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Asia in Review

No. 33, August/2020, 3

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers,

Welcome to this week’s comprehensive update on the latest events and developments in constitutional politics and international relations in Asia. 

I wish you an enjoyable read!

With best regards,

Henning Glaser

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

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

Main Sections

• Law and Politics in East Asia

• Law and Politics in South Asia

• Law and Politics in Southeast Asia

• International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

• Upcoming Online Events

Law and Politics in East Asia 

China: Beijing extends term of current LegCo

(dql) Following the contentious postponement of the Legislative Council (LegCo) election – initially planned for 5 September – to September 2021 by the Hong Kong government [AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1], the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body, last week decided to extend the current term of Hong Kong's legislature by a year to fill the legislative ‘vacuum’ between the end of the current term on 30 September and the next term.

In response to the decision, pro-democracy legislators reiterated their rejection of the delay of the election, a move they believe was made to deprive them of a chance to win an unprecedented majority in the election. They further criticized the city government for calling on Beijing to decide on the term of the current legislature and further undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and constitutional system. [Bloomberg] [Aljazeera]

The decision is the second case in a short time which sees Beijing deciding on Hong Kong’s constitutional affairs following the imposition of the National Security Law for Hong Kong in late June. [AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5]

China/Hong Kong: Prominent protest supporters released on bail

(dql) Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, founder of regime-critical newspaper Apple Daily, and Agnes Chow, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy activists, were released on bail after having been arrested last week under the new security legislation over charges of secession and colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Both criticized the action taken against them with Chow calling her arrest “political prosecution” while Lai condemned the accusations against him of promoting Hong Kong independence as “conspiracy of the CCP to clamp down” on him. [Nikkei Asian Review] [Bloomberg] [AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2]

China/Hong Kong: Interview with government critic removed from broadcaster website

(dql) Public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) removed from its website a podcast with wanted and exiled pro-democracy activists Nathan Law on the postponement of the Legislative Council election. 

In a related movement, the city government announced the appointment of former lawmaker and current member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Beijing’s top advisory body, as new chief of RTHK’s advisory body. 

These moves, along with the raid of Apple Daily last week, reinforce concerns over press freedom and the media landscape in Hong Kong under the security law. [Hong Kong Free Press] [AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2]

China: Central Party School professor punished for criticizing party

(dql) A retired professor at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party – the party’s cadre factory – was expelled from the party, with her retirement benefits rescinded, for criticizing the party, calling it a “political zombie” and accusing “a central leader” of turning “90 million Party members into slaves, tools to be used for his personal advantage.” [South China Morning Post] [China Digital Times]

Her case is the second of two recent cases in which critics who are firmly part of the regime have been punished for attacking the party and party leadership, indicating possible widespread criticism of President Xi Jinping’s rule within in the party. [AiR No. 30, July/2020, 4]

China set to enact laws to counter massive food waste

(dql) China is set step up measures to reduce food waste, with the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body, announcing that it will formulate regulations on grain production, purchase, storage, transport, processing and consumption in order prevent food waste. 

Studies have revealed that in 2015 consumers in four large Chinese cities accounted for 17 to 18 million tons of wasted food, equaling the annual consumption of 30 to 50 million people. [South China Morning Post]

Japan: Population continues to decline for a 11th straight year

(dql) Japan is facing the 11th consecutive tear with a declining population of nationals. According to latest government data, in 2019, people 65 years and older made up a record 28.41% of the country’s total population, while the number of newborn babies dropped below 900,000 for the first time ever, resulting in Japan – the world’s third-largest economy – being confronted with shrinking labor force at a time when soaring social security spending to cover pensions and medical care for the elderly is heavily burdening on the budget.

South Korea: Anti-government protest

(dql) Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets on Saturday in Seoul to demand the resignation of President Moon Jae-in accusing him of kowtowing to North Korea, policy failures, corruption, and election fraud. [Global News]

Moon has been facing rapidly falling approval ratings over the past months, dropping from 70% in May, when he was celebrated for his response to the pandemic and after his ruling Democratic Party secured a landslide victory in the legislative election in April, to currently 43%d, mainly due to widespread discontent with his failure to rein in soaring housing prices. [Korea Times] [Yonhap]

South Korea: Resurging Covid-19 numbers

(dql) South Korea is witnessing a COVID-19 resurgence, with 246 new cases reported this Tuesday, increasing the total for the last five days to almost 1000 and sparking concerns the country might be on the verge of another large-scale eruption. Over more than four months daily new cases were mostly in the low-to-mid double digits.

In response, the government announced to ban large public gatherings and shut down nightspots and churches in the greater capital area. Churches have been identified as major infection cluster as many churches conducted services without requiring attendees to wear masks and allowing worshipers to sing in choirs or eat together. [ABC News]

Taiwan: Kaohsiung mayoral by-election

(ef) Former Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured a landslide victory in the mayoral by-election past Saturday by landslide, garnering over 70% of the votes, compared to only 26% for his main contender from the opposition Kuomintang. The election was held following the recall of Chen’s predecessor Han Kuo-yu, defeated presidential candidate of the KMT, in a referendum in June after he had surprisingly won against Chen the mayoral election in 2018 in Kaohsiung, hitherto a stronghold of the DPP for decades. [Focus Taiwan] [AiR No. 23, June/2020, 2].

Law and Politics in South Asia 

Bangladesh: Officials in detention center tortured, beaten to death children

(dql) In a case shedding light on more systemic abuses eighteen boys had their mouths stuffed with towels and beaten with steel pipes, sticks and cricket stumps after attacking and breaking the hand of a guard in a Bangladeshi juvenile detention center leading to the death of three boys whose age was not disclosed while two more remained in a critical state. Police arrested the director of the center, two teachers and a counsellor as well as eight other children who allegedly took part in the beatings. The Children Development Centre in the western city of Jessore is home to minors who were either convicted or awaiting prosecution for crimes from minor thefts to rapes and murders. In 2015, the government suspended the director of another center after 20 boys slashed their wrists in protest over alleged tortures by the staff. [New Straits Times]

Bangladesh: Extrajudicial killings hit retired army officer

(dql) Human Rights Watch reports another case of extrajudicial killings after more than 150 people have reportedly been killed already by enforcement officers this year, this time ending the life of an army officer. The retired major was shot dead by police at a checkpoint in Cox’s Bazar when returning from filming a documentary. After the police initially claimed to have fired in self-defense after they had recovered drugs from the major’s vehicle growing public outrage both among the public and within the military over the killing of a soldier who was once part of the prime minister’s protection detail, authorities saw themselves eventually forced to take some action leading to them suspension of twenty-one and arrest of nine police officers. [Human Rights Watch]

India: Facebook under pressure over deadly riots and allegations of taking sides for BJP

(ls) At least three people were killed and several cars set on fire last week in the southern Indian city of Bangalore after rioting broke out, sparked by a Facebook post that local Muslims regarded as blasphemous. About 4,000 people were involved in the unrest. The man accused of making the post and another 110 people who took part in the protest were arrested. [Newsweek]

In a separate development, Facebook has come under fire over doubts about the application of its hate speech policy toward the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A Wall Street Journal report said that a Facebook executive opposed applying the company’s hate speech rules to a BJP politician and some other Hindu nationalist individuals and groups. The oppositional Congress Party demanded a parliamentary investigation of Facebook employees’ alleged ties with the BJP. Facebook stated that its policies prohibit hate speech irrespective of one’s political position. [Reuters] [Wall Street Journal]

Moreover, The Congress, India’s major opposition party, on Tuesday wrote a complaint to Mark Zuckerberg claiming Facebook may be “a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values” its founding leaders, the founders of a secularistic India, sacrificed their lives for. [Hindustan Times]

India: Rising violence in Kashmir – Partly restoration of internet services

(ls) In one of the deadliest days in Kashmir since its autonomy was ended last year, six people – four Indian security forces and two militants – were killed in an attack and a counter-operation on Monday. The incidents illustrate rising levels of violence as militants have intensified attacks on village council members and other leaders in Kashmir. [AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1] Five have been shot dead in the past three months. As a consequence, about 1,000 village leaders have been moved to high-security zones. [Reuters] [India Today]

At the same time, authorities ordered the restoration of high-speed 4G internet services in two of Kashmir’s 20 districts, Ganderbal and Udhampur, on a “trial basis” from Sunday night. The internet connection had been cut off in a communications blackout in August 2019, when the central government revoked the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir and divided it into two federally ruled territories. In May, India’s Supreme Court ruled that an indefinite shutdown of the internet was illegal. According to the Internet Shutdown Tracker, India has suspended internet services more often than any other country in recent years. [Al Jazeera] [Internet Shutdown Tracker]

Pakistan vows to improve security of CPEC projects

(ls) Highlighting the domestic economic importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Pakistan army said it will guarantee the security of connected projects against terrorist attacks from Balochistan militants. In response to apparent Chinese complaints, Pakistan has created a special security division for this purpose. [Xinhua] [Times of India]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Indonesia: Jokowi proposes budget for 2021 to parliament

(lm) After delivering his state of the nation address before the People’s Consultative Assembly, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) proposed on Friday a $186.08 billion state budget for 2021 to parliament.

The budget proposal, which represents only a 0.3 percent increase compared with this year's revised budget, assumes a budget deficit of 5.5 percent of gross domestic product. It further expects growth in Indonesia's economy to rebound between 4.5 to 5.5 percent in 2021, following on an official prediction of near-flat growth this year.

Southeast Asia's largest economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, recording a 5.32 percent contraction in the second quarter compared to a year earlier - its first contraction since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1998 that shook the country’s fundaments and eventually led to system transition. 

The budget proposal therefore centers around measures designed to accelerate the economy’s rebound from the pandemic and to push for structural reform in a bid to boost productivity, innovation and economic competitiveness. [The Straits Times] [Reuters] [The Jakarta Post]

In a sperate development, Widodo announced an influx of $850 million in investments after seven foreign companies, including LG and Panasonic, confirmed plans to relocate production facilities to Indonesia, which would create 30.000 new jobs, while another 17 multinationals are “close to 100 per cent commitment” which would bring another 12.000 jobs and total foreign investment of $37.8 billion. [Gulf News]

For those, who are interested to learn more about Widodo. The first English-language biography of the Indonesian President titled ‘Man of Contradiction’ by Ben Bland, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, will be released in September. Bland argues that Widodo – caught between democracy and authoritarianism, openness and protectionism, Islam and pluralism – embodies the fundamental contradictions of modern Indonesia.

Indonesia: Regional commander of separatist army killed

(dql) A regional commander of the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) was killed on Sunday by government security forces during a raid of a separatist base in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua province.

TPNPB vowed to retaliate adding that the killing of one of the group's commanders was a "call to war against Indonesian authorities". He claimed that the group has 33 regional commanders, each leading 2,500 personnel. [Benar News] [Star Tribune]

Malaysia: Court rejects ex-PM Najib 's bid to quash charges

(lm) A Malaysian court on Friday rejected former premier Najib Razak's bid to quash charges related to an audit report of troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), calling the bid "premature". [The Straits Times]

Prosecutors had changed the wording in Mr. Najib`s charge sheet to say that he, in 2016, used his position as Prime Minister to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report that had already been "finalized" by the Auditor-General before it was "finalized again" and presented to the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. The defendant responded by applying to strike out the allegations, with his lawyer arguing that a finalized report by definition cannot be revised. [The Star]

The court case is one of many that Mr. Najib faces for his alleged role in 1MDB, the Malaysian state fund that is at the center of global investigations into corruption and money laundering. Earlier this month, the former Prime Minister was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and a RM210 million ($69.5 million) fine in an earlier case involving a former unit of 1MDB. [AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]

Malaysia: PM Yassin`s party to join UMNO/PAS platform (Muafakat Nasional Alliance)

(lm) Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Saturday announced that his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) will formally join the Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance that was formed by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) last year to coalesce the Malay-Muslim vote. The decision comes after PPBM earlier this month has been roiled by senior figures quitting the party to join Mahathir’s newly formed Parti Pejuang Tanah Air. In its attempt to remove those who are aligned with Mr. Mahathir, PPBM on Saturday also purged 282 party members. [Free Malaysia Today] [AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1] [AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2] [The Straits Times]

While PPBM leads the country`s currently ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, UMNO will remain the biggest party - by membership and by the number of its federal lawmakers – in the MN. PPBM`s move to also join the alliance, thereby turning it into a three-party faction, thus, will likely give UMNO an upper hand in seat negotiations for the impending general election. While a memorandum of understanding binds UMNO and PAS together, still, MN remains a party alliance without a formal registration. 

Earlier last week, most of Malaysia's ruling parties – except for UMNO - registered as formal members of the ruling PN coalition. The coalition has since been accepted by the Registrar of Societies and includes PAS, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) despite these parties being allied to UMNO via other memoranda of understanding. [The Straits Times]

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that more than half of state and parliamentary seats for the impending general election have been distributed among Perikatan Nasional components. [Free Malaysia Today]

Malaysia: Sabah state will hold 16th election despite legal challenge

(lm) Malaysia`s Election Commission (EC) announced on Monday that the country`s easternmost state of Sabah will hold state assembly elections on Sept 26, after its assembly two weeks ago had dissolved with the aim to form a new government within the next 60 days. [AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]

The EC went ahead with the announcement despite an ongoing legal challenge on the validity of the assembly`s dissolution. The High Court in Kota Kinabalu, the Sabah capital, is scheduled to decide on whether the case has merits on Friday. [The Straits Times]

Myanmar: Complications in run-up to peace conference and election

(jn) A major election watchdog group in Myanmar, the People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE) has been banned from monitoring the November 8 general election, along thousands of observers. The Union Election Commission denied accreditation on the basis that the group had received foreign assistance but was not officially registered. In response, more than 450 civil society groups issued a joint statement demanding that the decision be overturned in the name of free and fair elections. Experts see the coming election as a crucial test of the transition to democracy and away from direct military rule, but preparations have been complicated by the pandemic and escalating ethnic conflict. [Reuters] [Bangkok Post]

In another instance, a Muslim Rohingya candidate for parliament has been disqualified from running by a local election commission that questioned whether he fulfilled the citizenship requirement. The candidate and rights groups decried the rejection as discriminatory and generally reflective of the hostile treatment of the Rohingya minority that has suffered from persecution and a brutal military crackdown since 2017 and that has prompted accusations of genocide against the Myanmar government. [Radio Free Asia 1] [The Straits Times]

The so-called 21st-Century Panglong Conference, the formal frame for the national peace process between the Myanmar government and armed ethnic groups, saw a setback on Thursday when an alliance of ethnic armed groups announced that they would not participate in the fourth round of talks on August 19-21. The main reason why six of the members declined was that the seventh member of the group, the Arakan Army (AA), was not invited by the government that it has been actively fighting since 2018 in Rakhine state. The absence of some of the most powerful ethnic armies in the country diminishes the already low expectations for the peace process, the success of which the national leadership under Aung San Suu Kyi needs in face of the November elections. [Radio Free Asia 2]

For a critical account on the problem of malapportionment in Myanmar’s election and its impact on the country’s democratization and broader political development, see Kai Ostwald and Constant Courtin at [ISEAS].

Philippines: Labor NGO demands end of state fascism under Duterte

(dql) Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), a non-governmental development organization in the Philippines, has demanded to hold the Duterte administration accountable for the killings of two Philippines peasant rights defenders last week. EILER also accused the government of “[u]sing the pandemic as a guise to attack critics, activists and ordinary people,” and demanded an “[e]nd of state fascism under the Duterte administration.” [Scoop]

Meanwhile, Philippine authorities announced that the commander of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, who executed two Canadians more than four years ago in the Philippines, was arrested. [Global News]

Thailand: Parliament requests NACC probe into alleged bribe-taking attempt

(lm) The Thai parliament on Thursday announced that it would ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to inquire into an alleged bribe-taking attempt by members of one of the eight House sub-committee vetting the 2021 fiscal budget. If the NACC decides to launch a preliminary inquiry, the sub-committee in question will need to give its full cooperation, the House speaker said. The House committee on laws, justice and human rights is also expected to vote on whether a probe should be conducted into the bribery allegation. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 4]

The accusations have reportedly been made by the director-general of the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. While defending his agency`s budget allocation in front of a sub-panel, the director-general had reportedly claimed that he had been approached by a member of the sub-panel, demanding five million baht from his agency in exchange for not trimming a fund earmarked for building artesian wells. [Bangkok Post 2]

Brushing of the allegations, Deputy Finance Minister and chair of the House Committee overseeing budget scrutiny, Santi Promphat, said that House sub-committees were not authorized to adjust budget portions stipulated in the budget bill, adding that they were only permitted to determine whether proposed budget allocations suited the policies or programs they were destined for. [Bangkok Post 3]

In July, the House of Representatives had passed the first reading of the 3.3-trillion-baht budget bill for the 2021 fiscal year. The bill’s second and third readings are expected in early September. [AiR No. 27, July/2020, 1]

Thailand: New cabinet members receive royal endorsement

(lm) After weeks of political vacuum left by the resignation of six ministers, including the PM’s ‘economic team’, on Wednesday, the six new cabinet members were sworn in by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, completing the process of their appointment. The King expressed his desire "for the happiness of the people, happiness of the public and for order and peace". Incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai also attended the ceremony, as he will concurrently serve as one of the deputy prime ministers. [Bangkok Post 1] [Straits Times]

Former president and CEO of state petrochemical enterprise PTT Global Chemical, Supattanapong Punmeechaow will serve as deputy prime minister and energy minister. Predee Daochai, previously co-president of Thailand`s Kasikornbank and chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association, will take over the portfolio of finance minister. As Thailand continues to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the two are expected to play key roles in the new economic team, replacing the group that was headed by former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak. In July, Mr. Somkid, then-Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, then-Energy Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, and three more ministers had resigned. [AiR No. 29, July/2020, 3]

The leader in the governing party coalition, the Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) was given charge of two portfolios. Anucha Nakasai, PPRP`s secretary-general, became the prime minister’s new office minister, while Suchart Chomklin, deputy leader of the party, took over as labor minister, with the government’s former spokeswoman, Narumon Pinyosinwat, as his deputy minister. Anek Laothamatas, executive member of the nationalist-royalist Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT), will serve as the new minister of higher education, science, research and innovation.

Thailand: Opposition parties take first step towards rewriting of the constitution

(lm) On Monday, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai accepted an opposition-sponsored motion that seeks to amend Section 256 of the constitution, which governs the process of constitutional amendments. Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornvivat filed the motion in the presence of representatives from Prachachat, Puea Chat, Thai People Power and Seriruamthai. Although no party representative attended the presentation, at least 30 Move Forward Party lawmakers have reportedly signed the motion as well. The process to verify the legitimacy of the motion would begin immediately, Mr. Chuan said, adding that he would table the motion in the House of Representatives within the next 15 days. [Bangkok Post 1]

Earlier this month, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment had resolved to change Section 256, which states that at least one-third (84) of the 250 senators has to approve constitutional amendments in two of three readings – a tall order, given the Senate’s voting records and the fact that it has vested interest in the amendments to the constitution. [see AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]. Still, consensus among the opposition seems less clear with regard to the appointment of the Senate, which is seen as favoring the government, considering that the senators have been appointed by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)). While parts of the opposition would like to redeem the senators right to vote for a prime minister, some want to abolish appointed senators altogether. [Bangkok Post 2]

Speaking in the wake of Sunday`s protest, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Monday affirmed protesters demand for constitutional amendments, saying his ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) was ready for such amendments, and adding that party members would propose changes through its executive board. [Bangkok Post 3]

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives debated on Thursday a report on forging national reconciliation, which could partially set the tone for future constitutional amendments. Prepared by the House Committee on laws, justice and human rights, the report featured a nine-point recommendation list, which the authors consider a roadmap towards a "People's Constitution". [Bangkok Post 4]

In remarks that clearly draw on the ongoing student protests, the report in its outset recognizes that the current charter is divisive and catered to the powers of the coup engineer, the National Council for Peace and Order, adding that it has since been inherited by the current government, which aggravates political conflicts. Stressing that amnesty was the first step towards building national reconciliation, the report also puts emphasis on a bill to absolve offenders charged with instigating political unrest and protests.

Claiming that deferring constitutional amendment would make it difficult to solve social and political conflicts, the report calls on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to clarify on a starting date for and the duration of the process, adding that such a process must include input from people across the social strata. Consequently, the report favors a dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election, after constitutional amendments have been introduced.

The recommendations echo Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn`s call for an amnesty bill in July earlier this year. Back then, the Senator had called for an amnesty bill to absolve offenders charged with instigating political unrest and protests within the past 15 years, arguing that the bill would significantly boost the government`s national reconciliation efforts as it would benefit protest leaders of all political groups. In both cases, the amnesty bills do not include charges of corruption or offences against Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse majesté. [AiR No. 29, July/2020, 3]

Thailand: Thousands gather in Bangkok to demand reforms

(lm) Thousands of protesters converged on Sunday on Bangkok’s Democracy Monument to afresh their demand to dissolve parliament, put an end to harassment of government critics, and amend the constitution. The number of participants differs from source to source, with protest organizers from the Free People group – an activist group that morphed out of the student-led Free Youth group – claiming 20,000-30,000 attendees. [Bangkok Post 1]

Going beyond their shared demand for wholesale democratic reform, speakers on stage addressed a variety of other progressive causes, including the abortion laws and its adverse effect on women’s reproductive health, as well as marriage equality and gender representation. While affirming the three core demands that they had first voiced at the July 18 rally, leaders from the Free People group refrained from making any direct reference to the 10-point list for reform of the royal institution. [Thai Enquirer] [AiR No. 29, July/2020, 3]

Throughout the morning, the anti-government protest was preceded by a much smaller royalist counter-protest led by members of the “Archeewa Chuay Chart” (Vocational Students Helping the Nation) [see AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]. About 60 royalist demonstrators rallied in close proximity to the Democracy Monument to show their support for the royal institution. On Monday, ultra-royalists petitioned the police to withdraw the bail granted earlier to three activists who subsequently took part in Sunday's anti-government rally, saying the trio had violated the conditions set for their release. [Bangkok Post 2]

Emerging from the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday had announced that authorities were seeking to identify demonstrators who had expressed criticism over the royal family during last week`s protest at Thammasat University, saying that their comments have potentially violated Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as lèse-majesté. Further adding to speculations that suggested the existence of a "dark hand" behind the protests, the Prime Minister also said that the demonstration deserved closed scrutiny to determine potential instigators. [NY Times] [The Guardian]

Speaking at a meeting with university executives on Friday, newly appointed Minister for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Anek Laothamatas affirmed the concerns expressed by the Prime Minister a day earlier, saying that universities were bound “to prevent students and outsiders from insulting the monarchy”. In the same vein, Deputy Prime Minister General (ret.) Prawit Wongsuwon light-heartedly dismissed the three-fingered hand gesture used by demonstrators inspired by the ‘Hunger Games’ as the salute used by Boy Scouts, and further said that protesters “must think carefully”. [Bangkok Post 3] [Bangkok Post 4]

Since the Sunday protests, students throughout the country who showed symbols against dictatorship have reportedly been intimidated by school administration and men believed to be plainclothes police. [Bangkok Post 5] [Khaosod English]

Authorities have also warned of social media posts critical of the royal institution including the Digital Economy Minister announcing on Facebook that he ordered authorities to identify “inappropriate” material and single out 114 posts mostly made to Facebook but also YouTube and Twitter that may be in breach of the Computer Crimes Act. [South China Morning Post]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China-USA relations: Washington steps up attack on Huawei

(dql) Following recent moves against the Chinese technology companies running the social networking apps TokTok and WeChat [AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2], the US government this Monday announced to expand restrictions on Huawei, by barring foreign semiconductor company from selling chips that have been developed or fabricated with U.S. software or technology to Huawei without obtaining US government approval. 

The move is a major blow to Huawei which relies on foreign-made semiconductors to power its 5G telecommunications gear. 

Washington also added nearly 40 affiliates of Huawei in more than 20 countries to the U.S. government’s economic blacklist, the sources said, raising the total to 152 affiliates since Huawei was first put on the list in May 2019. [Reuters 1] [CNN]

In a related development, US President Trump announced to create 10 million jobs in 10 months, partly to be made possible by setting up tax credits for American companies that move manufacturing facilities back to the US from China. He also said he would end federal contracts with companies which outsourced work to China. [Aljazeera]

Facing these and other signs of China and the USA partly decoupling in core areas pertaining to trade, technology and financial activity, Chinese experts have publicly voiced ideas of globalizing the yuan. [Reuters 2]

China-Russia relations:  De-dollarization and veto against US bid for extension of UN Iran arms embargo 

(dql) Signaling Sino-Russian efforts to decrease their dependence on the dollar, in the first quarter of 2020, trade between Russia and China conducted in US dollar settlement was below 50% for the first time on record while their respective national currencies accounted for more than 20%, also a new high. Trade in Euro made up an all-time high of 30%. 

As recently as 2015, dollar settlements accounted for approximately 90% which fell to 51% by 2019 following the US-China trade war and due to concerted push by both Moscow and Beijing for de-dollarization. [Nikkei Asian Review]

In another sign of Chinese-Russian opposition against the USA, Beijing and Moscow both vetoed Washington’s bid in the UN Security Council to extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran last week, while  eleven members (Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia, Viet Nam) abstained and only the Dominican Republic sided with the USA. [VoA]

China-Japan relations: Diplomatic tensions over disputed islands in East China Sea

(dql) Sino-Japanese tensions over disputed islands in the East China Sea are flaring up. This Tuesday, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono met the Chinese Ambassador to Japan to express Tokyo’s strong concern over China's military activities around the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, claimed also by Beijing which calls them Diaoyu islands, and to demand that China refrain from those military activities. [Nippon]

For a discussion of the question of whether it is thinkable that Japan would refrain from responding military to a takeover of the disputed islands and cede them to China see Grant Newsham at [Asia Times] who argues that it is.

Cross-strait relations: Taiwan concludes huge fighter jets deal with Lockheed Martin 

(dql/ef) Amid frosty cross-strait relations, Taiwan finalized a 10-year, 62 billion USD deal with US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin last Friday to purchase 66 new-generation F-16 fighter jets. The deal was formally approved by Washington in August last year. [Asia Times] [AiR No. 34, August/2019, 3]

The move comes a day after Taiwan’s cabinet announced a 1.4 billion USD or 10% increase for next year’s planned defense spending totaling 15.42 billion USD in its budget plan for 2021 with overall government spending set at a record of over 73 billion USD. [Focus Taiwan]

The announcement was made as China revealed that is was conducting military exercises near Taiwan to "fight against provocations and protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," adding that the drills were a response to “certain major countries” that have recently “sent out wrong signals to the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces, severely endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” [Taiwan News] [Sohu, in Chinese]

Meanwhile, a US Navy aircraft carrier conducted exercises in the contested South China Sea on Friday. A strike group, led by the USS Ronald Reagan, conducted flight operations and high-end maritime stability operations and exercises. [Aljazeera]

Taiwan: Prevention of settling of Chinese spies

(ef) Upon increasing numbers of Hong Kong residents settling in Taiwan amid an increasingly tense relationship with China, Taiwan announced that it will practice stricter scrutiny of mainland Chinese citizens who are residents of Hong Kong and seek to settle in Taiwan following the imposition of the security law. The move aims at preventing infiltration and espionage and targets those Hong Kong and Macau residents who are originally from mainland China or are current or former party, government, or military officials who will be subject to a cross-department vetting procedure. The move comes just over a month after Taiwan opened an office for Hong Kong residents who attempt to move to Taiwan. China stated that Taiwan was trying to stir up enmity towards China. [Reuters]

South Korea-USA relations: Annual joint military exercise 

(dql) South Korea and the USA kicked off joint military exercises this Tuesday. Due the pandemic, this year’s drills will mainly involve computer-simulated war scenarios.

The exercises come at a time when inter-Korean peace talks have come to a stillstand after Pyongyang blew up a joint liaison office in June and threatened further military actions. It remains to be seen how North Korea will react to the drills. [WION]

North Korea has up to 60 nuclear bombs

(dql) According to the US Army latest report, North Korea is possessing between 20 and 60 nuclear bombs and has the capacity to produce six new ones per year. Furthermore, Pyongyang is the world’s third-largest holder of chemical agents, potentially maintaining a 2,500- to 5,000-ton stockpile of 20 chemical weapons while at the same overseeing electronic warfare operations involving more than 6,000 computer hackers working internationally to gather intelligence, disable enemy networks and commit financial crimes. [Korea Herald]

India-China tensions rising again

(ls) On Friday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Tibet which borders India. The trip was interpreted as an unusual symbolic gesture toward India. It highlights Tibet’s increased national and international prominence, after several months of border tensions in the Himalayas with a major incident in mid-June when twenty Indian soldiers were killed, while Chinese casualties remained undisclosed. Wang emphasised Tibet’s role in developing economic and trade relations with neighbouring countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. [South China Morning Post 1] [Global Times]

China has reinforced its border infrastructure in Tibet which also shares a border with Nepal. Nepal participates in the Belt and Road Initiative under which a number of infrastructure projects have been initiated, including building of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network through Tibet. [Firstpost]

India accepted Tibet as part of China in an agreement in 2003 against the recognition by China of the Himalayan region of Sikkim as Indian territory. In effect, India has supported the “One China” policy while expecting from China to respect a “One India” policy. With rising tensions in the border regions and a mounting Chinese presence it India’s various ‘backyards’, some observers expect that India may reopen this topic again, which, in turn, may also affect China’s stance on India’s authority over Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh. [The Diplomat]

Against the background of the current tensions, it is worth to reflect Tibet’s immense geostrategic importance in Asia. Tibet’s geopolitical capital for China lies not only in its function as a natural barrier fortifying large parts of its frontier and its vast reserves of copper, iron, zinc, and other minerals but also its huge importance as a repository of indispensable freshwater resources that are shared across Asia and supply almost the half of the world’s population.

After all, besides being home to enormous glaciers, the Tibetan plateau, known as Asia’s Water Tower, hosts the world’s greatest river systems - including the Indus, the Mekong, the Yangtze, the Yellow River, the Salween, the Brahmaputra, the Karnali and the Sutlej - which form a lifeline for populous countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam but also Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, altogether representing not less than 47 percent of the global population.

However, climate change, deforestation, mining, other industrial activities, and simple human pollution threaten these water reservoirs not to speak about the continuously built dams which all is leading to a quantitative and qualitative decline of freshwater that adds to Tibet’s geopolitical importance - for China and all the other countries depending on Tibet’s waters. 

With its complete upper riparian control over all major rivers flowing out of the Tibetan plateau China can easily manipulate the river flow to the entire downstream periphery, which puts all countries dependent on Tibetan rivers at a strategically disadvantageous position, including especially India. Given that China is among the driest countries globally with more than one-fourth of its lands being desert and water shortages in the Ganges having already affected the lives of millions in Bangladesh prompting thousands to illegally migrate to India the risk of a future water war between China and India looms since long underlining the gravity of cross-border tensions between the Asian giants. [Sramana Mitra] [The Diplomat]

In another step in the ongoing tensions, China extended an anti-dumping tariff on certain optical fibres made in India for five years last week. China’s Ministry of Commerce began to implement anti-dumping measures on imports of single-mode optical fibres from India in August 2014. A few days before the extension, India had imposed provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of black toner originating in or exported from China, Malaysia and Taiwan. In June, New Delhi had issued an anti-dumping duty on certain steel products imported from China, South Korea and Vietnam. [Hindustan Times]

Moreover, India has barred China-flagged and owned vessels from bidding on tenders for chartering tankers to import crude oil into India or export products such as diesel out of the country. However, the move is unlikely to impact trade flows as Chinese vessels are mostly used in India for the transport of liquefied petroleum gas. [South China Morning Post 2]

India funds major infrastructure project in the Maldives

(ls) In a bid to foster its relations with the Maldives, India committed itself to fund the largest civilian infrastructure project in the island country. The Greater Male Connectivity Project consists of bridges and causeways linking the capital Male to three neighbouring islets. The overall funding from India amounts to $500m (a grant of $100m and a credit of $400m). 

The project has about three times the size of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, completed under former President Abdulla Yameen. After President Ibrahim Solih took power following the defeat of Yameen in elections in November 2018, the bridge has been renamed into Sinamalé Bridge. Yameen was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison last year. [Al Jazeera]

India-Maldives relations have significantly improved since Solih came to office, with the India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy finding resonance in the Maldives’ return to its traditional “India First” policy. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first international visit was to the Maldives after coming to power for his second term in May last year. He was also the only head of state to attend Maldivian President Solih’s swearing-in ceremony in November 2018. [The Print]

Still, Maldivian Foreign Minister Shahid said that China would “continue to remain an important economic and bilateral development partner of the Maldives”. The country, which depends heavily on tourism, saw about 280,000 out of 1.7 million tourists last year from China. [Straits Times]

India-Nepal relations: Dialogue resumed

(dql) Resuming dialogue after PM KP Sharma Oli’s decision to change Nepal’s political map to include certain Indian territories soured relations between India and Nepal, both countries held a virtual meeting on Monday to assess projects financed by India and being implemented in Nepal, including the East-West Highway from Mahendranagar to Mechi, considered a lifeline of Nepal, 22 bridges in the Kohalpur-Mahakali section of the East-West Highway, as well as eight village and urban roads and one bridge. [Economic Times]

In another sign of thawing relations between both countries, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to congratulate India on its 74th Independence Day, adding that “Nepal looks forward to a meaningful cooperation between Nepal and India.” [Kathmandu Post 1]

For a critical assessment of the re-opening of communication channels between the two countries see [Kathmandu Post 2] and of Indian-funded projects in Nepal see [Brookings].

Indian Foreign Secretary visits Bangladesh

(dql) During the meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on this Tuesday, India and Bangladesh discussed ways to co-operate on containing the coronavirus pandemic, including on therapeutics and vaccine. The two countries also discussed the revival of the economy in a post-pandemic world. [Business World]

For a good overview of India’s decisive bid to regain long-standing good relations with Bangladesh over the past month after Dhaka got increasingly closer with China see the Asia Times. [Asia Times]

Pakistan army chief visits Saudi Arabia in diplomatic damage control

(ls) Pakistan’s army chief visited Saudi Arabia on Monday and met with senior Saudi Arabian officials. The visit came after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi had called on Saudi Arabia to adopt a clearer stance in favor of Pakistan regarding the Kashmir conflict and to convene a high-level meeting for this purpose. [AiR No. 32, August/2020, 2] 

Saudi Arabia, however, responded in the negative and even demanded Pakistan to pay back $1 billion early, while also demanding another $1 billion of the loan. Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a loan and an oil credit facility to help Islamabad’s balance of payments crisis in late 2018. This frosty reply has been explained by some analysts by saying that Saudi Arabia does not want to risk its business interests in India for supporting Pakistan over Kashmir. [Reuters]

Pakistan has long demanded the Saudi-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene a meeting to highlight alleged Indian human rights violations in the disputed Kashmir region. Saudi Arabia, however, suspected Pakistan last year of challenging Riyadh’s OIC leadership which led

Cambodia faces new EU tariffs over political repression while inching closer towards China

(jn) On Wednesday, the European Union partially suspended trade privileges it had granted Cambodia under its Everything But Arms scheme (EBA), responding to the Cambodian government’s persistent violations of human rights. As a consequence, Cambodia will lose the duty-free access for about 20% of exports to the bloc, or $1.1 billion of shipment, first and foremost affecting its vital apparel industries.

The decision had already been announced in February following a more than a year-long review by the European Commission (EC) that was triggered by a crackdown against opposition forces. In November 2017, the main opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was banned for its role in an alleged plot to topple the government, and its leader Kem Sokha was charged with treason. The continuing crackdown and political oppression helped Prime Minister and leader of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Hun Sen to win the controversial general election of 2018 in a landslide. During the year-long review alone, more than 60 CNRP members were arrested and many more intimidated or forced into exile. Only last month authorities arrested a prominent union leader, Rong Chhun, who had criticized the government for its handling of border disputes with Vietnam. Another opposition leader was taken into custody last week for challenging the government on the same issue.

The EBA establishes a duty-free and quota-free trade regime for all imports from Least Developed Countries except for armaments, provided the beneficiaries comply with international human rights law. Thus, reintroducing tariffs of up to 12% on Cambodian exports will hit the country especially hard considering 25% of its exports (or $6.4 billion in 2018) go to the EU and given the toll the pandemic has already taken on its economy. The move will hit in particular the country’s apparel industry, a $10 billion strong industry employing about 900,000 workers who have already suffered from mass layoffs and factory closures due to the pandemic. 

EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan explained that while the EBA was intended to help Cambodia develop an export-oriented industry, the EU was equally committed to the protection of human rights. He also made clear that trade preferences could be reinstated should the government show significant progress on civil and political rights, land disputes and labor rights as well as create the conditions for a credible democratic opposition. According to news sources the EC will continue to monitor the political development in the country and reserves the right to further impose tariffs on other exports.

Until now, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has, however, not shown any interest in complying with the EU's demands, but seems rather comfortable with relying on Cambodia’s close partner China stepping into the breach. Both countries were supposed to sign a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on Wednesday - symbolically the same day the new EU trade scheme took effect -, which, however, will primarily boost trade with agricultural goods and not fill the void in the reeling apparel sector. The Cambodian government has not gone into great detail publicly on the alleged benefits of the FTA, but experts estimate that the FTA will add less than 2% of GDP to the economy. What is more, Cambodian imports from China are almost five times worth its exports ($6.1 billion compared $1.3 billion in 2018), while exports to the US and the EU are almost ten times higher. The political symbolism of a closer Cambodian-Chinese relationship celebrated on the same day the EU punished Hun Sen for his repressive rule seems to be more significant than the economic benefits of the FTA. [Nikkei Asian Review] [Radio Free Asia 1] [Radio Free Asia 2] [euronews] [Asia Times]

Malaysia/Vietnam South China Sea clash: Malaysia coast guard kills Vietnamese fisherman 

(lm) A Vietnamese fisherman died from gunshot wounds he obtained in a confrontation in waters off the northeastern state of Kelantan a day earlier. According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the incident took place after coast guards sought to inspect two boats they believed were illegally fishing.

Ignoring warning shots, the Vietnamese fishermen started to pelt the patrol vessel with flammable items, before eventually ramming it, causing the coast guard officers to respond by firing in claimed self-defense, causing the fatal wound of the fisherman who later died. The two Vietnamese boats with the remaining 20 crew members were towed to the enforcement ship. [Bangkok Post] [Reuters] [South China Morning Post]

In February, Malaysia had announced plans to secure a deal with Vietnam to combat intrusions of Vietnamese deep-sea fishermen into Malaysian waters. In 2019, 141 Vietnamese fishermen had been detained for encroaching into the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone. [AiR No. 7, February/2020, 3]

Malaysia-Singapore relations: Joint border opened

(dql) For the first time in five months, Malaysia and Singapore on Monday opened their border, allowing now limited crossings for workers with permits to enter their country of employment for at least 90 days, and short trips for essential business.  via the two land gateways connecting the neighbors as well as by air. The border opening is vital move to bring both pandemic-hit economies back to health. [Nikkei Asian Review]

Philippines-USA relations: Manila undermining Washington tougher stance against China on South China Sea?

(dql) Amid the US determination to go ahead with a hardening stance against China over the South China Sea – reflected in US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s declaration as illegal China’s vast maritime claims on the South China Sea – recent statements of Philippine President Duterte and Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana have weakened Washington’s position in its rivalry with Beijing over the disputed region.

While Lorenzana cited a standing order of Duterte, under which the Philippines “should not involve ourselves in naval exercises in the South China Sea except in our national water, the 12-mile distance from our shores,” Duterte on his part declared himself being not in the position to assert the Philippines’ claims as “China has arms, we not.”

Analyst suggest that Duterte is trying to trade Manila’s claims in the South China Sea with the coronavirus vaccine which he hope to receive from Beijing. [Financial Times]

Thailand: Core private sector organizations bidding to join CPTPP

(lm) The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) - an apex body of the Board of Trade of Thailand (BOT), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Bankers' Association (TBA) – will start a new study on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) next month in a bid to renew its call for the government to join in. [Bangkok Post]

In June, the Thai government agreed to set up a panel to study the benefits of a CPTPP membership, which civil society organizations say could negatively affect Thai agricultural and healthcare sectors. Two weeks ago, then, Thailand decided not to apply for membership at the annual meeting of CPTPP members. [AiR No. 22, June/2020, 1]

Advocates of a Thai membership highlight the opportunities it opens for Thailand to export products to new markets while critics also fear it might "kill local businesses when foreign businesses flow into Thailand under the pact". [Bangkok Post]

Vietnam: Seeking EU investment in medial and drug supply chain

(dql) Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest conglomerate focusing on real estate development, retail, and services ranging from healthcare to hospitality, last week announced that it has concluded a partnership with Ireland-based medical device company Medtronic to produce components in Vietnam.

The move reflects Vietnam’s efforts to build on its new free trade agreement with the European Union to expand foreign investment in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, positioning itself as an alternative production base to China.

The deal accords also with the country’s push for local manufacturers to expand into medical products as part of Hanoi’s measure to recover the pandemic-hit economy. [Nikkei Asian Review]

Meanwhile, since 1 August EU exports to Vietnam are taxed less, as immediate effect of the entry into force of the EU-Vietnam trade agreement that will ultimately scrap duties on 99% of all goods traded between the two sides. It has also become easier for European companies to do business in Vietnam as it is now possible for them to invest and pitch for government contracts with equal chances to their local competitors. [European Commission]

Vietnam, Laos agree to enhance ties

(dql) During phone talks held last week Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and his Laotian counterpart agreed to further enhance relations between both countries and to  continue timely information sharing, close and effective coordination, as well as mutual support in international and regional affairs, in particular within the frameworks of ASEAN, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms. [The Star]

Upcoming Online Events

19 August 2020 @ 10:00 AM, Brookings Institution, USA

How the United States can use force short of war

This online event will address the question how the U.S. military can be used to achieve policy goals. Specifically, it offers guidance about the ways in which, and the conditions under which, U.S. armed forces can work in concert with economic and diplomatic elements of U.S. power to create effective coercive strategies.

For further details, visit [Brookings].

20 August 2020 @ 10:00 am BST, Chatham House, UK

Perspectives on Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century

This online panel discussion will deal with important questions on contemporary policymaking on deterrence: What are the underlying assumptions that shape deterrence practice, and do they hold true in 2020? Can nuclear deterrence be strengthened in responding to current international and regional security challenges? How do emerging technologies challenge deterrence?

See [Chatham House] for further details.

20 August 2020 @ 12:00 pm PDT, World Affairs, USA

THE ROLE OF CORPORATIONS IN CURBING CLIMATE CHANGE

In this webinar leaders in corporate sustainability will discuss the role of corporations in taking on climate change and their visions for the future.

More about the event at [World Affairs].

 24 August 2020 @ 2:00 PM EDT, Bookings Institution, USA

Gender equality 100 years after the 19th amendment

The webinar will examine the state of gender equality today and what needs to be done to achieve full equality for women in our society.

Further information are available at [Brookings].

25 August 2020 @ 2:00 pm BST, Chatham House, UK

The Road to Reopening: How Asian Economies Can Recover From COVID-19

This webinar will address the far-reaching public health and economic implications of COVID-19 on Asia and consider how governments might successfully support an economic recovery. It will explore policy measures the region could take to address inequalities, reallocate resources appropriately, support bank lending to smaller firms and ensure the flow of credit to households and business.

Find more about the event at [Chatham House].

25 August 2020 @ 10 am MYT, ISEAS, Yusof Ishak Institute, Malaysia 

Myanmar: Recovering the Past – Politics, Prison, Plastercasts and Patchwork

In this online talk, Burmese artist Htein Lin will speak about how the subjects and materials of his art reflect contemporary Myanmar history and politics, and capture elements of Myanmar culture which are disappearing as the country modernises.

See [ISEAS] for further information.

25 August 2020 @ 4:00 pm PDT, World Affairs, USA

THE CENTRAL AMERICAN CHILD IMMIGRATION CRISIS

This online talk will discuss the challenges facing the more than 250,000 immigrant children arrived in the US between 2014 and 2019, the majority fleeing violence, corruption and extreme poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

More details on the event are available at [World Affairs].

26 August 2020 @ 3:00 pm ET, The Institute of World Politics, USA

Cyber Intelligence Overview

This online event will present the acquisition and analysis of information to identify, track, and predict cyber capabilities, intentions, and activities.

To register, see [IWP].

26 August 2020 @ 12:00 pm EDT, Center for Strategic & International Studies, USA

Combatting Malign Influence in 2020

This online talk will provide insights into the threat of foreign malign influence operations and what it means for the USA. With the election right around the corner, it is essential to understand how disinformation operations have evolved from the nation's founding up to the present, and how the government is working to counter them.

See [CSIS] for more event details.

27 August 2020 @ 1:00 pm BST, Chatham House, UK

Changing Sino-Indian Relations: From Celebrations to Clashes

The webinar will examine the current state of relations between India and China, and explore the consequences of June’s military escalation. What progress has been made during recent political and military de-escalation talks? Who are India and China turning to for support, and what are the implications for regional peace and security? And what has been the impact of China and India’s close economic and trade relations?

More information about the event can be found at [Chatham House].

27 August 2020 @ 2:15 pm CET, Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations, The Netherlands

LESSONS FROM COVID-19 VACCINE ACCELERATION FOR GLOBAL HEALTH

This online seminar will deal with the question how product development for poverty-related infectious diseases may be accelerated and how global accessibility can be achieved.

Further information about the event can be found at [Clingendael].

2 September 2020 @ 3:00 pm BST, Political Studies Association, UK

DEMOCRACY AND SPACE: FROM PARTICIPATORY SITES TO TRANSNATIONAL SPATIALITIES

This online debate will deal with the relationship between democracy and space, raising the questions: What are participatory spaces? Why is participation a spatial practice? And how do concrete, physical places affect participation?

More details are available at [PSA]

9 September 2020 @ 6:00 pm BST, The London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

The Tyranny of Merit: what's become of the common good?

In this online lecture, Prof. Michael Sandel, a leading American political philosopher, offers an alternative way of thinking about success - more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility, and more hospitable to a politics of the common good.

Find more about the event at [LSE].

10 September 2020 @ 2:00 pm CET, Centre for European Policy Studies, Belgium

CIRCULAR ECONOMY TO THE RESCUE?

This webinar will explore strategies governments in Europe and beyond will need to put in place for reinvigorating their economies. Focal questions addressed cover: What role can the circular economy play in the national recovery strategies? Which industries and value chains would be affected? And what actions should governments consider?

Details are available at [CEPS].

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