China: Removing barriers to Xi’s third term

Discussions within the Chinese Communist Party about a change of the retirement age can be seen as an effort to pave the way for a third term of Xi Jinping who would be 69 years old in 2022. The current guidelines of the Party determine the retirement age at 68.

China: Universities tighten ideological con-trol/Online posts only after real-name registration

Reflecting ongoing efforts of the Chinese government to increase control in state and society, the Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has ordered ideological inspection visits in leading universities across the country. As a reaction, some universities have already established departments in charge of monitoring and evaluating political thinking of their teaching staff (link 1). In a related development, China’s cyber security law, in force since June, requires internet users from October on to register with their real names to be able to post comments online (link 2).

India: With dramatics in Bihar, the BJP’s march to dominance in Indian politics continues

Across India, the governing party’s (BJP) march to dominance continues with a shocking switch of political alliances in Bihar, the subcontinent’s third most populous state leaving very few federal states with the Congress Party in power. Events like the opposition’s collapse in Bihar and the recent election of India’s 13th Vice-President lead to the overall conclusion of a steady decline of India’s former grand party, the Congress, while Prime Minister Modi’s BJP gains more and more traction (see the first and second link). For a background on the general development of the rules of the political game in India see the third link below.

Darjeeling unrest: Government begins dialogue with Gorkha leadership

As of July 2017, there is still an ongoing agitation in Darjeeling. Protests first started on June 5, after the West Bengal government announced that the Bengali language will be made mandatory in all schools across the state. The people of Darjeeling and the adjoining areas who are predominantly Nepali speaking, saw this as an imposition of an alien culture upon them. Fueled by the determination to preserve their own culture, identity and language, this protest soon turned into a full-fledged resurgence of the agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland. Initiating a dialogue process with an aim to end the Darjeeling impasse, the Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday held a crucial meeting with major hill-based political parties in Kolkata.

India: Supreme Court rules privacy a 'fundamental right' in landmark case

A rare nine-member bench of the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling with potentially widespread consequences, decreeing that a right to privacy is part of the fundamental rights to life and liberty enshrined in the country's constitution. The judges ruled the right to privacy was "an intrinsic part of Article 21 that protects life and liberty". The ruling has implications for the government's vast biometric ID scheme, covering access to benefits, bank accounts and payment of taxes.

India: Supreme court bans Islamic ‘instant divorce’

India’s supreme court has banned the controversial Muslim practice of instant divorce in a ruling that furthers women’s rights but which some fear will inflame tensions between Muslims and the country’s Hindu majority. Judges ruled on Tuesday that “instant triple talaq” – which allows Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying “talaq, talaq, talaq” – was illegal under the Indian constitution. Hindu men do not have the same rights and must prove in court that their wives have wronged them to be granted a divorce.

India: Why India doesn’t have a Uniform Civil Code

The article ponders the question whether India should have a Uniform Civil Code and why it has not, giving a number of reasons among which social diversity and the correspondingly diverging interests and values are the main reasons.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh jails owner of building that collapsed in 2013

A Bangladesh court on Tuesday sentenced the owner of a building that collapsed in 2013 in the country's worst industrial disaster to three years in jail for unaccounted income.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan ambassador accused of war crimes in Brazil

Human rights groups have filed lawsuits in Brazil and Colombia against Sri Lanka's ambassador in Latin America, accusing him of war crimes. Lawyers seek to expel Jagath Jayasuriya, ambassador to Brazil, over abuses in final phase of offensive against LTTE.Sri Lanka's ambassador to Brazil has fled the country after human rights groups filed lawsuits accusing him of overseeing war crimes on Monday night. Meanwhile the former general has returned to Colombo via Dubai after fleeing Brazil on Sunday.   

Cambodia: Land eviction on land of Hun Sen’s daughter

More than 400 families have been ordered to remove their homes built on land owned by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s daughter on last Sunday with a deadline of next Tuesday to comply.

Myanmar: Losing Faith in Aung San Suu Kyi

A thorough background article on Aung San Suu Kyi from the perspective of a former pro-democracy ally representing many ex-supporters and increasing voicers from the international community. One issue of criticism is indifference towards if not complicity with violence against minorities with the Suu Kyi’s government banning a U.N. investigation team from entering the afflicted region, and earlier this month rejecting assertions that the regime’s actions “very likely” amounted to crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. A second point of criticism pertains to “the Lady’s” authoritarian leadership style.

Myanmar: Thousands of Rohingya stranded on Bangladesh border as fighting rages

After Rohingya insurgents have launched coordinated attacks last week in Rakhine state against security posts, setting off retaliation operations by government forces thousands of Rohingya Muslims are now fleeing toward Bangladesh for safety, accompanied by a smaller exodus of Rakhine Buddhists.

Singapore: Presidential Election 2017

The Presidential Election in Singapore has been set for September 23 if more than one person qualifies to run for the position. If there is only one eligible candidate, he or she will start the presidential term on the working day after Nomination Day. The winning candidate will be the second Malay president in Singapore's history, and the first to be chosen in a presidential election reserved for candidates of a specific community.

Thailand: Rice sales court ruling: No show of former Prime Minister, 42 years for former Commerce Minister

While former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra did not show up in the court to receive the long awaited ruling of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on the rice sales case (link 1), former Commerce Minister Boonson Teriyapirom in the same case, which involves 28 defendants, was sentenced to 42 years in jail (link 2).

South Korea: Democracy and the rule of law are moving on

Three trials give hope that South Korea is on a path to increase the quality of its democracy and rule of law with the former President (link 1), a Samsung leader (link 2) and the former head of the national intelligence (link 3) facing or having already been faced trial.

What type of Southeast Asian order will China accept

A politically unified and neutral Southeast Asia is the most preferred form of this regional entity for China in her struggle with the USA for dominance in Asia, NUS Professor Huang Jing writes.

Cross-Straits relations and the resurgence of “Martial Reunification”

Because of constraining factors on international level, national level and leadership level, cross-straits unification by military means is not a strategic choice for Beijing, Derek Ye Xiao Di writes. However, China might be compelled to enforce martial reunification if pro-independence forces within the green camp in Taiwan would prevail over president Tsai Ing-wen.

Malaysia-China ties: A rosy look

In an interview on Malaysian-Chinese relations China’s Ambassador to Malaysia gives his views on the country’s bilateral ties highlighting the crucial economic relations with China being Malaysia’s most important trading partner and China heavily investing in recent years in Malaysia as one of the first country’s having embraced OBOR in the region.

India and China reached an agreement – border dispute resolved

China claims victory over India in Himalayan border row. The border triangle in the Himalayan between China, India and Buthan very often led to conflicts. Now India and China have agreed to end a month-long military stand-off at a disputed border area in the Himalayas, with Indian troop already beginning to pull out, officials say.

South Asia and US

The alienation between Pakistan and the USA under Donald Trump’s administration has opened doors for the currently very good relations between India and the USA. In the light of expectations towards increased engagement India’s in Afghanistan, it remains, however, to be seen at what price US-Indian relations are to be bought on India’s side.

India may start exporting F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed wants India as global factory

Lockheed Martin is closing in on an international deal for F-16 fighter planes, and has offered to eventually build all the jets at a proposed plant in India

Pakistan suspends talks and visits with US over Trump´s remarks

A wave of anti-American anger has swept Pakistan this past week, triggered both by President Trump’s threat to punish the country for harboring insurgents and by his invitation to India, Pakistan’s longtime rival, to become more involved in Afghanistan’s future. In protest Pakistan has reportedly now blocked all talks with the United States and visits to the country. 

China - Pakistan military commanders hold meeting in Tajikistan

General Li Zuocheng, chief of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission (CMC), met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Dushanbe and pledged to further improve bilateral ties, the Chinese Defence Ministry reports.

Is the Japanese PM seeking to encourage Indian aggressiveness for own ends?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to India, scheduled for mid of September, has a hidden agenda. According to this article, Abe will attempt to make use of India’s current tensions with China over Doklam and to strengthen Japan’s position vis-à-vis China by fostering its relations with the USA and India.

New Silk Road: Japan To counteract China In Kazakhstan with new Asia-Europe rail deal

In a move to compete with China for influence in the Eurasian region, Japanese Nippon Express, a global logistics company, concluded a MoU with Kazakh Railways pertaining to container traffic passing over land from Japan/South Korea over Central Asia and The Caucasus to Europe.

Japan’s maritime diplomacy mission in Southeast Asia

Challenging China’s assertive maritime policy in Asia, Japan has managed to emerge as the region’s leader in maritime security cooperation due to country’s successful defence cooperation with the USA and important ASEAN countries and the constant expansion of its naval capabilities reflected by the recent approval of the 42 billion defense budget, the highest ever in Japan.

Vietnam is the cornerstone of India’s “Counter China” policy

Amid news on a weapons deal between India and Vietnam there is a significant rapprochement between both countries that both display a rapprochement with Japan. This places Vietnam at the center of an ‘Anti China Axis’ from India to Japan meanwhile India and Vietnam increasingly fostering ties with the US. The article focuses on the new Indian eastward movement with Vietnam as its linchpin.

Indonesia and Vietnam mend ties after talks to settle South China Sea disputes

Despite two recent maritime stand-offs in the waters in the South China Sea Indonesia and Vietnam mended ties after President Joko Widodo and Communist Party of Vietnam Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong held talks on their interests in the South China Sea producing also a number of important deals between the countries.

Background: Indonesia and the Sea

The article analyses plans and possibilities of Indonesia to further enhance its position as a significant sea power between the oceans in the context of Asia’s changing security order.

Southeast Asian Terrorism: Indonesian militants planned nuclear attack

Indonesian pro-IS militants planned to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb close to a high - level target in Indonesia. Given the expertise and equipment, the attempt to create a small nuclear bomb would have failed but could still have functioned as a dirty bomb that could spray radioactive material with explosion.

Arctic ambitions: Could the opening up of the Arctic become the next South China Sea?

In the wake of the Arctic becoming more and more accessible, it has increasingly become contested by a number of countries with vested interested in the exploration of the natural resources of the region (link 1). Related to this topic, CPG will arrange the international conference “The Global Commons and the Governance of Unappropriated Spaces” in October (link 2).