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Asia in Review

No. 20, May/2020, 3

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers,

The AiR team is presenting you this week’s AiR issue and whishes you an informative read. 

We hope you all stay healthy and hopeful as many countries around the globe continue to relax lockdown rules and measures.

With best regards, 

Henning Glaser

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

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

Main Sections

• Law and Politics in East Asia

• Law and Politics in South Asia

• Law and Politics in South East Asia

• International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

Law and Politics in East Asia 

China/Hong Kong: Report on police use of force during protests released

(dql) In its much-anticipated report on police force behavior during protests Hong Kong’s Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), the city’s police watchdog, basically exonerates the police from charges of excessive brutality in handling the protests. It argued that while acting in response to “violence they had to face in performance of their duty, the Police had found it necessary to resort on occasions to the use of force,” adding that Hong Kong’s police “has in place policies and procedures regarding the use of force which are well in line with international guidelines.” [South China Morning Post][IPCC, Hong Kong, for the full text of the report]

While Hong Kong Chief Executive lauded the report for being “comprehensive, objective” and “based on fact” and pledged to heed the report’s recommendation for improvement in internal enforcement and communication with the public, critics denounced the findings as “shocking whitewash” failing “to bring justice any closer for the repressive and unprofessional police operations seen during the protests.” CTGN] [The Guardian]  [Amnesty International]

China/Hong Kong: Chair of important committee elected after half-year blockade

(dql) Ending a vacancy since September last year, Starry Lee Wai-king, leader of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the largest pro-establishment Beijing-loyalist party, was elected as chairperson of the House Committee of the Legislative Council (LegCo), which scrutinizes bills introduced into the LegCo and determines when they are put to a final vote. Lawmakers from the opposition who protested the election for alleged breach of parliamentary procedures by the ruling parties and obstructed the podium were dismissed from the meeting and barred from the election. [The Standard]

Lee’s election and the resumption of normal operations of the committee means a – at least temporary – political victory of the pro-Beijing camp amid rising political heat in Hong Kong ahead of the legislation election in September. 

Since the post’s vacancy in September last year, opposition lawmaker Dennis Kwok presided over the previous 17 meetings of the committee. He has been accused of intentionally delaying the election the committee’s chairman by allowing opposition lawmakers to filibuster in the committee meetings, widely seen by his opponents as a political gambit to prevent the passage of laws the opposition rejects. This applies especially to the national anthem bill which criminalizes disrespecting China’s anthem, punishable with up to 50.000 Hong Kong dollars (approx. 6,450 USD) and three years in prison, and whose passage the city government has made a priority to appease Beijing. [South China Morning Post] [AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2]

China: Journalist critical of government’s coronavirus response detained

(dql) In another case of silencing critical reporting on the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, authorities have arrested a Chinese citizen journalist for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” The female journalist has been writing and posting articles on social media since February in which she describes the impact of the lockdown on the citizens in Wuhan but also accuses the government of covering up the real scope of the virus outbreak, censoring media coverage and depriving people from human rights in the cause of fighting the pandemic. [Radio Free Asia] [South China Morning Post]

China: Prisoners of conscience targets of organ harvesting

(dql) An article in [The Jamestown Foundation: China Brief] draws attention to the problem of organ harvesting in China and makes serious allegations against Communist Party officials of executing prisoners of conscience “in order to harvest organs that can be monetized for substantial profits.” It identifies in particular detained members of the Falun Gong as target group of these killing as they abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco making their organs more desirable.

Japan: Abe shelves prosecutor reform bill

(dql) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suffered a political defeat as his cabinet announced to give up its plan to seek passage of a bill which extend the retirement age for prosecutors and the prosecutor general upon approval by the Cabinet. The announcement came after widespread massive criticism of the bill from the opposition and the public viewing the legislative effort as a politically motivated maneuver to strengthen the government’s power as well as a step paving the way for a politicization of the country’s judiciary system. [Japan Times] [Mainichi]

South Korea: Moon demands full fact-finding on Gwangju massacre

(ef) Commemorating the Democratization Movement of 1980, President Moon urged to identify those to be held responsible for the Gwangju massacre. During the protests that took place in May 1980, soldiers carried out beatings, torture, and sexual assault against citizens. Furthermore, there have been reports on shooting on a crowd from helicopters. According to official data, around 200 civilians died, however some estimate the death toll to be much higher. 

Last week, an independent fact-finding committee was launched. Moreover, Moon suggested that the historic value and significance of the Democratization Movement should be inscribed in a new constitution. [Korea Times]

South Korea: Opposition party merges with sister party

(ef) The main opposition party, United Future Party, announced that it would merge with its satellite party, Korea Future Party. The satellite party was established in preparation for the April 15 elections. The Korea Future Party won 19 seats in the election; thus, the merger will raise the UFP’s seats to 103. [Korea Herald] The merger comes a week after the ruling party announced that it would merge with its affiliate party. [AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2]

Taiwan: Cabinet resigns en masse

(dql) Ahead of the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen for her second term this Wednesday, Taiwan’s Cabinet last week resigned en masse to pave the way for Tsai’s reshuffle. 

It is widely believed that most of the Ministers will be re-appointed to ensure stability during the pandemic period. [Taiwan News] [Focus Taiwan]

Law and Politics in South Asia 

India: Bad news for RCEP? Modi addresses nation and announces "self-reliant" India

(jk) India's PM Modi has addressed the nation last week and promised an economic stimulus package including for example protection and support for local businesses and favourable loans to the tune of around 10% of the nation's GDP. [Hindustan Times] Critical business leaders and economists have voiced doubts however and questioned the government's capacity to implement the policies and really do enough. [Economic Times]

Modi also stated this would be part of the campaign to create a "self-reliant" India. The Finance Minister qualified a day later when she gave more details on the stimulus package that "self-reliance" does not mean India would shut itself off from the world. [Livemint] 

Indeed, the details the Finance Minister shared at a press conference included news that in order to boost India's national defence industry, India would ease restrictions on foreign ownership in joint defence ventures, allowing foreign investors to own up to 74% up from the current 49% limit. The move is aimed at reducing the arms import bill as well as strengthening local manufacturing and making big investments in India more likely. [Defense News] [ORF]

Regardless, the term has led to some confusion among analysts and some were wondering if this could also signal India's hardening stance over its participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Later last week, such concerns were felt even stronger when India let a deadline for a response to a new attempt of India re-joining negotiations on the trade deal pass. It was indicated that China's behaviour during the Covid crisis strengthened India's opposition to joining as well as insufficient protection of its agricultural and other sectors in the deal. [The Hindu]

Pakistan's Supreme Court rules coronavirus not a pandemic and orders lifting of restrictions 

(jk) Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled against the government-directed closings of businesses and decided that stores and shopping malls can open immediately in an effort to revive economic activity. The chief justice was quoted saying that “[p]eople will die of hunger even if they survive COVID-19 if the business activities are not resumed in the country,” after a five-member bench of the Supreme Court heard the "suo moto case" regarding the government's coronavirus pandemic measures. [Geo] [The Straits Times]

A "suo motu", or "on its own motion" case can be ordered by the Supreme Court without waiting for a particular case to come before it. Suo moto cases have been controversial and widely used in Pakistan, especially over the past ten years. [see e.g. Dawn; Pakistan Today]

Sri Lanka: Muslims continued to be cremated against their will

(jk) Muslim activists and religious rights bodies continue to express concerns over the ban on burials in Sri Lanka which they see as part of anti-Muslim rhetoric amid the pandemic. Earlier this month, another Muslim woman has been cremated against her family's will. In addition, two days after the cremation, test results emerged that showed she did not actually die from Covid-19. [Al Jazeera 1]

Sri Lanka initially amended its rules on burials and cremations earlier in April, making cremations of COVID-19 victims mandatory despite guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO) that deem burials safe. Human and religious rights groups, as well as local Muslim associations raised concerns this policy is purposely hurting minorities in the country. [Al Jazeera 2] 

Sri Lanka: Supreme Court begins hearing petitions against government actions 

(jk) The Supreme Court has begun hearings into several petitions that have been filed challenging the timeline of the government's dissolution of parliament and the new poll date set by the Election Commission. [Daily FT] It will look at potential constitutional impasses over the fact that  the new parliament must meet within three months of dissolution. The petitions also raise questions over parliamentary approval of public expenditures. [Asia in Review No. 18, May/2020, 1; Asia in Review No. 16, April/2020, 3]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Cambodia: Owner of a radio station charged over fake news

(hg) The owner of the Rithysen radio station and website was charged under Article 495 of the Criminal Code with “incitement to commit felonies” for his coverage of a land dispute. His media coverage allegedly incited people to encroach upon state-owned land. If convicted, he faces a jail term of between six months and two years as well as a fine of one-to-four million riel (about $250 to $1,000). [Cambodia Daily]

Indonesia: Military’s counterterrorism powers further entrenched

(ls) Last week, a draft presidential decree was sent to the Indonesian parliament that stipulates the powers of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) in counterterrorism. According to the decree, the TNI’s tasks include terrorism prevention in the form of intelligence gathering and territorial operations, along with offensive measures to respond to attacks. Human rights advocates said that giving the military wide-ranging counter-terror duties could have detrimental impacts on law enforcement and accountability. Two years ago, after the suicide bombings in Surabaya, parliament strengthened the country’s anti-terrorism law, formalizing a role for the military in duties that had been reserved for the police for two decades. [Benar News]

Indonesia: Controversy about postponement of regional elections

(ls) In April, Indonesia’s House of Representatives decided to postpone regional elections, which will be held simultaneously in the country’s 270 regions, from September to 9 December because of the Covid-19 crisis. Critics have said that voting in December is still too early and that it meant allowing incumbent candidates to benefit from the coronavirus crisis response if it was successful. The House will reevaluate the issue in the next sitting period, which will begin on 12 June. [Jakarta Post]

Indonesia: Veteran politician about to set up a new party 

(hg) National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Amien Rais, a vocal critic of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, is preparing to form a new political party following an internal rift within PAN. 

PAN, a smaller, moderate Islamist party, that fractured in February over an ugly dispute over the new party leadership. Like PAN, the new party in the planning aims at accommodating groups critical of the government. At current, Jokowi’s multi-party coalition controls more than 75% of the House of Representatives, leaving only PAN, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic party in the opposition. 

Amien Rais, once leader of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, was a key member of the religious elite that helped to topple President Suharto in 1998, the year in which he founded PAN, which sided since with hardline Islamic groups. PAN has previously supported also Gerindra Party chairman General Prabowo Subianto who then decided to join his rival Jokowi’s cabinet as defense minister after ‘his’ Gerindra joined the ruling coalition. [Jakarta Post]

Laos: Former Lao Prime Minister dies at 92

(hg) General Sisavath Keobounphanh – one of the senior members of the first generation of Party revolutionaries and former Prime Minister – has died at the age of 92. 

Sisavath Keobounphanh had also served as a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) from the 1st to the 8th session, as a Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee for the 3rd and the 4th session, as a Politburo member during the 4th and the 6th to the 8th session, as well as a Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and a Minister of Interior until he became Vice-President from 1996 to 1998 and then Prime Minister from 1998 to 2001. [Laotian Times]

The state funeral was attended by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, leading a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State apparatus. [Vietnam Plus]

Malaysia: One-day parliament session sees only King’s speech

(ls) The controversial one-day session of the Malaysian parliament went forward on Monday, 18 May, as planned with the King delivering a speech in which he called for unity and political stability. The speech was the only item on the agenda. Thus, a vote of no-confidence, planned by the opposition to be launched against the government under new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, or a debate about the country’s response to Covid-19 did not take place. [South China Morning Post 1]

As reported earlier, the opposition had criticized the government's decision to disallow debates during the one-day sitting, alleging Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance was not confident that it would be able to secure a majority parliament. Of the 222 seats, PN currently has 113 seats while the opposition has 108. There is one independent MP. [Straits Times 1]

Perikatan Nasional (PN), which has not yet announced to establish a formal coalition, consists of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Barisan Nasional, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), United Sabah Party (PBS) and the Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR). Over the weekend, however, the parties concluded a Memorandum of Understanding, which is seen as a step toward the formation of a coalition. [Straits Times 2]

Meanwhile, Mukhriz Mahathir, the now former Chief Minister of the state of Kedah and son of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has stepped down from his position as Chief Minister on Sunday after he had lost his tight majority in the State Assembly. [Asia in Review, No. 19, May/2020, 2] Though initially resisting, he eventually saw no opportunity to regain the assembly’s support. He has now been replaced by Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor from PAS. [South China Morning Post 2]

Malaysia: 1MDB charges dropped against Najib Razak’s stepson

(ls) Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, a film producer and the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, was released from five counts of money-laundering over almost 250 million USD allegedly misappropriated from the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The charges were dropped after he agreed to return about 107 million USD in assets. Criminal prosecution is now excluded as long as he performs his obligations under the agreement. Former Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who had taken the decision to prosecute Riza, said the agreement was a “sweetheart deal for Riza but terrible for Malaysia.” The trial against Najib has resumed this week. [New Straits Times] [Malay Mail]

Myanmar: Recent military reshuffle prepares the ground for Commander-in-Chief’s retirement 

(hg) Earlier this month and six months ahead of the general election expected to be held in November, the Myanmar armed forces, the Tatmadaw, have reshuffled some important positions, promoting parts of a new generation of officers, a development lucidly analyzed by Nanda for [Frontier Myanmar].

The reshuffle is widely seen as a move by Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who has headed the Tatmadaw for nine years, to shore up support among senior ranks before his current five-year term ends in 2021.

In effect, the latest reshuffle has strengthened those perceived to be close to Min Aung Hlaing, who himself became appointed commander-in-chief by Senior General Than Shwe in 2011 when the military transferred power to the quasi-civilian administration headed by President U Thein Sein. Min Aung Hlaing became vice senior general a year later and senior general in 2013.

Now, with his retirement advancing, Min Aung Hlaing prepares a military leadership close to him, which would turn out particularly useful if speculations are accurate that he has political aspirations and may run for the presidency. 

Most significant is the rise of Major-General Kyaw Swar Lin, 49, commander of the Tatmadaw’s Central Command, who has been promoted to become Myanmar’s youngest lieutenant-general replacing Lieutenant-General Nyo Saw as quartermaster general, the sixth highest position in the Tatmadaw. Kyaw Swar Lin, who is a graduate of the 35th batch of the elite Defence Services Academy, served as a junior officer to Lieutenant-General Moe Myint Tun, commander of the Bureau of Special Operations 6, who is widely expected to become the next Tatmadaw commander-in-chief. Both served together on operations in Rakhine State prior to 2018. According to rumors, newly appointed quartermaster general Kyaw Swar Lin could become deputy commander-in-chief then. At least three of the 14 regional command positions of the Tatmadaw were also reshuffled. 

Philippines: ABS-CBN calls Supreme Court as parliament backtracks temporary license

(ls) After the Philippines’ biggest media broadcaster, ABS-CBN, was forced to cease its operations two weeks ago [Asia in Review, No. 19, May/2020, 2], the Supreme Court rejected the network’s plea for an immediate resumption. Rather, the judges ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and both chambers of Congress to comment on the issue within 10 days. ABS-CBN said that, since the NTC ordered the shutdown, the company lost more than 10 million USD in advertising revenue. [Al Jazeera]

Whereas the House of Representatives on last week’s Wednesday passed a bill giving ABS-CBN a temporary license to go back on the air for five months while Congress decides whether to grant a new license [Inquirer], it withdrew the second reading approval on Monday this week as questions regarding the constitutionality of the legislative procedure had been raised. The bill was introduced on first reading and approved on second reading on the same day. The House leadership, however, stated that the withdrawal came in response to calls from members for extended plenary debates and the introduction of amendments. [Manila Bulletin]

Singapore: Historian receives POFMA correction order over statement on POFMA 

(hg) Historian Thum Ping Tjin has been asked to publish a correction to a video in which he claimed that Singapore's fake news law renders all criticism of the Government illegal. The ‘Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) Office’ has issued a correction order to him and declared that “[c]ontrary to what Mr Thum suggests, people are free to criticise and disagree with the Government”. 

The responsible Law Ministry noted that the video itself will remain fully accessible to the public, “[t]hus, members of the public will be in a position to view the video, read the correction notice and clarifications, and come to their own conclusions”. In his video, the historian had questioned Pofma’s rationale alleging that it was supposed to silence critics and claiming that it is so sweeping that "even if one bit is found to be wrong or misleading, the whole statement can be considered false".

The Government, however, considers it as untrue that an entire statement will be automatically considered false, because a part of it is false, and also reiterates that Pofma does not apply to opinions. [Strait Times]

Thailand: 10th anniversary of violent crackdown of Red-shirt protest

(dql) On occasion of the 10th anniversary of the military crackdown of the Red-Shirt protest in May 2010, where almost 100 people - mostly civilian demonstrators and a few security officers - had been killed, a small group of former protesters and supporters gathered to commemorate the incident and to demand justice. According to them no one from the then government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva or the military or police has been convicted of any wrongdoings related to the shootings.

The crackdown remains divisive. For Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former leader of the now dissolved Future Forward Party and leader of a progressive civil society group, impunity would prevail “unless and until we can establish a genuine democracy in this country,” adding that: “This is a war, the war of memory. The establishment, the elite, they want us to forget about what happened.” Echoing this demand for holding wrongdoers accountable, Jatuporn Prompan, one of the leaders of the Red Shirts, demands “a thorough investigation, autopsies and trials.” [Reuters] [New York Times]

Defending Abhisit Vejjajiva, Ramet Rattanachaweng, spokesman of the Democrat Party, which is currently part of the ruling coalition, insisted that all allegations of wrongdoing have been dismissed as unfounded by the courts and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. [Thaiger] 

Vietnam: Leadership reshuffle as almost no new Covid-19 cases anymore

(jn) Vietnam has emerged considerably less marred from its fight against the pandemic than other Southeast Asian countries with officially a little over three hundred cases and no deaths, after almost a month without new community infections [see also Air No. 17, April/2020, 4]. [Channel News Asia]

A new analysis by [The Diplomat] sheds a particular light on how the crucial decision to implement a nationwide shutdown much earlier than any other country in the region – and much to China’s chagrin – was mostly owing to the deep-rooted distrust between the two countries. Despite very similar political systems and internal party structures, the two countries’ history is marked by conflicts, currently mainly the South China Sea dispute. Yet the geopolitical rivalry has not kept Vietnam and China from cooperating in their containment effort, especially because their deep economic ties leave them no other choice.

It is still open, however, whether Covid-19 will impact the upcoming 13th National Congress in January 2021 where the conservative and reformist camps within the Communist Party will vie for the top government positions and orientation. A hard clash between those sides is not expected though, since the reshuffle is usually agreed upon internally in advance and some observers see their differences rather as policy standpoints within a tightly knit party elite.

The conservative wing under Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who removed a reformist Prime Minister and main rival at the last Congress, has pushed a major anti-corruption policy and cracked down against non-ideological party officials while, on the other hand, continuing the reformist agenda of opening up the country economically and towards the US. 

It also remains to be seen whether the Party will return to its traditional power structure, i.e. the distribution of the “four pillars” – President, Prime Minister, Party General Secretary and chair of the National Assembly – among four different officeholders. In 2018, Trong became President despite simultaneously serving as General Secretary. He is expected to resign from the latter office after two terms but may continue as President. A faithful follower would be ready to step in and replace him but would have to face off with Prime Minister and reformist Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

Finally, a (reformist) agenda will also hinge on the composition of the major party bodies, i.e. the Politburo, the Central Committee and the new cabinet that is chosen by the Prime Minister. A compromise candidate for that office could be economist and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is liberal on economic policy within the Party, yet personally close to President Trong. [Asia Times]

Layoffs in Southeast Asian garment industry leave workers in precarious situation

(ls) Thousands of garment factories across Southeast Asia have been shutting down, laying off workers after orders from major brands were cancelled due to limited demand in the Covid-19 crisis. In Cambodia, about 60,000 garment workers have lost their employment. In Myanmar, the number is at 58,000. Myanmar’s garment industry was the fastest-growing sector of the economy, accounting for about 10% of the country’s exports. The European Union has created a wage fund for workers in Myanmar worth 5 million euros. The government promised to cover 40% of the salaries of laid off workers. At the same time, factories that have reopened are struggling to enforce social distancing and hygiene practices in often cramped conditions. [Reuters]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China-USA relations: High tensions high over Covid-19

(dql) Sino-US tensions over Covid-19 are running high. In a latest in a string of recent moves to pressure the World Health Organisation (WHO) against China, US President Trump threatened in an open letter to WHO Director-GeneralTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to permanently freeze US funding to the WHO and reconsider his country’s membership if the UN agency fails to “commit major substantive improvements within the next 30 days”. Accusing the WHO of a lack of independence from China and of the ensuing “repeated missteps” which “have been extremely costly for the world” he demanded that the WHO demonstrates “independence from China” as the “only way forward” for the agency. [First Post]

Echoing Trump’ attack, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar criticized in his address to annual meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA) the WHO for failing to “obtain the information the world needed” as well as China for making “mockery of their transparency obligations, at tremendous cost for the entire world." [BBC News]

On the other side, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also addressing the WHA, lauded the WHO for its “major contribution in leading and advancing the global response to COVID-19,” and reiterated that China has been acting “with openness, transparency and responsibility”, asserting that the country has “provided information to WHO and relevant countries in a most timely fashion,” and announcing to provide 2 billion USD over two years for COVID-19 response measures as well as for economic and social development aid in affected countries, with a focus of developing countries.  [Xinhua] 

For a critical interpretation of Xi’s speech and the focus put on Africa therein see Valérie Niquet in [The Diplomat] who sees China hit hard by the backlash of the international community and struggling to re-claim the image of a benevolent power, especially in the Global South and Africa. 

For a critical perspective on Covid-19 related China-bashing and smear campaigns in the USA and other Western countries see Jian Qingguo in [East Asia Forum].

In a latest development, China expressed support for calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak as part of a “comprehensive evaluation” of the global response to the pandemic. However, President Xi insisted that the probe would only be conducted after the pandemic is under control. Xi’s announcement came after a European Union-drafted resolution calling for a probe into both how the pandemic began as well as the responses to it is believed to be approved by the WHA in this week. [Voice of America] [WHO]

China hits Austria with barley tariffs and beef export ban 

(dql) Already strained relations between China and Australia over the latter’s push for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus in China have further worsened after China announced to set an 80% tariff on Australian barley imports from May 19. 

In related move, Beijing has banned four Australian meat processing plants from exporting to China, citing compliance issues going back to 2017 as reason for the ban. [Reuters] [South China Morning Post]

In a first response, Canberra declared that it would not take retaliatory measures. [ABC News]

China kicks off series of military drills

(dql) China last week begun a two-and-a-half month series of military exercises in the Yellow Sea in Northern China. 

Analysts speculate whether the exercises involving two of China’s aircraft carriers are a routine combat ability boosting training or specifically aimed at preparing an attack on Taiwan. [Global Times] [Asia Times] [Taiwan News]

Meanwhile, the USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer capable of carrying out anti-aircraft and strike operations, was spotted last week sailing through the Yellow Sea off the coast of Shanghai, while at the same timeanother US warship, the USS MacCampbell, transited the Taiwan Strait on routine operations . [South China Morning Post] [Focus Taiwan]

For an overview of operations on the US 7th Fleet in May in its area of operations ranging from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to the western coast of India, encompassing most of the Indian Ocean, see [The Diplomat]

Japan: Tokyo makes claims on Russian- and South Korean-held disputed islands explicit again

(dql) Signaling a hardening stance of the Japanese side towards Russia, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has made an explicit claim to ownership of a group of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido in its Diplomatic Bluebook, the Ministry’s annual foreign policy report, released this Tuesday. The claim was not made in the report last year when a solution in the long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia seemed possible. However, hopes were shattered in the course of a numbers of unsuccessful diplomatic efforts. [Japan Times]

Meanwhile, South Korea urged Japan to withdraw its territorial claims to Dokdo islets in the East Sea, also made in the Bluebook. The Dokdo islets are referred to in Japan as Takeshima islets and have been administered by Seoul since 1954. [Korea Herald]

South Korea: Moon calls for binding legal force of WHO norms

(ef) On Monday, South Korean President Moon called for giving the WHO more teeth to face future global health crises and urged to augment WHO norms with binding legal force and to share infection-related data in a more transparent manner in the future. [Reuters] 

Under the 2005 rules, the WHO’s 194 member states are supposed to inform the Geneva-based agency quickly of any outbreaks. But WHO currently has limited leverage and lacks the power to enter countries to investigate without their permission.

South Korea: Military exercises postponed

(ef) South Korea postponed a major military exercise planned for this week involving ballistic missiles, combat ships and fighter jets. The Defense Ministry cited adverse weather conditions as reason for its decision, dismissing allegations that the decision was made to avoid confrontation with North Korea which criticized South Korea’s military exercises earlier this month.  [Korea Herald] [AiR No. 19, May/2020, 2],

Continuation of India’s territorial and border disputes with Nepal

(jk) Last week, Asia in Review highlighted the story of the Indian Defence Minister inaugurating an link road through the Lipulekh pass, a territory disputed between India and Nepal and currently under control of Indian security forces. We also noted that Nepal has formally protested the unilateral move [Asia in Review No. 19, May/2020, 2], and since deployed members of its Armed Policy Force to patrol the area. [The Wire]

Over the week, the dispute has not died down and Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has claimed that a number of contested territories, including Lipulekh, belong to them. The cabinet endorsed a new map of the country this week including those territories in a clear sign of claiming sovereignty. [Zee News]

Observers in India have pointed out what they believe to be a distinct "China angle" in the developments as well, especially considering how close the pass is to the Line of Actual control (LAC) and after India's Army Chief publicly stated that Nepal’s protest was at 'someone else’s behest', leaving little doubt he was referring to the PRC. [The Indian Express] Growing Chinese influence in Nepal is of course a concern for India and was only very recently highlighted by the actions of the Chinese ambassador to Nepal amid a serious government crisis as we highlighted then. [Asia in Review No. 18, May/2020, 1]

India: Riots in Kashmir after Indian Army shoots Kashmiri man 

(jk) Indian soldiers shot and killed a Kashmiri man at a checkpoint last week after he allegedly refused to stop his car. His death caused anti-India protests with "hundreds" shouting slogans urging India to retreat from the region before Indian forces entered the village and quelled the protests. [South China Morning Post]

Pakistan: More Soldiers killed in attacks in Balochistan

(jk) At least seven soldiers have been killed in attacks in the Pakistani province of Balochistan this week. Six soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb when they were returning to their base from patrolling duty and one was shot in a firefight. Six more soldiers have died in a similar attack earlier this months. The earlier attack was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). [Al Jazeera]

Pakistan's "high costs" in energy projects, including many BRI projects

(jk) Earlier in April, a report on energy project costs commissioned by PM Khan's government has unveiled significant corruption problems and "inflated" costs in major energy projects. The report issued by a appointed committee which observed projects over an 8 months period revealed malpractices in the signing and execution of contracts, including overstating set-up costs and many more violations of SOPs in bad faith and at the expense of the government. [Profit]

In a piece at [The Diplomat], a former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States focusses on those projects in the report that are part of the Belt and Road's China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. These make up "at least one third of the projects highlighted in the report" and the author suspects that malpractice and "incomprehensibly" high profiteering by Chinese companies are generated "with the complicity of leaders in the Pakistan government and the loot shared by all parties." Although it could be argued that Pakistan's extraordinary financial problems are mainly rooted in "[m]assive military expenditure, deep rooted corruption, and lack of accountability" (as he does) and where the money comes from is of secondary importance, he also concludes that these woes are now seemingly joined by "a new liability" - Chinese investments. 

UN Security Council addresses Rakhine conflict and Covid-19 in Myanmar 

(jn) Last Thursday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) held a closed-door video conference both on the escalation of violence in Rakhine state and on the impact of Covid-19 in the country, on the request of the United Kingdom. The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, was expected to give an assessment of the situation. 

The second UNSC meeting on Myanmar this year comes after a UN-convoy got caught up in the armed conflict between the national military and the insurgent Arakan Army [Air No. 16, April/2020, 3], an ambush that left one WHO-worker dead. The attack was strongly condemned by UN Secretary General Guterres. Myanmar has begun investigations into the incident and the identity of the perpetrators, but their independence remains doubtful. [Bangkok Post] [RFA]

At the same time, the country’s leadership under Aung San Suu Kyi is racing to counter the economic and social devastation of the pandemic [AiR No. 18, May/2020, 1], among other things with a stimulus of about $2 billion. It is suspected that the relatively small number of Covid-19 cases is simply owing to the lack of testing capabilities, and is also expected to hit the working poor, especially tens of thousands of migrant workers, the hardest. 

Aung San Suu Kyi’s government received widespread criticism after it had first downplayed the virus in the country despite the country’s limited health care system. However, experts presume the virus to be under control now, which except for the nationwide shutdown has, according to observers, more to do with local community organizing than with effective governance. [Asia Times] [Bloomberg]

Tensions between China and Indonesia over alleged mistreatment of sailors

(ls) Indonesia's foreign ministry said it was seeking more information about alleged incidents of Indonesian sailors having died after mistreatments on Chinese fishing vessels. An advocacy group said last weekend it concluded that the body of an Indonesian sailor was thrown off a Chinese ship near Somalia in January. Earlier this month, the government in Jakarta demanded an explanation from China regarding the sea burials of three Indonesian sailors in the Pacific Ocean between December and March. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that Beijing was investigating the reports. [Asian Nikkei Review]

South China Sea: Chinese-Malaysian stand-off ends as ships leave

(ls) Tensions have been easing in the South China Sea, as the Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 has left Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after an oil exploration vessel of the Malaysian state oil firm Petronas had left the area before. The ships were involved in a month-long standoff in waters claimed by Malaysia, Vietnam as well as China. Chinese statements have maintained that the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was conducting normal activities. [Reuters]

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