![]() Asia in Review Brought to you by CPG Dear Reader, CPG is pleased to once more bring you an overview of the most important recent news and happenings in Asia! From the detention of journalists and opposition leaders in various countries, to important Trans-Pacific trade deal negotiations and a massive corruption scandal shaking Malaysia, here's what has been going on in ASEAN and the rest of Asia! Kind regards, and enjoy catching up on the news! Henning Glaser (Director, CPG) What's Happening in ASEAN ![]() CPP Passes More Party Law Changes in Assembly The space for opposition in Cambodia keeps getting tighter as the National Assembly passes more changes to the Law on Political Parties. Contradictory to CPP claims, the rules and regulations are perceived to be directed at the CNRP and their former leader in exile Sam Rainsy. (The Cambodia Daily) ![]() Gagging the messengers of Myanmar’s wars The detention of three journalists in Myanmar is a worrying sign of where things are headed. Ethnic conflict in Myanmar goes well beyond the tragic situation of the Rohingya. (Asia Times) ![]() Police reform panel said to 'lack sincerity' (The Bangkok Post) ![]() Father of modern Malaysia backs jailed former deputy in attempt to oust PM In the wake of a massive corruption scandal shaking Malaysia and PM Najib, former PM Mahathir announced that he is backing his former protégé and jailed opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, to become prime minister. Ibrahim was sacked by Mahathir himself as deputy, and imprisoned on sodomy charges. (The Guardian) ![]() The end of political ideology in Malaysia? Party ideology with strong values, which formerly constituted the backbone of political parties in Malaysia, is fading away. Nowadays, ideologies are represented by parties only in name, marked by personality politics where politicians jump from one camp to another based on the behavior of a leader. (The Strait Times) ![]() Azalina: Do not politicise judges’ appointments In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said that the appointments of two additional judges to the Federal Court are in accordance with the Federal Constitution. (The Star Online) ![]() Malaysia on high alert for fleeing militants after Mosul's liberation Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Monday said intelligence reports indicate that foreign Islamic State (IS) fighters fleeing the Middle East are planning to shift their bases to Southeast Asia. (Channel NewsAsia) ![]() 'A cannon to shoot sparrows': New Indonesian anti-Islamist law slammed Human rights organizations condemn the revised law in Indonesia allowing the disbanding of religious and civil society organizations without the right of appeal. Part of the government’s plan to ban the conservative Islam group Hizbut Tahrir, it could exasperate issues as peaceful political activism is already severely restricted. (CNN) ![]() Indonesia: Counterterrorism Law Changes Threaten Rights Despite legitimate concerns over terrorism, Indonesia’s proposed revisions to its counterterrorism law could restrict freedom of speech and promote violations of citizenship rights. (Human Rights Watch) ![]() IS declares war on Malaysia and Indonesia A video clip released by IS, depicts a man followed by child soldiers stating military threats and giving up their Malaysian and Indonesian citizenships by burning their passports. (The Jakarta Post) ![]() Vietnam to pull the US back to Asia? The US-Viet Nam joint statement released in the context of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the White House on 31 May 2017 marks a firm agenda for the deepening of the two countries’ political, diplomatic, and economic ties. (East Asia Forum) ![]() VN vows to lift restrictions to facilitate foreign investors: PM Phúc Viet Nam is ready to lift restrictions on foreign investment, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc declared at the Việt Nam - Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague on Tuesday. (Viet Nam News) ![]() Dutertismo and the West Philippine Sea: Year One Despite its apparent benefits, Duterte's policy has not generated any assurance that China will not impose itself and its pre-emptive claim over waters and resources that legally pertain to the Philippines. (Rappler) ![]() ‘Powerful convergences’ with ASEAN can boost cooperation: India At a distinguished lecture in Singapore, India’s foreign secretary Jaishankar highlighted strong convergences between India and ASEAN, which can spur cooperation, harmonize global contradictions, and create credible meeting points. (Indian Express) What's Happening in the Rest of Asia ![]() Why Won’t China Help With North Korea? Remember 1956 The international community can’t rely on China to tighten the noose around Kim Jong-un’s neck. Historical lessons show that Xi has no desire to “help” America with North Korea. (China File) ![]() Isolated, tortured and mentally scarred ... the plight of China’s human rights lawyers two years after ‘709 crackdown’ Two years after the “709 crackdown”, Chinese Human Rights lawyers are struggling and whilst the President speaks of rule of law, they are facing a different reality. (South China Morning Post) ![]() China’s biggest ally in the South China Sea? A volcano in the Philippines How the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 led to the closing of two U.S. naval bases, facilitating Chinese advancement in the South China Sea. (Quartz) ![]() Political opponents held in secret detention: HRW According to the Human Rights Watch, many opposition activists in Bangladesh have been secretly detained and killed by security agencies. (Prothom Alo) ![]() The toxic path we still tread The coup on July 5, 1977 by Gen Ziaul Haq left damaging scars and shapes Pakistan’s state and society until today. Forces four decades old still holds the country back and could create another big wave of violence. (Dawn) ![]() Sri Lanka’s Current Political Impasse Sri Lanka is facing a three-fold political crisis, namely at the regime level, governance level, and its broader political transformation process. (The Sunday Leader) ![]() Japan to be party to U.N. intl crime treaty Japan has finally agreed to become party to the U.N. Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, after first signing the treaty in 2000. The move should enhance Japan’s law enforcement effectiveness, and its standing with the other countries party to the treaty. (The Japan News) ![]() China sends troops to first overseas naval base in Djibouti Military personnel have been sent to China’s first overseas naval base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, triggering worries in India. (South China Morning Post) ![]() Big in Japan: How the EU pulled off its largest trade deal Phil Hogan, European Commissioner, managed to seal the agreement with Japan on opening up Japan’s agricultural markets in exchange for Europe dropping tariffs on Japanese cars, with the deciding factor being soft cheese. (Politico) ![]() TPP talks to focus on bridging divides Talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement have begun in Hakone (Japan), in the absence of the United States, who withdrew. Plenary and individual meetings are expected to focus on the steps needed to bring the TPP into force without the US, by aligning the participating countries’ positions. (The Japan News) ![]() India, U.S. and Japan Begin War Games, and China Hears a Message For the first time since their inception in 1992, India’s Malabar series prompted joint naval exercises by the Indian, Japanese, but also US navies. The goal of the exercises is to permanently station warships near the Strait of Malacca, a strategic stronghold which could be used to put pressure on Chinese supply and trade routes. (The New York Times) ![]() Pakistan, Indonesia Consultative Forum reviews economic, security matters During Pakistan and Indonesia’s Bilateral Consultative Forum, aimed at reviewing and discussing the countries’ political, economic, and security relations, the countries vowed to continue bilateral collaboration through the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Policy Planning Dialogue. (Business Recorder) Useful Background Reading ![]() UN abandons democracy in Asia The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has redefined the term ‘governance’ in the conceptual framework of its engagement for the promotion of development. In favor of an apolitical developmental notion of governance ‘political’ criteria for the assessment of governance has been dropped. (East Asia Forum) As our newsletter is still in its beginning stage, we would greatly appreciate your feedback! Please send any feedback you have regarding this newsletter to: info@cpg-online.de Also, don't forget to Like CPG on Facebook, and browse our new website for updates and News! See links at the bottom of this page below: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |