Grasp the pattern, read the trend

Asia in Review

No. 43, October/2020, 4

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers,

Welcome to this week’s AiR update on the latest events and developments in domestic politics, constitutional law, human rights, international relations and geopolitics in Asia.

I wish you an informative read and extend special greetings to readers in Algeria, Austria, and Turkmenistan which celebrate Revolution Day, National Day and Independence Day respectively. 

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

• Announcements

Law and Politics in East Asia 

China: National defense law to be revised

(dql) China has issued a draft revision to its national defense law. Besides efforts to strengthen security in key areas like cyberspace, outer space and electromagnetic applications it also aims at improving communication between the government and the military in form of a “coordination mechanism” between the State Council – China’s cabinet – and the Communist Party’s Central Military Commission to discuss important defense matters . The draft also stressed the need for increasing research on defense technologies and encouraged investment by companies and organizations from outside the military sector.

Part of the draft is also a military education guideline to reform the country’s military training system with a holistic approach that combines academic studies, military and vocational training. Observers see the reform move as a departure from the previous emphasis of large non-combat-related aspects of training such as theoretical and political studies at the expense of military knowledge and training. 

The document, which has been under deliberation for almost two years, was released by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress last week and will be accessible for public comment until November 19. 

China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe called the reform of the existing law “urgently needed,” as China was “facing increasingly complicated security threats and challenges.” [Army Recognition] [Yahoo News]

China to legalize digital currency

(dql) The People’s Bank of China is pushing for a legalization of its digital currency with its proposal for a reform of China’s banking the country’s central bank to introduce the wording: "Renminbi includes both a physical form and a digital form." Another revision states that "any individual or entity shall not make or issue any tokenized note or digital tokens that replace Renminbi's circulation in the market."

The draft was published last week to solicit public response until November 29. [Nikkei Asian Review]

For an account on the geopolitical consequences of a Chinese state-run digital currency and its potential challenge to the US dollar-domination, see Andrei Kadomtsev in [Modern Diplomacy] and Maggie Clarendon in [Cointelegraph].

China: Hong Kong fugitives to remain under mainland jurisdiction

(dql) Hong Kong’s government rejected appeals of opposition lawmakers in the Legislative Council, the city’s parliament, who urged the government to request authorities in mainland China to release 12 Hong Kong fugitives and hand them over to the city’s justice system. The fugitives are being held in Shenzhen after they were intercepted by the China Coast Guard when attempting to flee from Hong Kong to Taiwan in August. [South China Morning Post]

Lawyers hired to represent some of the 12 fugitives were denied permission to visit their clients in detention last week, the latest in a string of unsuccessful attempts by defense attorneys for the group in recent weeks. [Radio Free Asia]

China: Thousands of arrests over protest against language policy in Inner Mongolia

(dql/ef) According to the New York-based Southern Mongolia Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC), at least 8.000 ethnic Mongolians have been detained in the northern region of Inner Mongolia in the course of the crackdown of protests and resistance against plans of the Chinese government to reduce and gradually to phase out Mongolian as primary teaching language in schools.

Chinese authorities are accused of mass arrests, arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, house arrests, and "intensive training" during this crackdown. [Radio Free Asia] 

Beijing, meanwhile, insisted that its actions against protesters are aimed to “fight against separatism, firmly implement anti-terrorist measures, and promote stability and harmony in the ethnic and religious fields.” It insisted that the use of the Mongolian language, textbooks and the bilingual education system will not change while the new language regulation reflects efforts to strengthen Mandarin as China’s common language and as “a symbol of its sovereignty,” adding that “it is every citizen's right and responsibility to learn and use it.” [AiR No. 36, September/2020, 2]

Japan: Ruling party’s heavyweight resigns as faction leader 

(dql) Shigeru Ishiba, a political heavyweight of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) last month, announced that he is resigning as head of his faction within the LDP, citing his poor result in last month’s race for the party leadership against Yoshihide Suga who is now prime minister.

Ishiba, a former minister of defense and agriculture who also served as LDP secretary general is as vocal critic of Suga’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe and tried four times to become LDP president. Until his resignation he led a 19-member faction of the LDP in parliament that now needs a new chief. [Japan Times]

Japan: Government white paper reveals record high number of suicides among young people

(dql) According to data of a government white paper presented last week, the number of suicide victims per population of 100,000 came to 3.1 for people under 20 in Japan in 2019. It is a rise of 0.3 compared to 2018 marking a new record high. The suicide rate for all age groups, meanwhile, is at 16.0, a decrease for the 10th consecutive year and the lowest rate since recording begun in 1978. [Nippon]

Earlier this month, data of Japan’s National Police revealed a surge in self-killings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 1.800 people taking their lives in August, an increase of almost 15% compared with the same month last year. The government is looking into the link with the coronavirus epidemic. [Deutsche Welle]

CPG will organize on 12 November an AiR webinar on the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the society in Thailand, addressing – among other issues – the high number of suicides linked to psychological and economic pressure under the lockdown.

South Korea: Opposition party demands investigations into large bribery case amid ruling party’s push for new anti-corruption agency

(dql) South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party, backed by outside lawmakers, last week submitted a bill demanding an independent special counsel to probe into a fund scam scandal which is currently under criminal investigation. Allegedly, the involved equity investment firms bribed government officials and politicians from both the ruling and main opposition parties to cover up the cases and evade investigations. [Yonhap]

The demand comes amid a bitter dispute between Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae in which both fire accusations against each other. After Yoon refuted Choo’s claims that the prosecution had not properly investigated the case so far and accused her of abusing her power to intervene in the affairs of the prosecution, Choo hit back accusing Yoon of “being dragged into the swamp of politics when the prosecutor general must lead the organization neutrally,” [Korea Times] [Asia Today]

For insights into the wrangle between Yoon and Choo, which centers around differences over the reform the prosecution ordered by President Moon, see [Korea Herald 1].

In a related development, lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DP) have tabled more than a dozen bills to advance the reform of the prosecution and to establish a new investigative agency  for high-ranking public officials, called Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). 

Among others, the new body would handle any corruption cases in which the president, ministers, lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, police officers or members of their families are involved. Thus far, the prosecution has been the only institution carrying out these investigations. [Korea Herald 2] 

Law and Politics in South Asia 

Pakistan: Police and military in direct conflict while opposition builds momentum

(lm) The 11-party alliance called the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) followed up its two rallies over the weekend with a third in the city of Quetta on October 25, presenting Khan's administration with its biggest political challenge yet as is grappling with double-digit food inflation and negative economic growth. The rallies are a part of a campaign to oust Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, who they accuse of being installed by the military in a rigged 2018 election [see AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4, AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1]. [BloombergQuint] [Times Now News]

In the run-up to Sunday’s rally, the provincial government of Baluchistan appealed to PDM leaders to postpone the demonstration after authorities had issued a security alert, warning that Pakistan’s leading Taliban group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) [see No. 37, September/2020, 3] planned attacks. Indeed, a bomb blast hit the provincial capital on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead and injuring seven others. [The Tribune]

At the same time, the government's crackdown on opposition groups and the media has intensified. Police on October 20 registered a case against Maryam Nawaz, the daughter and political heir to former three-time Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and some 2000 other party members for holding an anti-government rally in Karachi on October 18 where she called Prime Minister Imran Khan a ‘coward, selected and puppet’. [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. [The Straits Times]

A few hours after the second rally, Nawaz husband and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Safdar on October 26 was taken into custody in connection with charges against him for leading a crowd in chanting against the country’s military during a visit to the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder ahead of the rally [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. Safdar has been released on bail on Monday. [Al Jazeera]

Following the arrest, opposition parties alleged that the Police Chief of Sindh province had been kidnapped by paramilitary and coerced to order the arrest of Safdar. Soon thereafter, in a show of open defiance against the military, several police officers in Karachi threatened to go on mass leave, claiming that it had become hard for them to ‘discharge [their] duties in a professional manner’. Against this backdrop, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered a probe into the so-called 'Karachi incident'. [Hindustan Times] [The Hindu]

The next rally is set to be held in Peshawar (November 22), followed by protests in Multan (November 30), and Lahore (December 13). The parties plan to end the campaign with a ‘long march’ march on Islamabad, the capital, in 2021.

Pakistan: Journalist returns home after ‘going missing’ for 22 hours

(lm) A reporter working for Pakistan’s Geo News television returned on October 24 after he had gone missing for nearly a day in the southern port city of Karachi. Observers claim the reporter’s abduction may have been related to his work on recent political events, including the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohammad Safdar [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. [The Guardian] [Dawn]

Journalists and press freedom advocates often accuse the Pakistani military and security agencies of pressuring media outlets to prevent critical coverage. Earlier this month, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) – a top body of lawyers –constituted a Journalistic Defense Committee to provide legal assistance and services to journalists and their elected bodies [see AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1]. In July, Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan, a vocal critic of the military`s involvement in government affairs, was released from a brief abduction [see AiR No. 30, July/2020, 4].

Sri Lanka: Amnesty International calls on government to release prominent human rights lawyer

(lm) Rights groups have raised concerns over the continued incarceration of Hejaaz Hizbullah, a prominent human rights lawyer and government critic, who has been held in detention for more than six months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Under the PTA, any ‘suspect’ can be placed in detention – without charge and without being produced before a judge. Hizbullah was arrested on “terrorism” charges in April and is currently serving his second period of detention, which expires on 17 October [see AiR No. 29, July/2020, 3]. [Amnesty International]

According to the two detention orders authorized by Sir Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Hizbullah is being incarcerated for alleged links to the perpetrators of the 2019 Easter Bombings, which left more than 260 people dead and injured more than 500 – the Indian Ocean island nation’s worst attack since the end of civil war in 2009. Hejaaz’s family, however, believes he is being targeted for his professional work as a lawyer and his peaceful activism for the human rights of Sri Lanka’s embattled Muslim minority. [Al Jazeera]

Sri Lanka: Nearly 15,000 people knew in advance of Easter Sunday bombings, according to former SIS head

(lm) Reports about a possible terrorist operation had been known as early as April 4, the former Director of the State Intelligence (SIS) said when testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday bombings last week. According to the country’s former spy chief, these reports were then shared with 10,000 people, including foreign embassies, intelligence services and 8,000 police officers in Sri Lanka’s Western Province. [Asia News]

On 21 April 2019, Sri Lankan citizens had pledged allegiance to ISIS and killed more than 260 people by detonated backpack suicide bombs in three churches and four hotels. The country’s former intelligence chief was dismissed last December after a parliamentary committee had concluded that he knew of possible attacks nearly three weeks before the actual bombings took place but was slow to share the intelligence with relevant parties. However, he refused to step down and appealed to the Supreme Court over his ‘unfair dismissal’ [see AiR No. 50, December/2019, 2] [Colombo Page]

Testifying before Commission last week, former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had acknowledged a clear breakdown in the country’s security apparatus at the time of the bombings. [AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]

Sri Lanka: Parliament by a large majority approves 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill

(lm/ng) Sri Lanka’s parliament on Thursday approved the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill after an acrimonious two-day debate during which the opposition accused President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of becoming a constitutional ‘dictator’. The government on September 3 had gazetted and soon thereafter tabled in parliament the amendment that concentrates powers under the president and allows duel citizens to hold political office, which could strengthen Rajapaksa’s familial political clout. [South China Morning Post] [Colombo Page]

The Amendment Bill was passed with a two-third majority with 156 lawmakers in the 225-member parliament voting in favor. Sixty-five lawmakers from the voted against. One member of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party broke ranks undermining the two-thirds necessary to pass the bill, but eight opposition defectors saw the legislation through. The amendment was passed with several changes because the Supreme Court had earlier determined certain clauses in the original proposals were against people’s sovereignty and they needed approval in a public referendum to become law [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3, AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1]. [The Straits Times]

Introduced by President Rajapaksa`s predecessor Maithripala Sirisena in 2015, the 19th Constitutional Amendment had strengthened the role of parliament in order limit the ability of presidents to amass extensive powers. During its electoral campaign the Rajapaksa family-led SLPP vowed to roll back the amendment, positioning themselves as stalwarts of national security and decisiveness. [AiR No. 34, August/2020, 4]

Raising concerns over the impact the 20th Constitutional Amendment will have on the independence of key institutions, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet last month called for "renewed attention" to increasing intimidation of journalists, lawyers and rights activists in Sri Lanka. [AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4]

Law and Politics in Southeast Asia 

Cambodia: Senior opposition politician in hospital after assault

(jn) A high-ranking member of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) had to be hospitalized after a violent attacked by two unidentified men on a motorbike in Phnom Penh on October 19. He was hit on the head with a rock, causing severe hemorrhaging. The assault follows a pattern of other incidents since late 2019, in which at least 10 CNRP activists and officials have been injured, mostly by unknown motorbike-riding attackers targeting their heads. [Radio Free Asia]

Cambodia aspiring to be landmine-free in five years

(jn) With the aid of Western nations, the Cambodian government plans to deploy 2,000 soldiers to train as deminers to clear the country’s grounds of landmines and other unexploded ordnance by 2025. According to a Cambodian government official, the country would still need about $380 million to complete the endeavor. [VOA News]

Cambodia disperses protest against Chinese military presence

(jn) Cambodian security forces broke up a small demonstration of people protesting a potential future Chinese military presence in the country, arresting three. The criticism was arguably directed against the controversial real estate projects at Ream Naval Base and the Dara Sakor zone which have come under intense international scrutiny [see e.g. AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1] [Reuters]

Cambodia: Opposition leaders ordered to appear before court

(jn) A Phnom Penh court has issued warrants for the arrest of the interim leader of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Sam Rainsy, and other senior party members to be questioned for investigations pursuant to Art. 451 of the penal code. Said provision punishes “acts of violence liable to endanger the institutions of the Kingdom of Cambodia or violate the integrity of the national territory” with 15 to 30 years of prison.  [Phnom Penh Post]

Indonesia: Poll shows fear of decline in freedom of expression

(nd) Findings of a recent survey conducted by the pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia reveal fear of a decline in freedom of expression in Indonesia. 47.7% of the respondents ‘slightly agree’ that people are getting more afraid to express their opinions, with 21.9% outrightly agreed that freedom of expression is starting to erode. With respect to conducting public rallies, 20.8% agreed there was a rise in difficulties to meet, with another 53% slightly agreeing to that. This included intimidation prior to a protest as well as arrests. Solely 1.5% believe the freedom of expression is not being hampered by authorities, with the majority believing law enforcement started to act arbitrarily on oppositional voices. The respondents were 1,200 randomly asked people in face-to-face interviews. [Tempo]

Laos: New electric vehicle deal

(py) Electricité du Laos, a state enterprise and GEELY Technology Company, a Chinese-owned firm in collaboration with construction company Krittaphong Group, have forged an agreement on cooperation for the development of electric vehicle sector in Laos. The project aims to promote the use of electric vehicles in Laos along with conducting a feasibility study on vehicle system development, technical service center construction and public charging stations. The country’s first Electric Vehicle Summit was held in April last year, where Electricité du Laos signed an agreement with Vientiane-based EV Lao Company, on testing electric vehicles charging stations. Moreover, Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao Public (BCEL) and EV Lao company jointly launched a smart card system for the payment of charging costs for electric vehicles. [The Laotian Times 1] [The Laotian Times 2] [GEELY]

Laos: Chinese firm to collaborate on Vehicle Registration System

(py) The government of Laos has authorized Khamphay Sana Group and Hytera to conduct a feasibility study for an integrated vehicle registration and transportation management system. Inter alia, registration certificates and driver’s licenses shall be issued though an integrated computer system, upgrading the procedures for technical examination, sales transfers, leases, and mortgages of vehicles. The two companies would also be responsible for improving the UPS network, infrastructure, and CCTV camera services of the capital’s 19 sub-service and two central service centers. [The Laotian Times ]

Khamphay Sana Group is a Laotian company while Hytera Communications Corporation is a Chinese firm based in Shenzhen. [KPGLAO] [Hytera]

Laos: Over spill of protests on social media  

(py) The social media strategies used by Thai and other so-called “Milk-tea-alliance” protesters seem to have inspired calls for change in Laos, where freedom of press is strongly limited. Recently, hashtag #IfPoliticsWasGood” started to trend in Lao, with more than 400,000 posts on social media. Under the hashtag, users have expressed their supports for Thai protesters and called for reforms in their own country where dissidents are blotted out quickly. [The Diplomat]

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s office urged individuals, legal bodies, state and private sectors to register their social media platforms before starting to circulate any information online. [AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1] The ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has been notorious for its tight grip of Laos’ freedom of press. In 2016, the prime minister passed a decree that allows foreign media to set up an office in Laos only if they submit their content to the government for censorship before publication. [RSF] In 2018, a female Lao environmentalist criticized the government’s handling of the flood, found herself arrested and charged under article 117 of the Lao criminal code, for spreading “anti-state” propaganda. [Bangkok Post]  

Laos: Potential governmental approval for controversial development project

(py) Despite environmentalists’ warnings and villagers’ objections, the controversial Chinese Vang Vieng New Development Zone project is now in its final planning stage with completed feasibility and environmental impact studies. The Chinese Development Group is now proposing the project to the government. Most residents of Vang Vieng are opposed to the development project, arguing possible impact on the tourist industry of Vang Vieng through the destruction of the natural scenery, as well as a dependence on China. 22 Villages will be affected by the development plan.

In Laos, citizens can occupy and sell the right to use land, but not officially own property. Furthermore, the government can reclaim land for public interests, like a national development project. The first of such special economic zones was set up in 2002 to attract foreign investment and boost development, at least 12 have followed. Though the law stipulates that the project owners must guarantee that the living conditions of those displaced will be as good as or better, there have been reports on delayed compensation payments and sometimes lower amounts than originally agreed upon. [Radio Free Asia]

Malaysia: Muhyiddin's request for state of emergency denied

(nd) Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's request to call a state of emergency due to a surge in Covid-19 cases was rejected by King Al-Sultan Abdullah, further eroding the PM's power after PKR president Anwar Ibrahim announced last month he disposes of a majority in parliament [See also Air No. 39, September/2020, 5]. The king further called on politicians to end the destabilizing political turmoil and emphasized the necessity to pass the 2021 budget on November 6 to curb the spread of the virus.

Muhyiddin's move was criticized as a try to suspend parliament and avoid a test of his thin majority . The approval of the budget in parliament will be a test for his majority. If he fails to pass it, possible calls to resign or call new elections might surface. [Reuters] [The Diplomat]

PAS and UMNO announced they would continue to back Muhyiddin's government, the PN coalition, after a supreme council meeting on Monday. [Channel News Asia 1] [Channel News Asia 2]

Following the resignation of previous Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, his former ally Muhyiddin formed an alliance with UMNO. Ibrahim claimed in September he disposes of a majority in parliament, and claimed he handed a letter from more than 120 MPs claiming their support for him to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Palace said such statement was not provided. Earlier last week, Umno and PAS released a joint statement, declaring they will register as a political coalition under the name Muafakat Nasional (MN). [Malay Mail]

Myanmar: Armed group admitted to abduction of candidates

(lf) An armed group in Rakhine state admitted to the abduction of three election candidates of the ruling party National Democracy League (NDL). The abducted had gone missing during an election campaign last week. The Arakan Army (AA), which has been engaged in violent conflict with the Tatmadaw published a picture of the abducted. The ethnic group accused the NDL of covering up crimes committed by the military. The AA demanded the release of the recently imprisoned student protestors in return for freeing the kidnapped trio. Several students had been arrested after protesting the ongoing conflict in Rakhine state. [Mizzima] [Aljazeera] [Reuters]

Myanmar: Arakan Army forces rice donations

(lf) The Arakan Army (AA) has been forcing citizens in Myanmar’s Chin state to donate rice or sell it below market price. The area has suffered from the destruction of transportation networks and food supplies are scarce. The AA has reportedly been collecting two bags of rice per household. This has put a massive strain on the civilian population as access to rice was already difficult.

The AA has been engaged in ongoing conflict with the Tatmadaw in Rakhine state since 2018. The conflict has spilled over into neighboring Chin state. [Radio Free Asia]

Myanmar: Union Election Commission admits to undue checks on party chairmen

(lf) The Union Election Commission (UEC) admitted to having failed to scrutinize the background of Kyaw Myint, Chair of the United Democratic Party (UDP). The UEC had missed a fugitive warrant when Michael Kyaw Myint registered as chair of the UDP in 2014. Apparently, he used someone else’s citizenship ID when he registered as chairmen, and later got his citizen ID through military intelligence channels.

Michael Kyaw Myint and his party came under investigation after journalist had found out about his past. Since then, the UEC has been investigation the party as well, before abolishing the party last week for receiving illegal money through transfers from China. Michael Kyaw Myint had fled from his nine-year prison sentence for money laundering. While his party did not win any seats in the last election, the party had the second biggest candidate pool. [Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Ethnic and religious rhetoric in election

(lf) In their party campaigns, Myanmar’s military and its party proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), have been using nationalistic rhetoric. Despite the Union Election Commission's prohibition to use material for stressing ethnic and religious divisions, the military chief and the chairman of USDP promoted choosing candidates according to their ethnicity. They understand themselves as protectors of race and religions. For several years the party and the military have attacked the ruling party National Democracy League (NDL) and their leader Aung San Suu Kyi as being foreign-controlled.

Both the military and its proxy party, which won the rigged elections in 2010, have a history for promoting racist policies. Shortly before the 2015 election, the party passed a series of so-called Anti-Muslim laws, which monitored marriage and the number of children Muslim people in Myanmar were allowed to legally have. The laws had been previously promoted by the controversial nationalistic Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, more commonly known as MaBaTha. The NDL has since then prohibited the Buddhist monk-led organization. However, the military, the USDP and the MaBaTha have used a narrative of threat for Buddhism stemming from the Muslim population to promote their agenda, which now, with the upcoming elections seems to have been reinflamed.

Earlier this year, an increase in hate speech on Facebook targeted at the NDL and the Muslim Rohingya population was reported. [AiR No.41, Ocotber/ 2020, 2] Myanmar is deeply divided on ethnic and religious lines. The upcoming elections could reinflate conflict along those lines. [Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: More applications for New Yangon City Project

(lf) 16 proposals from nine countries for the industrial park and related infrastructure developments, the New Yangon City Project, were submitted to Myanmar’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, competing against the proposal of China Communications Construction Co. Ltd (CCC), part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The competition is supervised by a German consultancy firm, and the winner will have to reimburse CCC. Initially Myanmar and CCC signed an agreement in 2018 for an investment proposal of around $1,5 billion. Since then the project has been a source of controversy, firstly, due to the location being flood prone, and secondly, due to accussations against the CCC of bribery and corruption in other development projects. Myanmar has decided to reduce the size and budget of the project to attract different investors.  [Irrawaddy]

Philippines: Military red-tagging and surveillance of left-leaning lawmakers

(nd) A military official warned an actress and 2018 Miss Universe to cut alleged links with left-leaning group Gabriela Youth, which invited the former to speak at an event. The official warned that both could share the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira alias “Ella”, former Deputy Secretary General of Gabriela Youth, who was killed in an armed encounter. The official added not to “red tag” them, which is an official government tactic to denounce individuals of having "known or suspected communist sympathies", which often led to violent actions by private actors. [Manila Times 1]

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he would summon Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., the Southern Luzon military commander known for his hardline stance against communist rebels, over the matter, and organize a meeting with the officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Parlade had earlier named the actress as having alleged links to communist groups. [Manila Times 2]

The military official also disclosed that six members of the House of Representatives in the Makabayan bloc and a human rights lawyer are under the surveillance of the Philippine military under the anti-terror law for having close ties to the Communist party, a military Lieutenant disclosed. The Makabayan bloc is a group of progressive lawmakers of left-leaning political parties. The House Minority Leader reiterated that solely committing terrorist activity constitutes to a crime, and that surveillance actions need authorization from a court. [Rappler 1]

Meanwhile, activists pleaded to the Supreme Court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or a preliminary injunction against the implementation of the anti-terror law, whose Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were recently released. Since its enactment three months ago, 37 petitions against the anti-terror law failed.

The anti-terror council (ATC) can designate groups and people as terrorists, and freeze assets. Activists fear this is used to detain and silence opposition groups without evidence and due process. Activists have tried to argue in front of the Court that the method of red-tagging by the military is directly linked to the harassment and murders of their members. [Rappler 2]

Philippines: Possible momentum for same-sex civil unions

(nd) Following Pope Francis' remark on the possibility of same-sex civil unions, presidential spokesman repeated president Rodrigo Duterte's support for the subject matter and the Congress's duty to pass a respective law. Congress repeatedly opposed the legalization of same sex marriages. Currently, House Bill No. 2264 or the "Civil Partnership Act," is pending at the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, and includes solutions to property relations between same-sex partners, child care and adoption, inheritance, donations, social security and insurance. Almost 90% of the Filipino population is Roman Catholic. [Philstar] [Channel News Asia 1]

The Pope's statement - "Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.” - was uttered in a documentary called Francesco, which premiered at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, as well as bishops in other countries, said, the comment therefore does not constitute an official teaching. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines have not issued a reaction. [Channel News Asia 2]  The interview was given in 2019 and did not include the contested quotation originally. [Rappler]

Philippines: Panel on further corruption in Bureau of Immigration

(nd) Following the uncovering of a scam involving officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) taking bribes from incoming Chinese nationals at the airport, a senate panel was installed to investigate ongoing corruption in the department. This applies especially  to the exit of the country, suspecting the outbound trafficking of women and children to abroad syndicates.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted the difficulty to trace such undocumented payments, which is only possible indirectly by scrutinizing the 19 suspects' lifestyle. Immigration personnel usually earn low salaries, possibly giving a reason to engage in corruption. A modernization bill to raise their wages has been pending in the legislature since 2017.

In the so-called pastillas scheme, immigration officials are alleged to have allowed the easy entry of Chinese nationals, intending to work for Philippine offshore gaming operators, and earned around P40 billion in bribes since 2017. Following Department Order No. 41 issued in 2017, Chinese nationals could enter the Philippines without their visa being issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. [Inquirer]

Thailand: Prime Minister rejects resignation ultimatum amid ongoing anti-government protests and royalist counter-rallies

(nd) Last week's protests continued on Wednesday with a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, setting a deadline for him to resign within three days. [Prachatai]

On the same day, the Criminal Court struck down a government order to block Voice TV and dismissed a government request to suspend three other media outlets. Voice TV and the other media outlets had been accused of violating the now-lifted emergency decree, which banned publication of information that caused unrest or affected “good morals of the people.” [See also AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3] [Khaosod]

Also, on Wednesday large groups of royalist protesters were seen on the streets, with concerns of a counter-protest movement rising. Allegedly, on Wednesday anti-government protesters were targeted and assaulted at Ramkhamhaeng University by royalist protesters. [Thai Examiner]

On Thursday, Prayut lifted the emergency decree, announced a week earlier. Earlier last Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a request to recall Parliament for a special two-days session for a general debate about the ongoing protests without voting on any motions. The two-days session opened on Monday. While House Speaker Chuan Leekpai urged both MPs and senators to cooperate to find a solution, observers fear it will just cause more conflict between parties, given the differing attitudes towards the current demands of the protesters among the parties. Prayut’s refusal to resign has only further hardened stances. Sompong Amornvivat, leader of the opposition Pheu Thai party, called Prayut a “major obstacle and burden to the country”, urging him to step down on Monday. [Manila Standard] [Reuters]

After Prayut did not abide by the protests ultimatum to resign by Saturday, protests continued at the beginning of the week, including a rally of thousands of protesters in front of the German embassy on Monday evening, at which  a petition pertaining to  His Majesty the King’s presence in Germany was handed over to the embassy. [Bangkok Post 1]

In a countermove, prior to the anti-government gathering royalists on the same day gathered also in front of the German embassy to also submit a letter which expressed worries about an effort to involve Germany in the ongoing conflict in Thailand, accusing “certain groups” of misleading students about the monarchy. In a related move, royalists on Tuesday also rallied in front of the US embassy voicing their anger over what they called a “hybrid war” of the USA and demanding that the USA stop interfering in internal affairs in Thailand. [Thai PBS] [Bangkok Post 2]

Meanwhile, Arnon Nampa, one of the protest leaders, was released on bail on Monday and rearrested the same day for a violation of Section 116 of the Criminal Code on September 19-20 by instigating unrest at a demonstration. [Bangkok Post 3] Due to arrests of the movement leaders, the protests are “leaderless”, having adopted a strategy in which “everyone is a leader”. The communication predominantly uses social media, a medium with which the mostly millennia protesters can handle better and more efficient than the government. With regards to rallies, protesters play cat-and-mouse with Thai authorities and police by moving their protest locations quickly or announcing fake locations for rallies. After the arrest of their leaders, a new group continued the protest and the connected via social media, a huge advantage towards previous protest movements. [The Thaiger] [Bangkok Post 4]

Vietnam moves up in Asia Power Index

(jn) Vietnam has climbed up one place in the annual Asia Power Index 2020 of the Lowy Institute, an Australian thinktank, due to gains in the category of economic capability. Thus, it now ranks 12th out of 26 countries and territories, overtaking New Zealand. [Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2020 Edition] [Hanoi Times]

Vietnam: Facebook user arrested for criticizing government

(jn) Vietnamese government forces have detained a man on charges of “distributing or collecting state secrets and other materials” under Article 337 of the Penal Code after he had posted criticism of the one-party communist government and political issues on Facebook. The man, Nguyen Quang Khai (51) was summoned for questioning and arrested by the police in Bien Hoa city on October 20. [Radio Free Asia]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

China-US relations: Xi Jinping signals strength in Korean War address amid Pentagon’s approval of arms sales to Taiwan

(dql) Chinese president Xi Jinping used his address on occasion of the 70th anniversary of China’s entry into the Korean war against American forces to send a signal of strength towards the US. Speaking from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last Friday, Xi hailed the “War to resist US aggression and aid Korea” – as the Korean War is called in China – as a demonstration of China’s military might against American imperialists. Drawing a lesson for the present day, Xi claimed that the “Chinese people understood that you must use the language that invaders can understand – to fight war with war and to stop an invasion with force, earning peace and respect through victory.” Without explicitly mentioning the US, he added: “In today’s world, any unilateralism, protectionism, or extreme egoism will never work. Any form of blackmail, blockade, or extreme pressure will never work. Any act of pursuing one’s own course or seeking hegemony, tyranny, or bullying will never work.” Quoting Mao Zedong, he reassured the world “that ‘the people of China are now organized and are not to be trifled with’.” [Xinhua, in Chinese] [The Diplomat]

The assertive speech comes amid news about latest US arms sales to Taiwan, with the US Defense Department approving a potential sale of advanced weapons systems to Taiwan worth 1.8 billion USD earlier last week. The sales include sensors, missiles and artillery, as well as drones and land-based Harpoon anti-ship missiles that are supposed to serve as coastal defense cruise missiles. The offensive weapons included in this package are capable of hitting mainland Chinese coastal areas, marking the first such sales in more than four decades. China threatened to “make a legitimate and necessary response” to Washington’s approval. [Reuters] [South China Morning Post]

In response, China announced that it will impose sanctions on several US companies that are associated with the arms sales. The sanctions will be aimed, inter alia, at Boeing Co.’s defense unit and Lockheed Martin Corp. – two contractors of the US military. [Associated Press] [CNN]

For the demand of “break[ing] Taiwan’s military out of 40 years of isolation” as a substantial increase of US military support for Taiwan “that would make the difference, way beyond an official statement clarifying American support for Taiwan,” see Grant Newsham in [AND Magazine].

New US arms sales initiative to counter China (and Russia)

(dql) US Defence Secretary Mark Esper announced a new initiative of the Pentagon called "Guidance for Development of Alliances and Partnerships (GDAP)," under which the US will expand arms sales to “like-minded nations” to rival China and Russia as “primary competitors” in the weapons market, but also help build the capabilities of friendly militaries to counter the threats posed by the two countries. Major addressees of the Guidance in Asia would be India and Vietnam. [US Department of State][Defense Post].

In a separate statement, US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien accused China of attempting to use cyber-enabled espionage to target companies developing COVID vaccines and treatments in the USA and other Western countries as part of Beijing’s efforts to dominate “all domains and sectors,” and “to monopolize every industry that matters to the 21st century.” [Channel News Asia]   

Furthermore, a senior U.S. justice official accused China of assisting North Korea launder money from massive cyber thefts by providing its ally cyber expertise and training.  [Asahi Shimbun]

China, US clash over Iran in UN Security Council

(dql) Beijing and Washington hardened their stances against each other over Iran at the UN Security Council meeting last week. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China’s support for the creation of a new multilateral dialogue platform for Iran and criticized the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran and the use of “double standards”. American ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft reassured on the other side that the US would stick to its policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran. [Yahoo News]

The statements came shortly after the US State Department blacklisted two Chinese men and six Chinese entities over dealing with an Iranian shipping company and, in some cases, helping it to evade US sanctions. The assets of the affected entities and individuals which fall under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and US persons are generally barred from doing business with them. [UPI]

China-US economic relations: Beijing imposes tariff on US rubber imports

(dql) China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that, beginning on October 28, it will impose temporary anti-dumping measures on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber on some rubber imports from the US, South Korea, and the European Union. The Ministry cited substantial harm to domestic firms caused by dumping of the rubber product imported from these countries and the EU as reason for its decision. [KBS]

China-US tensions over media firms flares up again

(dql) Amid already high tensions over tit-for-tat restrictions on Chinese and US media presence and work in the rivaling countries, Washington last week labeled six more Chinese media companies operating in the US as foreign missions. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the affected media companies were "substantially or effectively controlled by a foreign government." 

Once labeled as a foreign entity in the United States, a media company is required to comply with the same rules and regulations that apply to diplomatic missions and which are stricter than those normally applying to journalists. They include – among others – the need to seek US government approval for purchasing or leasing office space as well as to register personnel changes with the State Department. 

Between February and June nine Chinese media firms have already been designated as foreign entities in 2020. [CNN] [Aljazeera]

China angered over latest US Tibet actions

(dql) China expressed strong condemnation of a meeting between the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay and Robert A. Destro in mid-October. It was the first in more than 60 years that the US State Department hosted such a meeting. [Livemint]

Shortly prior to meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appointed Robert A. Destro, the Assistant Secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), as special coordinator for Tibetan issues. [US Department of State]

After the meeting, Sangay confirmed that both sides agreed on the early passage of the new Tibet Policy and Support Act through the U.S. Senate in the next few months. The legislation, which was approved by the House of Representatives this year, lays out a stronger US stand on Tibet since the original act in 2002, calling – among others – for a U.S. consulate in Lhasa, the right of the Tibetans to select the Dalai Lama’s successor and preservation Tibet’s environment. [Reuters]

US to send coast guard to tackle Chinese illegal fishing in South China Sea

(dql) In the line with increasing international criticism of China’s illegal fishing in waters around the world [AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2], the US announced the deployment of Coast Guard patrol ships in the western Pacific to counter "destabilizing and malign" activities by China in disputed fishing grounds of the South China Sea. White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien cited for this decision China’s "illegal" and "unregulated" fishing, along with "harassment" of fishing boats from regional countries. [News 18]

USA and EU launched new dialogue platform on China-related matters

(dql) The United States and the European Union last week announced that they have set up a new bilateral dialogue at senior official and expert levels to “discuss the full range of issues related to China”. The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after a phone conversation. [South China Morning Post]

The launch comes amid accelerated efforts of the US to press the EU on a tougher stance towards Beijing, including pushing EU countries to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks as latest seen during Pompeo’s Europe visit in August. Leading countries in the EU like Germany and France, meanwhile, has also become increasingly wary of China’s growing influence in the world. [Politico] [Nikkei Asian Review][Carnegie][Observer Research Foundation]

Chinese state media were quick to call the dialogue “dead on arrival”, arguing that European countries shy away from this platform as it would harm their own national interest due close economic ties between them and China. [CGTN]

Meanwhile, citing China’s influence in Europe, Asia and Africa, a former chief of the German intelligence service warned that China is close to “world domination” and called on Europe “to wake up to the danger before it’s too late.” He referred in particular to China’s advancements in the field of technology, urging the German government to cut off Huawei from Germany’s 5G mobile network to prevent the country being too dependent on China. [Daily Mail]

China-Germany relations: Beijing’s rebuke over asylum for wanted Kong Kong protestor and remarks on Taiwan’s independence

(dql) The Hong Kong government strongly criticized Germany for granting refugee status to a fugitive student who is wanted over rioting charges over last year’s anti-government protests. The case is the first instance of a protester connected to last year’s social unrest receiving asylum in Germany. [The Guardian]

In a related development, Beijing strongly criticized German parliamentarians for making "irresponsible remarks" about Taiwan's independent status, made after a meeting between members of the Bundestag's human rights committee and the Taiwanese representative in Berlin and the Taiwanese Digital Minister. The committee’s chairman stated that Taiwan expects a clear signal from Germany on its independent status and that “Germany not only admonishes China as a distant onlooker with regards to the actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan," but “clearly demand that international law be observed." [Deutsche Welle]

China-Vatican relations: Controversial deal on appointment of Chinese bishops extended

(dql) The Vatican extended its agreement with China over the appointment of bishops for another two years. 

For joining hands with the authoritarian Chinese government, the Vatican had previously been criticized most prominently and recently by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who in September warned of “the Chinese Communist party’s relentless efforts to bend all religious communities to the will of the party and its totalitarian program,” adding that the “Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal.” 

The Vatican defended its decision saying that deal "is of great ecclesial and pastoral value" as it aims at paving the way for dialogue with Beijing to achieve “benefits of the life of the Catholic Church and the good of Chinese people." [CNN] [The Guardian]

Japan-US relations: Large joint military exercise

(dql) In a show of force towards China, Japan and the United States on Monday kicked off the Keen Sword air, sea and land exercises around Japan. The bi-annual drill involves dozens of warships, hundreds of aircraft and nearly 50.000 troops from both countries. Among the warships are Japan’s biggest warship and the US aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan along with its escort destroyers.

Lasting until to Nov. 5, the exercise will for the first time include cyber and electronic warfare training for the first time. [Reuters]

Japan-South Korea relations: Tokyo not to support Seoul's bid for World Trade Organization chief post

(dql) Japan's government announced its plans not to back South Korea's candidate, but the Nigerian one for the post of director-general of the World Trade Organization, citing the higher quality of the African candidate. The election will take place early November. 

The announcement is another blow to already strained relations between Tokyo and Seoul. [Japan Times]

Japan-UK trade deal signed

(dql) After a broad agreement in September, the United Kingdom and Japan last week formally signed a trade agreement. Under the agreement, nearly all British exports to Japan will be tariff free while British tariffs on Japanese cars will be gradually reduced to zero by 2026. The deal is expected to boost trade between the UK and Japan by about £15bn. [BBC]

For the strategic significance of the agreement for both countries see [Deutsche Welle].

South Korea: Navy receives first training ship

(dql) South Korea’s Navy has received its first training ship, a 4,500-ton and 142-meter-long ship employing stealth features in its design and capable of sailing over more than 12,000 kilometers at the speed of 18 knots and carrying 120 crew members and more than 300 trainees. It can accommodate up to two medium-sized naval helicopters and will be also used for disaster relief operations and maritime security missions if required. [Defense News]

South Korea-US relations: Is Washington pressuring Seoul on Quad commitment?

(dql) A surprising visit of Adm. Philip Davidson, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to South Korea, has raised speculations that Davidson came to Seoul to pressure Korea into the anti-China Indo-Pacific strategy. The visit comes shortly after this year’s Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) – the annual meeting between the US and South Korean Defense Ministers – last month.

Korea has been so far reluctant to adopt the US-led Indo-Pacific strategy, despite repeated calls from its biggest ally, as doing so could come at a high price, given that China is Seoul's largest trading partner. 

Latest indication of Seoul’s reluctance is US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun’s decision last week not to immediately invite South Korea to join the expanded version of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). [Korea Times 1]

In a related move, the US State Department revealed that US State Secretary Pompeo will travel to India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia later this month, instead of visiting South Korea, fueling concerns in Seoul of Washington bypassing it with regards to decisions on North Korea. [Korea Times 2]

For an assessment of South Korea’s positioning between China and the USA, see Chung Min Lee in [Carnegie] who suggests that Seoul, being caught between the two super powers, needs also to carefully handle the complex relationship between China and North Korea. 

South Korea, Canada vow to enhance security cooperation

(dql) The South Korean Ministry of Defense confirmed that during a telephone talk between Defense Minister Suh Wook and his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan both sides pledged to further enhance cooperation to counter various security challenges, including joint responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. [Korea Herald]

Taiwan: Military exercise kicked off

(dql) Taiwan military on Monday kicked off a five-day, four-night drills at military bases across the country, aimed to test the Armed Forces' combat preparedness, including the troops' mobility, ammunition resupply abilities, nighttime maneuvers and field kitchen efficiency, among others. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan-UK relations: Dialogue on health, education and offshore wind energy 

(ef) As part of an annual trade dialogue, Taiwan and the United Kingdom vowed to improve bilateral trade and investment ties as well as easing access to each other’s markets for, inter alia, medical care and financial services. [Focus Taiwan 1]

During the same week, a Taiwan-UK agreement on advancing cooperation in English learning and education was signed. Pursuant to the agreement, the UK will assist Taiwan in reaching its goal to become a bilingual country by 2030 by offering education assistance. The agreement is part of increasing relations between London and Taipei that entail 209 academic exchange agreements thus far. [Focus Taiwan 2]

Taiwan:  Strengthening parliamentary diplomacy with  Switzerland and France

(ef) Last week, members of the Taiwanese parliament formed friendship groups to strengthen exchange with their counterparts in Switzerland and France. [Focus Taiwan] [Taipei Times]

The move comes shortly after Taiwan-India Parliamentary Friendship Association vowed to promote bilateral parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. [AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]

Taiwan-Vatican relations: Taiwan urges Vatican to focus on religious freedom in China

(ef) After the extension of the agreement on bishop appointments between the Vatican and Beijing (see above), Taiwan urged the Vatican to uphold the importance of religious freedom with regards to China, adding that the Chinese right to propose bishops for appointment raises problems regarding the non-interference from government clause of the Code of Canon Law. [New York Times ($)]

The Vatican is one of the fifteen diplomatic allies Taiwan has and its only European ally; thus the potential establishment diplomatic ties between the Vatican and China probably would mean the end of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Vatican. [Focus Taiwan]

Mongolia: Asian Development Bank approves 420 million USD financing facility

(dql) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved up to 420 million USD for a multi-tranche financing facility aimed at improving economic opportunities and living conditions along the border between China's Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. 

The loans will mainly help fund the use of smart port management, smart drip irrigation with reclaimed water, and smart waste collection and transfer in the border ports in Inner Mongolia. [MENAFN].

Analysis: Quad members are working toward establishing a new multilateral security structure for the region

(lm/ng) Amidst the months-long border standoff with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh, India on October 19 announced that the Australia would be invited to join the upcoming trilateral Malabar exercises. Scheduled to be held in November in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the exercise will be the first for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a loose strategic coalition of Japan, India, Australia and the United States, since the grouping’s reconvening in November 2017 [see AiR November/2017, 4, AiR November/2017, 3]. [The Diplomat] [Asia Times]

In August, New Delhi for had the first time made public its intentions to invite the Australian Navy to join the annual instalment of the Malabar exercise, a decision that was complicated by ongoing tensions between India and China [see AiR No. 29, July/2020, 3]. The decision to include Australia in the drills follows repeated requests from Canberra and lobbying by Washington and Tokyo and is a clear indication that the region’s four leading democracies are now actively working toward establishing a new multilateral security structure for the region [see AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1].

Significantly, this year’s installment of the Malabar exercise will take place on the heels of the third round of the India-US 2+2 dialogue, scheduled for October 26-27. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper will meet with their Indian counterparts this week to strengthen strategic ties with New Delhi, as part of Washington's latest efforts to bolster allies against China's growing assertiveness in the region. After India, Pompeo will travel to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, two Indian Ocean countries struggling with a mountain of Chinese debt incurred to finance big infrastructure projects. He will conclude his trip in Indonesia, which is also locked in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea [see AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. [The Straits Times 1]

Ahead of the formal two-plus-two talks, India on October 26 announced it would sign on to the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), the last of the four foundational agreements that Washington maintains with its other close defense partners. Under the satellite-intelligence pact, both countries will be committed to providing reciprocal access to each other’s military facilities, securing military communications, and sharing geospatial data from airborne and satellite sensors. With India and Japan signing a military logistics agreement in September [see AiR No. 37, September/2020, 3], New Delhi already has such agreements with the other Quad members. [South Asia Monitor] [The Straits Times 2]

As Indian troops remain battle-ready, facing Chinese forces at the border in eastern Ladakh, New Delhi has further increased defense procurements from the US, enabling interoperability [see e.g. AiR No. 42, October/2020, 3]. From essentially zero dollars in defense cooperation prior to 2008, India-United States bilateral defense trade has grown to more than $21 billion over the past years. [The Wall Street Journal]

Speculation about Washington’s interest to explore a new framework for Indo-Pacific cooperation, dubbed the “Quad Plus”, received a boost in September, when US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said that the US was aiming to ‘formalize’ the groupings’ military, economic and development cooperation. Though cautioning visions of an Indo-Pacific NATO, at that time, Biegun emphasized that the format shall remain open for other countries to join but ‘align in a more structured manner’ [see AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1, AiR No. 35, September/2020, 1,]. [Project Syndicate]

Biegun, who was in New Delhi earlier this month to lay the groundwork for the India-US 2+2 dialogue, said the United States and India have been ‘too cautious’ about Beijing’s reaction to the grouping with Japan and Australia. Speaking at a think-tank event during his visit to Delhi, Biegun said Washington would respect India’s tradition of ‘Strategic Autonomy’, and did not seek to pull it into a security alliance, but hoped to build a partnership in the region through the Quad, which he dubbed ‘Pax Indo-Pacifica’. [The Hindu] [Bloomberg]

Noteworthy, the US Deputy Secretary of State also touched on the November 3 US presidential election, saying that any possible outcome was unlikely to affect deepening US-ties with New Delhi because ‘this relationship is much bigger than any one political party.’ According to observers, US-Indian relations would continue to see an upward trajectory, albeit with nuanced changes in case Democrats take the White House. While the administration of US President Donald Trump has often sidestepped questions on human rights issues [see e.g. AiR No. 8, February/2020, 4] Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the past has expressed disappointment with the Indian government over its new citizenship law. Further, his running mate Kamala Harris, whose mother’s side of the family is from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has voiced strong opinions about India’s crackdown in Kashmir [Foreign Policy] [Deutsche Welle] [India West]

Pakistan, Bangladesh up in arms over comments by French President Emmanuel Macron on Islam

(lm) More than 40,000 people participated in march through Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on October 27 calling for a boycott of French products and burning an effigy of President Emmanuel Macron. The rally was organized by Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB), one of the country’s largest Islamist parties, and started at Bangladesh’s biggest mosque. [The Straits Times 1]

The French leader has been the target of protests in several countries after he dedicated a high-level ceremony to a teacher beheaded by an Islamist radical who wanted to avenge the use of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression. Defending the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet, Macron said the teacher ‘was killed because Islamists want our future’. That comment compounded earlier controversy after, he also earlier this month described Islam as a religion ‘in crisis,’ and announced plans for tougher laws to tackle what he called ‘Islamist separatism’ in France. [The Straits Times 2] [Anadolu Agency]

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan added his voice to the growing criticism of Emmanuel Macron, accusing the European leader on October 25 of ‘attacking Islam'. The following day, Pakistan then summoned France’s ambassador in Islamabad to lodge a diplomatic protest against a ‘systematic Islamophobic campaign’ in the European nation. [The Straits Times 3] [France 24]

Prime Minister Khan has also appealed to Facebook to ban Islamophobic content on the site, warning that growing Islamophobia was ‘encouraging hate, extremism and violence across the world, and especially through the use of social media platforms, including Facebook.’ [Reuters] [Deutsche Welle]

Khan's comments come amid increasing religious tensions in Pakistan. Earlier this month, a Pakistan appeals court acquitted a Christian man who spent about seven years in jail on the accusation of blasphemy, a charge that led to communal rioting that saw two churches and about 150 homes in Lahore's Christian neighborhood of Joseph Colony burned down by an enraged mob in 2013 [AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2]. In July, a US citizen on trial for blasphemy was shot dead in a crowded courtroom in the northwestern city of Peshawar [see AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]

Pakistan to remain on FATF greylist until next review in February 2021

(lm) A virtual meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday announced to keep Islamabad in on the groupings Compliance Document, also known as ‘grey’ monitoring list, until the next review in February next year. Within the last months, Pakistan has made progress and completed 21 out of 27 action items, with the remaining six rated as partially complete. [Anadolu Agency]

Founded in 1989, the FATF is an inter-governmental organization that monitors global money laundering and terrorist financing. As a policy-making body, the FATF sets international standards that aim to combat these illegal activities, with more than 200 countries and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.

In June 2018, the FATF had placed Pakistan on its rating list of countries tagged as prone to illicit financial activity and issued 27 conditions for review for complying. Islamabad has since twice escaped being placed on the watchdog's financial crime blacklist with the support of Turkey, China and Malaysia. During the last three-day session, Turkey reportedly proposed that the FATF member states should consider Pakistan’s good work and instead of waiting for completion of the remaining six of the 27 parameters, an FATF on-site team should visit Pakistan to finalise its assessment. However, no other member seconded the move. [Dawn] [The Hindu] [Hindustan Times]

The FATF plenary was originally scheduled for June but Islamabad got an unexpected breather after the global watchdog against financial crimes temporarily postponed all mutual evaluations and follow-up deadlines in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Paris-based agency also put a general pause in the review process, thus giving additional four months to Pakistan to comply with the action plan [see AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5].

In the run-up to this week’s meeting, India has mounted a determined effort to hold Pakistan responsible for its role in supporting terrorism and terrorist infrastructure. New Delhi hopes that the United States — even though somewhat distracted by its presidential election scheduled for November 3 — will use forceful diplomacy to keep Pakistan pinned down on its failure to meet the FATF requirements that, in normal times, would have probably dragged Islamabad down to the black list. [The Diplomat]

However, India is up against a spiteful China that is ready to fight it across fora. Although Pakistan is yet to report total compliance with the FATF’s 27-point action plan, China tried their best during the meeting to support Pakistan’s poor performance. When Yao Jing, China’s outgoing ambassador to Pakistan, made a farewell call on September 17 – a day after the APJG meeting – he was quoted in an official statement as expressing ‘his confidence that FATF’s October review will go well for Pakistan’. [AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4]

These technical hide-and-seek games notwithstanding, there is little doubt that the FATF is unhappy with Pakistan’s performance. Citing meagre progress on a total of 40 technical recommendations of the FATF to fight money laundering and terror financing, the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) recently decided to retained Pakistan on its ‘Enhanced Follow-Up’ list [see AiR No. 41, October/2020, 2]. The APG is a FATF style regional inter-governmental body that currently consists of 41 member jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region and a number of observer jurisdictions and international/regional observer organizations.

Pakistan: Separatists in tribal areas continue to target Chinese development projects

(lm) A corps commander conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday undertook comprehensive review of a recent surge in terrorist incidents in Pakistan, particularly in the country’s semi-autonomous tribal regions and Baluchistan. [Pakistan Today] [Dawn]

Earlier this month, separatists killed 14 in an attack on an oil convoy that in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which has become a nexus of Chinese development projects and heavy security crackdown. [Asia Times] [Al Jazeera]

Since 2014, the military has conducted a series of operations in these regions to eliminate Pakistan’s leading Taliban group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) [see e.g. .AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1, AiR No. 37, September/2020, 3]. In September, the group announced its reunification with three formerly estranged factions, a move that analysts say could pose a security risk to projects linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in northwestern Pakistan [see No. 37, September/2020, 3].

India successfully completes final trial of anti-tank missile, commissions new stealth corvette to Navy

(lm) While its troops remain battle-ready, facing Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, India has successfully completed the final trials of its domestically manufactured NAG anti-tank missile. Prior to Wednesday’s test, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on October 19 tested the helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile (SANT) from a testing range in Odisha. [Sputnik News]

In light of the NAG successfully clearing the final trials, the Indian Army will no longer have to import anti-tank missiles from either Israel or the United States. Noteworthy, it was due to the unavailability of a credible anti-tank weapon that New Delhi had to procure around 200 anti-tank missiles from Israel under an emergency purchase, in the wake of the Galwan flare-up on June 15 [see AiR No. 24, June/2020, 3]. [Hindustan Times]

Moreover, the Indian Navy commissioned its fourth and final indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvette in a ceremony held on 22 October at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The ship is part of Kamorta-class corvettes or Project 28, a class of anti-submarine warfare corvettes currently in service with the Indian Navy, which was approved in 2008. The other three ASW stealth covettes were commissioned in 2014, 2016, and 2017. [Janes] [The EurAsian Times]

The project has aimed to achieve localisation and development of warship construction industry in India. In 2015, the Indian Navy had introduced its “Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan (INIP) 2015-2030,” which specified the need for locally developed, advanced systems in order for the Navy to be the net-centric security provider in the Indian Ocean [see also AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4].

Pakistan: Keel laying ceremony of third Turkish-made anti-submarine warship

(lm) The keel-laying ceremony of the third Turkish anti-submarine class ship for Pakistan was held at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) on Sunday. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan navy officials and Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. [Anadolu Agency]

Bilateral defense and security cooperation between the countries were initially boosted with significant defense deals in 2018, elevating Turkey to become Pakistan’s second-biggest arms supplier after China [see AiR No. 38, September/2020, 4, AiR No. 46, November/2019, 2]. That year, the Pakistan Navy, inter alia, signed a contract with Turkey’s state-run defense firm and shipyard corporation, ASFAT, to acquire four MILGEM-class ships. Under the agreement, two corvettes will be constructed in Turkey and two in Pakistan.

In October 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the steel cutting ceremony to mark the formal recognition of the start of the construction of the first MILGEM ship in Istanbul. The steel-cutting ceremony for the second corvette was held in Karachi this June. The first ship is slated to be delivered to Pakistan in 2023 in line with its schedule. [Dawn]

Indonesia: Maintain support for Palestine, despite ties to UAE

(nd) Despite strengthening of economic ties between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January this year, Jakarta will not follow the recent diplomatic turn of the UAE. In September, Bahrain and the UAE, also Sudan, signed agreements at the White House to establish full diplomatic relationships with Israel. The Head of the Presidential Staff Office emphasized this would not change Indonesia's foreign policy, and the support of the independence of Palestine, which is mandated by our constitution, he said. [Anadolu Agency]

Indonesia, France to agree on defense cooperation

(nd) Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and France last week discussed further defense cooperation as well as the current situation in the Indo-Pacific region. 

In January both sides agreed on a Defense Cooperation Agreement expected to be finalized by the end of this year to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations to cover various areas of cooperation including "training and education, defense industry development, science and defense technology, intelligence cooperation and counterterrorism, as well as collaborations in peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions during disasters." [Anadolu Agency]

Indonesia: Four Uyghurs deported to China

(nd) On Friday, four Uyghurs convicted of terror-related offenses in Indonesia were reportedly deported to China. There was no official statement from the government on the matter. The four were sentenced to six years in prison for entering the country with fake passports and attempting to join the Islamic State-affiliated Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) militant group.

Allegedly for years, the Chinese government has imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, in so-called vocational centers, forcing sterilization, physical mistreatment and religious restrictions. A Chinese request to exchange a fugitive Indonesian banker captured in China for the four Uyghur prisoners charged with terror-related offenses was turned down four years ago. [Radio Free Asia]

Malaysia: Fair platform to avoid import bans

(nd) Following the recent import ban of palm oil from FGV Holdings by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) due to alleged human rights violations [See also AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1], the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (KPPK) stated a fair platform is needed for the US and Malaysia to address the allegations, which adversely affect their trade activities. He informed, FGV Holdings Bhd has taken appropriate steps to improve the right situation of workers, but also urged the sector to continue looking for new export markets, such as Africa.

The KPPK together with the cooperation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2018 conducted a study on the labor situation in the plantation sector in Malaysia, which will be presented to the US’ Department of Labor. This presentation is part of initiatives to remove Malaysia’s oil palm plantation sector from the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorisation Act (TVPRA), which the CBP's refers to for making decisions. [Malay Mail]

Malaysia: Chinese fishermen released

(nd) After the arrest of six Chinese fisher boats at the beginning of the month, all crew members were released. The fishermen were arrested for allegedly trespassing Malaysian territory in waters off southern Johor state. [See also No. 41, October/2020, 2] It remained unclear whether the boats were released as well. According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the fishermen will be investigated following Malaysia’s Fisheries Act 1985 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (OPS) 1952, governing entering foreign waters without notice respectively anchoring without approval, possibly facing two years of jail time. Officials at the MMEA, the Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian foreign ministry declined to comment.

Malaysia earlier rejected the Chinese “nine-dash-linie”, practically claiming the entirety of the South Chinese Sea. Despite Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping territorial claims in the disputed waters, with Indonesia claiming parts of it its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Between 2016 and 2019, Chinese coastguard and navy ships intruded 89 times into Malaysian waters in the disputed waterway, according to a government source. [Radie Free Asia]

Myanmar, EU to sign Memorandum

(lf) Myanmar’s investment agency has singed a Memorandum of understanding with the European Chamber of Commerce. The Memorandum is aimed at attracting more investments, the creation of economic reform and establishing a recovery plan from Covid-19.

Last year the EU invested $7 billion in Myanmar’s economy, making up around 8,6% of Foreign Direct investment. In 2019, the EU has been Myanmar’s third biggest trading partner, accounting for 11% of trade. [Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Report on Rohingya crisis

(lf) The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) have published a new report, which states that the member states have failed to adequately address the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. The report attributes this to a lack of leadership, structural shortcomings as well as a failure to understand the gravity and extend of the situation in Myanmar. The APHR acknowledges that while the problem had been addressed in summits, reactions were hindered through the policy of mutual non-interference, which originally was aimed at bridging the gap between the vastly different member states, but has contributed to policies being counterproductive or conducive to the crisis. [The Diplomat]

India gives submarine to Myanmar

(lf) India has given a submarine to Myanmar, as part of their strategy to counter Chinese growing influence in the Indian Ocean. Previously, neighboring Bangladesh bought two submarines from China. In addition, China has become involved in building a submarine station and deep sea port in the Bay of Bengal for Bangladesh. The Bay of Bengal is a strategically important area, in which India has been trying to limit Chinese influence. [Voice of America]

Philippines: Raise of minimum age for special retiree's visa

(nd) Presidential spokesman urged young Chinese retirees to invest in a business and employ Filipinos. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) announced plans to repeal the current policy, which provides a special retiree's visa and has a minimum age of 35. Plans are to raise it to 50 years, as it was before it was changed in 1993 to open it to military servicemen who retire earlier.

Around 26,969 Chinese nationals lead a December 2019 list of foreign retirees in the Philippines, followed by 13,912 Koreans; 5,951 Indians; 4,801 Taiwanese; and 3,950 Japanese. Of the total number of Chinese retirees, around 8,130 are aged 35 to 49. [Manila Standard]

Philippines: Possible charge against US waste exporter

(nd) After intercepting a container of potential illegal imported waste materials at the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), they announced to cooperate in the matter with the Department of Justice and Department of Environment and Natural Resources for filing possible criminal charges against the US exporter.

The waste materials found in the container were in violation of DENR Administrative Order 2013-22 or the Revised Procedures and Standards for the Management of Hazardous Waste, as well as the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal, prohibiting the trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste and import of mixed and municipal waste. Environment groups Greenpeace Philippines and EcoWaste Coalition urged the government to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, which prohibits the export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries, and upgrade the status of pending bills to ban waste importation. [Philstar]

Thailand, China forging closer ties; challenges to RCEP

(nd) During his visit to Thailand, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi announced further investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) flagship project. The EEC aims at transforming the three major provinces east of Bangkok into a high-tech, trade, logistic and innovation hub by concentrating knowledge and providing central infrastructure, such as an airport, a high-speed rail connecting Bangkok to China and Laos [See also AiR No. 40, October/2020, 1], and deep-sea ports. Recently, the two countries developed plans to link this project to China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) in Southern China, forming closer economic ties. This plan is part of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative (BRI).

During the visit, the creation of fast-track lanes to facilitate the exchange of people and goods was agreed upon. Additionally, Thailand will increase cooperation with Chinese firms on 5G technology, including Huawei, which US intelligence agencies warned of due to national security risks. More Western and European nations followed the US position, which could have repercussions for Thailand if Western firms consider investments.

Also this week, Ministry of Commerce announced that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact will be signed at the next ASEAN summit in Vietnam. The 2012 initiated project aims to create an Asian Pacific free trade area with a bigger GDP than the EU and the US, constituting almost 30% of the world’s trade in a highly dynamic region, involving the 10 ASEAN states, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Half of ASEAN and three other countries have to sign the pact in order for it to come into force.

Following growing tensions between the US and China as well as China and India and the tensions in the South China Sea, the RCEP faces challenges. Earlier this year, India withdrew its support, seeking  a free trade deal with Taiwan, which is seeking the same with Thailand. With Japan possibly reconsidering its role in the RCEP, it is a difficult situation for Thailand, given that the US, Taiwan and Japan remain the biggest investors in Thailand. [Thai Examiner 1] [Thai Examiner 2]

South China Sea sees semi-permanent Chinese presence

(nd) According to the recent analysis of ship-tracking data and satellite imagery, Chinese vessels have stayed almost without interruption five months at the Scarborough Shoal off the Philippines; for three months at Vanguard Bank off Vietnam’s southern coast; and seven months at the Union Banks, which feature outposts for both China and Vietnam. This highlights a semi-permanent, enduring presence in the disputed area and economic zones, which China claims almost entirely. [Radio Free Asia]

Recently, a Filipino fishermen's group reiterated the respect for fishing security and rights of the Filipino and vicariously for other claimant nation's fishing rights and their EEZ, which they see threatened by rising Chinese presence. [Radio Free Asia]

Also, Chinese fishing boats have repeatedly and illegally entered other countries EEZs in the region. China's historical claims are not valid under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), following a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016. Yet, there is no common ASEAN action to curb Chinese presence, also in light of the mostly tight economic ties with China following infrastructural investments within China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI). Despite that, US security alliances were strengthened recently. [The Diplomat]  

Japan’s Suga pledges security assistance for ASEAN’s coasts

(jn) Japan’s Prime Minister Suga announced in Jakarta on Wednesday that his country will provide patrol boats to Southeast Asian governments, like Indonesia and Vietnam, presenting an effort to help these countries secure their waters around the disputed South China Sea. Mr. Suga stressed the importance of adhering to the rule of law and peaceful conflict settlement in international waterways and lamented recent breaches of maritime law in the region. He explicitly pointed out combating illegal fishing as a reason to supply ASEAN countries with patrol boats. [Radio Free Asia]

The rhetoric and the agreement’s content match the overall strategic play of Mr. Suga during his South East Asian round trip, namely boosting Japan’s economic and security ties to ASEAN members that themselves are facing Chinese encroachment in what they see either as territorial or international waters. [Asia Times]

China to share Mekong river data with downstream countries

(jn) Last Thursday, China signed an agreement with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) – an intergovernmental organization of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – according to which it will share year-round and current data on water flows of the Mekong. The move was welcomed by other stakeholder nations as helpful in monitoring and forecasting floods and droughts on the important regional waterway. The MRC Secretariat Chief Executive Officer lauded the agreement as a “landmark in the history of China-MRC cooperation”.  The US, previously urged for more transparency on the Mekong’s flow, also praised the data sharing agreement as vital to downstream countries.

The Mekong is severely impacted by 13 dams in China and Laos, and others along its tributaries, that have significantly altered the natural flow of the 3,100-mile river for more than 60 million people depending on the water source.

China’s dam constructions have come under criticism for contributing to recent droughts that have severely damaged agriculture and depleted fish stocks downstream. Eyes on Earth, a US-based research and consulting firm, reported in April 2020 a striking gap between the volume of rainfall on the Chinese part of the Mekong and the water masses arriving further south. [Radio Free Asia] [The Diplomat]

Announcements

Upcoming Online Events

28 October 2020 @ 4:30 pm CET, Bruegel, Belgium

What Will the EU’s New Migration Policy Do Differently?

This webinar will discuss the new ‘three pillars’ proposal by the European Commission that hopes to bridge the divides over solidarity and fairness. Inter alia, the questions as to the probability of its success will be evaluated.

Please check [Bruegel] for registration details.

28 October 2020 @ 2:30 pm CET, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, Italy

G20 at the time of Covid-19. What’s at stake in 2021

This event will seek to answer questions that emerge in light of the Italian Presidency of the G20 in 2021, such as which multilateral responses are needed in a post Covid-19 world. 

For registration details, please visit [ISPI].

28 October 2020 @ 3:00 pm CET, European Council on Foreign Relations, Germany

Defending Europe’s economic sovereignty from coercion

This webinar will discuss how Europe can react to the increasing economic aggression by China, Russia, Turkey, and America.

Please find details here: [ECFR].

28 October 2020 @ 9:00 am PST, Gulf Research Center, Saudi Arabia

The Future of the Gulf Economies in the Age of Sparsity

This digital roundtable discussion will address the future of the gulf economies in the age of sparsity. In particular, the question whether a new social contract will be devised in light of the new fiscal realities will be discussed.

For further details, please see [GRC].

29 October 2020 @ 6:00 pm CET, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, Italy

Europe-Africa: What Chance for the EU New Strategy?

This virtual roundtable will assess how the proposed “Comprehensive strategy with Africa” will innovate the current frameworks of relations between Europe and Africa as well as whether this proposed strategy is even in line with African states’ own priorities.

For more information and registration, kindly follow [ISPI].

29 October 2020 @ 2:00 pm EDT, Asia Society, USA

Between War and Peace: U.S. Policy on Iran

This virtual roundtable will examine the sources of tensions in the U.S.-Iran relationship, explore potential scenarios for the relationship going forward, and offer recommendations for how U.S. policy can address Iran’s nuclear program and its regional activities. 

Details are available at [Asia Society].

29 October 2020 @ 9:30 am EDT, Hudson Institute, USA

The U.S. India View of China-Pakistan Strategic Relations

This webinar will discuss the China-Pakistan relationship in-depth and its impact on the US-India partnership and US peer competition with China globally.

See [Hudson] for additional information.

29 October 2020 @ 10:00 - 11:00 am EDT, Foreign Policy Research Institute, US

Foreign Influence Election 2020 

With the 2020 US presidential election just days away, the Foreign Influence Election 2020 project is reaching its culmination, after having been watching and analyzing foreign interference in the U.S. election over the past 16 months. This online event will discuss the results of the FIE 2020 project and the implications for the upcoming election.

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

29 October 2020 @ 7:00 - 8:30 pm EDT, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington DC, US

Climate + State Violence: US Militarism 

In online conversation of Power Shift Network will deal with the ways that U.S. Militarism emboldens the climate crisis and reduces our ability to build resilient communities capable of weathering the impacts of climate catastrophes.

Please find registration details here: [IPS] 

29 October 2020 @ 13:30 - 14:30 pm UTC + 2, Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark

Future of Palestine: One state, Two states, No state 

This online event will discuss the thesis that a sovereign Palestinian state remains the only sustainable solution for peace between Israel and Palestina.

Please find registration details here:[DIIS]

29 October 2020 @ 12:15 - 2:00 pm EDT, Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, UK  

Recent Lessons for the Recovery from Acts of Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism 

This webinar seeks to derive and improve recovery policies towards a well-rounded, holistic approach to mitigating the risks of nuclear and radiological terrorism.

Please find registration details here: [Belfer Center]

29 October 2020 @ 1:30 pm EDT, Center for Strategic & International Studies, Washington DC, US

The implications of Brexit for Ireland: A conversation with Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall  

Against the background of the deadline for reaching a trade agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom fast approaching, this online event will discuss about the implications of Brexit for Ireland.

Further details are available at [CSIS].

29 October 2020 @ 1:00 pm EDT, Atlantic Council, Washington DC, US

Strengthening global safeguards and security in an advanced nuclear age

The Atlantic Council and Third Way co-host this virtual event on the global market for advanced nuclear technologies and the safeguards and security mechanisms critical to ensuring US reactors are ready to compete.

Please find registration details here: [Atlantic Council]

29 October 2020 @ 15:00 - 16:30 GMT +2, Institute for Security Studies,

Constitutional design options for managing Ethiopia’s ethic divisions 

This event will discuss a new ISS monograph that assesses existing mechanisms to manage diversity in Ethiopia and proposes new alternatives. 

Please find registration details here: [ISS]

30 October 2020 @ 11:00 - 12:00 pm EDT, Pacific Council on International Policy, Los Angeles, US

After November 3: A Prediction 

November 3 promises to be one of the most consequential dates in U.S. history as America turns out to elect their next president. 

Please find registration details here: [Pacific Council]

30 October, 2020 @ 10:00 -11:30 pm UTC+8, Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore

Thailand’s COVID- Induced Economic Crisis: An Opening for Reforms? 

Despite its success in managing the COVID-19 health crisis, Thailand is now facing a series of further crises. At the same time, the pandemic and related crises present a window of opportunity for Thailand to move forward in critical areas in which it has lagged for decades. What can the Thai government do to take advantage of this opportunity? And how can friends of Thailand be supportive?

Please find registration details here: [ISEAS]

30 October 2020 @ 1:00 - 2:30 am EDT, Wilson Center, Washington DC, USA

The Global Digital Divide: Past, Present, and Future 

This event will examine the changing nature of the digital divide challenge and what we have learned (and will have to do next) in order to envision and deploy solutions -- now and in the future.

Further details are available at [Wilson]

2 November, 2020 @ 3:00 - 4:30 pm SGT, Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore

Between Memes and Mobilisation: Youth, Digital Literacy, and the Evolution of Political Expression and Action 

This webinar examines the role of youth in the evolution of digital political communications. 

Please find registration details here: [ISEAS]

2 November 2020 @ 1:00 pm CET, European Centre for International Political Economy, Belgium

Open or Closed – Our History of Human Progress – and Stagnation

Johann Norberg will present his new book, Open – The Story of Human Progress, and explore how across time and cultures we have struggled with a constant tension between our yearning for cooperation and our profound need for belonging.

If you are interested in joining the event, visit [ECIPE] further information.

3 November 2020 @ 3:30 pm CET, Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Sweden

The International Law Perspective on the Israel-Palestine Conflict

This virtual seminar will discuss the relevance of international law to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and what the legal assessment of the various political developments and initiatives would be.

To access the seminar, please visit [UI]

4 November 2020 @ 15:00 - 16:30 pm GMT, Overseas Development Institute, UK 

Digital life and work: future - ready youth 

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted lives across the world, highlighting the potential of the digital technologies but also exposing the need for more equitable opportunities for young people to use tech and advance their educational capital and skills for work.

Further details are available at [ODI]

4 November 2020 @ 17:30 - 18:30 pm AEDT, Australian Institute of International Affairs, Melbourne, Australia

From a Tin Shed to the United Nations

This online event the Women in International Affairs series will provide insights into how ‘trade not aid’ has empowered so many, and how individual actions can play a part in creating a more inclusive and just world.

Please find registration details here: [AIIA]

4-5 November 2020 @ 14:50 - 18:15 pm JST, Asian Development Bank, Tokyo, Japan 

Virtual Workshop on Electricity markets in Transition: Privatization, Competition, and Regional Cooperation

This workshop will feature new research on the liberalization of the global electricity sector, resulting variations in competition and regulation, and energy reform outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific. 

Please find registration details here: [ADB]

Recent and upcoming book releases

Xiaoqun Ku, Heaven Has Eyes: A History of Chinese Law, Oxford University press, October 13, 2020, 376 pages. For more information, see [H-Asia]. 

Dylan Rodriguez, White Reconstruction: Domestic Warfare and the Logics of Genocide, Fordham University press, October 27, 2020, 256 pages. For more information see, [Fordham Press]

Robert Ivermee, Hooghly: The Global History of a River, Hurst, October 2, 2020, 256 pages. For more information see, [Hurst]

Calls

The International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis invites submissions in the area related to any appropriate theme socio legal aspect for its Volume 1, issue 5. Closing date for submissions is October 31, 2020. For further details, see [ijlra] 

The Lex Humanitariae invites papers for its Journal for a Change Volume 1, Issue 4. Closing date of submissions is November 5, 2020. More information at [lexhumanitariae].

The National Law University Delhi invites paper submissions for its Journal of Legal Studies Volume 3. Closing date for submissions is January 10, 2021. For further details, see [NLUD]

The Law Brigade Publishers invites paper submissions for its Asia Pacific Law Policy Review for its Volume 6. Closing date for submissions is November 15, 2020. More information at [Law Brigade]

The Law Brigade Publishers invites paper submissions for its Indian Politics & Law Review Journal in the fields of law and related topics: Political Science and Policy Analysis. Closing date for submissions is November 15, 2020. Further details, see [Law Brigade]

Jobs & positions

The University of Electronic Science and Technology of China offers a fixed time contract position of Associate Researcher and Assistant Researcher in law. Closing date for applications is December 24, 2020. More about the vacancy at [UESTC]

The Edinburgh Napler University offers a fixed term contract position of Research Assistant. Closing date for application is November 8, 2020. Further information at [Edinburgh Napier University]

The University of Birmingham offers a fixed term contract position of Research Fellow. Closing date for application is November 1, 2020. Further information at [Birmingham University]

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