Grasp the pattern, read the trend

Asia in Review

No. 48, December/2020, 1

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers,

Welcome to this week's Asia in Review providing you an update on the latest events and developments in constitutional politics and governance, geopolitics and international relations in Asia.

Special greetings are extended to readers in Barbados, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen which celebrate Independence Day and National Day this week. 

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

• Announcements

Law and Politics in Asia 

Corruption in 17 Asian countries – latest TI report released 

(lm) According to Transparency International’s recent report ‘Global Corruption Barometer – Asia’ almost one in five respondents across Asia – or about 886 million people – reported paying a bribe or using personal connections to access services. It also revealed that 24 percent of people across the 17 Asian nations who had paid bribes said they did so because they were asked, while another 30 percent believed they wouldn’t have received service without using personal connections. The report Global Corruption Barometer – Asia, was based on surveys of almost 20,000 people across 17 Asian countries, asking about their perceptions of, and experiences with, corruption in the past 12 months. [Transparency International]

Nepal had the highest rate of people who believed corruption was on the rise (58 percent), followed by Thailand (55 percent), Maldives (53 percent), Sri Lanka (52 percent) and Indonesia (49 percent). In contrast, almost two thirds of people in China believe corruption has decreased in their country in the past year, with more than 80 percent saying the government has done a good job in combatting it.

In Thailand, the vast majority of respondents – seven in 10 – said they had little or no trust in the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Further, among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand fared worst for citizens’ trust in institutions such as the government, the courts and the police.

Law and Politics in East Asia 

Japan: PM under pressure over allegations of illegal funding of dinner parties against Abe 

(dql) Opposition lawmakers last week questioned Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga whether he made inaccurate claims in parliament last year about a potential breach of laws on gift-giving by his predecessor Shinzo Abe. 

The questioning came after news media reported that Tokyo prosecutors are now investigating allegations of illegal spending of Abe’s office for dinner parties for supporters in a possible violation of the country’s funding and election laws. Abe has thus far vehemently denied that his office made such payments. 

Suga has been linked to the case in his former capacity as Chief Cabinet Secretary, widely seen as Abe’s right-hand man during his entire 2012-2020 term. During the questioning, Suga insisted that he always consulted with Abe first before responding to questions on the matter, while refusing to respond to questions about his past statements supporting Abe, citing the ongoing investigation. [Japan Today] [Japan Times]

South Korea: Court issues injunction against suspension of Prosecutor General from duty

(dql) In a historic first, South Korean Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae last week suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty and announced disciplinary measures against him. She cited as reason for her move “some serious misconduct,” including “improper” meeting with media executives, inspecting judges handling controversial cases and interfering with the prosecution’s investigations to safeguard people close to him. 

Calling the suspension “unfair”, Yoon sought an injunction against it and filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court to nullify the suspension on the following day. [Korea Herald 1] [Nikkei Asian Review]

In a latest development, the court this Tuesday approved Yoon’s request for the injunction. Prior to the court’s decision, also the Justice Ministry’s inspection committee, convened to discuss Choo’s decision, found that it was unjust to suspend Yoon from duty and to call for disciplinary measures against him. [Korea Herlad 2]

South Korea: Post-jail rehab facility stay for violent criminals on the way

(dql) South Korea’s government and the ruling Democratic Party are discussing a new law allowing for post-release isolation of violent criminals in a rehabilitation facility for a certain period. The law would apply to “those convicted of murder, sexual violence against children, people who have served five or more years of jail term and are likely to commit repeat offenses,” and  ensure humane treatment within the facility, according to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae. 

The discussion comes as more than 120,000 citizens expressed support for such an “isolation law” in an online petition as the country’s most notorious child rapist is set to be freed from jail this month. [Korea Herald]

Taiwan: Turmoil in parliament over US pork imports  

(nm) Last week, legislators from Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT), threw pig skin and guts and exchanged punches with other lawmakers in a heated debate in parliament, in which  Premier Su Tseng-chang tried to defend the government’s controversial plan to ease restrictions on imports of US pork fed with ractopamine – a leanness-enhancing additive.

President Tsai Ing-wen had announced in August that the government would allow imports of US pork containing ractopamine from January 1, 2021, on. The lift of the current import ban is widely viewed as an attempt of the Taiwanese government to pave the way for a trade deal with the US. The KTM and other critics have been maintaining that these imports would pose a food security threat.  [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times] [AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4]

Taiwan: Age of majority to be lowered to 18 

(nm) A committee of the Legislative Yuan last week passed preliminary reviews of proposed amendments to the Taiwanese Civil Code to lower the legal age of majority from 20 to 18. It also set the marriage age for both men and women at 18, which before had been set at 18 and 16, respectively.

The proposal which would enter into effect in 2023 and still needs to pass second and third readings by the full Legislature garnered cross-party support in the committee. 

The legal voting age of 20 will not be affected by these changes, although the Legislature instituted an ad hoc Constitutional Amendment Committee in September that is expected to review a proposal to set the voting age at 18, as well. [Focus Taiwan]

Law and Politics in South Asia 

Bangladesh: Another push for Islamic radicalism

(hg) Two events have shed light on sparking radical Islamist rhetoric in the world’s third-largest Muslim majority country in recent months, anger over France’s stance towards Islam and the construction of a sculpture of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Rahman with his’ centenary year approaching in 2021, which hardcore Islamists perceive as idolatry.

In this context, Hefazat-e-Islam, an influential Islamist group based in the port city of Chittagong which claims to be close to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling establishment, displays increasingly aggressive and venomous rhetoric and has recently demanded the government to ban religious activities of minorities like Hindus and Ahmediya and expel French diplomats and close the French embassy.

The increasing belligerence of Hefazat-i-Islam in context of the celebration of Sheikh Rahman’s centenary is indicative for the government’s difficulties in containing the very Islamist forces sometimes seen to serve its ends given that Rahman is the father of Prime Minister Hasina. Moreover, Hefazat-i-Islam is reportedly joining hands with other radical groups, among them Jamaat-e-Islami and Khilafat Majlish, which is especially problematic in the case of the anti-Hindu, anti-Indian Jamaat which is backed by Pakistan and accused of having collaborated with Pakistani occupation forces in 1970-71 which still is the foundational trauma of the nation. [Dhaka Tribune] [Wion]

Bangladesh: Massive increase of gender-based violence amid Covid-19 pandemic

(hg) Gender-based violence has increased almost 25% according to a study released by the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC). According to BRAC, more than 25,000 complaints were registered by its Legal Aid Services in the first 10 months of 2020 of which 15,047 were resolved through alternative dispute resolution while legal counsel was provided to 3,239 victims and 1,724 complaints led to civil and criminal cases being filed.

Moreover, greater pressure has been put on teenage girls for child marriage having grown in the period by 68%, compared to the same period in 2019, with a 72% rise in the number of child marriages prevented by BRAC’s women’s groups during the same period. In the third quarter of 2020, with COVID numbers spiking, the number of child marriages prevented was 219% higher than in the same period in 2019. The number of child marriages prevented rose even by 571% from the first quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2020 highlighting the correlation between the pandemic and the increase of gender-based violence. [Dhaka Tribune]

India: Farmers protest in New Delhi against deregulation legislation

(lm) Thousands of farmers blocked major roads in and around New Delhi over the weekend to protest against agricultural legislation they said could devastate crop prices, while the government sought talks with their leaders. Many farmers had traveled on their tractors and motorcycles from the country’s two breadbasket states, Punjab and Haryana, vowing to camp in the Indian capital until the government amends the recent laws. On November 27, the protesters were allowed to enter New Delhi after a day of clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons and baton charges to push them back. [Associated Press] [The Wall Street Journal] 

As part of the contentious reforms, farmers will be allowed to directly enter into selling agreements with agricultural businesses, supermarket chains, online grocers as well as exporter. Most Indian farmers currently sell the majority of their produce at government-controlled wholesale markets at assured floor prices. The government has, therefore, also insisted that it would still purchase staples such as rice and wheat at a Minimum Support Price (MSP), a government fixed benchmark designed to incentivize the farmers and thus ensure adequate food grains production in the country. [AiR No. 39, September/2020, 5]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 30 strongly defended the new legislation. Speaking at a public rally during a visit to his political constituency of Varanasi in northern India, he dismissed the fears as misplaced, saying the new legislation would bring about much needed reform that will introduce transparency, accelerate growth and attract private investment in supply chains. [The Times of India] [The Straits Times]

India: Two senior leaders of Congress party die of COVID-19 related complications

(lm) Ahmed Patel, a legislator of India’s Congress party (INC) died of multi-organ failure on Wednesday. Patel, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 a month ago served as party treasurer and was seen as close to the Gandhi family who leads the party. [Al Jazeera]

Earlier this week, another Congress veteran, Tarun Gogoi, died of health complications after contracting the virus in the northeastern state of Assam, where he had been the chief minister for 15 years. [The Hindu]

Nepal: After PM Oli, Chinese envoy meets communist party’s co-chair and Oli rival Dahal

(lm) While the power-struggle within Nepal’s ruling Communist Party (NCP) continues to deepen, China’s ambassador to Kathmandu met with party co-chair and rival of Prime Minister Oli Dahal. This is not the first time that the Chinese ambassador has expressed ‘deep interest’ in the internal dynamics of the ruling party as rift between warring factions peak [see AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1, AiR No. 18, May/2020, 1]. [The Himalayan Times]

Last week, the Chinese envoy held separate meetings with Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and the prime minister. While he had hitherto refused to call for a Secretariat meeting, after talking with the Chinese ambassador, PM Oli agreed to hold a meeting of the nine-member body the following day. During the meeting, Oli declared either he had to step down as both party co-chair and prime minister if the allegations levelled against him by Dahal were proven right or else Dahal would have to quit party co-leadership.

Meanwhile, a 21-member delegation led by Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe arrived in Kathmandu on an official visit on November 29. Wei is the senior most Chinese official to visit Nepal after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in October last year [AiR No. 42, October/2019, 3]. The visit also take place amidst accusations of Nepali opposition lawmakers who allege Beijing has annexed dozens of hectares from a district bordering Tibet. [see AiR No. 45, November/2020, 2, AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. [The Hindu]

The timing of Wei’s visit is noteworthy, coming on the heels of a trip from Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who visited Kathmandu on November 26-27 [see article in this edition]. [The Kathmandu Post]

Nepal: Hundreds join pro-monarchy rallies across the country

(lm) Hundreds of people took to the streets in Kathmandu on December 1 demanding the restoration of the Nepalese monarchy. Taking place against the larger backdrop of an ongoing power-struggle in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) [AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4], a series of similar demonstrations has been organized in major cities across the country over the past few weeks. [The Himalayan Times] [The Kathmandu Post]

Maldives: Opposition parties protest as former PM Yameen completes first year in prison

(lm) The opposition coalition of People's National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is gearing up to hold protests across the Maldives to observe the one-year mark of former President Abdulla Yameen’s incarceration. [The Edition]

The PNC’s vice president declared for the opposition it would disregard the protective guidelines set in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. Further, he asserted that the parties would continue the campaign until the local council elections scheduled for March, and expand it into protests across the archipelago. 

Last November, former president Yameen was fined $5 million and sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering. Widely seen as pro-China, Yameen served for five years as President until his defeat in the 2018 election. The Supreme Court last month ordered authorities to unfreeze Yazeem’s bank accounts, citing a lack of sufficient evidence that would indicate that all funds were acquired unlawfully. [AiR No. 49, December/2019, 1]

Pakistan: United Kingdom likely to extend former PM Sharif’s visa for six months

(lm) The British government is expected to extend the visa of former prime minister and current leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif for another six months. Pakistan’s federal government in October asked British authorities for a third time to consider cancelling Sharif’s visa [see also AiR No. 37, September/2020, 3].

According to media reports, Sharif sought legal advice for an extension on his visa, which expired mid-November. In his application, he stated that his necessary medical treatment could not be completed due to non-availability of doctors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, he made a string of unscheduled hospital visits in London after he developed acute pain due to stones in his kidney. [The Express Tribune]

Sharif, who was jailed in a corruption case in 2018, has been residing in London since November last year after a court granted him indefinite bail to seek medical treatment. The former prime minister is facing a number of corruption charges in Pakistan and is considered by the courts to have absconded. He is also facing sedition charges for accusing the military of political interference [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2, AiR No. 37, September/2020, 3].

In this context, the Islamabad High Court has adjourned the hearing of appeals in two cases – Al-Azizia and Avenfield – against the former prime minister until December 2. In October, the IHC had issued a proclamation against Sharif in the two references and had ordered advertisements to be published in two British newspapers calling for him to appear before court until November 24 [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2]. In case Sharif fails to appear, he will likely be declared a proclaimed offender and the IHC will order the seizure of assets. [Daily Times]

Pakistan: Opposition alliance PDM to hold protest in Multan

(lm) Reiterating his call on the oppositional Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) [see AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4, AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1] to cancel its scheduled public gatherings at a time when the country is reeling under the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the federal government would not allow the opposition alliance to hold its rallies as the health guidelines did not permit large gatherings. [Dawn 1]

The newly-formed PDM has so far held four public meetings in Gujranwala, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar, while two more are scheduled for November 30 and December 13 in Multan and Lahore, respectively. In the run-up to a rally held in Peshawar earlier this month, PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman [see AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1] said that the alliance had rejected Khan’s request and announced that its remaining three public meetings would be held as planned. [AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4]

In the run-up to Tuesday’s rally, hundreds of activists of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) overcame containers and obstacles set up by authorities to reach the venue of November 30 public gathering. Following the attempt, several leaders of the PDM, including the son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani were taken into custody. [Dawn 2]

Pakistan: Three more prominent members of Islamist militant group indicted

(lm) An anti-terrorism court has indicted three aids to Hafiz Saeed, chief of the Islamist militant organization Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD), in three cases of terrorism-financing. The three men are members of Al-Anfal Trust, a charity organization associated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), one of the largest militant organizations in South Asia, whose members, inter alias, carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left at least 174 people dead and more than 300 wounded. [The News International]

An anti-terrorism court last month sentenced Saeed, who was already in jail serving two sentences of five-and-a-half years each, to another ten years in prison on two charges of terrorism-financing. Two of his aides were also sentenced to ten-and-a-half years each, while his brother-in-law was sentenced to six-month imprisonment. [AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4]

Sri Lanka: UN HRC resolution violates constitution, says foreign minister

(lm) While addressing parliament, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister justified the current government’s decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, saying it infringed the people’s sovereignty and violated the constitution. Remaining committed to the resolution would require the repealing of major legislation such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act and empower foreign judges to adjudicate on grave allegations relating to war crimes in the country. [News First]

In 2015 the government of then Prime Minister Maithripala Sirisena co-sponsored a landmark UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution, 30/1, making commitments to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. It renewed these commitments in two further UNHRC resolutions in 2017 and 2019 [see AiR (3/3/2019)]. Following the general elections in 2019, the new administration of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in February made public its intentions to withdraw its co-sponsorship of the resolution’s commitments, most importantly the accountability of war crimes - of which his former administration that was then followed by the Sirisena administration was accused of [see AiR No. 8, February/2020, 4].

Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa brings newly-created Ministry of Technology under his purview

(lm) A day after he established two new ministries [see AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4], Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a much-decorated former Naval officer as minister of the newly created Public Security Ministry, which supervises the island nation’s 88,000-strong police force, inter alia. [Outlook India]

Further, Rajapaksa, who already concomitantly serves as Minister of Defense, also added the newly-established Ministry of Technology to his own portfolio. As a result, the president now has nearly 30 agencies under his purview, including the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Colombo Port City Project [see AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1]]. [Economy Next]

Sri Lanka: Detainees nudged to sign prepared statements, according to Human Rights Commission

(lm) In a letter to the Inspector General of the police, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka alleges that detainees who are in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have complained of pressure in relation to self-incriminating statements. Specifically, the commission, which is charged with monitoring the conditions of persons in custody, alleges that detainees are offered inducements such as promises of release if statements are signed and threats such as charges based on falsehoods if they are not signed. [ColomboPage] [MenaFM]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Cambodia: Mass trial against opposition politicians

(nd) On Tuesday, 121 defendants with ties to the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) were summoned to appear at court, with most having fled to exile fearing they would not get a fair trial. With only 50 defendants to actually appear, activists labeled this as move by premier Hun Sen to crush his rivals.

CNRP was dissolved and the leader Kem Sokha arrested on charges of treason for allegedly conspiring with the US to overthrow Hun Sen in 2018. Hun Sen won every parliamentary seat in the subsequent election. In contrast to Sokha's trial, which was delayed with reference to the corona virus, the mass trials were proceeded rapidly. Sokha's trial might not take place until 2024, after the next general election. Other defendants have rallied for the return of Sam Rainsy from exile, Hun Sen's biggest rival.

The speed could be explained with the approaching change in the US presidency, with a group of lawmakers earlier this month urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to sanction the country by removing trade privileges under the General System of Preferences (GSP) scheme, which is unlikely to happen in the remaining months of the Trump administration. The seemingly politically-motivated mass trials have also prompted the United Nation's expert on Human Rights to urge Cambodia to ensure a fair trial and protect civil liberties. With a broad crackdown on opposition, civil and democratic space grew thinner, as well as ties with the US and European Union, who revokes special trade privileges earlier. As a result, Cambodia worked together closer with China. The ruling party has been in power since 1979. [Channel News Asia] [Radio Free Asia] [Asia Times]

Cambodia: Court drops case against journalists

(nd) A Cambodian court dropped incitement charges two former reporters for shuttered Cambodia Daily newspaper. In 2017, the reporters interviewed voters in favor of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which prompted accusations of inciting voters to support CNRP in the upcoming elections. Human rights groups welcomed the decision and called on courts to drop other outstanding charges against journalists. [Radio Free Asia]

Indonesia: Growing repression online

(nd) A recent analysis conducted by Amnesty International (AI) argues that the current administration not only revived repressive tools from the past, but transferred them into the new realm of the internet. Much like mass protests at the end of president Suharto's regime, the recently passed Omnibus Bill [See also AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1, AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2] created widespread protest and rejection against what was perceived as an illegal legislative process. With a major focus on attracting foreign investment, the bill is an imperative for president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's agenda to reform Indonesia's competitiveness, fight poverty, and since this year, the economic repercussions of a pandemic, which hit Indonesia the hardest in Southeast Asia. The broad civil protest basis showcases, however, that the actions are unpopular, with a lack of transparency and public consultation, which the law stipulates.

The reaction of the Widodo administration, however, was viewed by analysts as repressive, with politicized security forces. During the protests, AI recorded 402 victims of police violence across the country, with at least 660 people detained for organizing or taking part in demonstrations. Besides preventing physical rallies, the actions were brought online, with official police instructions on how to conduct “cyber patrols” to monitor plans for rallies, and counter anti-government narratives with respect to the omnibus law.  This method also lead to arrests, with suspects being charged with incitement under the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, for using social media to incite riots over the bill.

The ITW law was introduced in 2008, before Widodo's presidency, but the number of ITE Law–related cases that were tried more than tripled from seventy-four cases from 2009–2014, to 233 cases during 2014–2019. In Widodo's second quarter, 241 were charged as of yet, with 82 of them accused of insulting the president. Within the same time, the nationwide expansion of the internet was rapid, giving it a political potential. First, regulations were aimed at fighting fraud and hate speech. But the mostly wide and politically interpreted laws enabled the control and suppression of online civic discourse, in combination with a very elaborate IT structure and an independent organization as an own directorate within the police, which was then directed against activists. With regards to the Omnibus Bill protests, internet watchdog SafeNet observed an increase in illegal hacking activities into social media accounts targeting anti-government activists.

The announcement of a new bill on cyber security increased fears of further restrictions on online rights and more government control of social media. Indonesian newspapers are aware of that trend,  Widodo’s sixth year in office was called “the year of digital repression”. Therefore, efforts to counter this development by civil society have yet to be more comprehensive and systematic in nature, both online and offline, bringing together all the possible stakeholder in a combined action. [Carnegie]  

Indonesia: Book on Indonesian president

(nd) In a recent book on president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, he is portrayed as “Man of Contradictions” by the director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. The recent protests against the Omnibus bill marked the peak of public opposition against Jokowi, who promised to prioritize public health but his administration failed to contain the virus and focused more on economic issues.

Originally a furniture maker, Jokowi placed stability at the basis of his strive for economic growth. The success of his business brought him into politics, as a mayor of Solo, central Java, were the highly popular figure was always perceived as a grassroots politician. As the first president without military background or support, he became an idol, still, his political handle seemed disorganized and without a strategy, especially given he remained dependent on elite backing. Consequently, in his second term, he increasingly formed alliances with (ex-)military figures and entered into other compromises, feeding the image of him as a man of action rather than an idealist. Following, foreign policy is less linked to diplomacy and geopolitics but considered yet another tool for Jokowi to attract investment: He did not attend a single UN General Assembly, but the G20 and APEC. [The News Lens]

Indonesia: Terrorist attack on Sulawesi Island

(nd) Following a terrorist attack over the weekend killing four Christians from the Salvation Army on Sulawesi Island, the Indonesian army has deployed special forces in order to find the suspects, linked to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), the East Indonesian Mujahideen (MIT). MIT is one of a number of radical groups who pledged allegiance to the IS in Indonesia, which struggled with Islamic militancy and terror attacks, and saw a rise in intolerance against Indonesia's Christian minority. Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. [BBC] [Voice of America]

Indonesia: Rallies for Papuan independence

(nd) As a renewal of calls for independence, hundreds of Papuans rallied across at least eight cities in Indonesia on Tuesday. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) declared they have formed a provisional "government-in-waiting" and reject Indonesia's “illegal martial rule”. The West Papuan separatists are led by exiled independence figure, Benny Wenda, who resides in the UK. The battle over independence of the region has been going on for decades.

The day marked the anniversary of West Papua's independence from Dutch rule in 1961. Due to an U.N.-sanctioned referendum conducted in 1969, Papua came under Indonesian control. After this, insurgencies led by the Free Papua Movement (Organisasi Papua Merdeka, or OPM) were violently countered, resulting in extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, restrictions on residents’ movement and freedom of expression, and have drawn accusations of genocide. It remains difficult for foreign journalists and human rights groups to gain access to the region.

Much of recent discord is also linked to the Special Autonomy Law passed in 2001, which will expire next year and Indonesia aims at prologing. [See also AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4, AiR No. 39, September/2020, 5, AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1] 

As repeatedly done before, the United Nations human rights body voiced concerns over reports of escalating tension between the stakeholders, extrajudicial killings and arrests, emphasizing the need for an inclusive dialogue to address economic, social and political issues. [Swiss Info] [ABC]

Indonesia: Fishery minister arrested over corruption allegations

(nd) Related to his controversial policy to resume exports of baby lobsters, fisheries minister Edhy Prabowo, his wife and other ministry officials were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). In May, the minister lifted a ban imposed by his predecessor in 2016 on wild-caught lobster larvae exports, which was criticized  for tendering more to the interests of businesses and politicians than of small fishers, and undue efforts to replenish wild lobster stocks. After the lift, roughly one third of export permits were granted, among the owners, directors or executives of several of those companies were politicians from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), of which Edhy is member, too. Currently, 140 million lobster larvae can be harvested wildly per year, of which 70% is allocated for domestic cultivation in aquaculture farms, and the rest for export.

Lobsters are among Indonesia’s top fisheries commodities, with the illegal export of larvae amounting up to 900 billion rupiah ($62 million) in lost revenue in 2019 alone. [Mongabay]

Indonesia: New financial sector Bill

(nd) Instead of revising the central bank act, which was criticized for attacking its independence, the legislative panel might drop it in favor of a new financial sector bill, the RPPSK. It shall reform, develop and strengthen the financial sector; therefore it shall widen the central bank’s mandate to include economic growth and employment, as well as price stability, so it can aquire government bonds directly. The bill will be debated after the year-end recess. [Reuters]

Indonesia: Lenders reluctant to lower interest rates

(nd) Following central bank's pressure to lower interest rates further, lenders denied this with reference to a reluctance of people to borrow money. The denial to cut borrowing costs is an obstacle for President Joko Widodo’s attempt to pull the economy out of recession caused by Covid-19. While the central bank cut its interest rate to a record-low of 3.75%, lenders did not follow suit due to their risk perception, with non-performing loans above 3% since May. Therefore, experts commented instead of depending on loans to rather use government subsidies to directly support the industry. [Bloomberg]

Indonesia: Arrest of Transgender woman spikes outrage

(nd) Transgernder woman and influencer Millen Cyrus was arrested on drug charges and held in a male detention cell. Her ID states she is male. Later, she was transferred to single cell. The move was criticized by LGBTI organizations nationwide for lacking sensitivity. Also, they cited a danger of  of sexual abuse and harassment for transgender people in the wrong cell, and also referencing reports of humiliation from authorities while in detention, like the regular shaving the hair of male detainees, in case of trans women to “revive their masculinity”. Other harsh treatment includes being stripped and being ordered to do military-style exercises such as squat jumps or push ups.

Homosexuality not being illegal in Indonesia but frowned upon, there was an increase in pressure on the LGBT community, with authorities raiding spas and apartment buildings organizing so-called “gay parties”. [South China Morning Post]

Laos: First Oil refinery to commence in December

(py) The first oil refinery in Laos to start working in December is a joint venture between the Lao-China Petroleum Public Company Limited and Yunnan Construction Company Group, which holds 75% of the shares, the Lao State Fuel Enterprise holds 20%, and the Lao-China Joint Venture Company holds the remaining 5%.  The refinery aims to produce up to one million tons of gasoline, diesel and gas per year, and should be able to supple 60% of Laos' fuel demand. [The Laotian Times] [China Daily]

Laos: MRC urges reassessment of Sanakham hydro power project

(py) In the latest regional forum, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) urged the Lao government and the Sanakham hydro power project developers to broaden its impact assessment of the project and propose additional measures to mitigate the possible impacts of the project, due to catastrophic flood after a dam collapse in 2018. They urged the related stakeholders to use up-to-date data and recent studies and explore compensation mechanisms for those affected. Besides, MRC member countries had also agreed to look into a regional funding mechanism to support the livelihoods and ecosystem restoration projects in the Lower Mekong Basin. [Phnompenh Post] The Sankham hydro power Project would operate year-round and produce 684 megawatts of electricity. [MRC]

Malaysia: Budget 2021 passed

(nd) After weeks of limbo, the 2021 budget was passed on Thursday, letting weakened prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin pass a crucial hurdle to stay in power, for the vote was seen as a confidence vote in him. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition holds a razor-thin majority over the opposition, which is why the opposition bloc was consulted. With a value of RM322.5 billion (US$79 billion), it is the largest budget ever passed in Malaysia. The Malaysian king beforehand urged all politician to put aside struggles in order to enable an economic recovery. Opposition politicians thereby managed to push through parts of their agenda, inter alia the extension of the loan moratorium until the end of March 2021. [Channel News Asia] After being criticized for not blocking the budget, the opposition engaged in two bloc votes, one against the budget for the Prime Minister’s Department, one for the Ministry of Finance, which were both passed with a slight majority. [Malaymail]

Malaysia will hold a general election when the novel coronavirus pandemic is over, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday, shortly after he averted a showdown by winning parliamentary support for his administration’s budget.

Malaysia: General elections after Covid-19, PM says

(nd) After the passing of the largest-ever budget, prime minister Yassin Muhyiddin said the country will hold general elections once Covid-19 is over, in order to “return the mandate to the people and leave it to them to choose which government they want.” His administration is only eight months old, has a razor-thin majority of two seats, and recently fought off a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Currently, Malaysia faces a second wave of corona virus infections. [Aljazeera]

Malaysia: Youth-led party to emerge

(nd) Alike similar movements in Thailand and Indonesia, with the banned Future Forward Party and the Indonesian Solidarity Party, youth-led political party Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) was recently added to the political constellation in Malaysia. As often, its emerge highlights criticism of existing parties, mostly their clientelism and political elitism, specifically with regards to the political stalemate. Most Malay politicians are veterans of the profession, with 70% of lawmakers over the age of 50, despite a median age in the population of 30 and 60% of the population aged under 40.

As expected for a youth-led party, the virtual popularity is high, and a lowered minimum age from 21 to 18 for the electoral rolls in 2021 combined with an automatic voter registration will add 7.8 million young voters. Still, MUDA is lacking financial sources and did not build a grassroots presence on site to fight established politicians. Also, with its understanding of a multi-racial party, it might have a hard stand in majority-Muslim Malaysia. The party has yet to clarify its vision to clear the political deadlock and its policies in more detail, beyond the primary target group of urban, progressive youths. MUDA seems more fit to partner with the opposition, however, if they chose to side with the government or other parties, it might cannibalize the opposition's voter base. Irrespective of their individual success, the emerge of a youth-led party will force other parties to think about their representation and addressing issues like unemployment, low wages, education and the rising cost of living. [East Asia Forum]

Myanmar: Cabinet pick under scrutiny

(nd) Following the National League for Democracy's (NLD) win in the general elections November 8, it will be a critically eyed task to appoint personnel to the cabinet. Widely agreed upon and admitted to, the selection process was sped up in 2016, resulting in two thirds of the ministers disappointing the public due to weak performances and lack of capacity. No announcements have been yet, with speculations Defense Minister Lieutenant General Sein Win will become vice president, who has a high reputation among military and civilians alike, raising hopes that civil-military relations might improve in the upcoming term. [Irrawaddy 1] [Irrawaddy 2]

Thailand: Lese-majeste law invoked as protests continue

(nd) During another rally on Wednesday last week, protesters urged King Maha Vajiralongkorn to give up his royal fortune with an estimated value in the tens of billions of dollars and give it back to the people. Police said 8,000 protesters were at the headquarters of the Siam Commercial Bank, which has the king as biggest shareholder, after police prevented them to rally at the Crown Property Bureau with a barricade. Earlier, prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the lese majeste law was not being used at the request of the king, which changed on Tuesday, with protesters summoned on charges of insulting the monarchy, which might result in jail time of up to 15 years. [Channel News Asia] The usage of self-made bank notes depicting a yellow duck, used during the protests as coupons for participating food stalls, might result in criminal charges of counterfeit money and using forged money under the Currency Act. It is unclear, however, if the Currency Act is even applicable, since similar coupon systems are used at festivals or food courts. [Khaosod]

After the rally, shots were fired injuring two, which police described as the result of a personal conflict between vocational students working as guards at the rally. A chief guard of a protest group denies this, however, saying he was not seen working as a guard and was not wearing their armband. [Bangkok Post]. Opposition politicians claimed the police's double standards when protecting the respective other side. At a rally on November 17, already shots were fired, injuring two, raising fears of potential escalations. [See also AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4] No suspects are in custody yet. Critics also warned the portraying of violent protesters could be a pretense for using military force. [Coconuts Bangkok]

Meanwhile, co-leader of the student protests, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, has been listed as one of BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2020. Panusaya famously read the movement's 10-point manifesto at a rally on August 10 at Thammasat University. She was arrested following protests in front of Government House on 15 October on charges of sedition, among others, and granted bail on October 30. [Prachatai]

Protest leaders and rights lawyers sued Prayut, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and others for financial compensations over the declaration of a state of severe emergency on October 15, which they argue was imposed against protesters, violating their rights of freedom of politics, transport and expression of opinion. The state of severe emergency was declared after protesters blocked a royal motorcade in front of Government House, and was lifted on October 22. [Bangkok Post 2]

Meanwhile, the fighting arena has expanded online, with monarchy supporters screening social media for evidence to file a complaint  under section 112, the infamous lese-majeste law, and Twitter suspending a pro-royalist account linked to the palace for violating their terms by operating a coordinated information campaign to discredit opponents. [South China Morning Post 1] [South China Morning Post 2]

Vietnam: Dissident writer transferred to mental hospital

(nd) Dissident writer and blogger Pham Thanh was transferred from the detention center to a mental hospital. He has been held since May on charges under Article 117 of Vietnam’s penal code for “producing, storing, and disseminating information and documents against the Vietnamese state”, with his detention of four month awaiting trial extended another three months. Pham Thanh wrote and published books and essays criticizing Vietnam’s communist government and leaders.

Dissident voices are silenced diligently in Vietnam, with a growing number of journalists being charged, and another blogger for the Voice of America having been detained in July 2018 and brought to a mental hospital where he was allegedly mistreated. [Radio Free Asia]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China’s space ambitions raise US concerns

(dql) According to the secretary-general of the China National Space Administration, China is pressing ahead with the Long March 9 super heavy launch vehicle for crewed lunar, robotic deep space exploration and space infrastructure. Currently in the stage of research and development stage, the rocket’s test launch is planned for around 2030.

The statement came shortly after the launch of the Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission from the Wenchang spaceport on the same day which, if successful, would make it first mission to bring lunar samples to Earth since 1976. [Spacenews] [Space.com]

Commenting on the launch, US Space Force General John Raymond called it a “threat” as China (and Russia) “seek to stop US access to space,” and “are developing capabilities that would negate the US advantage." [Express]

Meanwhile, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger called on the President-elect Joe Biden to  restore lines of communication with China, warning that “[u]nless there is some basis for some cooperative action” between Washington and Beijing, “the world will slide into a catastrophe comparable to World War I.” He expressed his hope that the common threat of the coronavirus pandemic would provide an opening for political discussions between the two countries when Biden assumes the presidency in January. [news.am]

China-US relations: New Chinese export control law enters into force amid new sanctions against Chinese firms

(dql) Approved in October by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China’s top legislative body, China’s new export control law came into effect this week which provides the country with the first comprehensive regulatory framework for restricting exports of controlled goods for national security and public policy reasons, including like sensitive technology, military goods, dual-use items. At the same time, the law allows for retaliatory measures against a country that abuses export controls to harm China’s interests and endanger its national security. [South China Morning Post]

The law is widely seen as retaliation to US restrictions on Chinese tech companies, including Huawei, Tiktok and Tencent. It is believed that the Trump administration will add China’s largest chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation SMIC and national offshore oil and gas producer China National Offshore Oil Corporation on the blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies. [BBC] [Reuters 1]

In a latest development, the US on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese firm China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC), citing the firm’s its support for the Maduro government’s “efforts to restrict internet service and conduct digital surveillance and cyber operations against political opponents.” [Reuters 2]

In an earlier move last week, Venezuela resumed direct shipments of oil to China after U.S. sanctions sent the trade underground for over a year. The sanctions were of efforts of Trump administration to oust President Maduro, but they failed to completely halt the South American nation’s oil exports or to loosen Maduro’s grip on power. Customers of state company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) instead boosted shipments to Malaysia, allowing most of Venezuela’s crude to continue reaching through trade intermediaries. [Reuters 3] [RT]

China bans US NGO workers from entering the country

(dql) China announced that it will ban four people working for American NGOs from entering the country, citing their “bad performance” over Hong Kong Affairs.   

The move is widely seen as retaliation for US sanctions on four Chinese officials in November over their role in what Washington calls a crackdown on political rights in Hong Kong. The sanctions included a ban from entry to the US and the freezing of their assets in the US. [Yahoo News] [AiR No. 45, November/2020, 2]

Chinese Foreign Minister’s visits to Japan and South Korea

(dql) Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited South Korea and Japan.

During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihidde Suga, both sides agreed of deepening economic ties, but remained split of disputed islands in the East China Sea. Wang reassured that China seeks to strengthen cooperation with Japan in the fight against the pandemic and in both countries’ economic recovery. Suga confirmed that a “stable relationship between the two countries is important not only for Japan and China but also for the region and the international community,” adding that he “would like to fulfill our responsibilities together.” He, however, reminded Wang of Japan’s claim over Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands, which are claimed by also China, and expressed his concern about Beijing’s growing activity in the area. Wang, speaking with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi a day earlier, said that China was firm its right to defend its sovereignty. [AP 1] [Japan Times]

Speaking with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha and President Moon Jae-in, Wang called for stronger cooperation in combatting the coronavirus pandemic, in trade and in finding a peaceful solution to a nuclear standoff with North Korea.

Wang’s visit to Seoul comes at a time when concerns in South Korea are rising that the country risks to becoming squeezed between China, its biggest trading partner, and military ally the United States, as well as when Moon’s ambitions for inter-Korean engagement have faltered amid stalled nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea. [AP 2]

China-Australia relations: Beijing imposes hefty tariffs on Australian wine amid clash over fake war crimes post  

(dql) Already frosty relations between China and Australia are further worsening, after the Chinese government has imposed tariffs, ranging from 107% to 212% on Australian wine imports, a move that experts believe to have a devastating impact on Australian wine exporters. China is Australia’s largest wine export destination, accounting for almost 40% of total exports for the 12 months ending September 2020. China cited findings of dumping on Australia’s side as reason for its move, which the Australian government denied.

Bilateral relations between Canberra and Beijing have been deteriorating earlier this year after Australia called for international inquiry into China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In response, China took a number of economic sanctions against Australian goods, including tariffs on Australian barley, an import ban on several red meat abattoirs and reportedly giving verbal notice state-owned utilities and steel mills to halt imports of Australian coal. [CNBC] [CNN]

Further complicating the situation is a diplomatic wrangle over a doctored image which shows an Australian soldier with a bloody knife next to a child in Afghanistan. It was posted by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Twitter, with a caption that reads: "Don't be afraid, we are coming to bring you peace!”

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded an apology, saying that China’s government should be "utterly ashamed" over the post. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry rejected the demand, accusing Canberra of using the row to divert attention from alleged atrocities by Australian soldiers. [VoA] [South China Morning Post]

Australia partners with U.S. to develop hypersonic missiles to counter China (and Russia)

(dql) Australia’s Defense Ministry announced that Australia join hands with the US to develop hypersonic cruise missiles, in an attempt to counter China (and Russia) which are developing similar weapons. 

Canberra had set aside up to 6.8 billion USD in this year for high-speed, long-range missile defence systems, including hypersonic research. Earlier this summer, it announced that it would increase defense spending by 40% over the next 10 years to acquire longer-range strike capabilities across air, sea and land as it broadens its military focus from the Pacific to the Indo-Pacific region. [Aljazeera]

Taiwan-US: Alternative to China’s Belt and Road plan pushed 

(nm) In a latest sign of increasing economic cooperation between the US and Taiwan, Taiwanese Minister Su Jain-rong last week announced that both sides are moving ahead with a plan to finance infrastructure and energy projects in Asia and Latin America, with projects hoped to commence within the next year or two. Using capital raised from the private sector, the investment initiative is viewed among observers as a counter-project to China’s Belt and Road Initiative which heavily relies on loans from Beijing to governments and usually involves state-owned enterprises. The plan was initiated with the signing of the “Framework to Strengthen Infrastructure Finance and Market Building Cooperation” between the US and Taiwan in September, under which companies from third countries work with the US International Development and Finance Corporation to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries – granting insurers greater yields than typically available at home while being backed up by political support form the US.

Taiwan is the latest country to join an expanding array of US partnerships under this framework, following sixteen other countries which have concluded similar agreements with the US, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia. [Al Jazeera]

EU passes resolutions showing support for Taiwan

(nm) The European Parliament (EP) last week passed two resolutions containing support of Taiwan’s bid to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) and its intention to negotiate a trade deal with the European Union, respectively. 

The first resolution called on the EU member states “to advocate Taiwan’s membership as an observer in the WHO/WHA and other international organisations,” while condemning China’s increasing threats against Taiwan as well as against pro-democracy movements in the region.  

Taiwan has been excluded from the WHO and the WHA, its annual decision-making gathering, since 1972 after having lost its seat in the United Nations in 1971. Due to objections by the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan was subsequently unable to re-enter, except for eight years from 2009-2016 when Taiwan was able to attend the WHA under the then pro-China Kuomintang government. 

In a second resolution, the EP urged the European Commission “to start the scoping exercise and impact assessment in order to formally commence the negotiations with Taiwan as soon as possible”. Although it does not further specify what these negotiations entail, Taiwan’s government linked them to a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between Taiwan and the EU. 

However, during an EP hearing in October, European Commission Executive Vice President Vladis Dombrovskis said that although the EU has engaged in close dialogue on investment with Taiwan, “in terms of negotiations, the immediate priority is to finalize the investment agreement with China”. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

A visit from a top American environmental official of the current administration, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency Andrew Wheeler, which had been scheduled for the week of December 5, however, was cancelled “due to pressing domestic priorities at home”. [Focus Taiwan 3 2]

Cross-strait relations: Taiwanese professor sentenced to jail sentence on national security charges 

(nm) A Taiwanese retired university professor has been sentenced to four years in prison on national security charges, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO).  

He was one of several Taiwanese who made public “confessions” on Chinese state television in October, stating he was recruited by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau in 2005 and collected confidential government information from 2005 to 2018 by attending cross-strait academic conferences in China. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council criticized the sentence, calling it “fabricated charges” and claiming the basic human rights of the convicted had been completely ignored. [Focus Taiwan]

The geopolitical politicization of science in COVID-19 times? - Chinese scientists suggest COVID came from the Indian Subcontinent

(dql) A recent preprint by Chinese scientists is criticized in [The Print] by Sumaiya Shaikh, an Australian-Swedish neuroscientist with Indian ties, according to whom the Chinese authors suggest that the origins of SARS-CoV-2 may not be in China, but in the Indian subcontinent, coming via Australia before making its way into China. The article sheds light on the ongoing politicization of science amid the COVID-19 pandemic which is manifest not only in relations between US and Australia on the one hand and China on the other.

Instead of disengaging, China is fortifying defenses across LAC, according to Indian media

(lm) Notwithstanding periodic hopes for a resolution to the Ladakh standoff, Indian media suggest that China has not only dug its heels in Ladakh, but has also increased military activity on its side of the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere. [The Diplomat] [The Economic Times]

While both sides were considering a reciprocal disengagement plan for the North Bank of Pangong Tso [see AiR No. 46, November/2020, 3], China has reinforced its troops and rapidly strengthened road infrastructure on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), stationed container housing modules across all the friction points and turned a village located in close proximity to the LAC into a major army supply depot. [Hindustan Times]

Indian NDTV alleges further that China has also continued with construction activities near the crucial tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan. Moreover, the Chinese army has reportedly set up a village more than two kilometers within Bhutanese territory, and built a road in the same area. The plateau is of strategic importance to Delhi because it overlooks the Siliguri corridor, known as the ‘chicken's neck’, a narrow strip of land that connects India's north-eastern states – the seven stars - with the rest of the country. India fears that in any future conflict, Chinese troops could seize the corridor. [NDTV]

In response to the developments, the Indian Navy has deployed its elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) near Pangong Tso, adding to India's strength along the Line of Control (LoC). Considering that Indian Air Force and Army have been deployed since the hostilities began in the region seven months ago, experts say the latest deployment is also aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the newly formed tri-service Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD). It comes months after New Delhi has deployed its Special Frontier Force (SFF), a paramilitary unit consisting mainly of Tibetan and Gorkha paratroopers trained in mountain warfare, to the conflict zone [see AiR No. 36, September/2020, 2]. [The EurAsian Times]

India bans 43 more Chinese mobile apps, citing cybersecurity concerns

(lm) India, which has banned more than 175 apps with links to neighboring China in recent months [see AiR No. 36, September/2020, 2, AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5], has banned another 43 such apps, including some from Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Like with the previous orders, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology cited cybersecurity concerns to pull the apps from its domestic market. [The Times of India] [The Indian Express]

Tensions between India and China escalated after more than 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a military clash in the Himalayas in June [see AiR No. 24, June/2020, 3]. Ever since, anti-China sentiment has soared in India and sparked calls for a boycott of goods from the neighboring country. In April, India also introduced stricter governmental vetting procedures for foreign investments, requiring Chinese investors – who have ploughed billions of dollars into Indian startups in recent years — to take government approval before they could write new checks to Indian firms [see AiR No. 16, April/2020, 3]. The move has significantly reduced Chinese investors’ presence in Indian startups’ deal flows in the months since. [TechCrunch]

However, Beijing not only remains New Delhi’s biggest trading partner, but imports from China have actually increased in the months since Prime Minister Modi announced the stimulus package for the domestic economy in May. Against this backdrop, China on November 25 urged India to restore bilateral trade relations ‘for mutual benefit and win-win results on the basis of dialogue and negotiation’. [South China Morning Post] [The Hindu]

Indian Foreign Minister visits Nepal

(lm) Indicating a thaw in bilateral relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi, India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Nepal on November 26-27, marking his first trip to the neighboring country since assuming office in January this year. The visit assumes added significance because it precedes a visit of Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe. Still, meetings with Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Secretary Pradeep Gyawali focused on relatively lower-hanging fruits such as infrastructure development and connectivity projects. [The Diplomat] [The Kathmandu Post] [The Hindu] [Hindustan Times]

While China and India are currently engaged in heightened border tensions in the Himalayas [see e.g. AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2], bilateral ties between New Delhi and Kathmandu had been strained over border-related issues since last November. For months, the diplomatic gap between the two countries widened further after New Delhi in May had announced the inauguration of a new Himalayan link road built through the disputed area of Kalapani that lies at a strategic three-way junction with Tibet and China [see e.g. AiR No. 20, May/2020, 3, AiR No. 28, July/2020, 2]. At that time, Indian observers had urged their government not to burn all the bridges between Kathmandu and New Delhi, arguing the dispute would push Nepal closer to China.

Resuming dialogue in August, Prime Minister Oli had laid the groundwork for his reformed India outreach, calling Indian Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day [see AiR No. 33, August/2020, 3], and stopping the distribution of a new text book that included the country’s revised political map. Last month, the Samant Goel, head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) – India’s principal external intelligence service – made a trip to Nepal, piquing the curiosity of Indian analysts [see AiR No. 44, November/2020, 1]. Shortly thereafter, Indian Army Chief General Naravane also visited Kathmandu, meeting with Nepal’s political and military leadership [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3].

India, Sri Lanka strengthen trade, security ties

(lm) India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval concluded a three-day visit to Colombo on November 29 after meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss trade, new investments and security amid plans to bolster bilateral ties between the two countries. [Arab News]

The trip marked Doval’s second official visit to Colombo this year, after he visited the island nation in January — on the heels of President Rajapaksa’s resounding election victory in 2019 — and held discussions on strengthening military ties [see AiR No. 3, January/2020, 3]. It also is the latest in a series of visits by top foreign officials to Colombo, first by a high-powered Chinese delegation early in October [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2], and later by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo AiR No. 44, November/2020, 1].

Doval on Friday took part in the 4th National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation, a trilateral forum with defense ministers from the Maldives and Sri Lanka, with officials from Mauritius and Seychelles attending virtually. The trilateral forum had been revived after a six-year gap to expand the scope of intelligence sharing, including terrorism and cybersecurity, based on ‘common security threats’, according to a statement published afterwards. [Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence] [The Hindu]

Before, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President Rajapaksa over the phone on the first anniversary of assumption of Office. Reiterating New Delhi’s commitment to support Colombo’s fight against the COVID 19 pandemic, Modi also expressed confidence that the full potential of the bilateral relationship will be realized. [ColomboPage]

Pakistan, India hand dossiers to UN bodies, accusing each other of ‘stoking terrorism’

(lm) Pakistan has handed over a dossier to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accusing India of stoking ‘terrorism’ in Pakistan. Further, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a letter to both the president of the UN Security council (UNSC) and the secretary general alleged ‘gross and systematic violations of human rights’ in the Indian-administered territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. [Dawn]

Earlier this month, Pakistan said it had compiled a dossier with evidence that Indian intelligence agencies were funding the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and ethnic Baloch armed separatist groups that conducted attacks from Afghan soil, aimed at destabilizing Pakistan and undermining its economic partnership with China. The exchange of such allegations between the two South Asian countries is common, but the heightened level of detail and specificity of this round of Pakistan’s accusations was unprecedented in recent history. [AiR No. 46, November/2020, 3]

Last week, then, India summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat over what New Delhi said was a foiled attack in the frontier territory of Jammu and Kashmir by a Pakistan-based militant group, a charge Islamabad firmly denied [see AiR No. 47, November/2020, 4]. On November 23, New Delhi provided a dossier to five permanent UNSC members about the attempted attack, accusing Islamabad of giving material support to the militants fighting its rule in Muslim majority Kashmir. [Al Jazeera] [Reuters]

Sri Lanka, China agree to deepen bilateral ties

(lm) Coming less than two months after a short-notice Colombo visit of a high-level Chinese delegation in October [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2], the foreign and deputy foreign ministers of both countries respectively held a virtual meeting last week. [ColomboPage]

The discussion of possible Chinese assistance for poverty eradication and livelihood support in Sri Lanka is in line with President Rajapaksa’s earlier pledge to pursue ‘China-style development’ in the island nation, and to disprove the popular ‘debt-trap’ analysis about Chinese loans [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2]. While Sri Lanka has sought a financial lifeline from Beijing in the face of a major economic crunch [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3], President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Colombo earlier this month that Sri Lanka ‘seeks investments not loans’ from Beijing. [The Hindu]

Bhutan establishes diplomatic relations with Germany

(lm) Bhutan has established formal diplomatic relations with Germany last week, marking the first new diplomatic agreement signed by Bhutan since March 2013, when it had established ties with Oman. In spite of the agreement, Berlin is not planning to set up an embassy in Thimphu at present, and will continue to conduct its relations through its embassy in New Delhi. [The Economic Times]

Since 1949, the year Bhutan first signed a friendship agreement with neighboring India, it has been historically cautious about establishing formal diplomatic ties with other nations. Until 2008, when Bhutan conducted its first general election, it had maintained diplomatic relations with just 22 countries, which form the ‘Friends of Bhutan’ group, along with Japan, which contributes towards development projects in Bhutan. After the election of Prime Minister Jogme Thinley in 2008, then, the Bhutanese government rapidly increased its diplomatic foray, signing agreements with 31 countries in just five years. Still, Bhutan to date did not open ties with any of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), despite repeated requests from the United States and neighboring China, in particular. [The Hindu]

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopts resolution on Kashmir conflict

(lm) Pakistan on November 28 announced that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had unanimously adopted a resolution at its 47th session of Council of Foreign Ministers, reaffirming its ‘strong support’ for Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, and calling on India to rescind the abrogation of the contested territory. Further, the OIC denounced the use of pellet guns by Indian troops in India-held Kashmir and urged New Delhi to respect the international human rights laws, according to the statement. [Dawn 1] [The EurAsian Times]

In August last year, India unilaterally abrogated Article 370 of its constitution, breaking the state of Kashmir into two union territories – one comprising the Hindu-dominated Jammu region and the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, known as Jammu and Kashmir, and the second being the Buddhist enclave of Ladakh [see AiR No. 32, August/2019, 1]. The resolution came as a surprise, because the official agenda of the Niamey meeting made no specific mention of Kashmir. A diplomatic source had separately said that this time the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir would not meet either, because the hosts declined a Pakistani request for a meeting on the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Dawn 2] [Dawn 3]

The unanimous resolution comes despite some recent disunity among major Islamic countries, especially after ties between Islamabad and Riyadh had remained strained over what Pakistani diplomats called ‘unfulfilled expectations’. In August, Pakistan’s foreign minister Qureshi expressed frustration over the inaction of the OIC on the Kashmir issue, insisting that the international organization was not doing enough to pressure India on it. Calling again on Saudi Arabia, which is considered the most influential member of the OIC, to convene a special meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers – a request that was initially turned down in February – Qureshi threatened to bypass the OIC, saying that Islamabad was willing to proceed ‘with or without’ support from Riyadh [see AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2].

Shortly thereafter, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Saudi Arabian officials to sooth the waters [see AiR No. 33, August/2020, 3], after Riyadh had withdrew a $1 billion interest-free loan, and further demanded another $1 billion. In October, then, Qureshi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held a telephonic conversation to further ease frictions in their relationship [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2].

Against the backdrop of remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron [see AiR No. 44, November/2020, 1], the OIC also unanimously adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution urging the UN Secretary General to initiate a global dialogue to counter rising Islamophobia and promote interfaith harmony. [Dawn 4]

South Korea to provide Bangladesh $50 million in budget support

(lm) South Korea has agreed to provide Bangladesh with $50 million loan under its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to help Dhaka address the economic knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, Bangladesh had urged the South Korean government for financial aid amid the crisis. [The Daily Star]

Bangladesh has so far received more than $2 billion as financial support from various multilateral and bilateral organizations to recover from the economic downturn, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

China to build a major dam on Brahamputra river, raising red flags in India and Bangladesh

(lm) China is moving ahead with plans to build a hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangbo (Brahmaputra River) in Tibet, raising concerns that in neighboring India and Bangladesh. A proposal has been made in the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which was endorsed by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November [see AiR No. 44, November/2020, 1], and is earmarked to be implemented from next year. [Global Times] [The Times of India]

Originating in the northern side of the Himalayas, the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, India and Bangladesh, making it a major river for irrigation and transportation in the region. Against the larger backdrop of the ongoing border stand-off with India [see article in this edition], the project has come under intense scrutiny, because it is likely to have an impact on the two lower riparian states, India and Bangladesh. Hence, for both India and China, the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra presents a geopolitical opportunity as damming the perennial river would result in water security in an era of unprecedented shifting climate patterns. [The Indian Express]

To ensure water security, China has claimed express ownership over Tibet’s waters, making it an upstream controller of seven of South Asia’s mightiest rivers – the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Yangtze, and Mekong. China’s dam constructions have come under criticism for contributing to recent droughts that have severely damaged agriculture and depleted fish stocks in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. [Hindustan Times]

In August, talks between Bangladesh and China on a loan deal to implement a proposed irrigation project on the Teesta River had entered an advanced stage, leaving flat India which had hitherto initiated a series of measures to regain long-standing good relations with its eastern neighbor [see AiR No. 34, August/2020, 4]. Later this year, Beijing then signed an agreement with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) – an intergovernmental organization of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, pledging to share year-round and current data on water flows of the Mekong [see AiR No. 43, October/2020, 4].

Cambodia, EU to discuss bilateral cooperation

(nd) In a three-day meeting between Cambodia and the European Commission (EC), the EC again raised concerns over arrested opposition activists, unfair trials and the EU’s partial withdrawal of the “Everything But Arms” trade scheme.

According to analysts, the EU'S pressure has not resulted in a change of action with regards to Prime Minister Hun Sen and his officials, whose measures seemed to have become systematic, with a slight chance of a postponement of the recent mass trial [See in this issue] [Phnom Penh Post]

Indonesia, China to sign trade deal

(nd) Following an agreement between the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) and China Coal Transportation and Distribution, China will buy $1.467 billion worth of thermal coal from Indonesia next year. Indonesia is the world’s top exporter of thermal coal, which is used in power plants. After China’s imports dropped 24.5% in the first 10 months of 2020 to 86.88 million tonnes, compared to 115.03 million during the same period last year, Indonesia promoted coal sales around Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. [Reuters]

Indonesia, China cooperate on copper smelter

(nd) China’s Tsingshan Steel agreed to build the US$1.8 billion mining facility for Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) at its nickel processing complex in Halmahera, which will still need governmental approval. Tsingshan agreed to complete the smelter within 18 months.

Over two years, it was unclear where the smelter shall be located and came as a surprise that President Joko Widodo had already agreed to the plan. Additionally, he pushed plans to boost the electric vehicle industry, with Hyundai as an initial $1.5 billion investor and LG Chemical interested in building a lithium battery plant. Tsingshan also plans to complete a lithium battery factory at the same location by 2023, the new copper smelter will provide it with the sulphuric acid needed to produce low-grade ferronickel for the stainless steel market and also to recover cobalt from spent lithium batteries. Indonesia disposed of 80% of resources to produce lithium batteries.The government acquired 51% of shares in PTFI in 2018, which includes the Grasberg mine in Papua’s Central Highlands, the world’s largest gold reserve and second-biggest copper mine.

Experts doubt the economic viability of building a copper smelter in a place as remote as Halmahera, saying only eradicating environmental controls would cut capital costs sufficiently. This is not the first nickel-related project that is facilitated together with China, who has already incited controversy for bringing in thousands of its workers to construct processing centers first in Central Sulawesi and now Halmahera. [Asia Times]

Indonesia to ratify agreements with Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

(nd) After seven years of negotiation, Indonesia is expected to ratify the comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland early next year. The original agreement was signed a year ago, with only Iceland and Norway ratifying it.

In an effort to curb the repercussion of Covid-19 and boost economic growth,  Indonesia has been pursuing stronger economic ties with nontraditional partners, such as Latin American and Middle Eastern countries. The current agreement with the four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) shall attract investment from other EFTA countries as well as the wider European market. Inter alia, Indonesia will liberalize 182 subsectors for investment, mostly in the sectors of manufacturing, agriculture, hunting and fishery, mining and quarrying, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, as well as water supply and waste management, alongside service subsectors. [Jakarta Post]

Malaysia, China to standoff in South China Sea

(nd) Tensions arise from a newly standoff over oil and gas drilling in the South China Sea between the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Royal Malaysian Navy. The Chinese vessel approached the jack-up rig working for  Thailand’s national upstream company PTTEP off Sarawak, East Malaysia, which impacted the rig and its support vessels. Malaysia deployed a naval vessel in response.

China could aim to further escalate the standoff with further deployments to drilling sites off Malaysia, since it claims some 80% of the Luconia Shoals. On the other hand, it entails serious provocation to Malaysia, this close to its shores. [Upstream]

Myanmar: US to require visa bond

(nd) As a temporary measure to curb costs for deporting foreigners who overstay their visas, the US will require visitors from Iran, Myanmar and a number of African nations to pay up to $15,000 in visa bonds as of December 24. The cited countries have overstay rates of more than 10%. The new rule applies to short-term business and tourism visa, not to students and travelers from countries who are exempt from visas to enter the US. [Mizzima]

Myanmar, China to dispute over fence at border

(nd) Following Chinese authorities building fences near border posts with Myanmar, the Military objected to this move, referring to the 1961 treaty on the China-Myanmar boundary stipulating inter alia that no structures shall be built within 10 meters of the demarcation line on either side. China put up the fences in an effort to prevent illegal border crossings to curb the spread of Covid 19. The constructions were stopped after the letter was received. Politicians commented, the unilateral move highlighted the imbalance of power between the countries. Northern Shan State and China have had on and off disputes at their 2,227-km long shared border since 2018. [Irrawaddy]

Philippines, India to cooperate in maritime defense

(nd) In a recent interview, India’s Ambassador to the Philippines emphasized his country’s commitment to fight terrorism by widening cooperation in maritime defense. The envoy referred to India's efforts to set up a coastal surveillance system and emphasized the necessity to set up infrastructure to protect the Philippines' coastline of 36,000 kilometers.

In October,  Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Indian Navy signed an agreement to enhance their cooperation and to strengthen security “through the sharing of information on nonmilitary and non-government shipping vessels between the Philippines and India.”  As well as India, the Philippines were a target for terrorist attacks, most recently with the bombing in Jolo, Sulu in August 2020. [Manila Times]

Announcements

Upcoming Online Events

2 December 2020 @ 4:00 pm CET, Institute for Public Policy Research, United Kingdom 

Just Transitions – International examples and what we can learn 

This webinar aims to cover how we can better design public policy to support a rapid and fair transition to net zero and the restoration of nature. It hopes to explore the lessons and insights from previous transitions in different countries, sectors and industries, sharing what worked and what did not in their stories of transition.

For more information and registration details, please visit [IPPR].

2 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm CET, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Switzerland

Exploring Implications on the Use of Private Military and Security Companies on Libyan Oil Fields 

This panel conference will explore the role of Private Military and Security Companies in the contemporary Libyan context and the impact this has had on security sector governance. It will consider legal frameworks as well as caveats for security sector reform and governance. 

For more information and registration, please follow [DCAF]. 

2 December 2020 @ 1:00 pm CET, The Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Sweden

Gaza and West Bank – How to Unite One People 

This talk assesses how authority and legitimacy can be restored in the Palestinian territories and how Palestinians can resolve the conflicts within their society as well as with Israel. 

If you are interested in joining the webinar, please find further details at [UI].   

3 December 2020 @ 8:00 pm EST, National Endowment for Democracy, United States 

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SEYMOUR MARTIN LIPSET LECTURE: MINXIN PEI ON “TOTALITARIANISM’S LONG DARK SHADOW OVER CHINA”

This online class hosted by the Embassy of Canada and the National Endowment for Democracy features Dr. Minxin Pei, Pritzker Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow at Clarement McKenna College. 

If you are interested in joining this virtual class, please register by 27 November 2020. 

For more information visit: [NED]. 

3 December 2020 @ 9:00 am ET, Center for American Progress, United States  

The US-Japan Alliance: Priorities for 2021 

This online panel will discuss the current state of US-Japan relations and how both countries should be thinking about 2021, considering Japan’s new Prime Minister and a new U.S. President-elect. 

For more information, please visit [Center for American Progress].

3 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm MYT, Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia 

ASEAN-EU Dialogue Webinar Series 3: People and Culture

This panel focusses on trade and migration issues and discusses cultural cleavages and experiences as integral parts shaping ASEAN identity. 

If you are interested in joining the webinar, please follow [Asia-Europe] for more information. 

3 December 2020 @ 12:00 pm EDT, Hudson Institute, United States  

Competing with Great Powers at the “Speed of Relevance”: A Conversation with Ellen Lord 

In this online discussion, US Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord will discuss the successes of A&S over the last several years, as well as future challenges and opportunities to effectively compete with China. 

Please access [Hudson Institute] for more information. 

3 December 2020 @ 10:30 am JST, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan 

Oceans Panel’s policy recommendations: Promoting sustainable ocean economies and international partnership

This webinar organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Palau in Japan and the Embassy of Norway in Japan will try to disseminate the policy recommendations formulated by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. 

For more information and registration, please visit [SPF].

3 December 2020 @ 4:00 pm IST, Institute for National security Studies, Israel 

Rising Temperatures, Rising Tension: Climate Change and the Future of the Middle East

This conference co-organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Israel will discuss the implications of climate change for security and stability in the Middle East, featuring experts from Israel and other countries in the region. 

If you wish to join the conference, please visit [INSS]. 

3 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm CET, Clingendael, Netherlands 

Webinar: Europe’s Digital Decade? 

This webinar will discuss China’s Digital Silk Road as well as efforts the EU has made to improve its digital connectivity in the following domains: regulation, business, infrastructure, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). 

Details are accessible at [Clingendael]. 

3 December 2020 @ 9:00 am EST, Asia Society Policy Institute, United States 

Trade Enforcement: Looking Beyond Tariffs 

This webcast assesses tools and mechanisms to foster enforcement of US trade agreements and US trade law.  It considers mechanisms the US Government might implement, sector-specific responses, and the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. 

If you wish to participate in this live webcast, please visit [Asia Society] for more information. 

3 December 2020 @ 11:00 am CET, European Council on Foreign Relations, France  

Between Coordination and Competition: The EU, China, and the new Reality of Climate Action 

In this roundtable discussion, the ECFR and E2G present key findings of their policy paper on the geopolitical dimension of the climate conversation and its impact on EU-China relations. It asks how the EU can shape the future of its climate policy in light of the changing nature of the bilateral relations. Registration is required. 

If you wish to participate in the event, please access [ECFR] for more information. 

4 December 2020 @ 12:00 pm EDT, Hudson Institute, United States  

World in Danger: A Conversation on the Future of Europe with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger 

In this online conversation, German career diplomat, professor, and author of World in Danger Wolfgang Ischinger will evaluate the origins of current global crises, develop a vision for Europe’s future, and discuss the effects of the change in US presidential administration on transatlantic relations. 

For more information, please visit: [Hudson Institute]. 

4 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm EDT, Hudson Institute, United States 

Diplomacy, Deterrence, and Disruption: Navigating North Korea Policy in 2021 

In this virtual workshop, leaders from the United States and South Korea will discuss critical issues on the Korean Peninsula, asking how the US and South Korea can deal diplomatically with North Korea. 

Further details are available here: [Hudson Institute]. 

7 December 2020 @ 2:00 pm CET, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Germany 

Global Order is Dead, Long Live Global Order? Taking Stock in 2020 

This online conference which is part of the GIGA’s Global Transitions Conference Series will try to seek reflection of the current state of the world and be a platform for the exchange of ideas for ways forward. It will consider a host of past problems as well as new problems – especially in light of the current global health crisis: international trade wars and deadlock, the inadequacy of international institutions, and the inadequacy to mitigate climate change and the distribution of the gains of globalization.

For more information and registration details, please visit [GIGA]. 

8 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm CET, The Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Sweden

Turkey’s Mission Impossible: War and Peace with the Kurds 

This online discussion will feature the book launch of Cengiz Çandar’s book of the same name, assessing the historical account of the Kurdish question in Turkey and the author’s own insights. The event aims to challenge conventional views on Turkey and to provide a nuanced picture of the background of today’s situation.

For more information and registration details, please follow [UI]. 

8-10 December 2020 @ 9:00 1m CET, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Germany 

Regional Stakes of India’s Foreign Policy 

This online conference is co-organized by the Centre de recherche internationales de Sciences Po and the Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’Ecole Militaire. It features three panels on Indian engagements in the Middle East, India’s South Asian neighbourhood, and the wider Indo-Pacific. It explores the implications of Sino-Indian competition for possibilities of cooperation and the effects of Chinese and Indian engagements on regional actors as well as on the bilateral relations between China and India. 

For more information, please visit [GIGA].

9 December 2020 @ 5:00 pm AEDT, Lowy Institute, Australia 

In Conversation with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar 

This virtual discussion will cover topics such as India’s relations with China considering recent border crashes, the impact of the global pandemic on India and its place in the world, and India-Australia relations. 

Please access [Lowy] for more information and registration details. 

9 December 2020 @ 6:30 pm EST, Hudson Institute, United States   

2020 Year-End Celebration 

Hudson Institute celebrates the end of the year with speakers President Tsai Ing-Wen of Taiwan, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. 

For more information and fee-based registration, please visit [Hudson Institute] or [Hudson Gala].

9 December 2020 @ 6:00 pm EST, Asia Society Policy Institute, United States 

China Has Politics Too | The Impact of Chinese Domestic Politics and Economics on the Future of U.S.-China Relations 

In light of the 2020 US election and the Chinese Communist Party’s 5th Plenum Meeting which solidified the country’s next Five-Year Plan in economic and political terms, including the country’s efforts to combat climate change, this live webcast asks: What do these developments mean for China’s future and the future of US-China relations? 

For more information, please visit [Asia Society].  

9 December 2020 @ 5:00 pm CET, The Egmont Institute and Notre Europe, Belgium   

Nouveau Pacte pour la migration : Law Commission peut-elle rependre la main dur le dossier migratoire? 

This online webinar aims to analyze the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, focusing on the implementation of new procedures of first entry, the acceptability of flexible and mandatory solidarity by the majority of member states, and the necessity to cooperate with third countries in order to enable a successful return policy. Guest speakers and participants may speak in French and English.

Details are accessible under [Egmont]. 

10 December 2020 @ 3:00 pm CEST, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Switzerland

Climate Change Impact on Global and Local Security Governance: Learning from Local Experiences of the Security Sector 

This online seminar is organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office in Geneva and discusses the role of good governance of the security sector in preventing, mitigating, and responding to the impact of climate change at the global and local level. In particular, it aims to derive lessons from local experiences of security sector actors.

If you wish to participate in the seminar, please access [DCAF] for more information and registration.

10 December 2020 @ 4:00 pm CET, Clingendael, Netherlands 

A new era of transatlantic cooperation on global public goods? 

This webinar organized in collaboration with the Brookings Institute discusses the effects of great power competition, four years of the Trump administration, and the pandemic on the liberal international order. It also considers areas of transatlantic convergence and divergence, in particular relating to China, climate change, and European security. 

If you wish to join the webinar, please follow [Clingendael] for more information.

Recent book releases

Ananth Krishnan, India's China Challenge: A Journey through China's Rise and What it Means for India, HarperCollins India, September 30, 2020, 420 pages, reviewed in [NewsClick].

Barry C. Lynn, Liberty from All Masters: The New American Autocracy vs. the Will of the People, St. Martin's Press, September 29, 2020, reviewed in [Washington Monthly].

Clive Hamilton, and Mareike Ohlberg, Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World, Oneworld Publications, September 8, 2020, 423 pages, reviewed in [The Conversation].

Calls

The 3rd International Conference on Applied Research in Business, Management and Economics, 23 – 25 April, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic, invites to submit papers. Closing date for submission is March 21, 2021. More details available at [BMEConf].

The Annual Meeting and Concurrent Virtual Conference of the Organization of American Historians is open for paper submissions until February 1, 2021. Find more about the call for papers at [OAH].

Jobs & positions

The United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Office for Latin America and Caribbean is offering a position of Regional Director. Closing date for applications is January 13, 2021. For more information, see [UN].

The Department of Government of Cornell University invites applications for a tenure-track position in international relations at the rank of assistant professor in the fall semester 2021. Review of applications started on October 1, 2020, and will continue until the search is complete. More information at [Cornell University]

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 website for other updates and news!