crisis

This webinar examines how the Covid-19 pandemic impacts immigrant communities and how borders are militarized in the United States.

To participate in the event, follow [IPS].

16 July 2020 @ 11:00 am PDT, Pacific Council on International Policy, USA

The United Nations and collective action in a changing world

This virtual conversation discusses how the UN and the WHO helped to shape a global response to the coronavirus, what the crisis taught us, and which innovations might emerge as a response to the pandemic. Another topic will be the UN's role in facing future challenges. 

Details are accessible under [Pacific Council].

16 July 2020 @ 9:30 am EDT, The German Marshall Fund of The United States, USA

Strengthening the Transatlantic Commitment to Democracy, Resiliency, and Civil Society

This webinar will debate on how to strengthen democracy and civil society in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans as well as the transatlantic cooperation in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Event information is accessible at [GMFUS].

16 July 2020 @ 9:00 am EST, Center for Strategic & International Studies, USA

Online Event: Korea Chair "The Capital Cable" #6

In this event, former US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy will discuss current developments on the Korean peninsula.

The conversation will be live-streamed from [CSIS].

16 July 2020 @ 12:00 pm IST, Brookings, USA

India and the European Union: Next steps in strategic partnership

This interactive discussion will examine the possible next steps in unfolding the collaboration of India and the EU in the light of a changing world order and how tensions between the US and China make the EU and India middle powers, whose geo-economic cooperation could be of great importance.

See [Brookings] for additional information.

16 July 2020 @ 5:00 pm IST, Observer Research Foundation, India

COVID-19: Securing healthcare online

This webinar aims to discuss the challenges of digitalizing the health sector, the risk of cyber-attacks, and shows already existing legal frameworks of online healthcare.

Further event information is available at [ORF].

17 July 2020 @ 2:00 pm EDT, Brookings, USA

Election integrity and security in the era of COVID-19

This webinar will examine aspects of election security and integrity during the coronavirus pandemic. The following panel discussion will explore how to adapt to new disinformation tactics. The audience can ask questions after each panel.

See [Brookings] for further information.

20 July 2020 @ 10:30 am UTC+8, Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore

One Year after Taking Office, Can Prayut Chan-ocha's Administration Survive?

This talk will analyze possible scenarios for the future of the current Thai government, conflicts within the ruling party, the status of opposition parties, and which the young generation plays in politics.

If you are interested in joining the event, visit [ISEAS] for further information.

20 July 2020 @ 1:00 pm EDT, Brookings, USA

Lift every voice: The urgency of universal civic duty voting

This webinar will discuss the current state of the US election system and possible steps which could be taken to increase voter turnout, mainly focusing on civic duty voting. 

See [Brookings] for further information.

20 July 2020 @ 4:00 pm EDT, Wilson Center, USA

Cold Wars: Asia, the Middle East, Europe

This event will offer a completely different view on the powers involved in the Cold War and reveal how regional and national developments shaped its path.

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21 July 2020 @ 4:00 pm PDT, World Affairs, USA

MARIN | The uncertain future of Hong Kong

This webinar discusses the implications of recent developments in Hong Kong for its citizens and their pro-democracy movement as well as Hong Kong's role as a financial center.

Please find registration details here: [World Affairs].

21 July 2020 @ 4:00 pm ET, Center for Strategic & International Studies, USA

Schieffer Series: A Conversation with Senator Mitt Romney on U.S.-China Relations and Great Power Competition

In this panel discussion, Senator Mitt Romney will speak about the latest news on the US-China relationship, covering both trade and national security.

Please see [CSIS] for more information.

21 July 2020 @ 12:00 pm BST, International Institute for Strategic Studies, USA

IISS Special Presentation: US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper

In this event, US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper will portray the US vision for security in the Indo-Pacific region.

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21 July 2020 @ 2:00 pm BST, International Institute for Strategic Studies, USA

Space: an emerging domain of conflict?

This event looks at the rise of space powers and the United States' reaction to it and discusses how the development of anti-satellite capabilities impacts regional security dynamics. A further topic will be measures of arms control in space.

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21 July 2020 @ 2:00 pm EDT, Atlantic Council, USA

Is NATO still relevant?

This event discusses whether NATO is still a relevant force to cope with the challenges to the 21st century's international order and how the alliance can adapt to the issues shown by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A detailed description is accessible at [Atlantic Council].

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

How did we go? International relations in the first six months of COVID-19

This webinar will discuss the diplomatic, security, and economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic over the past six months and explores what the last half-year may mean for Indo-Pacific regional health security.

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22 July 2020 @ 8:30 am EST, Stimson Center, USA

A Post-Galwan Crossroads? Reviewing 70 Years of India-China Relations

This event will discuss the future of India-China relations as both countries are celebrating the 70ths anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year while at the same time tensions on the disputed border have escalated, leading to casualties.

Registration details are available under [Stimson].

22 July 2020 @ 9:00 am EDT, United States Institute of Peace, USA

The Next Era of U.S.-Pacific Islands Engagement

This event discusses issues for the United States regarding their engagement on the Pacific Islands in the light of accelerating development needs and challenges to peace, security, sovereignty, trade, and freedom.

Participation is possible through the YouTube chat box function. Please find the details here: [USIP].

22 July 2020 @ 4:30 pm ET, Hoover Institution, USA

A Discussion on America's Future After COVID-19

US Senator Marco Rubio will discuss on what the future holds for America after the coronavirus pandemic.

Please find registration details here: [Hoover].

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