Grasp the pattern, read the trend

No. 51, December/2022, 3

Brought to you by CPG

Dear Readers, 

The Asia in Review (AIR) team is pleased to present you this week´s AiR issue with the latest events, developments and trends in domestic politics, international relations and geopolitics in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

I extend special greetings to everyone celebrating Libya’s Independence Day in this week.

With best wishes for a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Henning Glaser

Editor in Chief

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

Main Sections

• Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in East Asia

• Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in South Asia

• Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Southeast Asia

• International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

• Announcements

Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in East Asia

China: Further relaxation of travel restrictions amid rising COVID-19 cases

(ms) Despite reports of overcrowded hospitals and overwhelmed crematoria, the Chinese government continues its departure from the zero-COVID policy that has been in place for three years and is further easing travel restrictions.

Almost all test restrictions have been dropped for travels to Beijing, with only the mask requirement remaining in place. Air travel is also expected to return to pre-COVID numbers, with volumes expected to return to 2019 levels in three stages by March 2023. This also includes international flights, which have been reduced to almost zero over the past three years. [Global Times] [Reuters]

This comes as hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai are strained amid rising infections following the government’s swift change of its COVID-19 policy, with asymptomatically infected hospital staff being required to work, and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announcing that China is still to face at least three waves of COVID infections until March. Further, the government has acknowledged that reported infection numbers differ from the real number reasoning that it would no longer count asymptomatic COVID-19 cases because they would be "impossible" to measure. [BBC] [The Guardian] [Nikkei Asia]

The high infection numbers are causing food and medicine shortages in Beijing and other places, in response to which an agreement has now been reached between U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and Chinese state-owned China Meheco Group Co. that will allow the U.S. firm to sell its COVID-19 drug paxlovid through Meheco Group in China. Pfizer had already signed an agreement with another Chinese state-owned company to produce the drug directly in mainland China. [Bloomberg] [South China Morning Post]

China: Economic agenda for 2023 unveiled

(ms) After almost three years of the zero-COVID policy and in response to a weakening economy that has suffered from this policy, Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced to prioritize the economy and its stabilization in 2023 again and to focus on a proactive fiscal policy. The announcement was made after last week’s two-day Central Economic Work Conference, the annual economic agenda setting meeting of China’s leadership chaired by Xi.

The meeting pledged to shift away from a strict zero-COVID to “better coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development,” while stressing a stronger focus on the economy that will include efforts to restore and increase domestic consumption in 2023, equal treatment for the private sector that has been hit hard by strict anti-COVID measures over the past years, as well as addressing foreign investors’ concerns.

Meanwhile, Chinese big tech companies are expected to play an important role in the targeted economic growth, which represents a turn away from the regulatory crackdown on these firms that began two years ago and has been eased since last year. [South China Morning Post 1] [South China Morning Post 2]

In addition to economic recovery, improvements to the childbirth system to address shrinking population growth and an aging population, greater support for environmentally friendly technology and green development, and stronger measures to combat youth unemployment were also highlighted as priorities among the economic measures in 2023. [CGTN] [Global Times] [Reuters]

China: Former industry minister expelled from CCP

(ms) Xiao Yaqing, the former Minister of Industry and Information, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and removed from all his functions over charges of bribery, the Central Committee Discipline Inspection (CCDI), China's anti-corruption body, announced on December 19.

Xiao was placed under investigation by the CCDI in late July on suspicion of "serious violation of discipline and law," an often-used euphemism for corruption [see AiR No. 31, August/2022, 1].

He is another high-profile case prosecuted under President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign launched in 2012. [Reuters]

China: Hong Kong officials threaten Google over national anthem

(ms) Hong Kong officials have threatened to stop buying advertising on Google in the future if the search engine does not correct the search results for “Hong Kong” and “National Anthem”.

Currently a search on Google for these words will lead to the song “Glory to Hong Kong” as first results, instead of “March of Volunteers”, the Chinese national anthem.

“Glory to Hong Kong” was written in 2019, just as anti-government protests erupted. For many demonstrators in the former British colony, it has become their national anthem since then.

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, rejected the request to adjust its search engine, arguing that when searching for the anthem, the official song would be sufficiently represented. [South China Morning Post]

Japan: Ruling party lawmaker to resign

(dql) Ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker Kentaro Sonoura - a fifth-term House of Representatives member and former special adviser to the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - has announced his decision to resign from his post over mounting pressure in the context of political funds scandal in which he is accused of underreporting nearly USD 300,000 in revenue raised in fund-raising parties hosted by a political fund-management organization that he represents. [The Mainichi]

As an aide to LDP Vice President Taro Aso, one of the core backers of the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Sonoura’s resignation is the latest blow to Prime Minister Funio Kishida after the resignation of three other LDP lawmakers in the recent months [see AiR No. 47, November/2022, 4].

Japan: Increased juvenile delinquency during COVID school closures

(dql) According to the latest White Paper on Crime of the Japanese justice ministry, Japan has seen a significant increase in juvenile delinquency during spring 2020, when schools across the country were closed in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

A 35 percent year-on-year increase was recorded in the number of offenses committed by young people between 14 to 19, while the total number including those committed by juveniles fell by 3.5 percent to 32.1 percent between March and May of 2020 compared with a  year earlier.

For 2021, the total number stood at nearly 570,000 offenses, a drop by 7.5 percent from 2020. It marks the mowest figure on record in Japan’s postwar history. [The Mainichi]

Japan: Return to nuclear power amid energy crisis

(dql) Japan’s industry ministry has confirmed that the country will restart nuclear power plants to produce energy, in a bid to cope with surging energy costs amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The ministry added that existing nuclear reactors will be permitted to operate beyond the current 60 years-limit while the development of new ones will be supported.

The major shift in the country’s nuclear power policy energy crisis comes more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 that led to the shutdown of all, but two, reactors.

Public opinion in earth-quake prone Japan has since been hostile towards nuclear energy but has changed in the face of soaring energy prices. [Reuters]

Meanwhile, the Osaka District Court has dismissed a request for an injunction to close the last of three units of the Mihama Nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture in central Japan that is still operating. The reactor was commissioned in 1970.

The court’s ruling is the first judicial decision over the safety of an aging reactor. It was handed down after local residents sought an injunction due to safety concerns. [Nikkei Asia]

Japan: Coast guard budget to be increased

(dql) The Japanese government has decided to increase the budget allocated to the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to around USD 2.3 billion in fiscal 2027, marking an 1.4-fold rise compared to the initial outlays in 2022, that seeks to significantly drastically expand the JCG patrol vessel fleet and to boost coordination among the coast guard, police and the Self-Defense Forces.

The JCG will also proactively utilize large, unmanned aircraft to strengthen surveillance capabilities and promote joint exercises with the country’s Self-Defense Forces while also coordinating with maritime security authorities from other countries, in a bid to strengthen monitoring of surrounding waters.

The decision comes against the backdrop of increased intrusions of Chinese vessels into Japanese territorial waters around Japan-controlled islands claimed by Beijing. [The Mainichi]

Mongolia: Former president under investigation on coal industry corruption case

(dql) Former Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga is being investigated in a coal industry corruption case that has prompted large protests in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, that has been continuing for nearly three weeks.

According to the Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia (IAAC), the country’s anti-corruption agency, 15 other prominent figures, including former ministers and current lawmakers, are also under investigation.

In a related development, the Cabinet has put state-owned Tavantolgoy Railway under direct control of the government and introduced a “special regime” to check the company for six months. The charges largely relate to bribes and favors enabling individuals to enrich themselves by building railroad tracks to transport coal. [Anadolu Agency] [Aki Press]

Early this month, hundreds of Mongolians demonstrators took to the streets to protest what they perceive as government corruption in the context of nearly 400,000 tons of coal missing that came to light after a comparison between Mongolian export data with import data reported by China for the period between 2013-2019. The protestors demand that the administration of Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai discloses the names of those belonging to the hidden “coal mafia” held responsible for the corruption in the coal industry. Coal mining accounts for 25 percent of Mongolia’s GDP and 40 percent of export earnings.

The demonstrations mark Mongolia’s second largest peaceful protests since 1991 which led to the country's transition to a multi-party system [see AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]

South Korea: More than ten thousand illegal immigrants expulsed from the country

(sm) Over ten thousand illegal immigrants had to leave South Korea over the last two months, according to the Ministry of Justice.

As COVID-19 restrictions have increasingly loosened, the ministry has resumed its crackdown on foreigners without a legal residence permit, focusing on fields potentially conducive to social harm such as the entertainment, massage, and delivery industries.

While some 3900 illegal immigrants were caught by authorities and forced to leave the country, another 7400 people left through a voluntary departure program which exempts foreigners from fines and reentry restrictions. Citizens from Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Mongolia were the most concerned by the crackdown. [Yonhap News Agency]

South Korea: Opposition launches parliamentary probe into Itaewon crowd crush mismanagement

(sm) On December 19, South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds a majority of seats in parliament, confirmed the timeline and list of witnesses to be investigated in the context of the Itaewon crowd crush.

The investigation approved by parliament plans two on-site probes (Itaewon police station, Yongsan ward office, Seoul metropolitan police agency, Seoul city hall, and interior ministry), two reporting sessions and hearings. 89 witnesses were selected, including interior minister Lee Sang-min, Yongsan ward office chief Park Hee-young, and Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon among others. All three have been main suspects in the incident that cost the lives of some 158 party goers on October 29. Hearings about the incident are scheduled to take place in early January.

As a police investigation into the incident is already ongoing, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) firmly opposes the additional probe and has boycotted the launch of the investigation, arguing that the DP broke an agreement to first address the national budget before launching the probe. [Korea Times]

South Korea: Unification ministry holds North Korean human rights forum

(sm) The 2022 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights was hosted by Seoul’s unification ministry on December 14.

Launched in 2017, the forum is organized annually to raise awareness on human rights and discuss future steps to be taken to improve the situation in North Korea. This year’s forum gathered several experts on North Korean human rights, as well as politicians such as unification minister Kwon Young-se and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Following the forum, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) called for the opposition Democratic Party (DP) to cooperate with the creation of a North Korean human rights foundation, as the UN General Assembly passed its 18th annual resolution on North Korea on December 16.

The resolution had focused on human rights violation in the country, especially the illegal detention, torture, and execution of foreigners. South Korea and the European Union co-sponsored said resolution.

The establishment of the foundation, which will be mandated with providing international aid for human rights’ protection in North Korea, has been postponed for seven years now, as the DP has failed to designate five candidates for the foundation’s board committee. [Yonhap News Agency_1] [Yonhap News Agency_2]

South Korea: Supreme Court recognizes Air Force officer’s sexual harrassment of deceased colleague

(sm) The Supreme Court sentenced a Korea Air Force officer to two years of prison after finding him guilty sexual harassment of a deceased female subordinate.

The 53-year-old officer had been sued by his 23-year-old subordinate for sexually abusing her and threatening her to keep silent. Lee committed suicide two months after she filed the complaint in May 2021. [Yonhap News Agency]

South Korea: Defense ministry devises first unmanned defense system plan

(sm) The South Korean defense ministry announced its first plan for the development of an unmanned defense system on December 15. The plan seeks to reduce casualties and address shortage problems in military staff, including considerations of using civilian drones for military defense operations, among others.

The announcement was made during the first session of the defense science technology coordination committee that was set up earlier this year to effectively apply cutting-edge technologies to military operations. It was attended by high level military officials, including the South Korea-US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, as well as by representatives of the ministries of science, industry, and land. [Yonhap News Agency]

Taiwan: Cabinet approved draft amendment bills to introduce harsher penalties for extraterritorial crimes

(dql) Taiwan’s Cabinet has endorsed draft amendments to the Organized Crime Prevention Act, in a move to increase the maximum prison sentence for people convicted of attempts to incite others to commit a crime or join a criminal organization outside Taiwan to seven years, marking a significant increase compared to six months to five years under the current law. Further, the amendments would make it easier for law enforcement agencies to confiscate illicit gains from criminal organizations.

The move to amend the Organized Crime Prevention Act comes against the backdrop of a number of Cambodia-based scam operations and cases of sexual and labor exploitation, and organ harvesting in which Taiwanese were associates of the criminal organizations.

The Cabinet has also approved draft amendments to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election and Recall Act and the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act that aim at barring individuals convicted of major offenses from running for public office. [Taipei Times]

Taiwan’s parliament, meanwhile, has enacted laws to revamp pension schemes for newly employed civil servants and public-school teachers newly employed.

Under the new laws, effective from the middle of next year, public workers are required to make contributions into individual accounts, instead of a common pension fund, with the monthly contributions set at 15 percent of a person’s insured salary, of which 65 percent is paid by the government and 35 percent by the individual.

The laws reflect the latest effort by the government to improve Taiwan’s debt-ridden public pension system. [Focus Taiwan]

Taiwan: Military to extend hours of voluntary soldier boot camp training

(dql) Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has unveiled that, starting from January 1, the island’s new voluntary military recruits will be required to undergo more intense and longer boot camp training.

The current 230 hours of training over five weeks of boot camp will be increased to 380 hours. Further, instead of 86 rounds of ammunition recruits need to fire, 160 rounds will be required. [Focus Taiwan]

Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in South Asia 

Bangladesh: Opposition parties to demonstrate across country against ruling Awami League party

(az/lm) Bangladesh’s opposition Bangladesh parties, which have staged large protests in recent days, plan to hold nationwide demonstration on December 24 to press Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to accede to its list of demands, which include the government’s immediate resignation, an end to laws such as the Digital Security Act, and an end to price hikes.

Protests have been on the rise in recent months across Bangladesh, with protesters decrying power outages and the rise in energy prices. Tens of thousands of supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took to the streets in the capital Dhaka on December 10, calling for the government to resign and install a caretaker government until elections are held in 2024 [see AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]. That rally was the 10th since the BNP announced the launch of protests in 10 big cities across the country in September.

Intending to resolve the country’s present political crisis and human rights violation by the ruling Awami League, smaller parties like Ganatantra Mancha and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal have also joined the protest of the BNP. To protest against the attack on opposition parties and to demand democratic rights, the Left Democratic Alliance, a coalition of six left-leaning parties, already staged demonstrations on December 13 across the country. [New Age]

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration now faces one of its biggest political challenges in years, with elections just a year away.

India: Gay couples ask Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage

(lm) Four gay couples have petitioned India’s Supreme Court to recognize same-sex marriages, setting the stage for a legal face-off with Prime Minister Modi’s government which has in the past refused to legalize such marriages. In the filings the couples say that without legal recognition of being married, they are denied rights such as those linked to medical consent, pensions, adoption or even simpler things like club memberships for couples. [The Straits Times]

Although India’s apex court in a historic verdict in 2018 struck down a colonial-era ban on gay sex, the Indian legal system to date only supports and promotes heterosexual marriage. In light of this, members of India's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have complained about a lack of acceptance and discrimination against gay people in Indian society.

India: Calcutta High Court accepts plea to register FIR against state opposition leader

(wr) The high court in India’s city of Calcutta on December 15 allowed the state government of West Bengal to file a petition to seek the filing of a first information report (FIR) against the leader of the opposition in the state’s assembly after three people died in a stampede at a program attended by him. Earlier, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain the plea. [The Print] [Zee News]

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, has been accused of being the organizer of a religious gathering event that left at least three dead and eight others severely injured on December 14 in the state’s Paschim Bardhaman district. [India TV]

India: Supreme Court to hear petition challenging Electoral Bond scheme

(wr) India’s Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing of pleas challenging the government’s Electoral Bond scheme for the last week of January next year. The apex court will decide whether the scheme facilitates anonymous corporate funding to political parties and whether it was wrongly certified as a Finance Act allowing anonymous funding to political parties. [Republic World] [Supreme Court Observer] [ThePrint]

An electoral bond can be used by individuals and corporations incorporated in India to make donations to political parties. The identity of the donor is anonymous and only known only to the bank. Notified by the central government in 2018, the scheme was touted as the harbinger of a new era of transparency and accountability.

Nepal: President gives political parties a week to form new government

(lm) Nepal’s President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on December 18 gave the country’s political parties one week to try to form a new government after no party emerged as clear victor in the country's general election last month - a development that raised fears of political instability in the Himalayan nation. [India Today] [Reuters]

About 61 percent of 18 million eligible voters voted on November 20 for the 275-member federal parliament. Of them 165 seats will be filled on the basis of first-past-the-post and the rest through proportional representation. Elections of 550 members of the seven state assemblies were simultaneously held. [AiR No. 47, November/2022, 4].

The ruling alliance, led by the Nepali Congress party of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) need the support of smaller political parties to form a new government. [AiR No. 48, November/2022, 5]

Nepal: Foreign direct investment plunges in first half of fiscal year

(lm) Foreign direct investment fell by more than half during the first four months of Nepal’s current fiscal year, which began in mid-July, new data from the country’s Department of Industry has revealed. Experts attribute the plunge to global economic struggles and China’s economic slowdown. [The Kathmandu Post]

In the last fiscal year, only 30 percent of committed foreign investment was actually delivered, despite recent government interventions to kick-start more funding to Nepal, where poor infrastructure and high transport costs can be an obstacle.

Pakistan: Opposition leader Khan says his party to dissolve two local assemblies on December 23

(fm/lm) Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan announced on December 17 that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would dissolve two provincial assemblies on December 23, in an effort to increase pressure on the federal government to hold snap elections. [The Straits Times]

The PTI controls two of Pakistan’s four provincial assemblies - Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The other two, Sindh and Balochistan, are controlled by Khan’s political opponents, who also control the federal government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and who have said they will not hold national and local polls before they are due in November 2023.

In the past, elections for the federal and provincial governments have been held simultaneously in a general election every five years. If the two provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are dissolved earlier, separate polls would have to be held for them within 90 days.

Pakistan: Election Commission to have equal gender representation, Senate panel votes

(fm) A committee of Pakistan’s Senate has passed constitutional changes to grant equal representation to women in the country’s Election Commission (ECP).

According to this amendment, at least two of the four members of ECP will be female. Originally, it was suggested that the current ECP's strength be increased from four to eight, with equal representation for men and women. However, it was decided by a majority vote that the overall number of members will still be four. [DAWN]

Pakistan: Federal Shariat Court orders formation of child protection unit for transgender children

(fm) Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court, which has the power to examine and determine whether the laws of the country comply with Sharia law, on December 15 ordered the human rights ministry to establish a protection unit for transgender children. The composition of the committee is currently unclear. [DAWN]

The order was given by a two-member panel that was hearing petitions contesting the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a landmark bill passed in 2018 that some legislators and clerics argue contradicts Islamic teachings on gender identity. The Act gave transgender people in Pakistan the right to choose their gender identity as they perceived it themselves and to change it on previously issued government documents.

Pakistan: Jailed Pakistan Taliban militants overpower guards, take hostages

(lm) Pakistani authorities on December 19 opened talks to try to resolve a standoff with Taliban detainees who were holding several security personnel hostages after overpowering their guards at a counter-terrorism center in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, snatching police weapons and seizing control of the facility. [The Straits Times] [The Guardian]

Few other details have emerged about the incident, which started late on December 18, apparently while police were interrogating detainees. Around 20 militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are holed up in the facility in Bannu district. According to a provincial government spokesman, the militants were demanding safe passage to Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka: Cabinet of Ministers introduces amendments to reinforce sexual assault, harassment, bribery laws

(sn) Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a bill proposed to make amendments to the Penal Code by criminalizing all forms of sexual assault and harassment. Section 345 of the Penal Code already defines sexual violence as an offense. In turn, the bill would enact severe punishments for sexual crimes and add sexual bribery to the list of criminal offenses. [ADA derana]

Sri Lanka: Citizens retain negative views of major political leaders, report shows

(sn) Sri Lankan people retain an unfavorable attitude towards all the country’s major political party leaders, the latest opinion tracker survey conducted by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) shows. The country’s current president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was viewed unfavorably by 46 percent of Sri Lankans, but this was still marginally better than other party leaders. Notably, the rating of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has recovered significantly following the economic and political collapse, currently standing at -51 percent. [News Wire]

Sri Lanka: Teachers’ association stages strike following assault on vice chancellor

(sn) Members of a teachers’ association at the University of Peradeniya launched a four-day strike on December 14 to express that they no longer feel safe on university premises following the assault on the university’s former vice chancellor. The association also said that some students displayed indecent behaviors showing no respect for the law.  [ADA derana] [Colombo Times]

Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Southeast Asia 

Cambodia: Opposition holds protests during PM Hun Sen’s EU–ASEAN Summit Belgium trip 

(sn) On December 12, 2022, Cambodian PM Hun Sen arrived in Brussels, Belgium for the EU–ASEAN Commemorative Summit. The time of the trip, the former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, called for Cambodian supporters living in Europe to participate in the protest the government led by the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Prime Minister. Sam Rainsy currently lives in France following multiple defamation allegations with a conviction sentence in Cambodia.

The protest took place on December 14, 2022. About 200 Cambodians staged a protest in Brussels demanding the release of political prisoners and justice over the pursuit of politically active citizens by the state government. Demonstrators defied the warning of the Cambodian PM to capture information on those engaged in protests and called for greater freedom and democracy reinforcement. 

Prior to the demonstration, Hun Sen reassured his supporters that the opposition is incapable of competing with his party. The oppositional Cambodian National Rescue Party, led by Sam Rainsy, was outlawed by the decision of Cambodian courts for plotting to overthrow the CPP government led by PM Hun Sen in 2017. 

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the demonstration plot in Europe, warning the opposition that such participation would be considered a "serious insult" by the government. Upon his arrival in the Belgium Capital, Hun Sen made some remarkable comments about his interest in having photos of opposition protesters at the Phnom Penh Airport and having more information about their families in Cambodia. 

On December 12, 2022, during the meeting with Cambodians in Europe, the PM discussed the inherited power and Cambodian independence. The ruling party leader noted that his authority is at the core of the CPP government's power. Therefore, senior CPP officials who are interested in competition - risk making a strategic mistake by acting as opposition. He further announced that the EU EBA (Everything but Arms) initiative tax benefits would not be set under CPP leadership to protect the state sovereignty. [UCA News], [Cambodia Daily], [VOD English], [Radio Free Asia 1], [EAC News], [Radio Free Asia 2]

Cambodia: NACD and The Women’s Affairs Ministry held a drug prevention training; students take compulsory tests

(sn) The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) held a regional training course with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs on promoting the participation of mothers in the prevention of drug use.

Nine Provincial Departments took part in the program. The training program also aims to improve the capacity of Women’s Affairs officers to educate people on the consequences of drug use in the target villages.

On December 14, 2022, the Interior Minister of Cambodia, Sar Kheng, announced that all students and teachers are obliged to take drug tests. Before the announcement, nearly 900 kg of trafficked drugs were seized in Preah Sihanouk Province on December 11, 2022.

In November, the Interior Minister announced the drug test obligation for job applicants in the recent amendments to the Law on Drug Control. By this law, people failing to pass the drug test will not be allowed to work in public or private institutions. [Khmer Times] [Cambodianess]

Cambodia: Criminal Department arrests Anti-Drug Bureau police officer for defrauding USD 200,000

(sn) The Cambodian Criminal department of the Ministry of Interior arrested a female police officer from the Anti-Drug Bureau on December 15, 2022. The officer, Thuok Chanda, will remain in custody while the trial is pending.

The suspect was arrested over the complaints received from Kandal province commune families. On December 17, 2022, the Kandal Provincial Court confirmed that the policewoman was charged with multiple fraud cases of approximately USD 200,000 in sum, breaching Articles 377 and 378 of the Penal Code. [Khmer Times]

Indonesia: Parliament approves extradition treaty with Singapore

(lm) Indonesia’s Parliament approved a long-awaited extradition treaty with Singapore on December 15, in a move Jakarta expects to help authorities repatriate fugitives accused of stashing offshore billions of dollars of state money in the city-state. President Joko Widodo is expected to sign the bill into law soon. [Bloomberg] [Reuters]

The absence of an extradition treaty has been a sensitive issue for Indonesia, which has complained about the difficulty of going after suspects accused of embezzling large sums during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. Under the extradition treaty, signed by the countries' leaders in January, people who had committed 31 types of crime will be liable to be extradited and it will apply to offenses committed up to 18 years ago. [South China Morning Post]

Indonesia: Alleged manipulation in selection process of parties for legislative election

(os) Indonesia’s General Election Commission (KPU) has been accused of committing fraud during the selection process of political parties for the 2024 general election by allegedly pressuring local election officials into manipulating data, several NGOs have said. [Jakarta Globe] [The Jakarta Post]

According to Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and several other NGOs, the KPU headquarters had demanded local officials to approve several parties for the election, who in fact did not meet the requirements. The local officials were allegedly threatened to be transferred if they failed to comply with the orders.

Lawyers of local election officials have also made allegations against the KPU headquarters. According to one of the lawyers, the parties, which initially did not meet the requirements, encompass the Gelora Party, Garuda Party, and Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN). All of these parties were required to go through a factual verification process before being allowed to nominate candidates for the election.

Lawyers expressed their plans to raise the issue at the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) and, in case of a criminal offense, to file a criminal complaint. The KPU stated that they will be investigating the issue internally.

Indonesia: Human rights commission calls on attorney general to appeal acquittal of retired soldier

(os) Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the Attorney’s General Office to appeal the recent acquittal of a retired army officer in the fatal of four teenagers in Papua in 2014. The commission also called for an investigation of other people that allegedly were involved in the shooting. [The Jakarta Post]

A human rights court on December 8 found retired army major Isak Sattu not guilty, and cleared him of all charges for his alleged role in an incident in the Papuan district of Paniai in 2014 [see AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]. At the time, security forces allegedly opened fire on a crowd of hundreds of residents who had gathered to protest against the beating of a child, killing four and injuring 17.

Critics claim that the trial was merely a means for the government to showcase to the outside that it was processing the incident. They subscribe to the view that the government never had the intention to bring real justice to the victims.

Indonesia: Press activists criticize appointment of former journalist as police official

(os) Organizations promoting press freedom in Indonesia have criticized the appointment of a former journalist as a sub-precinct police chief in Central Java province, claiming the decision would illustrate the infiltration of police into the press and media. [The Jakarta Post]

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) claim that police officer Umbaran Wibowo had been working as a news contributor for a public television broadcaster while at the same time working for the police. Umbaran has now been promoted to sub-precinct police chief in Blora. AJI and LBH Pers view Umbaran’s role in the police and the television broadcaster as an infiltration of police into a press institution. They see this as a violation of Article 6 of the 1999 Press Law and of Article 6 of the Journalism Code of Ethics (KEJ).

The police, however, state that Umbaran had solely been working as a freelance contributor, not as a journalist. National Police claim they will be discussing the issue with the local police chief.

Indonesia: Admiral Margono sworn in as new commander of armed forces

(os) Admiral Yudo Margono on December 19 officially became the new commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), superseding General Andika Perkasa. Admiral Margono was nominated by President Joko Widodo in November last year, and went through a  checking process by the House of Representatives [see AiR No. 48, November/2022, 5]. [Antara News] [Jakarta Globe] [Tempo]

At a press conference after the oath taking ceremony, President Jokowi urged Yudo to work on regaining public trust in the armed forces. He also called on the newly installed military chief to ensure the TNI’s neutrality in the upcoming 2024 election.

Yudo, for his part, announced that he wants to continue the “humanistic approach” of his predecessor in Papua, where the country’s military has been accused of human rights abuses in fighting a decades-long separatist movement. When asked whether troops in Papua would be scaled back, Yudo told reporters that he would go to Papua and evaluate the situation before making a decision but did not provide details. [The Straits Times]

Indonesia: Papuan separatists kill civilians

(os) An employee of a regional bank and three motorcycle taxi drivers have been killed in two separate incidents by Papuan separatists. [Antara News 1] [Antara News 2]

The bank employee was shot dead in Puncak District of Papua Tengah Province. The perpetrator has not been found yet.

The three motorcycle taxi drivers have been killed in Pegunungan Bintang District of Papua Pegunungan Province while waiting for customers. The group that killed the drivers claimed that they were spies and worked for Indonesian security personnel. A regional military commander has denied this claim. Three other drivers were able to escape the attack and survived.

Papua has been subject to violent attacks by Papuan separatists for years. Since Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, the region has remained to be one of the least developed in Indonesia. Groups calling for independence of the region have become increasingly violent in recent years.

Laos: National Assembly discusses laws on passports, military prosecutor’s office, museums, employment, science

(ts, fj) The National Assembly (NA) has been presented with proposed new laws on Passports and the nation’s museums. Suggested amendments of existing laws concerning the military prosecutor’s office, science and technology and the labor market were also presented.

Proposals included a new law on passports, aiming to regulate their issuance, suspension, rejection and cancellation, which was presented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thongphane Savanphet. A further new law pertaining to the management of the country’s museums and collections. The bill aims to facilitate the preservation of historical artifacts and the further development of museums. In her presentation of the law, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Suanesavanh Vignaket, also noted that the law might be instrumental in attracting domestic and international aid for Laos’s museums. [Lao News Agency 1] [Lao News Agency 2]

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Chansamone Chanyalath proposed amendments to the Law on Military Prosecutor’s Office. He claimed that the protection of benefits of the army and its personnel will yield benefits to the nation. Enhanced effective supervision of the military prosecutor’s office is believed to also harmonize with the current policy spectrum and modernization of the country. Yet, the amendments will wait for approval from the National Assembly as lawmakers have a series of issues of the same magnitude to discuss throughout the month. [Lao News Agency 3]

Changes to the Law on Science and Technology were presented by Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Souli-oudong Soundara. The changes aim to improve Laos’s regional position in science and research and leverage technology for socio-economic development. [Lao News Agency 4]

In reaction to a report presented by Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Baykham Khattiya, members of the NA propositioned the revision of labor-related laws to bring down the unemployment rate and improve the population’s standard of living. Focus areas mentioned were the updating of curricula on vocational training, stimulation of training activities and improvements of access to the labor market. With the unemployment rate in the country expected to stand at around 18 percent at the end of the year, the urgency of reform in the labor market is evident. [Lao News Agency 5]

The three-week NA began on December 5 and is expected to further address new laws and changes pertaining to waterways, lawyers, the court registry, the prevention and control of infectious diseases, enterprises, and electronic transactions. [see AiR No. 49, December/2022,1]

Laos: Government confirms commitment to net zero emission by 2050 as international financial support grows

(fj) The Laotian Government has restated its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, noting that the nation was on track to making meaningful reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Bounkham Vorachit, noted the prospect of receiving USD 19 million from international financial mechanisms and environmental protection organizations for the further pursuit of climate adaptation and the lowering of emissions. The Minister identified the National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change and the National Strategy on Climate Change 2030 as the guiding document for the nation’s environmental ambitions. [Vientiane Times]   

Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wins motion of confidence in parliament

(lm) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim won a confidence vote in Parliament on December 19, securing vital backing for his premiership after a snap election last month returned an unprecedented hung parliament. The prime minister’s choice for parliamentary speaker earlier the same day received 147 votes — one shy of a two-thirds majority in the legislature, which no Malaysia government has seen since 2008.

During the snap general election held on November 19 none of the country’s political parties was able to win at least 112 out of 222 parliamentary seats to secure a simple majority and form the government [see AiR No. 47, November/2022, 4]. But Anwar was appointed by Malaysia’s king and proceeded to sign a cooperation pact with smaller political parties last week [see AiR No. 49, December/2022, 1]. [The Straits Times]

After his rival and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had cast doubt on his support, the prime minister convened the parliament to prove his majority. This week’s confidence motion was passed by a simple voice vote after the opposition argued against it because Anwar had already been officially sworn in as prime minister by the king.

The confidence motion notwithstanding, the opposition bloc continued to question the number of legislators in the parliament who supported Prime Minister Anwar and said they were ready to take over as ruling government “when the time comes”. [Al Jazeera] [Bloomberg]

Malaysia: Mahathir Mohamad resigns as chairman of PEJUANG political party

(lm) Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced his resignation as chairman of the PEJUANG political party. [The Straits Times]

The party was founded in August 2020 by Mahathir in opposition to the then-ruling Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional government led by the Prime Minister and president of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), Muhyiddin Yassin. Mahathir led the party during this November’s general election, but both the former premier and his son Mukhriz failed to retain their parliamentary seats.

Malaysia: Prime Minister Ibrahim addresses sodomy trials after opposition attack

(lm) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told lawmakers that his sodomy trials were unjust, and the king had offered him a royal pardon because of a “clear travesty of justice”, after opposition leaders took aim at his past during a confidence vote in Parliament on December 19. [The Straits Times]

Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and Anwar’s past has long been a sore spot for Malaysia’s majority Malay Muslims. Anwar was first arrested in 1998 for allegedly sodomizing his driver and speechwriter, a crime he denied. Though he was sentenced to nine years in prison – on top of a six-year sentence handed down in 1999 for alleged corruption – the conviction was overturned in 2004.

Four years later, another former aide accused Anwar of sodomizing him, but the politician denied the charges and was acquitted in 2012. However, that verdict was appealed and a Malaysian court overturned Anwar’s acquittal. In 2015, then, Malaysia’s highest court upheld the conviction and a five-year prison sentence, and Anwar had to go to prison.

Eventually, Malaysia's King, Sultan Muhammad V, in 2018 officially pardoned Anwar, a decision that allowed the latter to bypass a five-year ban on re-entering politics.

Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sues former premier Muhyiddin over USD 4.6 million payment claim

(lm) Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is suing the chairman of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) political alliance and his predecessor, Muhyiddin Yassin, over the latter’s allegation that the incumbent premier was paid approx. USD 3.4 million while he was the economic adviser to the Selangor state government. [The Straits Times]

In a writ of summons filed at the High Court registry on December 20, Anwar said Muhyiddin made those claims during an election speech on December 5. Through his lawyers, the prime minister had previously sent Muhyiddin a letter of demand for an apology and retraction of the allegations.

This development comes after Prime Minister Anwar announced a review of government projects worth billions of dollars approved by Muhyiddin, alleging they did not follow proper procedures. Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission later announced it had opened an investigation into alleged misappropriation of government funds. At the time, Muhyiddin, who was prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, denied wrongdoing and said he would welcome an investigation.

Malaysia: Cabinet decides to end tenures of political appointees in state-linked corporations

(lm) Malaysia’s Cabinet during a meeting on December 14 decided to end the tenures of chairmen and board members who are regarded as political appointees in federal statutory bodies, and government-linked corporations and investment companies. A directive signed by the government chief secretary Ali has already been issued to the secretaries-general of all ministries. [Free Malaysia Today] [The Straits Times]

Myanmar: Two journalists sentenced to five years in prison

(jp) Ko Wai Linyu and Ma Htet Htet Aung, founders of Thin Gyun Kyun Post Media, were sentenced to five years in prison under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. Some of the other journalists being held have been let go, but at least 20 are still in jail on criminal charges. He is still incarcerated. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), based in New York and works to protect press freedom, has put Myanmar on its Global Impunity Index for the first time in 2022. [ the Irrawaddy, Burmese Language]

Myanmar: Vice Chairman of Central Bank Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison on Terrorism Charges

(jp) Bo Bo Nge, the vice-chairman of the Central Bank, was sentenced to twelve years in prison on December 13, 2022. The prison court convicted him on two counts of violating the Anti-Terrorism Law. He was given an eight-year sentence for one charge and a twelve-year sentence for another. Bo Bo Nge was arrested on February 1, 2021, and was prosecuted by the junta in Pha Yar Kone Myoma Police Station, Nay Pyi Taw, under the Counter-Terrorism Law on May 10, 2022, after being detained for over a year. [ central banking] [ rfa ]

Myanmar: Junta requires prior registration for overnight guests in Yangon temples

Myanmar’s military government has prohibited overnight guests at temples in the Yangon area.  This decision marks the first time the junta has enforced Myanmar’s Ward or Village-Tract Administration Law on a religious organization. This law, abolished under the civilian NLD government in 2016 but reinstated by the junta after the February 2021 coup, permits authorities to enter people’s homes and detain any individuals who have failed to register themselves with the authorities as residing there.  The junta has stated the enforcement of the prohibition is intended to reduce crime, but monks have alleged that the true intent of this measure is to enable a further tightening of the regime’s control over the sangha.  [RFA]

Myanmar: rebel forces kill 26 in ambushes

People’s Defense Forces (DPF) and a Karen ethnic armed organization (EAO) have killed 26 soldiers from the Tatmadaw and regime-aligned militia forces between December 13 and 15.  The attacks took place in the Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions, and the Karen and Mon states.  They included ambushes on junta forces involved in the burning of villages, and the use of drones to bomb Tatmadaw troops. [The Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Junta ignores calls for peace talks by ethnic armed organizations

The ruling junta in Myanmar has rebuffed an attempt by seven rebel ethnic armed organizations, all previous signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), to arrange an informal meeting with Lieutenant General Yar Pyae, chairman of the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee.  The request was made by the Restoration Council of Shan State, the New Mon State Party, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and the Lahu Democratic Union, and proposed a meeting to take place on December 12 in Chiang Mai.  While the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee denied their request, the junta has been holding meetings with other NCA signatories who are not currently in open rebellion against the regime. [The Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Junta head visits Kachin state capital

Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military junta currently governing Myanmar, and Air Force chief General Tun Aung visited the capital of Kachin State this week amidst increased levels of confrontation with the Kachin Independence Army.  The trip, the second since the junta took power, was widely seen as an attempt to bolster morale.  The junta head outlined improvements to be made in the equipment issued to soldiers in the region and urged collaboration to engender unity and stability amongst Tatmadaw personnel.  [The Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Court sentences LGBTQ activist to 22 years in prison

LGBTQ+ activist Sue Sha Shin Thant was sentenced to 22 years in prison this week, on charges of incitement and terrorism.  The charges come in addition to a previous 3-year prison sentence for a separate incitement charge.  Prior to the coup, Sue Sha Shin Thant had been a prominent activist for LGBTQ+ rights involved in drafting the bill on Protection of Women Against Violence, and a Union-level representative for the Youth Committee in Mandalay Region.  She was originally detained after her motorcycle was rammed by a car driven by junta forces in October 2021, after which the charges of incitement, terrorism, and murder were levied against her. [The Irrawaddy]

Myanmar: Number of people in poverty doubled according to UN

(th) According to the UN Development program (UNDP) in Myanmar, the number of people living in poverty has doubled because of the pandemic and the military takeover. According to the UNDP about half of Myanmar’s 25 million inhabitants now live in poverty. [UN]

Philippines: President signs USD 94.55 billion national budget for 2023

(jd) Philippines’ President Marcos Jr. has signed the USD 94.55 billion national budget for the year of 2023. The spending measure is the first of the current administration, and it’s 4.9 percent higher than the previous year, while the main priorities of the signed budget are directed towards agriculture and education agencies. [Inquirer]

The budget proposal was criticized for the removal and following restoration of controversial confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) allocated to the Department of Education and Office of the Vice President, which are both under Vice President Sara Duterte.

Philippines: Self-exiled Communist Party founder Sison dies at 83

(tjb) The founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Jose Maria Sison, died in the Netherlands on December 16 at the age of 83 after a two-week confinement in the hospital. [CNN] [Philippine Daily Inquirer]

Sison broke out with the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 to reestablish a new communist party in the Philippines, one inspired by the practice and theories of China’s Mao Zedong. In 1977, he was arrested under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. When an uprising removed the strongman from power, Sison was released in 1986, and moved to Europe. But he was put on a United States terrorist list in 2002, preventing him from traveling. [Rappler] [The New York Times]

The military wing of the CPP, the New People's Army (NPA), has been waging an armed rebellion in one of the world's longest running insurgencies - that has killed more than 40,000 people. At its peak, the NPA had 25,000 armed fighters, but now has about 2,000, according to the Philippines military.

Philippines: Human rights commission urges government agencies to protect rights of indigenous peoples

 (jd) The Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called on government agencies to direct efforts towards the protection of indigenous people (IPs).

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started a campaign against human trafficking, and, with the help of the Philippines Coast Guard, it plans to conduct inspections of ports in order to determine whether traveling IPs are victims of trafficking.

The CHR has also praised the DSWD efforts which include the rescue of IPs from urban streets in Manila, the help provided to send them back to their home provinces, and the financial assistance offered to the families involved. [Inquirer]

Singapore: President calls for removal of age restrictions on caning for rapists

(ih) Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob in a social media post on December 19 called for the removal of the age restriction on caning as a punishment for rape. Yacob also said she hoped organizations in Singapore that deal with domestic violence work together with government agencies to look at ways to better protect children from sexual abuse in the home. [South China Morning Post] [The Straits Times]

Under the current law, caning can only be used as a punishment for rapists under the age of 50. The post came against the backdrop of a recent series of high-profile rapes of children by older male family members. In September of last year, lawmakers had already suggested that the age limit for caning be raised.

Singapore: Prime Minister Lee on leave until December 31

(ih) Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be on leave from December 19 to December 31. Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean will serve as acting prime minister for the duration of Lee’s leave. [CNA]

Thailand: MP resignations ahead of upcoming elections threaten parliament's stability

(fj) The growing number of resignations of members of parliament (MP) are threatening the parliament’s ability to fulfill its duties, keeping early elections a live possibility. According to an unidentified source, 36 MPs resigned in the time between October 6 and December 14 alone.

With around 20 draft laws still pending parliamentary review, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged parliamentarians to keep fulfilling their duties and attend the parliamentary sessions. However, the MPs growing preoccupation with preparations for the next elections means that ensuring quorum in parliament is becoming a concern, potentially stalling parliamentary work completely. [Bangkok Post 1]

As Thailand’s next general election is scheduled for May 7, many MPs are reassessing their party memberships in a system in which party allegiance is often driven more by personal relations and faction politics than by identification with strongly defined policy platforms. A striking example of this was seen on December 16, when the Bhumjaithai Party publicly welcomed 34 former MPs from other parties into its ranks, significantly boosting the party’s prospects in the upcoming election. [Bangkok Post 2]

Assuming the tentative date of the election is observed, MPs are looking at February 7 as the cut-off date for party changes, as the election law limits the switching of parties to no later than three months ahead of the election. However, should Prime Minister Prayut choose to call early elections, politicians will be allowed to change parties up to 30 days ahead of the elections. In this case, the election will have to be held between 45 and 60 days after the early dissolution of the parliament. [Thai PBS World]

Thailand: Petitions for the dissolution of major parties filed with the election commission

(fj) The secretary-general of the royalist Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, Srisuwan Janya, has filed petitions for the dissolution of major political parties with the election commission (EC) ahead of the upcoming general election in May 2023.

One of the petitions openly targets the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) and is based on allegations that it is unduly influenced by exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Only days after Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra had rolled out the PTP’s populist policy platform, Srisuwan has asserted that comments made by Thaksin online regarding the party’s proposal of pushing the minimum daily wage up to USD 17 show that he is exerting dominant influence on the party’s affairs.

Two other petitions were filed by Srisuwan over the case of Chinese businessman Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant, who is accused of being at the center of a crime syndicate involved in lucrative grey businesses in Thailand. As it had been reported previously that the case is potentially sensitive for the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) because it had received a substantial donation from Tuhao in the past, it is being speculated that the PPRP is one of the two targeted parties. The other one is assumed to be the PTP, as it had been tentatively linked with the syndicate’s business activities through an alleged connection with a real estate company in which the Shinawatra family is the main shareholder.

If the petitions are accepted and deemed substantial by the EC, the cases will be forwarded to the Constitutional Court, where a decision on the dissolution of the implicated parties would be made. However, with the PPRP being the main party in the coalition government and the PTP being the main opposition party, a dissolution of both parties over the allegations is hard to imagine as it would have major implications for the upcoming elections and could provoke a return of mass protests in the streets. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

Thailand: Small parties seek to form alliances considering new election rules

(fj) The Green Party, the Thai Rung Rueng Party, the Thai Channa Party, the Thai Ruam Thai Party, the Thai Rungroj Party and the New Palang Dharma Party have formed an alliance to improve their chances ahead of the upcoming general election.

The announcement comes in the wake of the approval of the organic law by the Constitutional Court, which prescribes the use of 100 as a divisor for the calculation of party-lists seats. This has been widely deemed to put smaller parties at a stark disadvantage as it has been calculated that a party would require at least 350,000 votes to secure a list seat. [Bangkok Post 1]

Meanwhile, the search of the Sang Anakhot Thai Party (SATP) that is looking to field former Deputy Prime Minister and economics expert Somkid Jatusripitak as its prime ministerial candidate, is still ongoing. The party is reportedly conducting talks with the Chartpattanakla Party, itself the product of a merger of the Chart Pattana Party and the Kla Party and has indicated that it is soon expecting a positive outcome of these talks. [Bangkok Post 2]

Thailand: Their Majesties infected with Covid-19

(fj) The Royal Household Bureau has stated that both His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand have tested positive for Covid-19. Both Their Majesties reportedly exhibit only very minor symptoms and have been provided with medication by the royal doctors. [The Associated Press]

Thailand: Princess hospitalized with heart-related issue

(fj) Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha is undergoing treatment at a major government hospital in Bangkok after she had fainted on December 14. The Royal Household Bureau has reported her condition as stable, with her vital functions being aided by medication and machines. [The Nation Thailand 1]

The news has prompted big popular concern across the country, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet offering their good wishes for Her Majesty’s recovery on December 16. [The Nation Thailand 2]

Thailand: Poll sees poor points on MPs’ performances

(ts) The poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, NIDA Poll, says most people are not satisfied with the performances of House Representatives while most demand immediate action on dissolving the House.

The poll encircled three interrelated topics: the performances of MPs and of the House speaker and opinions on dissolving the parliament. On MPs’ performances, more than half of the interviewees saw no good time over the past four years. 57.97 percent of Thai people are not happy with the performances of their MPs whereas great satisfaction receives only 9.77 percent. Spending too much time fighting and being absent from the House session made up the unsatisfactory number. The latter often resulted in session collapses. Relevant to this topic is the opinion on when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha should dissolve the parliament. 43.13 percent say this month is the right time for the incumbent to do so.

On the contrary, House speaker Chuan Leekpai can still enjoy the results as the majority are fairly satisfied with his performance through the years. The House of Representatives will complete its term in March next year ahead of the general election scheduled in May. [Bangkok Post] [NIDA Poll]

Thailand: Procurement of Chinese-built submarine delayed

(ts) A three-day talk between Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC), where the Chinese military attaché joined, landed in further delay. The procurement of a Chinese-built submarine, CHD620, will carry out a performance inspection during the first half of next year.

Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin, RTN’s spokesman, stated that the submarine deal is still under consideration. Solid proof of the Chinese navy’s standards is to be given as the CHD620 has never been used by the Chinese navy before. The RTN will send off officers to China to inspect the submarine’s capacity earlier next year, seeking official certification of naval standards from the Chinese side. On such conditions, once completed, the procurement will proceed to the PM ratification which is expected to take place after June 2023. [The Nation Thailand]

RTN has sought to seal the submarine deal since 2017 when Germany refused to supply the other engine. The government’s attempts to buy submarines for security reasons have always issued a fierce denunciation in Thai society. For this CHD620, the RTN assures to perform effective exercises of the budget of which the inspection makes sense. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand: Search for survivors continues after navy corvette sinks in Thai Gulf

(fj) The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is continuing its search as 31 sailors remain missing following the sinking of the HTMS Sukhothai amidst heavy weather at night of December 18. 75 sailors have been reported safe as of the evening of December 19.

The crew of the Ratanakosin-class corvette had radioed that it was facing rough seas before it lost control over the vessel as the engines shut off due to intrusion of water. Unable to regain control over the vessel, the crew could not stop the ship from sinking around 20 nautical miles off the coast from Bang Saphan port, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.  

The rough seas also led to the sinking of non-military vessels on December 18, including a cargo ship with a crew of ten, a merchant ship with a crew of 9 and a trawler with an unreported number of crewmembers on board. Reportedly all sailors have been saved successfully. 

Strong winds have also pushed an oil tanker off course and caused it to run aground in the mouth of Songkhla Lake. There are no reports of the vessel losing oil so far. The tanker’s operator has announced that the ship will be towed out to sea again when the weather calms down. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

Vietnam: Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI) continues campaign against “trash” online content

ABEI is currently in the process of escalating its campaign against content it deems to be against civic morality.  The body outlined plans for a new campaign earlier this month, which would include the introduction of new “blacklist” and “whitelist” mechanisms to steer advertisers away from “toxic” content. [see No. 50, December/2022, 2] 

This campaign has raised substantial concerns for advertisers and content creators, however, given the pattern of enforcement that has characterized ABEI’s approach to “trash” content.  Content has generally been selected for censure by ABEI not on the grounds of specific, publicly available criteria which could be employed by content creators, advertisers, and platforms to self-regulate.  Instead ABEI intervention has most often been in response to perceived public sentiment regarding specific content.  This public opinion-based censorship has resulted in the inconsistent application of ABEI censure, for example on content discussing or depicting suicide.  [e.g., The Diplomat]

International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia

Indonesia summons United Nations official after criticism of newly ratified criminal code

(os/lm) Indonesia summoned a United Nations (UN) official on December 12 after the intergovernmental organization expressed concerns over threats to civil liberties posed by the newly ratified revisions to the Southeast Asian nation’s criminal code. [Reuters] [The Jakarta Post]

Earlier this month Indonesian lawmakers approved a new criminal code that includes several contentious revisions, including the prohibition of sex outside marriage and cohabitation of unmarried couples [see AiR No. 49, December/2022, 1]. Against this backdrop, the UN warned that the revisions might prove to be detrimental to human rights in Indonesia.

IMF likely to postpone USD 2.9 billion bailout approval for Sri Lanka to 2023

(sn/lm) The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not expected to formally approve Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout before year-end, a key step required for the embattled island nation that is battling its worst economic crisis in decades. The IMF’s public meeting calendar does not include anything involving Sri Lanka through December 22. [Reuters]

After announcing its first sovereign default in April, Sri Lanka reached an IMF staff-level agreement in June with the deal subject to approval and contingent on Colombo following through with previously agreed measures [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]. In September, then, Sri Lanka said it expected the multilateral lender’s board to approve the deal by year-end [see AiR No. 39, September/2022, 4]. However, progress has been slow in recent months, and Sri Lanka's finance minister acknowledged last month the request might extend into January. [ADA derana]

In separate developments Sri Lanka’s army has decided to give voluntary early retirement to over 16,000 military personnel in line with plans by the government in October to reduce spending. [Economy Next]

UN food support program in Pakistan may be suspended in January due shortage of funding

(tj/lm) The global community has not provided enough funds to Pakistan since devastating floods engulfed large areas of the country, the United Nations announced last week, a development that may lead to the suspension of its food support program in January. The country representative of the UN World Food Programme said on December 15 that only about 30 percent of the requested USD 816 million in funds were garnered. [Bloomberg]

India’s external affairs minister discusses New Delhi’s G20 presidency with UN secretary-general

(wr/lm) India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on December 14 met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss New Delhi’s role as chair of the Group of Twenty of leading economies. [Economic Times]

India officially took up its role as chair of the G20 on December 1, and experts believe New Delhi will use the rolling presidency to drive forward its climate and development plans, and to push for an equitable representation reform and build a consensus on the principles of a global counter-terror architecture. [AiR No. 49, December/2022, 1]

India introduces ‘Group of Friends’ to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers

(wr/lm) India has launched an informal group of states to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announcing that New Delhi will soon have a database that will record all crimes against the Blue Helmets. [Business Standard] [Siasat] [The Hindu]

India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal are co-chairs of the “Group of Friends to Promote Accountability for Crimes Against Peacekeepers” launched on December 15 during India’s current presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

Asian countries with mixed voting on resolution to remove Iran from UN Commission on the Status of Women

(wr/lm) Asian countries displayed mixed voting behavior on December 14 when the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council voted in favor of a resolution to remove Iran from the commission for the remainder of its four-year term over Tehran’s “systematic oppression” of women and violent crackdown on street protests. [United Nations] [UN Web TV]

Twenty-nine members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution put forward by the United States and co-sponsored by more than a dozen allies. Eight members voted against the resolution, including China and Russia, condemning it as politically inspired interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation. 16 nations, including India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia abstained. [Business Standard] [Outlook India]

UN World Food Programme approves USD 74.87 for Sri Lanka

(sn) The executive board of the United Nations World Food Programme has approved Sri Lanka’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period between January 2023 and December 2027. The plan, valued at USD 74.87 million, is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Corporation Framework and is designed to support Sri Lanka in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030. It also aims to increase the resilience of local communities to natural hazards and climate change. [Colombo Page] [UN World Food Programme]

Killings at India-Bangladesh border continue despite both countries' discussions

(az) Despite several bilateral discussions about reducing the border killings at the Bangladesh-India border, Bangladeshis are relentlessly killed and injured by India's Border Security Force (BSF). On December 15, a local youth, while allegedly smuggling cattle, was shot dead by the BSF near the medical bridge area on the India-Bangladesh border.

From January to November this year, 12 people were killed by the BSF near the Bangladesh-India border. According to Odhikar, a rights organization, at least 1,236 Bangladeshis were killed and 1,145 injured in shooting by the Indian border force between 2000 and 2020. [New Age]

Italy, Japan to assist Bangladesh in Rohingya situation

(az) Italy has pledged to provide an additional EUR 3 million (USD 3.18 million) for the continued protection and humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The announcement was made on December 14 by Italy’s ambassador to Bangladesh and the UNHCR’s country representative. [New Age] [reliefweb]

In separate developments, the Japanese government is considering a request by Dhaka to resettle a few Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to ease the South Asian nation’s load. At present, about 300 Rohingyas already live in Japan; but in line with a general policy, Japan is cautious about foreign refugees. [The Daily Star]

Ministry of Justice comments on the demands of the Australian MP to release union leader Chhim Sithar

(sn) Following inquires of the Australian Ministry of Justice spokesman to release the head of the NagaWorld labor union, Chhim Sithar, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has responded with rejection.

The Municipal Court stated that according to the criminal code the accused deliberately avoids the obligation of court supervision, the investigating judge may decide to place the accused in pre-trial detention.

In turn, non-governmental organizations are demanding recognition that if the defendant wanted to flee the country, she would not return to Cambodia. [Phnom Penh Post]

Hun Sen co-chaired the first ever EU–ASEAN Summit

(sn) As the ASEAN chair for 2022, Prime Minister Hun Sen co-chaired the first ever EU–ASEAN Summit with President of the European Council Charles Michel on December 14, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. The EU has announced a EUR 10-billion investment package for the region. Hun Sen expressed that ASEAN is committed to fostering trade agreement that benefits both sides.

The Myanmar crisis was the central issue in the Commemorative Summit discussions. The bloc leaders published the final draft of the Five-Point Consensus Plan, which outlines a 15-point statement on the resolutions to solve the Myanmar crisis.

During the EU–ASEAN Commemorative Summit, the Cambodian PM expressed disbelief that the Myanmar conflict will find a resolution in the nearest future. Cambodian officials made multiple state visits to mediate the situation, but Myanmar’s ruling State Administration Council (SAC) lacked interest in participation.

The Prime Minister predicts that the conflict will take at least 5 more years to settle and reassured ASEAN of future support in peace maintenance while it would be Indonesia’s turn to lead on the issue in 2023. [Phnom Penh Post], [Cambodianess 1], [Cambodianess 2]

Germany and India continue their long-standing Angkor Wat restoration support

(sn) The German Apsara Conservation Project (GACP) marked the 25th anniversary of its official engagement in the conservation of Khmer Monuments on December 14, 2022. The Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, The German ambassador, and the UNESCO representative to Cambodia attended the event.

According to GACP, 15 countries participate in the projects targeting the safeguarding of Angkor. The project team thanked affiliates for their support and contribution to preserving the heritage of Angkor.

The Indian government also expressed its commitment to keep assisting Cambodia in preserving its heritage. The External Affairs Minister of India explained that “The Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is being restored because our civilization is not limited to India but is spread across countries.” [Phnom Penh Post], [Khmer Times]

Scam call centre hosted by Cambodian businessman captured by police in Thailand province

(sn) Thai Police have arrested around a dozen Cambodian call center scammers in the border territory of Sa Kaeo province. Police previously received complaints from victims who could not withdraw their financial assets after investing in the “Amanda” project advertised by the fraudulent call center.

A Cambodian businessman, Monorom Som, paid a USD 6,000 monthly internet bill in Thailand while operating an illegal cross-border connection to Cambodia. Mr. Monorom Som hosts an Internet services business in his home state. Police found him connected with the infamous Thai net idol, Siapo Po-arnon, who was previously charged with money laundering through promoting online gambling services.

To date, the Police are working on the remaining problem of the Internet cables strung across the Thailand-Cambodian border. [Cambodia Daily], [The Thaiger]

Cambodian senior official visits Sri Lanka

(sn) The Cambodian special envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has urged the launch of direct flights between Sri Lanka and Cambodia during his visit to the Indian Ocean Island nation. During a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the potential for more investment in Cambodia, including the halal industry. He also extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Hun Sen to Wickremesinghe to pay an official visit to Cambodia. [Khmer Times]

Ban on export of Chinese processors to Russia

(ms) The Chinese government has reportedly banned the export of Loongson processors to Russia and other countries, in a move seen as hurting Moscow which has been Russia, which has sought to find an alternative to U.S. AMD and Intel processors after the companies halted supply in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

According to reports the ban was imposed because Beijing considers the processors developed and produced by Chinese chips manufacturer Loongson Technology Corporation Limited as “strategically important”. They are said to be used by China’s military-industrial complex. [South China Morning Post]

China sends record number of nuclear capable aircraft into Taiwan ADIZ

(ms) Within 24 hours between November 12 and 13, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) with 21 aircrafts, among which were 18 nuclear-capable H6 bombers, making it the highest number of this type of aircraft within the ADIZ within 24 hours.

The bombers were accompanied by one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, one Y-8 tactical reconnaissance aircraft and one J-11 fighter. 

The PLA's military presence has increased significantly following former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in early August [see AiR No. 32, August/2022, 2]. During the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October [see AiR No. 43, October/2022, 4] as well as during the pre-G20 meeting between U.S. President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-November [see AiR No. 46, November/2022, 3], China stressed that they would continue to seek Taiwan's reunification with the mainland, not shying away from the use of force if necessary, and that interference by foreign actors would cross a red line. [CNN 1] [Radio Free Asia]

The record deployment is to be seen as a further show of force by China, coming in response to the USD 858 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) planned by the U.S. and approved by the Senate on December 15, which includes USD 10 billion in military aid to Taiwan [see AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]. [CNN 2]

U.S. government blacklists 36 Chinese tech companies

(ms) The U.S. government announced on December 15 that it has blacklisted 36 more Chinese companies including 35 Chinese and one subsidiary of a Chinese company from Japan), another move by the Biden administration to curb the Chinese government's efforts to make technological advances.

It is now significantly more difficult for U.S. companies to receive licenses to export their products to these companies in China or companies with ties to Chinese companies.

Of those 36, 21, including Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC), China's largest flash memory chip maker, were also subject to the foreign direct product rule, which completely prohibits American companies from selling certain U.S. technology to Chinese companies.

The extension to the trade blacklist comes after the U.S. government in early October banned companies worldwide from selling products with U.S. software to Chinese firms [see AiR No. 41, October/2022, 2].

Both the October measures and the latest move are aimed primarily at China's high-end semiconductor sector and AI and high advanced technology that could be used for military purposes. [Financial Times] [Reuters] [South China Morning Post]

US opens "China House”

(ms) The US State Department opened on December 16 the Office of China Coordination also known as "China House", which will be responsible for the coordination of US policy regarding China and increase the number of diplomats and experts on China.

The plan of a "China House" was already announced in May this year by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The State Department justified the introduction of the China House with the argument that China is "the most complex and consequential geopolitical challenge" the US faces. [CNN] [Reuters] 

In response, the Chinese government has accused the U.S. of being less interested in better relations between the two countries and continuing to focus on competition. [Global Times]

China calls back consulate staff after Manchester incident

(ms) The Chinese government has flown six employees, including the consul general, of the Chinese consulate in Manchester back to China ahead of a deadline set by the British government, which called on the Chinese government to waive the employees' immunity so that British police can question them regarding their involvement in the incidents outside the consulate in October.

In mid-October, a violent clash broke out between pro-democracy protesters and alleged consulate staff, beginning with the alleged staff tearing down anti-government placards and then attempting to drag individual protesters onto the consulate grounds.

The British government had given the Chinese government until December 14 to waive the immunity of the six employees so that local police could question them and continue investigating the incident. However, the Chinese government did not respond to the matter and withdrew the employees in question back to China without comment. [Politico] [VOA News]

The incident marked another event in the strained relations between China and the United Kingdom. As recently as late November, the British government ordered all Chinese-made security systems to be removed from government buildings due to security concerns [see AiR No. 48, November/2022, 5].

Also, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called China the "greatest threat" to British and global security during his election campaign. Even though he has somewhat backed off from this aggressive rhetoric since he has been in office, the British course against China has intensified under his rule. [Fortune]

Chinese vice premier meets Iranian president

(ms) On December 13 China’s Vice Premier Hu Chunhua met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran for bilateral talks. The meeting has been subject to diverging interpretations with regards to the status of Sino-Iranian relations.

While the Chinese side describes it as being successful in consolidating the ties between the two countries and in “dispel[ling] some noises that are trying to drive a wedge between the two countries,” as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing the strategic partnership between Beijing and Tehran. [Global Times]

However, observers are questioning this positive outlook for relations between the two countries. First, Hu is a relatively high-ranking official only on paper, but in reality was recently sidelined at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and expected to resign from his position in March and will only be a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.

Further, the meeting came after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent successful trip to Saudi Arabia and the meetings with heads of state from various Gulf and Arab countries in Riyadh [see AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2] caused much displeasure in Iran as a rival of Saudi Arabia. The joint statement issued after the summits reinforced this discontent, as it referred to Iran’s “destabilizing regional activities,” its nuclear program and its “support for terrorist and sectarian groups,” in a clear sign of Chinese support for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

The Iranian government also summoned Chinese diplomats in response to another passage in the statement calling for bilateral negotiations on the ownership of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, three islands in the Strait of Hormuz that have been under Iranian control for more than 50 years and claimed by Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).   

There are many indications that China, especially in view of its expanded relations with Saudi Arabia, will pursue a more distanced approach to Iran in the future. [Al Jazeera] [Bloomberg]

China, Hungary expands cooperation in BRI

(ms) On December 13, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Hungarian counterpart Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto signed an agreement on the establishment of an intergovernmental Belt and Road Cooperation committee between the two countries they represent.

Hungary is the first European country to sign such an agreement and, according to Wang, it will help expand the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries as well as to establish similar cooperation with other European countries.

According to the readout of the Chinese Ministry, Szijjarto expressed gratitude to China for “its strong support for Hungary’s economic and social development over the years.” He added that “Hungary always sees China as a partner, not a rival,” contradicting the Indo-Pacific strategy of the European Union that views China as partner and competitor as well as rival. [Mininstry of Foreign Affairs, China] [CGTN]

The video conference meeting between Wang and Szijjarto took place on the same day on which the European Commission decided in a historic move to freeze 55 percent of EU cohesion funds to Hungary citing concerns over the rule of law and corruption. [Intellinnews]

It also came days before; Wang underlined his interest in intensifying cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) during the 17th National Coordinators' Meeting for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries on December 16. In his video speech, he reassured that China is ready to introduce additional new measures to boost more imports of agricultural products and food and cooperation in various areas, such as e-commerce, finance, interconnectivity, facilitating people-to-people exchanges and other fields. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China]

Foxconn to sell shares in Chinese semiconductor company

(ms) A subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision, under which Foxconn, the largest producer of Apple products in China, is listed in China and Taiwan, has indicated to sell its minority shares in Tsinghua Unigroup, China’s state-owned semiconductor giant, for more than USD 770 million.

The move is seen as a blow to China’s efforts to develop self-sufficiency in the high-tech and semi-conductor sector.

Meanwhile, the company is now facing a fine by the Taiwanese government claiming that Hon Hai failed to inform the Taiwanese government in advance about the purchase of the shares in July and to meet with the request to withdraw the investment, thereby violating Taiwanese law, which states that the Taiwanese government can prohibit investments in China based on concerns about “national security and industry development.” [Bloomberg] [Reuters] [Strait Times] 

Free trade agreement between Ecuador and China close to completion

(ms) Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced on December 14 that his country and China are close to finalizing a free trade agreement (FTA).

The FTA is expected to provide the Ecuadorian economy with an additional USD 1 billion in exports to China. Talks on the FTA only began in February of this year and are expected to be successfully concluded this year.

As in other Latin American countries, China has increased its presence and financial investment in Ecuador over the past ten years, becoming the country’s largest lender. Million-dollar investments in hydroelectric dams and mining have been received in return for long-term crude oil delivery contracts. [Reuters]

Lasso’s announcement came on the heels of the Fifth Defense Forum between China and Latin American and Caribbean States held virtually on December 13 and attended by 24 Latin American and Caribbean states. In his keynote speech, Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe called for “a stronger security barrier,” and a “new pattern of omni-dimensional, wide-ranging, and multi-channel defense cooperation” between China and the LAC countries. [Ministry of Defense, China]

A setback for China in this regard was Argentina’s withdrawal earlier this month of the purchase of the Chengdu FC-1/JF-17 “Thunder”, a fourth-generation lightweight single-engine multirole jet that China builds together with Pakistan. [South China Morning Post]

India test-flies Agni-V ballistic missile amidst border tensions with China in Arunachal Pradesh

(wr) India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) on December 15 successfully test-fired a long-range nuclear-capable missile, a week after Indian and Chinese troops clashed on the disputed border in India’s north-eastern territory of Arunachal Pradesh. [Al Jazeera] [Janes] [Times of India]

Indian and Chinese soldiers suffered minor injuries in the clash on December 9, the first such incident between the two neighbors since a deadly confrontation in 2020 strained their already tense relations. [AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]

Lately, India has also intensified its Air Force surveillance, deployment of combat jets, along the Line of Actual Control to keep an eye on Chinese activity and fear to change the status quo. [Outlook India]

Additionally, India is now regularly using naval reconnaissance capabilities to boost its surveillance of land borders with China, both to monitor troop build-ups as well as infrastructure upgrades. Upgraded variants of patrolling aircraft and Sea Guardian drones will allow New Delhi to gather intelligence and high-resolution images. [MSN]

Indian navy chief visits Sri Lanka; Chinese research vessel re-enters Indian Ocean Region

(wr) The chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, last week concluded a four-day visit to Sri Lanka for discussions with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of State for Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and other Sri Lankan senior military officials. [Outlook India] [The Hindu]

Notably, Admiral Kumar’s visit to Sri Lanka came shortly after Indian authorities reported that the “Yuan Wang 5”, a Chinese space-tracking ship, had reentered the Indian Ocean Region. In August this year, the same vessel became a source of diplomatic strain between India and Sri Lanka after the vessel was given to dock in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port [see AiR No. 35, August/2022, 5]. At the time, New Delhi had lodged a verbal protest with the Sri Lankan government against the ship’s visit [see AiR No. 33, August/2022, 3].

India, Nepal launch bilateral military exercise

(wr) Military personnel from India and Nepal on December 16 launched the 16th edition of a joint military exercise, “Surya Kiran”, at the Nepal Army Battle School. The series of exercises, which will conclude on December 29, will enable troops to exchange expertise and enhance interoperability. Counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and natural calamities preparedness, in jungle and mountainous terrain were to be focused in this 14-days long interaction. [The Print]

US Senate passes record USD 858 billion defense act; India to benefit

(wr/lm) The United States Senate on December 15 passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing a record USD 858 billion in annual defense spending, USD 45 billion more than proposed by President Joe Biden. Senators supported the NDAA, an annual must-pass bill setting policy for the Pentagon, by an overwhelming 83-11 bipartisan majority.

Notably, the NDAA includes sections that call for a deepening of relations between the US and India, requesting the Departments of Defense and State to work more closely with New Delhi on new technology, joint research and development, defense and cyber capabilities. [Business Standard] [Congress.gov]

In separate developments, Senator James Lankford in a letter has urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold a robust discussion with New Delhi on the issue of religious freedom of minorities. This comes after the State Department in its annual release of Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List, and Entities of Particular Concern designations earlier this month did not follow the recommendations of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to designate India as country of particular concern under the Religious Freedom Act. [Business Standard] [Economic Times]

India, Russia leaders discuss situation in Ukraine, bilateral ties

(wr/lm) India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on December 16 to discuss the situation in Ukraine and to explore practical cooperation in areas ranging investment, energy, agriculture, transport and logistics. [Tribune India]

The two leaders “expressed satisfaction" with the high level of bilateral cooperation developing based on “a particularly privileged Russian-Indian strategic partnership,” the Kremlin said in a statement. They also pointed out the importance of continuing close coordination within international organizations, focusing in particular on India's chairmanship in the Group of Twenty and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. [Anadolu Agency]

India, Indonesia discuss air connectivity

(os) Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has met with Indian officials to talk about cooperation between the two countries in the fields of air and sea transportation. The talks included suggestions of setting up new flight routes between Indian and Indonesian cities. For instance, the countries expressed their plans to open a flight route that would connect Port Blair in the Andamans in India with the Indonesian province of Aceh. [Hindustan Times]

Indonesia, France discuss defense relations, training program on Rafale jets for Indonesian pilots

(os) Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu in Paris on December 15 to discuss furthering their defense relations following an earlier meeting three weeks ago and the signing of an USD 8 billion fighter jet deal earlier this year. [Antara News 1] [Antara News 2]

The two defense ministers met in Jakarta on November 26, and the meeting saw Indonesia placing an order for 42 of France’s multirole Rafale fighter aircraft [see AiR No. 48, November/2022, 5]. The, worth a total of USD 8.1 billion, was signed in February.

Against this backdrop, the two ministers last week discussed a training program that would allow Indonesian pilots to become accustomed to the operation of the French jets. Six pilots and eight technicians have already been sent to France for a three-month training.

Indonesian president meets Czech prime minister, King of Belgians

(os) Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, on December 14 in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and defense. [Antara News]

During the meeting, President Jokowi expressed his hopes to complete a Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and the European Union soon. He also touted Czechs' attendance at the Indo-Defense Forum 2022 and invited Prime Minister Fiala to participate in the Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Forum 2023.

In a separate meeting on the same day, Jokowi met with Philippe of Belgium. The brief meeting saw both leaders discuss issues that range from economic affairs and cooperation in the field of climate change. [Tempo]

Indonesia, Australia prolong economic cooperation program

(os) Indonesia and Australia have inked the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Economic Development (Prospera) Exchange of Letters, which will extend the program until 2026. Prospera is a USD 95 million economic management facility that brings together more than 120 advisers and 16 Australian government agencies, working with more than 30 Indonesian partners. [Tempo]

Major turning point in Japan’s defense strategy unveiled

(dql) The Japanese government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has unveiled the long awaited new national security plan that marks a major shift in the country’s defense strategy and policy as it signals Japan’s biggest military buildup since World War II, seeks a doubling of the defense budget and veers from the country’s pacifist constitution.

On December 16, Kishida confirmed that his administration had approved three new security documents – the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Plan –, in a bid to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities amid an increasingly unstable security environment. [Government, Japan] [Ministry of Defense, Japan 1] [Ministry of Defense, Japan 2]

Among the core measures adopted in the new national security plan are the acquisition of enemy base strike capabilities to be utilized in the event of an emergency and under specific circumstances as core part of a “fundamental reinforcement of Japan’s defense capabilities,” and an increase of defense spending of about 2 percent of gross domestic product to fund a five-year plan for a military buildup that will cost USD 320 billion.

By endorsing enemy base strike capabilities - named counter strike capabilities in the security documents - the government is bending the interpretation of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution, which puts constraints on its Self-Defense Forces and limits it defending the Japanese homeland. [The Diplomat] [CNN] [Aljazeera]

China appears to be the main focus in the security documents. Its “current external stance, military activities, and other activities,” are viewed in the National Security Strategy as “the greatest strategic challenge in ensuring the peace and security of Japan.”

Beijing was quick to condemn the China-critical remarks, accusing Tokyo of “stir[ring] up regional tensions and antagonism.” [CTGN]

Washington, for its part, welcomed Japan’s new defense strategy, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken extending congratulations to Japan on its “foundational new step in modernizing our Alliance and enhancing our collective capacity to tackle global challenges.” [Department of State, USA]

The release of the security documents comes as China and Russia are set to kick off on December 21 the week-long joint live-fire naval exercise Joint Sea in the East China Sea. Part of the annual cooperation plan between the militaries of the two countries, the drill seeks to “demonstrate the determination and capability of the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats and maintain international and regional peace and stability, and to further deepen China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era,” according to the Chinese ministry of defense [Ministry of Defense, China]

Already last week, Chinese warships were spotted by Japanese forces straits near Japan into the Western Pacific, while Russian bombers and fighters flew near Japan’s territorial airspace. [USNI News] [Military.com]

In a latest move a flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy comprising the aircraft carrier Liaoning and four large warships sailed through Japanese territorial waters near the island of Yakushima on December 19, marking the ninth time Chinese warships has entered Japan’s waters since November. [Radio Free Asia]

Laos, UNFPA, enjoy progress against gender-based violence

(ts) The German Embassy in Vientiane hosted a UNFPA-led 2022 wrap-up session of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (DoA) in partnership with a large number of Laotian agencies. This annual international campaign starts on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day, every year. Seminars, policymaker interviews, and a broadcast of the Prime Minister’s message instantiate activities done during good 16 days.  

Upon the wrap-up session, UNFPA recognized that laws and policies on women’s rights in Laos are reported to be well fostered with associated dialogs. Implementation thereof is thus expected to follow. Moreover, Laos saw this year alone 76 partnerships joining the campaign. The domestic lead came from the Lao Women’s Union and the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children whereas Germany was reported to be a key donor with strong advocacy. [Lao News Agency] 

EU to provide USD 580 million for development programs in Laos from 2021 to 2024

(fj) During a meeting held between Laotian Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held in Brussels, the EU announced the provision of USD 580 million in development aid for Laos.

The meeting in Brussels was the first summit-level engagement between the EU and ASEAN and is widely seen as an affirmation of the European Union’s ambition to deepen its relations with the economically and geopolitically important ASEAN states. [Vientiane Times]   

Malaysia, China discuss deepening cooperation

(dql) Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held a virtual meeting on December 14 to discuss way to further deepen ties between their countries, trade and investment, as well as cooperation in regional and international issues of mutual interest. [Bernama]

Malaysia-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement concluded

(dql) On December 14, Malaysia and the European Union (EU) signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) opening a new chapter in their relations.

The first umbrella agreement between Malaysia and the EU, the contains 60 articles aimed at deepening cooperation in a wide range of areas. Among them are political relations, trade and investment, energy, transport, agriculture, finance, maritime and other areas through dialogue and exchange of information. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia]

Myanmar, UN: United Nations General Assembly Delays Voting on Permitting Myanmar Military Junta to Take Seats in World Body

(jp) The United Nations General Assembly has postponed allowing Myanmar's military junta representatives to occupy their country's seats in the 193-member global organization. The proposal was approved without being put to the vote. Following the military's takeover of Myanmar in February 2021, the new rulers announced the removal of the country's ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun. Myanmar's military junta requested their representative take his place. [ business-standard]

Myanmar:  Planned joint wind power project with Russia to generate 8,100 megawatts

Delegations from the Myanmar Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Electric Power and Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation met this week at the Ministry of Electric power to discuss a proposed joint wind power project between the two nations.  The project, which will include the joint development of wind power infrastructure on six separate sites, is expected to generate 8,100 megawatts of power. [The Star]

North Korea tests high-trust solid-fuel engine for further weapon development

(sm) On December 15, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a key weaponry test involving a high-trust solid-fuel engine destined to significantly improve the country’s intercontinental missile mobility, according to North Korea’s Central News Agency. The country also confirmed an important spy satellite test on December 19, while according to the South Korean and the Japanese Pyongyang tested two nuclear-capable ballistic missiles with a range of reaching Japan. [Reuters_1] [The Mainichi]

The static firing test took place from North Korea’s Sohae satellite launching ground, mainly used for missile tests and space launches before. The objective appears to be to develop a solid-fuel intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM), which is more reliable, quicker to launch, and more concealable than liquid-fuel ICBMs. Solid-fuel missiles have the advantage that they do not have to be charged with fuel before their launch as it is already in the rocket from its manufacturing. The range of the ICBMs would permit them to reach Japan and even US territory. Specifically, this test helped improve the ICBMs’ engine’s mobility.

The development of solid-fuel weapons was part of the country’s 2022 key five military objectives, exposed in a Worker’s Party conference last year. Other objectives included the development of a multi-warhead missile and spy satellites, among others. The test indicates that North Korea could be aiming at the development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well. Satellite imagery from the US think tank Center of International and Strategic Studies shows the alleged construction of a horizontal engine stand, an innovative technology for Pyongyang which is developing its mobile missile launching capabilities.

The test was conducted as the UN General Assembly passed its annual resolution on North Korea and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi announced the agency’s support for Pyongyang’s denuclearization. The North has launched an unprecedented number of missiles this year (over 60) with two long range liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 missiles flying over Japan and short-range missiles landing in de facto South Korean maritime territory.

It is suspected that North Korea plans to use its expanded weapon arsenal to threaten the US, South Korea, and Japan among others to lift crippling economic sanctions. Preparations for a seventh nuclear test after the last one in 2017 seem complete. [Associated Press] [Reuters_2] [Yonhap News Agency]

Tensions flare up as North Korea fires another two ballistic missiles

(sm) North Korean fired two medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) into the Sea of Japan on December 18, in protest over Tokyo’s newly announced national security strategy aiming at increasing defense capabilities against a potential missile attack. Pyongyang strongly condemned the security strategy on December 20 in an official statement.

The missiles are likely to be Pukguksong-2 missiles, which are land-based and solid-fueled and come after North Korea’s test of new solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles on December 15. This type of missile can be launched from a submarine, is nuclear-capable, and has enough range to reach both Japan and the US. This is the first launch of such a missile following the firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan on November 18. [Reuters_1]

South Korea convened an emergency meeting of its national security council, heavily condemning North Korea’s newest provocations and reiterating their increased defense and deterrence cooperation with Japan and the US. The US and South Korea scrambled their fighter jets (US B-52 strategic bombers, F-22 fighter jets and South Korean F-35 and F-15K fighter jets) to conduct joint aerial drills only hours after the missile launch in a clear demonstration of this deterrence

The new Japanese security strategy allows the country to conduct preemptive defensive strikes and has doubled the part of its military spending in the national budget. This is a sharp departure from its previously more pacifist stance, as laid out in its constitution and cites China, Russia, and North Korea as its biggest strategic challenge. The reactions on the new strategy have been widely negative in East Asia, with China increasing its military presence around Japan and South Korea heavily protesting the official claim of the controversial Dokdo/Takeshima islands, over which the two countries have a long-standing territorial dispute. [Associated Press] [Reuters_2]

Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over border shelling at Chaman crossing

(tj/lm) Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s chargé d’affaires in Islamabad after Afghan Taliban forces killed six civilians and injured at least 20 others in a mortar and gunfire attack near the southwestern Chaman border crossing on December 18, reflecting increasing tensions between the South Asian neighbors. [Al Jazeera] [BBC] [Voice of America]

It was not immediately clear what preceded the fire near the Chaman crossing, which is part of a key trade route between the two countries. Local security officials in Chaman blamed the Afghan Taliban for initiating the fire, saying they targeted Pakistani soldiers who were repairing a portion of the damaged border fence. Last month, a gunman fatally shot a Pakistani security guard at the Chaman border crossing, leading to its closure for a week [see AiR No. 47, November/2022, 4]. [Associated Press]

The latest attack came days after at least eight Pakistani civilians and one Afghan soldier were killed in another cross-border shelling on December 11, with each side accusing the other of starting the fighting. [AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]

Fresh India-Pakistan feud erupts over claims of RSS-SS comparison

(wr/lm) A verbal spat between South Asian neighbors India and Pakistan has erupted after Islamabad foreign minister said that a Hindu group linked to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi draws inspiration from an organization most responsible in Nazi Germany for the genocidal murder of millions during the Holocaust. [The Straits Times]

India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, draws its inspiration from the “Schutzstaffel” (SS) a major paramilitary organization in Nazi Germany, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said at the United Nations Security Council on December 16. The SS was the organization most responsible for the genocidal murder of an estimated 5.5 to 6 million Jews and millions of other victims during the Holocaust.

The foreign minister also referred to Prime Minister Modi as the “butcher of Gujarat” in a thinly veiled reference to religious riots in Modi’s home state in 2002, soon after he became chief minister.

Zardari was responding to comments from Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar calling Pakistan the epicenter of terrorism.

Singapore, European Union launch new digital partnership

(ih) Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new Digital Partnership between their economies on December 15, saying the new pact has transformative potential for both sides. [The Straits Times]

The partnership, which was first proposed in December 2021 at a trade committee meeting under the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, will advance cooperation on various digital issues. The two sides have also agreed on a number of Digital Trade Principles to guide cooperation going forward. [European Commission]

Prime Minister Lee’s trip to Europe began in the northern German port city of Kiel, where he attended the launch of two Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) submarines on December 13. He also met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the second time in a month, before flying to Brussels to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit. [AiR No. 50, December/2022, 2]

Former Singapore foreign affairs minister calls for China to compromise on South China Sea code of conduct

(ih) In a lecture given at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute on December 16, Singapore’s former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo called for China to meet the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “60-40” on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. Doing so would diffuse tensions and prevent them being exploited by “external powers”, according to Yeo. He also called on the United States to behave in a less aggressive manner in the South China Sea, in order to provide more space for negotiations to occur. [CNA]

South Korea protests Japan’s claim of Dokdo/Takeshima Island in national security strategy

(sm) South Korea strongly denied and protested Japan’s claim of the controversial Dokdo/Takeshima island in its new national security strategy released on December 16. Seoul’s foreign ministry demanded the immediate removal of the claim from Japan’s national strategy documents.

Both the foreign and defense ministries summoned a diplomat from the Japanese embassy in Seoul and a Japanese defense official to lodge the protest and pressed the Japanese government to practice more transparency in the implementation of the national security strategy in the spirit of its pacifist constitution.

Dokdo is historically, geographically, and legally a territory belonging to South Korea, according to its foreign ministry. [South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Furthermore, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office issued a statement urging Japan to consult South Korea before taking decisions affecting the stability of the Korean peninsula and Seoul’s national interests on December 19.

The two countries are logged in a long-standing territorial dispute over the islands which are administered by Seoul, as Tokyo continues to claim them in policy documents, public statements, and textbooks. [KBS World] [Korea Times] [Reuters]

While Japan and South Korea have recently been trying to improve their ties to coordinate more efficiently against North Korean ballistic and cyber attacks, Japan’s national security strategy breaks that trend. The Yoon administration has tried to improve the bilateral relationship by resolving disputes over wartime forced labor with Japan.

However, on December 13, the South Korean government expressed its regret over a UNESCO report denying the discrimination against Koreans in Japan’s industries before and during Word War II, opening a new controversy over the wartime labor issue further impeding the improvement of the bilateral relationship. [Korea.net] [Yonhap News Agency]

Japan, South Korea, US to coordinate sanctions and cyber threat response against North Korea

(sm) Japan, South Korea and US nuclear envoys Takehiro Funakoshi, Kim Gunn, and Sung Kim met in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 13 and decided to officially coordinate their sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

The sixt South Korea-US cyber policy consultation took place shortly afterwards in Washington on December 15, during which both countries reiterated their commitment to counter North Korean cyberthreats. [South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

The three countries have recently ramped up their sanctions against Pyongyang after its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on November 18, in addition to some 60 other missile launches in 2022. US sanctions have, however, been largely ineffective over the decades and South Korea is looking towards China to solve inter-Korean tension, as North Korea’s closest ally and biggest trading partner.

Recent sanctions have been focused on dissuading North Korea from conducting illegal cybertheft to finance its nuclear weapons development program. Pyongyang has been increasingly relying on virtual currency heists and ship-to-ship commodity transfers to evade existing sanctions. [Yonhap News Agency]

Funakoshi stated that trilateral security cooperation had been raised to an unprecedented level including increased counter strike capabilities and  cyber security. He added that the three countries remain open to dialogue with Pyongyang at all times, while Kim Gunn insisted on the support of the international community to de-escalate tensions.

However, a united global response remains unlikely as China and Russia have repeatedly blocked UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on North Korea, arguing against further sanctions due to humanitarian concerns.

The UNSC has been in a deadlock over the Russia-Ukraine war and economic rivalries with China, leaving the UN General Assembly to adopt a statement on North Korea last week, the less powerful version of a resolution.

Eleven rounds of UN sanctions have been imposed on Pyongyang since it started its nuclear tests in 2006. [Associated Press] [Reuters] [see AiR No. 49, December/2022, 1]

IAEA chief visits South Korea, takes stance against North Korea’s nuclear weapons program

(sm) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Foreign Minister Park Jin on December 15 and assured South Korea of the agency’s support to achieve North Korea’s denuclearization. [South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Grossi and Yoon exchanged their views on the current North Korean nuclear stalemate as well as Japan’s plan to release radioactive water from its Fukushima power plant into the sea next year.

Grossi stated he shares the international community’s concern about Pyongyang’s recent increased nuclear activity and announced the IAEA’s will to cooperate with the country’s denuclearization by providing monitoring and inspection capabilities.

North Korea is suspected of soon holding its seventh nuclear test, the last one dating to 2017, the same year in which an IAEA chief last visited South Korea. The agency has however not had access to North Korea since its expulsion in 2009.

He also met with Seoul’s Science, Information and Communication Technology Minister Lee Jong-ho to discuss increased bilateral cooperation in the tech and nuclear energy sector. Among other things, the two exchanged their views on ways to restart Ukrainian nuclear power plants as soon as possible. [Korea Times] [Reuters] [Yonhap News Agency_1] [Yonhap News Agency_2]

South Korea, Canada sign updated memorandum of understanding on arms industry cooperation

(sm) On December 16, South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Eom Dong-hwan and his Canadian counterpart Troy Crosby signed a decades-old memorandum of understanding (MOU) for increased cooperation in the arms industry and logistics.

The updated MOU will serve as a framework for future joint research and development of weapons and their testing. It represents the first action in line with the upgrade of South Korea’s and Canada’s relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2022.

While the original MOU had been signed in 1996, the South Korean side recognized the need to update it to conduct weapons testing on Canadian soil. The DAPA had wanted to test a helicopter low-temperature performance test in Yellow Knife in Canada before noticing the need for an amendment. [Yonhap News Agency]

Sri Lankan navy rescues over 100 Rohingya refugees adrift off island’s northern coast

(lm) Sri Lanka’s navy over the weekend rescued 104 Rohingya from a boat in distress off the Indian Ocean island’s northern coast. The origin and the intended destination of the Rohingya group were unclear. [The Straits Times] [UNHCR]

Many members of the Muslim minority Rohingya community continue to escape violence in Myanmar and hardship in Bangladesh refugee camps to reach Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia.

Sri Lanka should maintain non-aligned foreign policy, president says

(sn/lm) Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a speech on December 17 said his country should adopt a non-aligned foreign policy to increase its voice and accountability in the international community. He elaborated that as an island nation Sri Lanka needs to maintain peaceful relations with all the states and, in turn, be autonomous from the states holding immense power. [Colombo Gazette]

Sri Lanka is one of the original members of the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.

European parliamentarians push for EU-Taiwan investment agreement

(dql) A delegation of 13 members of the European Parliament has offered support for initiating steps towards a bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and Taiwan during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The group added that they consider the trade and investment partnership between Brussels and Taipei  as a “strategic relationship with geopolitical implications.”

The meeting with Tsai was part of a visit to Taiwan this week during which the delegation also met with Premier Su Tseng-chang and other senior Taiwanese officials from the National Development Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [Focus Taiwan 1]

Earlier last week, Tsai held a meeting with Ohashi Mitsuo, chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, in Taipei to discuss ways to advance cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on national security as well as economic and trade affairs. [Focus Taiwan 2]

Thailand, EU sign Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to step up bilateral cooperation

(td) On the sidelines of the first-ever ASEAN-EU Summit held in Brussels, Thailand and the European Union has officially signed the Thai-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which marks a milestone as they commemorate their 44 years of diplomatic relations.

With the new pact in place, the two parties will enjoy broad-based and mutually beneficial cooperation on multiple fronts, such as climate change, transport and social affairs, and will step up political dialogue on issues of their concern. Furthermore, it is expected to serve as a basis for the resumption of Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations after years of hiatus.

For those reasons, the draft framework agreement will, thus, define and frame the Thai-EU relations in the years to come. However, the PCA will take effect once the EU member states and Thailand have ratified it. It should be noted as well that, following lengthy negotiations, the pact was provisionally signed off last September. For now, it merely foresees provisional application upon completion of procedures, as contained in the agreement, by both parties. [Bangkok Post] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand]

Vietnam undertakes major expansion in Spratly Islands

(th) According to a report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on December 14, Vietnam has dramatically increased the intensity of its dredging and landfill work at its outposts in the Spratly Islands during the second half of 2022.  The country has created 420 acres of new land this year, amounting to 78 percent of all Vietnamese land reclamation in the Spratly Islands over the past decade. [CSIS] [The Guardian]

Lao People’s Army, Vietnam People’s Army to bolster cooperation on training political officers

(ts) Vice Chairman of the General Department of Politics at the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet met with a delegation from the School of Political Theory of the Lao People's Army (LPA) on December 15. General Quyet proposed the two organizations enhance exchanges in theoretical research and deepen cooperation in training political officers. [Vietnam+]

GDVC, OLAF sign new customs cooperation agreement

(th) On December 14, General Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) Nguyen Van Can and Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Ville Itälä met in Brussels on the sidelines of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit to sign a new customs administrative cooperation agreement.  The organizations will now share intelligence and assist each other in the verification and investigation of smuggling operations for tobacco and counterfeit goods; fraud regarding origin and customs value; the illegal transport of waste; transfer pricing; and the trade in endangered species of flora and fauna.  OLAF will also provide training and knowledge-transfer for GDVC personnel. [Vietnam+]

Announcements

Recent Book Releases

David Lewis, Dennis Rodgers, and Michael Woolcock (eds.), New Mediums, Better Messages? How Innovations in Translation, Engagement, and Advocacy Are Changing International Development, Oxford University Press, 256 pages, published on October 31, 2022, reviewed in [LSE].

Nikhil Menon, Planning Democracy: Modern India’s Quest for Development, Cambridge University Press, 285 pages, published on March 31, 2022, with a review in [Asian Review of Books].

Narges Mohammadi, White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners, Oneworld Publications, 272 pages, published on December 13, 2022. See [The Guardian] for a review.

Matthew Cobb, As Gods: A Moral History of the Genetic Age, Basic Books, 464 pages, published on November 15, 2022. A review is available at [Forbes].

Calls for Papers

The Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, USA, invites proposals for papers, digital projects, and multi-media presentations for its conference on “Imagining African and African-diaspora Future,” to be held on March 25, 2023. Deadline for submission is December 31, 2022. For more information, see [Franklin & Marschall College].

The Association for Sociopolitical Heterodoxy accepts paper proposals for its conference “Global Governance and Human Security: Challenges to Authority, Liberty, and Human Rights in the New Cold War,” to be held on March 24-26, 2023, at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand. Proposals are accepted until December 31, 2022. Find more details at [Hestia]

Jobs and positions

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has issued a vacancy notification for the position of Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy who reports directly to the Secretary General of NATO and advises the Secretary General on strategic communication issues. The position is based in Brussels. The closing date for application is January 29, 2023. Visit [NATO] to learn more about the job offer.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is looking for a Europe Program Officer to be based in Brussels. Core responsibilities are to consolidate links with internal and external actors and to implement FIDH’s activities in Europe, with a focus on a new project on rule of law and corruption in the EU. Application deadline is January 8, 2023. Go to [FIDH] to get more details.

The University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Amherst invites applications for the position of Associate/Full Professor (Political Science) in International Relations, with focus on East Asia and/or China. Review of applications began in November and will continue until the position is filled. More about the vacancy can be found at [UMASS].

The University of Georgia welcomes applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Political Rhetoric, with focus on teaching a broad range of courses in rhetorical studies. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For more information, visit [University of Georgia].

Elon University, North Carolina, is recruiting an Assistant Professor level in Political Theory to teach introductory and upper-level undergraduate courses in political theory. Application deadline is February 15, 2023. Find further details at [Elon University].  

Brooklyn College, The City University of New York (CUNY), accepts applications for the position of a Lecturer in International Relations, specializing in Climate Change and Sustainability. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. If you are interested, you can access further information via [CUNY].

Team:

Duc Quang Ly (dql), Farhan Maqsood (fm), Felix Jonas Jantz (fj), Henning Glaser (hg), Hsu May Maung, Ian Hollinger (ih), Jennifer Marie Domenici (jd), Jessica Pierre (jp), Lucas Meier (lm), Natalie Svinina (ns), Ole Stark (os), Peer Morten Strantzen (ms), Sheikh Afif Bin Zaman (az), Silke Marian (sm), Thammasorn Sangiamjit (ts), Theerapon Damrongruk (td), Tim Hildebrandt (th), Tomwit Jarnson (tj), Tristan James Biglete (tjb), Venus Phuangkom, Wardah Rehman (wr)

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