Grasp the pattern, read the trend No. 29, July/2022, 3
Brought to you by CPG Dear Readers, The Asia in Review (AIR) team is pleased to present you this week´s issue with insights about the latest happenings and developments in domestic politics, international relations and geopolitics in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. I wish you an informative read and extend special greetings to everyone celebrating Belgium’s National Day, Colombia’s Independence Day and Egypt’s Revolution Day in this week. With best regards,
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Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Asia Gender Gap Report 2022: Asia fares badly (dql) According to findings of the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report, the global gender gap has been closed by 68.1 percent. Taken the current rate of progress as basis, the report predicts full gender parity will be reached in that it will take 132 years. This marks an improvement compared to the 2021 with 136 years to parity. However, the report stresses that “it does not compensate for the generational loss which occurred between 2020 and 2021: according to trends leading up to 2020, the gender gap was set to close within 100 years.” For East Asia and the Pacific (which includes Southeast Asia), the gap has been closed by 69 percent, meaning that – at this pace – it will take 168 years to close the gap. South Asia ranks regional-wise the lowest, able to close the gap by only 62.3 percent, resulting in 197 years need to reach gender parity. The three top-performing countries among 146 countries ranked in the report are Iceland (1), Finland (2) and Norway (3). Most of the countries covered in the AiR are also ranked: Philippines (19), Singapore (49), Lao PDR (53), Timor-Leste (56), Mongolia (70), Bangladesh (71), Thailand (79), Vietnam (83), Indonesia (92), Nepal (96), Cambodia (98), South Korea (99), China (102), Malaysia (103), Brunei Darussalam (104), Myanmar (106), Sri Lanka (110), Japan (116), Maldives (117), Bhutan (126), India (135), Pakistan (145), Afghanistan (146). [World Economic Forum] Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in East Asia China: Nationwide protests over unfinished construction projects (ms) In nearly two dozens Chinese cities across the country, protests have erupted, with homebuyers beginning to deliberately halt their mortgage payments to express their discontent with unfinished real estate projects. The protests are indicative of the failure of measures taken up by the Chinese government to tackle an ongoing property crisis that saw the default of developer giant Evergrande last year among a number of other defaults, after Beijing refused to bail out the company when it declared itself unable to pay off interests on more than USD 300 billion debts in loans [see AiR No. 50, December/2021, 2]. The protests are being taken up by the Chinese government, with media reporting that it is beginning to censor crowd-sourced documents tallying the number of mortgage boycotts across the country, and to banish them from public discourse in order to conceal the grave situation, especially for foreign investors. Beijing is now required to contain the already started spill-over effect from companies like Evergrande to the whole real estate sector, but also to restore the confidence of the people, as the Chinese economy and financial system is sitting on USD 6.8 trillion in outstanding mortgages and still has about USD 2 trillion in loans to the affected companies. A further deterioration of the situation could have serious consequences for the Chinese economy. [Bloomberg 1] [Bloomberg 2] [Reuters]
China: Xi Jinping visits Xinjiang (ms) President Xi Jinping visited the northwestern province of Xinjiang on July 12 to 13, that included, among others an inspection of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a state-owned economic and paramilitary organization that holds administrative authority over medium-sized cities, settlements and farms in the province. Its internal affairs are under direct control of the central government. The organization, hailed by Xi for its “irreplaceable” status and the “great progress made […] in reform and development,” was sanctioned by the US government in July 2020 over accusations of human rights violations [see AiR No. 31, August/2020, 1]. [Global Times] [Central Military Commission, Chinese Communist Party] It is Xi’s first official visit to Xinjiang since 2014 and since China’s counterterrorism law was enacted in late 2015, which critics believe paved the way for a harsh crackdown on the Uyghur Muslim minority in the region. The visit comes as China stands accused of genocide and other human rights abuses in the region. In May, the so-called Xinjiang Police Files surfaced, which were claimed to having been hacked from police computer servers in Xinjiang and handed over to western media outlets, and which provide “some of the strongest evidence to date for a policy targeting almost any expression of Uyghur identity, culture or Islamic faith - and of a chain of command running all the way up to the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.” [AiR No. 21, May/2022, 4] [Deutsche Welle] In June a US law, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), entered into force. It is a ban on the import of products from the Xinjiang region and, assuming that that any product partly or wholly made in Xinjiang is connected to the labour camps would be covered under this ban. This ban hits in particular Xinjiang’s cotton industry which produces more than 80 percent of the cotton exported from China. In response, the Chinese government announced during Xi’s Xinjiang visit to purchase up to half a million tons of cotton from the region to counteract at least some of the losses that would be caused by the import ban from the US. [South China Morning Post] [See also The Guardian]
China: 14th Straits Forum (ms) The 14th Straits Forum was held July 12-13 in the eastern province of Fujian, attended by some 2000 participants from Taiwan. Launched in 2009, the Straits Forum is an annual forum whose original idea was to promote dialogue between the peoples of Taiwan and China. Although not intended as a political event, both Chinese and Taiwanese representatives use the forum as a medium to disseminate political interests related to the conflict between the two sides of the Straits. From the Chinese side, President Xi Jinping was quoted addressing the younger forum participants in particular, calling for reunification as essential part of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Another Chinese official was more direct, accusing Taiwan’s ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of stifling dialogue between the two countries. [AsiaNet] [Xinhua] On the Taiwanese side, the Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's leading opposition party that traditionally seeks friendly relations between China and Taiwan, advocated a strong dialogue between the two sides, based on the 1992 consensus. The 1992 Consensus refers to an agreement between semiofficial representatives of China and Taiwan in 1992, according to which there is “One China”. However, interpretations of the Consensus are different on both sides, with the KMT contending it may hold “different interpretations” of “One China”, while Beijing insists that there is one China (including Taiwan), of which PRC is the sole legitimate representative. The Consensus is rejected by President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP in response to which Beijing has halted talks with the Taiwanese government. In the run up to the forum the party called on the KMT to withdraw its participation, calling the Forum a diplomatic “back door” and an improper “shortcut,” violating international norms of government-to-government dialogue. [Focus Taiwan] [The Diplomat] [Taipei Times]
China: Expansion of the scientific agricultural sector (ms) On July 14, construction of an international agricultural breeding center began, and a new gene laboratory was inaugurated in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan. While the breeding center will primarily focus on the development and promotion of new breeding systems, the gene laboratory will concentrate its research on the development of its own gene editing system. However, both will play a role in securing the food supply for China which is increasingly strained by climate change, as can be seen in the heat waves that are currently hitting China. [China Daily] [Xinhua]
China: Former provincial senior legislator on trial (ms) A former senior legislator of east China's Shandong Province pleaded guilty to accepting USD 21 million in bribes during his career between 2006 and 2021. His sentence will be announced at a later date. [Xinhua]
China: UNHRC voices concerns Hong Kong's human rights record (ms) Hong Kong is facing fresh criticism over its human rights record, after UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) concluded last week its consideration of Hong Kong’s fourth periodic report on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is the first report since the 2019 anti-government protests whose crackdown by the government has been widely criticized by many Western countries. In her concluding remarks Committee Chairperson Photini Pazartzis, expressed concerns of the Committee over human rights protection in the former British colony against the backdrop of the National Security Law imposed in June 2020, saying that “freedom of speech, expression and participation, and pluralism should not be unduly restricted.” Pazartzis’s remark summarized criticism that was voiced by Committee members during sessions on three days and that referred, among other, to the decline in democratic legitimacy in the city, citing changes to the electoral system in 2021 under which only 20 of these 90 seats in the city’s parliament would be directly elected by the population instead of the previous 35. Similarly, the introduction of the principle “Patriots administering Hong Kong” last year, widely seen as effectively excluding pro-democracy forces from political participation, was criticized. Furthermore, problems of freedom of the press, freedom of teaching, and, suppression of protests and civil society organizations were addressed by Committee members, citing the arrest of more than 200 individuals under the National Security Law, with more than half of them remanded without trail for more than one year, and adding that and nearly 100 civil society organizations which previously were operating in Hong Kong were forced to relocate. The Hong Kong delegation rejected all accusations, maintaining that “democracy has taken a quantum leap forward since the return to the motherland in 1997” and that the national security law has had played “an important role in stabilising Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, adding that Beijing had “no immediate plans to repeal it.” A final meeting of the Committee will be held on July 22, at which the UNHRC will make concrete proposals for improvement to Hong Kong. [OHCHR] [Hong Kong Free Press 1] [Hong Kong Free Press 2] [South China Morning Post]
China: First acquittal for person arrested for carrying zip ties near anti-government protest scene (ms) On July 15, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal handed down for the first time an acquittal in connection with a conviction for carrying an offensive weapon with intent. The background of this landmark decision that the now acquitted man who had been sentenced to 5 ½ months in prison was arrested by the police near the scene of an anti-government protest in 2019, carrying 48 zip-ties. Even though zip-ties had already been used several times as a reason for arrest in relation to the 2019 protests, the court, following a narrower interpretation of the text of the law, ruled that the convicted man was wrongly convicted. The extent to which this ruling will now affect other defendants or convicts in connection with similar charges remains unknown as yet. [South China Morning Post]
China: Launch of Patriotic Education Center in Hong Kong (ms) On July 16, the Patriotic Education Center was opened in Hong Kong. Founded by the pro-mainland Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the largest teachers' unions in the city, the facility is designed to boost patriotic and national security education in the former British colony. John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong’s new Chief Executive, who spoke at the opening ceremony, celebrated the launch of the facility as “new landmark for the patriotic education in Hong Kong,” adding that it was needed as people in the past had “colluded with foreign forces, misguided young people’s views towards the nation and stigmatized national education.” In addition to the newly established center, Lee said the Hong Kong Education Bureau will also help schools incorporate national education into the curriculum, promoting patriotic and national security education to the youngest of the population. The launch of the center comes Hong Kong schools are approaching the deadline to submit plans for mainland study tours for students in grades four to six to the Education Bureau as part of the newly introduced Citizenship and Social Development subject, which also aims to teach students about patriotism toward the mainland [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]. The move is reflective of efforts of pro-mainland forces in the city to extend their influence on schools to reinforce fostering loyalty towards Beijing among the city’s young generation. [Global Times] [Hong Kong Free Press]
China: Solar telescope ready for mission (ms) China's new high-tech solar telescope is ready for a mission launching this fall, according to information of a researcher familiar with the project. The four-year mission aims to observe the next solar maximum and is said to be able to measure solar flares and coronal mass ejections as well as the magnetic field of the sun at the same time, making it superior to the two telescopes of NASA and ESA. [South China Morning Post] The announcement comes at the same time as the launch of a new data relay satellite into space: the Tianlian II-03 satellite, along with its predecessor models, will provide data relay and TT&C (telemetry, tracking and control) services for future and existing space projects. [Xinhua] Both projects are a further indication of China's increased focus on its own space program in recent years, as evidenced by the start of construction of China's first commercial spacecraft just last week. [AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]
China: Attack helicopter join border patrol in Karakoram region (ms) Attack helicopters of the People's Liberation Army, type Z-10 have started since last week to patrol the western Chinese border in the Karakoram region, which until now, due to the altitude of about 5000 meters, has been done exclusively by transport helicopters. The Karakoram Mountains are part of the Indo-Chinese border, in which conflicts between China and India arise again and again. The peak of the tensions in recent years was the clash between soldiers around the Galwan River in June 2020, in which both sides suffered casualties. In February 2021, both nuclear powers agreed on a military withdrawal from the border region, which China only partially complied with. The current buildup of patrols around this controversial region could further fuel conflicts over the region. [Deutsche Welle] [Global Times] [The Guardian]
Japan: Number of elementary and junior high school students drops (dql) Findings of a government survey have revealed that the number of students in elementary and junior high schools in Japan declined by about 1 million from a decade earlier to about 9.56 million in 2020, with 346 of the 1,892 municipalities recording having fallen by more than 30 percent in the last ten years. The data highlight the rapid aging of Japan’s population. [The Mainichi]
North Korea: Apparent artillery shot, South Korea’s military says (dql) According to the South Korean military, North Korea fired an artillery shot into the Yellow Sea on July 11. It is believed that it was fired from a multiple rocket launcher. A day earlier, multiple trajectories were spotted, presumed to be Pyongyang’s artillery rounds, fired toward the waters between the peninsula and China. [Yonhap News Agency]
South Korea: Rival parties sets new deadline for decision on parliamentary committee chairs (dql) In their wrangle over filling chairs of parliamentary committees the floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) have announced on July 17 to complete negotiations on the issue within four days, fuelling hopes that South Korea’s National Assembly, which have been paralyzed for weeks over this matter, will resume work soon. So far, the parties have agreed that the PPP will head the Legislation Judiciary Committee and that the two parties will jointly participate in a special committee in charge for the prosecution reform which the PPP had so far refused to do. Still open are the chairs of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee as well as Public Administration and Security Committee. [The Korea Herald]
South Korea: Opposition Democratic Party starts registration of party chief candidates (dql) On July 17, the Democratic Party, South Korea’s main opposition party, opened the day-day registration of candidates for the post of party leader. The election will be held at the party’s national convention, scheduled for late August. The period of official campaigning will begin on August 6. After three consecutive defeats this this year’s presidential election, local elections and by-elections for parliamentary seats, the DP is desperately looking for a leader to prevent the party from further damage. [The Korea Herald] Coming as a surprise, Park Ji-hyun, the 26-year-old former co-chair of the emergency steering committee of the party, announced that she will run for the post. Her announcement is indicative of forces within the party arguing that a generational change is needed within the party. [Korea JoongAng Daily] She caused a stir within the party when she openly called on the party’s older generation to retire to allow the party “to regain the trust of the people,” and “say goodbye to the politics of fandom, while recovering the politics of the public.” [AiR No. 22, May/2022, 5]
South Korea: Constitutional court reviews death penalty (dql) On July 14, the South Korean Constitutional Court has begun a review of the death penalty with an open hearing on the constitutionality of the capital punishment. The review refers to a case in 2019 in which the prosecution had demanded the death penalty for a man was eventually sentenced to life in prison for killing his parents. The man filed a petition challenging the death penalty prior to the court’s ruling. Joining him in taking the issue to the Constitutional Court, leaders of seven religious groups have submitted a joint opinion demanding the abolishment of the death penalty. It is the third time in the country’s history that the death penalty has been challenged at the Constitutional Court. In both previous cases in 1996 and 2010, the Court ruled in favour of the penalty. South Korea is considered an “abolitionist in practice,” as although the death penalty is permissible under the law and death penalties are still handed down, the last execution dates back to December 1997. A total of 59 convicted criminals were on the death row in 2021. [The Korea Herald] [KBS]
South Korea: New agency to oversee police set to be launched (dql) South Korea’s Interior Ministry has announced that is has completed its plan to launch a “police bureau” vested with the power to supervise the police. To be staffed with 16 members, of which 13 would be police officials, the bureau will approve major policies of the National Police Agency. In addition, it will be briefed ahead of Cabinet meetings. The launch is set for August 2. Although the plan was strongly criticized by police officers over concerns of damaging the police’s independence and neutrality, the National Police Agency declared that it intends to accept the plan. [The Korea Herald]
South Korea: Spy agency raided (dql) On July 13, prosecutors raided the headquarters of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), the country’s main spy agency. The raid is part of an investigation into two already closed North Korea-related incidents that occurred in 2019 and 2020. The incidents refer, firstly, to the deportation of two North Korean fishermen after they had been captured and suspected of murdering 16 members of the crew; and secondly, to the deadly shooting of an unarmed South Korean official of the fisheries ministry by the North Korean coast guard. The former government under then-President Moon Jae-in is suspected of having ignored human rights concerns in both cases in a bid to court North Korea and improve inter-Korean relations. The raid after the NIS had filed charges against two of its former chiefs who served under Moon and who are accused of destroying evidence related the killing of South Korean official and of abusing of power to drop the investigation into the case of the two North Korean fishermen, respectively [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]. President Yoon Suk Yeol of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who assumed office in May, has accused Moon of being “submissive” to North Korea in these two cases, demanding their re-examination to resolve persistent suspicions about the handling of the cases. In response, the DP accused Yoon of a political move to revenge against his rivals. [The Korea Herald] [AP News]
South Korea: Homegrown fighter jet conducts successful maiden flight (dql) South Korea’s KAI KF-21 Boramae, the country’s homegrown KF-21 fighter jet, has successfully completed its maiden flight of more than 30 minutes. Further testing is scheduled to run for four years covering about 2,000 sorties to fly before mass production starts. The fighter jet is expected to enter service in 2026. If the KF-21 is successfully deployed, South Korea will follow the United States, Russia, China, Japan, France, Sweden and a European consortium as eighth country in the world to domestically develop an advanced supersonic fighter. [UPI] Meanwhile, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced that it will procure 20 additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters to expand its fleet to 60 by 2028. The acquisition will run between 2023 and 2028, with costs at USD 2.98 billion. [Janes]
Taiwan: Former president acquitted of charges of misuse of state funds (dql) Taiwan’s former President Chen Shui-bian (2000-2008) has been acquitted of charges related to his personal use of presidential state affairs funds. The Taiwan Hugh Court dismissed in its second retrial ruling all charges against Chen, his wife Wu Shu-jen and his close aides in a case surrounding the former president's alleged misuse of Presidential Office funds from 2000-2008. The verdict follows a recent amendment to Article 99-1 of the Accounting Act, which retrospectively legalized personal use of such funds. It was pushed through the parliament with the majority of the votes of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and came into effect in June. It expanded the exemption of punishment for the misuse of special allowance funds to include state affairs funds available to the president. Chen, former President of the DPP, was first indicted on multiple charges, including corruption, document forgery and money laundering in 2008. The prosecution accused him of misusing a total of USD 3.47 million from the state affairs fund for personal use. In 2010, he was sentenced to about 20 years in jail in for accepting bribes in a land deal in Taoyuan and other cases. He was released from prison in 2015 on conditional medical parole. [Focus Taiwan]
Taiwan: Health minister resign to focus on run for Taipei mayor post (dql) On July 14, Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced that he will resign from his post to focus on running for Taipei mayor in the election on November 26. The move came after he selected as candidate by his party a day earlier. Health minister since 2017, Chen rose to public prominence as the face of the Cabinet’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting the daily press briefing of the Central Epidemic Command Center. [Focus Taiwan]
Taiwan: Secretive military construction projects launched? (dql) Taiwan’s Air Force has reportedly launched a series of secretive nationwide construction projects that are believed to comprise the building of arsenals, air defense bases, and mobile missile installations. The reports are based on government procurement data that reveal tender awards for projects which observers believe to be related to the mass production of surface-to-air missiles and the stationing of mid-range and long-range cruise missiles as missile experts and Air Force air defense specialists had been involved in the evaluation of the bids. [Taiwan News] Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Navy’s first homegrown attack submarine is expected to be launched in September. It is said to be “eight to ten years more advanced” than the current Chien Lung class submarine that was purchased from the Netherlands. 2,500 tons heavy and 70 meters long, the submarine is believed to be equipped with US-origin 18 MK-48 Mod-6 1700 kilograms torpedoes and UGM-84L Harpoon missiles. [The EurAsian Times] Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in South Asia Bangladesh: International organizations approve funds for disaster preparedness, relief measures (az) The World Bank has approved a USD 500 million credit to help Bangladesh improve disaster preparedness against inland flooding in 14 flood-prone districts benefiting over 1.25 million people. Separately, the United Nations has announced an additional allocation of USD 5 million as relief to meet the immediate needs of families caught in the deadly flooding in northeastern Bangladesh. [Prothom Alo] [Reliefweb]
Bangladesh: Country may face the same fate of bankruptcy like Sri Lanka, opposition leader warns (az) The chairman of the Jatiya Party, the second-strongest political party in Bangladesh’s lower House, on July 14 warned that the country may face a Sri Lanka-like situation due to the implementation of mega projects with foreign loans. [Dhaka Tribune]
Bangladesh: Mob vandalizes Hindu minority shops, homes (az) On July 15, mobs angered by social media posts vandalized some shops in Digholia market in Narail along with a Hindu house. Besides, a temple was vandalized and two family temples were attacked. [Prothom Alo] The police and home ministry officials said that vested quarters had been spreading disrespectful content against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, leading to religious tension. On the other hand, minority groups called for the protection of minority people and their properties in Bangladesh. [New Age Bangladesh]
India: Supreme Court directs central government to release 1993 Bombay blasts convict after 2030 (rk) The Supreme Court of India has ordered the release of one of the convicts behind the 1993 Bombay terrorist bombings that left more than 250 dead and another 1,400 injured. On July 11, a two-judge division bench ruled that the central government must honour the commitment it made to Portugal “as per the sovereign assurance and the principle of comity of countries”, and release Abu Salem after the completion of his 25 years’ imprisonment in the blast case. [The Indian Express] Salem was extradited to India from Portugal in 2005 on the sovereign assurance from the former that he would not be charged for offences leading to imprisonment beyond 25 years or death penalty. In light of this, he had petitioned the Supreme Court after he was granted a life sentence in the blast case. [The Leaflet]
India: Alt News Founder Mohammed Zubair gets bail from Delhi HC but gets rejected in Uttar Pradesh court (sr) Seven First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt-News, Mohammed Zubair, since he was arrested last month over a tweet for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Following his arrest, Delhi police invoked other charges against the journalist that included criminal conspiracy, destroying evidence and receiving foreign funds [seeAiRNo.26 June/2022,4]. A Session Court granted Zubair bail in Delhi in the tweet case, registered against him by the Delhi Police. Granting the bail, Additional Sessions Judge Devendra Kumar Jangala observed that dissent is required for the functioning of democracy. He added that political parties in India are open to criticism and that mere criticism cannot be a basis for punishing any individual. [The Quint] But his bail plea has been rejected by a Uttar Pradesh court for the FIR registered against him in 2021. In the Lakhimpur case, the complainant is a Sudarshan News employee who has accused Zubair of promoting enmity by misleading people through his tweet about his channel’s coverage of the Israel-Palestine dispute. [NDTV]
India: Student suicide sparks violent protests in Tamil Nadu; at least 20 police officers injured (sr) Violence broke out in a district in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state on July 17 over the suicide of a female student. At least 20 policemen were injured while trying to prevent a mob from blazing buses and police vehicles as they demanded justice over the student's death. [The Strait Times] The teenager, who was found dead on July 13, allegedly left a suicide note naming her math and chemistry teachers. She said in her letter that the teachers pressured her and some other students to study all the time. The initial autopsy report had reported death by hemorrhage and multiple injuries, but the parents alleged foul play and approached the Madras High Court demanding another autopsy. [India Today 1] Madras High Court has termed the violent protest “planned, motivated, and calculated” rather than a sudden reaction to the incident. The Court has directed the Deputy General of Police to identify the miscreants from the video footage and bring them to the Court of law. The Court also directed the investigative agency to identify the source of false information spread through WhatsApp groups. The DGP will issue a circular to identify the YouTubers spreading false news and spearheading citizen-led investigations around this incident. The accused teachers and three members of the school management have been arrested for further investigations, and permission for a second post-mortem was granted. [India Today 2]
Nepal: CCTV evidence from the budget manipulation case could not be found by probe committee (op) A parliamentary special committee appointed to probe charges of budget manipulation against former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma was unable to get closed-circuit television (CCTV) video. [Setopati 1] Sharma resigned earlier this month after the speaker of Parliament ordered an investigation into allegations that he let two unauthorized people make changes in tax rates the day before he presented the spending plan for the next fiscal year last month. [AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2] The investigative committee has been granted 10 days from the start of its work to produce its findings with recommendations. Its work, however, did not begin until July 12. The group had two sessions on July 15, its fourth day of work, and had scheduled another meeting for July 16 morning to consider what questions to ask the authorities concerned. [The Kathmandu Post 2] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Nepal: Nepali Congress lawmaker chosen as House's Deputy Speaker following two-and-a-half-year gap (op) Pushpa Bhusal (Gautam) of Nepal’s ruling Congress party has been elected deputy speaker of Parliament’s lower House with the backing of the coalition partners — CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party, and Rastriya Janamorcha—by collecting 148 votes out of the 242 present in the chamber, while 93 voted against her. [The Kathmandu Post 1] The office of deputy speaker had been vacant for almost two and a half years following the resignation of Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe, the former deputy speaker, who resigned before the election of Agni Sapkota as speaker in January 2020. If Tumbahangphe hadn't quit, Sapkota would not have been able to run for speaker because of Article 91 of the constitution, which states that the speaker and deputy speaker cannot be from the same party. [Setopati] Many have been perplexed as to why the parties suddenly chose to fill the position of deputy Speaker after a vacancy of more than two years and at a time when the House term is coming to a close. According to several sources, the ruling parties seek to nominate a deputy speaker to facilitate the sessions of the Constitutional Council, which proposes the chief judge of the Supreme Court and the chairs and members of the different constitutional bodies. While it is a great gesture that the House again has a deputy Speaker after a long absence, constitutional experts believe the manner in which the election is held just a few months before the House's mandate expires poses some concerns. [The Kathmandu Post 2] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Nepal: People’s Socialist Party expels nine people, including federal council chairman (op) Baburam Bhattarai, the head of the Federal Council, and eight other party officials have been voted out by the People’s Socialist Party, Nepal (PSP-N). Bhattarai will be replaced as head of the federal council by Ashok Rai. [Setopati 1] Nearly two-thirds of PSP-N members, according to the Upendra Yadav-led group, are said to have attended the Central Committee meeting, which began on July 13 in Birgunj. Yadav said that central members sought punishment for individuals who had betrayed the party and participated in anti-party actions during the local level election at the meeting. According to the leader, Bhattarai and the other eight leaders have been charged with violating the party constitution, holding meetings while exercising the chairman's powers, and choosing to find a new party. [Setopati 2] [The Kathmandu Post 3] [see AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Pakistan: Setback for ruling Coalition as ex-Premier Khan’s PTI party wins key by-elections (ha) Pakistan’s main opposition party of the ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan swept by-elections in the country's most populous Punjab province on July 17, dealing a serious blow to the federal coalition government and possibly paving the way for snap national polls. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won 15 of the 20 seats up for grabs. The rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif secured four seats and one went to an independent candidate. [Al Jazeera] [Voice of America] The seats of the Legislative Assembly got vacated after the disqualification of PTI rebel lawmakers who had voted for Hamza Shehbaz, son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as chief minister of Punjab on April 16 [see AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1]. His short term in office now looks set to end. [BBC News] On the other hand, the leader of the victorious party, deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan, has renewed his calls for early elections after his party takes control of a crucial provincial assembly. [Dawn] According to the political analysts, the by-election results demonstrate the political cost of adopting painful economic measures at a difficult time. The incumbent government has removed fuel subsidies as part of its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, leading to a sharp increase in prices. Inflation rose to 21.3 per cent in June, the highest level in nearly 13 years. The economic woes coupled with former PM Khan’s rhetoric of involvement of foreign powers in domestic politics resulted in victory of PTI in the by-elections. [Financial Times, &]
Pakistan: Government seeks treason cases against ex-Premier Khan’s PTI leaders, impeachment of president (fq/lm) Pakistan’s coalition government is seeking treason cases against the top leadership of the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including former Prime Minister and party chairman Imran Khan, and the impeachment of President Arif Alvi - a longtime ally of Khan. [Gulf News] On July 15, the information minister said the federal cabinet had approved the formation of a committee that will determine whether legal action should be taken against the PTI leadership under Article 6 of the Constitution, which relates to high treason. She said law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will head the special committee which will present its suggestions in the next cabinet meeting. [Dawn] [Geo News] Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Dr Afnanullah Khan has submitted a resolution in the Senate asking the government to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Alvi. These developments emerged after the Supreme Court released its detailed judgment on July 13 in which it deliberated the reasons why it had rejected the April 3 ruling of the then-Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s lower House that had dismissed the no-confidence motion against then Prime Minister Khan. Prior to the intervention of the apex court, then Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri had declared the vote of no-confidence against Khan as “disloyalty” to the state due to involvement of “foreign conspiracy” and dismissed the resolution. Thereafter, President Alvi dissolved the Lower House and announced re-elections. [AiR No. 14, April/2022, 1] This triggered a constitutional crisis in Pakistan and the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) intervened in the matters of the Lower House. On April 7, the apex court declared Khan’s move to dissolve Parliament and call for early elections unconstitutional and ordered the Parliament to convene. [AiR No. 15, April/2022, 2]
Pakistan: Government announces crackdown on social media users for content deemed defamatory (fq) Pakistan’s interior minister announced on July 15 the decision of the government to crack down on social media users whose posts are deemed defamatory. The announcement came after the minister for planning, development and special initiatives was heckled by supporters of the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party at a public restaurant in the capital Islamabad. [Geo News]
Pakistan: Separatist insurgents in Balochistan kill senior military officer, hostage (fq/ha) Members of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have killed a hostage from the family of a senior military officer who was abducted and killed earlier last week. [Voice of America] Officials said the slain officer and his relatives were abducted on July 12 while they were traveling in a vehicle to a tourist resort about 100 kilometers northeast of Balochistan’s provincial capital, Quetta. The attackers later that night freed all the hostages except the military officer and his cousin. The colonel’s body was found on July 14 during a search operation by security forces. The body of the cousin was found two days later. [Associated Press 1] After the incident of abduction and killing of the two hostages, armed forces launched multiple operations in the province, killing at least seven separatist insurgents. [Associated Press 2] The BLA, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, is an insurgent outfit that is responsible terrorist attacks within and outside Balochistan province. The suicide attack in May this year on Chinese instructors outside of the Karachi University was also claimed by this terrorist outfit.
Sri Lanka: Country on a knife-edge as acting President Wickremesinghe declares emergency amid protests (lm) Sri Lanka’s acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, on July 18 imposed a state of emergency that gives him broad authority amid growing protests demanding his resignation — just two days before the country’s 225-seat Parliament is set to elect a new leader to serve the rest of the term abandoned by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. [Associated Press] [The Guardian] Wickremesinghe, who had been serving as prime minister, became interim president on July 15 after his predecessor Rajapaksa fled abroad and resigned after months-long mass protests over the country’s acute economic crisis. [see entry in this issue] The emergency decree invokes sections of the Public Security Ordinance that allow Wickremesinghe to make regulations in the interest of public security and order. Authorities can authorize detentions, take possession of property and search premises. Wickremesinghe can also change or suspend any law during the state of emergency. Meanwhile, the leader of Sri Lanka’s largest opposition party on July 19 threw his support behind Dullas Alahapperuma, a former ruling party lawmaker, raising the possibility of an upset victory against acting President Wickremesinghe in the upcoming vote. [Financial Times] [Reuters] Mr. Kashif Ali Hadi contributed research to this entry. Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Southeast Asia Cambodia: Constitutional amendments spark legitimacy concerns (bs) The release of a document on amendments to six articles of the Cambodian Constitution and two articles of the Additional Constitutional Law has been met with widespread criticism by oppositional voices including the Candlelight Party. While critics claim the amendment bill was drafted in secrecy and would violate fundamental democratic principles, the Constitutional Council of Cambodia (CCC) has ruled the amendment was in accordance with the Constitution. [Khmer Times 1] [Khmer Times 2] The amendments relate to Articles 19, 89, 98, 102, 119 and 125 of the Constitution and Articles 3 and 4 of the Additional Constitutional Law. They involve the National Assembly and Prime Minister and Council of Ministers respectively. If approved, this would be the 10th constitutional amendment since 1993, when the Constitution was established. [The Phnom Penh Post] In this regard, the opposition Candlelight Party cited that amendment to Article 98, which regards the ability of the National Assembly to dismiss any MPs by “a motion of censure passed by an absolute majority vote,” would violate the principles of multi-party liberal democracy. [Khmer Times 1] [Khmer Times 2] “Article 19 of the Constitution deals with the appointment of the prime minister and Council of Ministers by the King, as further elaborated in Article 119. Article 89 is about the National Assembly’s (NA) power to seek clarifications from high-ranking officials. Article 98 concerns the NA’s power to adopt motions of censure to dismiss a member or members of the government from office, while article 102 concerns the Senate and the length of a Senator’s term in office. Article 119 details the appointment of the prime minister and Council of Ministers by the King. Article 125 stipulates that if the post of prime minister is permanently vacant – in the event of resignation or death – a new council of ministers will be formed, and if it is temporarily vacant, an acting prime minister will be appointed.” [The Phnom Penh Post] According to the amended article 119, the party with most seats in the NA can request the King to assign a high-ranking figure as prime minister who also has to be a member of parliament, hold Cambodian citizenship and no others and has to come from the party with most seats in the NA. Article 125 regulates the vacancy of the prime minister’s post due to resignation and death and orders a new Council of Ministers must be immediately appointed in this case. To this end, the NA has to convene to take the necessary actions within seven days at most after receiving a related proposal from the party with the most seats in the NA. [The Phnom Penh Post] According to the Minister of Justice, the amendment is justified by the country´s national interest and in line with the Constitution. Constitutional amendments would be excluded only during a state of emergency; in ways that affect the multi-party democratic principle or the status of the regime of constitutional monarchy. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Cambodia: Military chief threatens to “eliminate extremist” elements disturbing the 2023 National Elections (bs) Ahead of the 2023 National Elections, the chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), General Vong Pisen, announced in a speech praising the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen to “eliminate extremist groups” if they would cause “social unrest” during the upcoming National Election. In the past, the government put exiled ex-opposition leaders of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) already on trial on treason charges for ostensibly participating in a plot to oust Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government in 2017-2019. [AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1][Khmer Times 3] The Commander-in-Chief´s vow has been seconded by the president of the Cambodian Youth Party (CYP) – a pro-government party – who has filed a request to discuss electoral reforms with the National Election Committee (NEC) citing alleged irregularities in the June-5 communal elections. [Khmer Times 1][Khmer Times 2]
Cambodia: Supreme Court to decide incitement case against former opposition official over Facebook post (bs) Cambodia's Supreme Court will release a verdict on July 20 on the appeal of former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) commune councilor Tum Bunthan in connection to a jail sentence for incitement. Bunthan was convicted to 20 months in prison for inciting the public against banks through a Facebook post in 2019 which was inspired by a post written by former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy. At the time, the man was an activist of the now-dismantled CNRP. According to Bunthan, his social media account was hacked when the post was published. [Khmer Times]
Indonesia: President Widodo orders delayed deliberation on the new Criminal Code (bs/jvk) Following widespread concerns, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered the Ministry of Law of Human Rights to delay the deliberation on the new controversial draft Criminal Code. Widodo ordered the House of Representatives (DPR) to wait and “hear more aspirations from the public” as civil society’s protests and backlash toward the revised Criminal Code continue to occur. In response, the DPR´s Commission III on Human Rights vowed to look into the 14 crucial topics that are the target of much debate, which include blasphemy, cohabitation, pre-marital sex, and presidential defamation among others. In 2019, when the bill was first proposed, Widodo also ordered lawmakers to call off its deliberations after mass protests from civil groups who deemed the bill dangerous to democratic freedoms and intrusive on private lives citing that the drafting process happened behind closed doors and thus prevented public discussion on the matter. Policymakers are set to deliberate on the bill by the end of 2022, as it remains a top priority in the National Legislation Program. [Jakarta Post] [AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]
Indonesia: Protests, deadly attacks spark over creation of new Papuan provinces (jvk) Following a violent civil protest over the creation of new Papuan provinces on July 14, 10 people were killed in an attack in Indonesia's far eastern region of Papua. The attack, regarded as the deadliest in recent years, was claimed by a separatist group, which accused the victims of spying for the Indonesian government. [Kompas in Indonesian] [Guardian Newspaper] [CNN 1, in Indonesian] Papuans and the Indonesian government have a long and often very violent history over Papuan autonomy and independence since the region became part of Indonesia after a United Nations’ supervised vote in 1969. The deadly incident and the outbreak of violent protests followed after the parliament’s recently passed legislation to create three Papuan provinces, aimed at developing the region disregarding civil groups' claims that the move would primarily serve as a pretext for harsher government restrictions [see AiR No. 16, April/2022, 3]. Nonetheless, the Indonesian government continues to move forward with its plan. The Deputy Minister of Interior announced that governing regulations for the new provinces are currently being drafted. [CNN 2 in Indonesian] [AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1][Reuters]
Indonesia: Government removes palm oil levy until end of August (jvk) The Indonesian government has removed the palm oil levy until August 31, in an effort to increase exports and decrease the high inventories. Although the move could further decrease prices, the government claims it will not highly impact government revenue. In late May, Indonesia lifted the ban on palm oil export after the country witnessed a decrease in the average price of cooking oil. The ban was imposed on April 28 causing a further surge in global food costs, as Indonesia is a major palm oil producer globally. However, soon after the ban was imposed, the international community expressed its discontent. Among those most vocal were main importers like China, India, and Pakistan which have suddenly begun facing a drastic increase in food and cooking oil prices. [AiR No. 21, May/2022, 4] Since May, Indonesia has imposed rules on mandatory local sales, domestic market obligations (DMO). The late levy removal is intended to further support the export sector. [Reuters]
Indonesia: Government to block major tech companies for non-compliance with registration requirements (jvk) The Ministry of Communications and Information has placed a strict deadline for July 20, for a number of major technology companies to comply with national licensing and registration requirements. Major apps such as Google, Whatsapp, and Instagram are threatened to be blocked if they fail to register under the new regulations that will allow authorities to order online platforms to remove “unlawful” content, or that "disturbs public order." Analysts doubt that the blockade will be done immediately. Nonetheless, activists say that the move and related laws threaten privacy, freedom of speech, and ease of communication. [Reuters]
Indonesia: Trade Minister faces backlash over alleged campaign violation (jvk) Newly appointed Indonesian Trade Minister Zulfiki Hasan is facing backlash after allegedly distributing free cooking oil to gather local favor for his daughter’s 2024 legislative election campaign. Political analysts question if the gesture falls under “vote-buying” as the market price of oil continues to rise and called for an investigation over alleged campaign violation. [Jakarta Post] Following the scandal, President Joko Widodo remarked on the move by saying that the trade minister should focus on his task of solving the cooking oil crisis. The President also placed stern remarks toward other ministers and warned of another possible Cabinet Reshuffle. [CNN in Indonesian]
Indonesia: President Widodo announces regulation on child protection amid rising sexual violence (jvk) On July 18, President Joko Widodo passed Presidential Regulation No. 101, 2022 on a national strategy to eradicate violence against children. The regulation was released amid several high-profile cases of sexual assault in educational institutions. According to the government, more than 10,000 cases of violence against children were reported in 2020, marking an alarming increase in cases since 2016. [CNN in Indonesian] The new regulation includes overseeing coordination between ministries and local authorities in preventing and handling such cases while addressing socio-cultural factors and norms that lead to violence against children. The plan also requires the government to ensure availability and access to integrated services for children who are considered at risk of violence and for the victims. [Tempo]
Laos: Government to raise minimum wage from August 1 (bs) The Lao government has announced an increase in the minimum wage to US 80 from August 1. The move came in response to the alarmingly high inflation that has been reportedly leading the country to default. Reports released in mid-July found that Laos is experiencing the highest inflation rate since early 2000. According to the Lao Statistics Bureau, the country hit a 23.6 percent inflation rate in June. Furthermore, the country not only is facing high inflation issues but also has accumulated over USD 14.5 billion of public debt. In addition, the population has been receiving only one-sixth of the needed fuel since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. [HRM Asia][Radio Free Asia][AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]
Malaysia: State-owned enterprises seized over Sultan's descendants' claim (tp) Following the seizure of two Malaysian state-owned oil subsidiaries in Luxembourg on July 11-12, the Malaysian government was warned of the risk of further seizures of other assets abroad if the government fails to acknowledge the legitimacy of the claims and pay the due land compensation. [Aljizeera] The seizure was the result of a 144-year-old legal dispute over a treaty signed in 1878 by the Sultan of Sulu, who allegedly controlled the territory of Sabah and part of the Philippines at the time, to lease the land to a British trading company. Following Malaysia's independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, the treaty’s obligations were to be upheld by the Malaysian government. Part of the agreement was to compensate the sultan's heirs. However, when the Sultan died in 1936, he left no direct heir, leaving this section of the treaty disputed. Since then, many Filipinos have claimed to be descended from the Sultan. One such self-proclaimed heir even led his own invasion of Sabah in 2013, accompanied by an armed group, which later resulted in numerous casualties. As a result, the government was wary of acknowledging any claim to the sultan's legacy. Therefore, the Malaysian government decided to revoke the stipend for any claimants who received it on a yearly basis. However, the later investigation revealed no link between the invasion and the heirs who received the yearly stipend. Subsequently, the Malaysian government's decision affected a group of eight Sulu sultan claimants who lived in the Philippines. The claimants cited the previous yearly stipend as evidence that they were the true heirs and are entitled to reasonable compensation now that Sabah has been identified as an oil-rich region. Later on, with the help of a London law firm, the claimants went on to sue the government for compensation for the region's usage in 2017. Hence, in March, a French arbitration court ruled in favor of the sultan’s heirs and condemned Malaysia to pay them USD 14.9 billion in compensation as a consequence of inheriting the obligations of the 1878 lease agreement. Meanwhile, Malaysia has condemned the case as a violation of national sovereignty and has refused to recognize the arbitrator's decision, while also questioning whether they are the legitimate true heirs. Similarly, the claimants' lawyers argue that if Malaysia does not comply with international law, the country risks becoming a legal pariah. Furthermore, many experts are concerned that if the case is not resolved, it will result in the seizure of critical assets to the Malaysian economy, jeopardizing the country's economic recovery. [Free Malay Today] [Financial Times]
Malaysia: Prominent MP left out of ambassador appointment list (tp) The Malaysian government withdrew the ambassador nomination of Tajuddin Abdul Rahma, a prominent Malaysian politician who triggered widespread criticism for urging Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down as president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party. Tajuddin was previously appointed as the ambassador to Indonesia by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. In fact, Tajuddin is regarded as an important ally of Ismail within the UMNO. His appointment, however, drew considerable criticism, with many officials believing he lacked the necessary skills to carry out the role of diplomat. The opposition to his appointment escalated when he advocated for the deposition of the current UMNO’s president, Zahid. [Free Malay Today]
Malaysia: Cabinet approves tobacco and smoking control bill (tp) On July 14, the cabinet announced the approval of the tobacco and smoking control bill. The proposed bill prohibits the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2005, even after they reached the age of 18. The bill aims to help Malaysia overcome its smoking problem, which would cost taxpayers at least USD 1.7 billion to treat lung cancers and other diseases by 2030. The government hoped that by 2040, only 5 percent of the population would be smoking. However, further parliamentary debate is required before the bill can be fully implemented. If the legislation is passed, Malaysia will be the first country to enact a generational prohibition law. [New Straits Times] [The Star]
Malaysia: Financier offers money to government to have his graft charges dropped (tp) Jho Low, a well-known financier who was involved in the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) graft scandal that saw some USD 700 million linked to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, allegedly offered the government USD 337 million asking to drop his corruption charges. The man was convicted for stealing USD 1.42 billion which was intended for Malaysian sovereign wealth funds. Subsequently, on July 16, the attorney general's chamber (AGC) announced that all of Low's offers had been rejected. Meanwhile, the Malaysian authorities allegedly stated in April that they would commit to locating him and bringing him to justice. [The Star] [South China Morning Post]
Myanmar: International Court of Justice to rule on Myanmar’s preliminary objections on genocide charges in Rohingya case (cmsk) On July 22, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver a ruling on Myanmar’s objections to the accusation of genocide against Myanmar filed by The Gambia in 2019. In July 2019, following a proposal by the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) of which The Gambia is a member, The Gambia’s parliament approved a plan to bring genocide charges against Myanmar before the ICJ. In November of the same year, The Gambia alleged that genocide was committed through “acts adopted, taken and condoned by the Government of Myanmar against members of the Rohingya group.” In the initial hearing, the prosecution alleged that from October 2016 the Myanmar military and the country’s security forces started widespread and systemic “clearance operations” against the Rohingya. The Gambia also alleges that the genocidal acts committed during these operations “were intended to destroy the Rohingya as a group, in whole or in part”. It was further alleged that genocide acts were committed through “the use of mass murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence”, as well as the systematic torching of villages, further noting that these were often done with inhabitants locked inside burning houses. From August 2017 onwards such genocidal acts persisted through “clearance operations” but were now committed “on a more massive wider geographical scale”, according to the prosecution. The defense attempted a first objection to the accusation by alleging that the court had no jurisdiction over the case. Further, Myanmar argued that there was no dispute between the two countries on the “Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” to which both are parties. However, the court ruled that differences of opinion over the events and results of the ICJ’s Fact-Finding Mission, the conclusions and recommendations of which Myanmar dismissed, and “The Gambia” wanted them to be applied, did constitute a dispute in the eyes of the court, and the case could therefore be heard by the ICJ. In another attempt, Myanmar argued that The Gambia was unaffected by the alleged breaches to the convention, and therefore lacked the legal grounds to bring forward a claim against Myanmar. The ICJ, however, found that all parties to the convention shared a common interest in ensuring the prevention of genocide and punishing against any acts of genocide. Moreover, as The Gambia has reportedly not denied receiving funding from OIC to undertake international legal proceedings against Myanmar, the defense had objected to the allegations on grounds that The Gambia was a proxy of the OIC, however, these objections were rejected by the ICJ which stated that The Gambia receiving support from other countries or organizations did not affect its standing before the court. More than 740,000 people were reportedly forced to flee to neighboring Bangladesh as a result of the alleged systematic violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar. Although the ICJ could rule in favor of The Gambia, skeptics point out that the court has no real way of enforcing its ruling on the Myanmar military, if convicted. Whilst those do get convicted will have to undoubtedly bear reputational costs, most countries have already taken punitive economic actions against the junta since the coup, with some already having declared that the military is indeed guilty of genocide, says an analyst. Meanwhile, although the junta is representing Myanmar at the ICJ, the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) asserted that itself is the legitimate representative of the country after it had officially recognized the ICJ’s jurisdiction: “pledged to withdraw all of the preliminary objections, and promised to cooperate with the proceedings.” [Radio Free Asia] [The Diplomat] [Human Rights Watch]
Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi denies electoral fraud charges (cmsk) Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has denied electoral fraud charges and pleaded “not guilty” at a closed-door trial in Naypyitaw Prison, where Kyi was put under solitary confinement in late June. This was the first time Kyi testified in court on charges filed under Article 130(a) of the Penal Code which accuses Kyi of influencing the election commission in the lead up to her party’s landslide victory in the November 2020 general election. Further, a conviction in the case could reportedly lead to the dissolution of Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party and prevention of its participation in the national elections, which are being scheduled and organized by the junta for 2023. The election fraud charge was filed last November by the state Election Commission, whose members were appointed by the Myanmar military junta. The election fraud charges are one among a total of 11 charges that Kyi is facing. Whilst the penalty for the election fraud offense is three years’ imprisonment, conviction of all charges could lead up to a 150 year prison sentence for Kyi. Thus far, she has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for illegally importing and possessing of walkie-talkies, violation of covid restrictions, sedition and corruption. As for the election fraud charge, the judge has adjourned Kyi’s trial for late July. [Arab News] [The Irrawaddy] [The Diplomat]
Myanmar: Military arrests and hands out more life, death sentences to opponents (cmsk/jp) Military tribunals carry on handing life and death sentences to opposition supporters. In mid-July, three members of the overthrown National League for Democracy Party (NLD), including ousted Member of Parliament Petel Aung and two others, were reportedly sentenced to life in prison. The same prison’s court also sentenced three civilians to death under Section 302 (1) (b) of the Penal Code for murder, according a source. The PKPF also reported that Petel Aung was arrested in his capacity as a People’s Defense Force leader on July 30, 2021, under the charges of illegal association, murder, and possession of illegal firearms.
The school, Kaung for You Education, which is endorsed by the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), was previously accused of leaking the private information of its students causing families to receive threatening calls. In response, the deputy education minister of the NUG, Ja Htoi Pan, posted on her Facebook page that the education ministry is investigating the leak of students' personal information and that the Kaung for You administration team has acknowledged management deficiencies. The NUG Ministry of Education will soon release a notice regarding Kaung for You and continue to secure online schools. [The Irrawaddy] [We Bring Net] [The Irrawaddy, Facebook, in Burmese] As of July 9, in Shan and Kayah States, 117 people were under trial and another 140 had already been sentenced to prison, according to the PKPF. Further, 114 people were sentenced to death by various military tribunals in Yangon between February 1, 2021 and May 19, 2022. Of these, 78 received sentences ranging from seven years to life in prison. The military is seen to be threatening the public with death sentences and long prison sentences, which are also viewed as being disproportionate to alleged crimes for which people have been arrested. [Radio Free Asia]
Myanmar: Nearly 50 ousted party members killed since coup; more than 900 arrested (cmsk) Nearly 50 members, including three Members of Parliament (MPs) of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party, have been killed since the 2021 military coup. An additional 900 party members were also arrested over the same period, claims the NLD-owned Human Rights Record Group. A spokesman for the group told Radio Free Asia that among the 48 killed, eleven died in detention, eight whilst in prison, and 29 (including the three MPs) were arbitrarily killed. Moreover, some were killed on mere accusations of being party members, according to civilian reports to the NLD’s right’s group. Radio Free Asia spoke with the colleague of an MP whose body was found soon after his arrest in early July. Arguing that the military was completely inhumane, the colleague detailed the horrific conditions under which the remains of the body were discovered. Meanwhile, a Yangon NLD leader underscored how ordinary party members, those accused of being party members, and ordinary activists had become victims of the junta’s vengeance and terror. The NLD group also reports that at least 920 MPs who won seats in the 2020 general election have been arrested or detained since the coup (including the three who were killed) and 109 who remain in custody. Of those who were arrested or detained, 20 MPs reportedly pledged to the junta that they would give up politics; those no longer in detention have reportedly fled to safety. According to an analyst, the military wants to wipe out any chances of NLD members re-entering politics, which explains the alleged junta atrocities. The NLD’s Human Rights Record Group also alleges that the military regime has killed 2,636 people and arrested at least 9,469 anti-junta activists since the coup. [Radio Free Asia]
Myanmar: Military authorities arrest 10 more lawyers defending political opponents (cmsk) In the first half of July, the Myanmar authorities arrested ten lawyers defending ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders and anti-regime supporters. The arrests reportedly include two lawyers from the Tun Law firm in Mandalay. The lawyers’ whereabouts are currently unknown. In a similar case, in late June, the lawyer of ousted Mandalay Chief Minister and NLD vice chairman Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, who is currently on trial under corruption charges, was arrested along with two other lawyers representing anti-regime protestors. Further, in April, the first lawyer representing Maung was also arrested and charged with Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law for allegedly financing a local resistance group. If convicted, the lawyer could face up to ten years in prison. According to rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, as of July 8, at least 40 lawyers have been arrested since last year’s coup. Of these, over 30 remain in prison. Many have reportedly been charged with incitement or terrorism. [The Irrawaddy] [AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1]
Myanmar: Central Bank orders enterprises and banks to suspend foreign loan repayments (jp) The central bank in Myanmar issued a directive on July 13 instructing local enterprises and banks to halt and reschedule repayment of foreign loans. Critics believe that this is the bank’s latest attempt to gain control over foreign currency flows. The central bank reported in a statement that according to foreign currency legislation and foreign currency management guidelines, the repayment of foreign loans, including principal and interest, shall be deferred, and licensed banks should renegotiate with clients about the repayment schedule. [Channel News Asia] [The Au Times] [Bloomberg]
Myanmar: Ten thousand civilians flee Sagaing as a series of explosions rocks Yangon (cmsk): A series of five separate explosions rocked Yangon on June 11 and 12. One the blasts occurred at the house of Zin Zin Hlaing, elder sister of junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing. Resistance groups known as the Federal Liberation Army and the Union of Myanmar Civil Defense claimed responsibility for the attack. Separately, in an explosion in Yangon’s Sanchaung township, two women were killed and nine injured. No group has taken responsibility for the incident, however there is speculation that the resistance People’s Defense Forces (PDF) were trying to target a police check-post close to the site of the explosion. Further, at least six junta officials including a judge and an army captain were assassinated in Yangon this week. [The Irrawaddy 1] [Radio Free Asia 1][The Irrawaddy 2] [Myanmar Now 1] Moreover, military air strikes and raids on four villages in Sagaing region killed more civilians and forced 10,000 people from a dozen villages to flee their homes. The incident reportedly followed the defection of three military soldiers. Meanwhile, in the same area, 30 Myanmar junta soldiers were reportedly killed when a combined force of PDF fighters and ethnic Chin resistance groups attacked a military detachment over the course of three days while the junta executed four civilians during an indiscriminate village raid. Further attacks resulted in over 28 civilians detained and 120 houses set on fire. [The Irrawaddy 2] [The Irrawaddy 4] [The Irrawaddy 5] [Myanmar Now 2] On the same line, in Karen State, more than a dozen junta soldiers were killed in ongoing clashes with resistance forces. [The Irrawaddy 6] [The Irrawaddy 7] [The Irrawaddy 8] Further, in the northernmost state of Kachin, clashes continued for a second day (on June 18) between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The military also allegedly carried out air raids and artillery attacks causing local residents to flee. The number of civilian casualties is not yet available. [The Irrawaddy 9] [Myanmar Now 3]
The Philippines: UN rapporteur urges President Marcos Jr. to drop libel charges against prominent journalist (bs) Following the lost appeal against a cyber libel conviction of journalist Maria Ressa, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression appealed to new Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to drop the charges against Ressa, reconsider the decisions that convicts news platform Rappler and other online news platforms in the Philippines, and investigate all attacks and killings of journalists. Without surprise, the ruling against the journalist came only two weeks after the Philippines’ authorities ordered the shutting down of Rappler. The rapporteur also criticized the libel law in the country as “undemocratic.” [United Nations] These moves have quickly sparked worries among activists and citizens who fear that Marcos Jr’s new presidency might “worsen the situation for human rights and freedom of speech in the country.” [The Guardian]
The Philippines: Peace engagements with local militant groups show successful results (bs) The Philippines’ government renewed its commitment to engage in peace negotiation with communist groups by continuing with the implementation of the localized peace engagement (LPE). According to local sources, peace talks have been initiated since the Corazon Aquino administration in 1986. Further, the LPE is believed to be an effective method to building mutual trust between the Philippines’ government and communist rebels while strengthening the power of regional peace councils, made of provincial and local government units, which aim to tackle local terrorism. [Philippine News Agency] Meanwhile, another case of long-lasting peace talks ended with a success. The peacekeeping force International Monitoring Team (IMT), which was in charge of overseeing a ceasefire agreement between the Philippines and former Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas, ended its term and departed the country in June. The IMT was assigned to monitor the southern Mindanao region for about 20 years. The decision to leave came after, in 2014, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace agreement with the government terminating its separatist insurgency in the region. [Benar News]
Thailand: No-confidence debate kicks off (bs/td) On July 19, the Thai lawmakers began a four-day long no-confidence debate to decide on the future of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o cha and 10 of his Cabinet members who are accused of corruption and economic mismanagement by the opposition. The lower house is scheduled to vote on June 23. On its first day, the debate began with the main opposition Pheu Thai Party’s leader pointing out the government's flaws in mismanaging state finances causing the broadening of the wealth gap among the population. The opposition also moved critics on Prayuth’s alleged negligence in tackling corruption in government agencies. In the same light, the so-called Group of 16 MPs from micro-parties have been debating on whether they should vote in favor of the Prime Minister and the other ten Cabinet Ministers or join the opposition parties in voting against them. Overall, it is evident that the government’s popularity is constantly waning in the lead up to the next general election amidst a slew of socio-economic and political crises. Nonetheless, the majority of 16 MPs from minor parties is likely to be adamant in its support to the government. [ABC News] [Bangkok Post][Thai Enquirer]
Thailand: Opposition party wins provincial by-election despite vote-buying allegations (td) The opposition Seri Ruam Thai (Thai Liberal) Party won the by-election in Constituency 4 of the northern province of Lampang defeating its rival candidate from the Setthakij Thai (Thai Economic) Party. This victory dealt a blow to the Setthakij Thai Party so that it had to reconsider its political stance, i.e., whether it should remain a coalition party of the incumbent government whose popularity is waning. Before its success, the Seri Ruam Thai Party was accused of vote buying in the lead up to the by-election. In this regard, the party leader said he would submit all the related evidence he has to the Election Commission to refute an allegation of election fraud. Overall, the recent by-election in Lampang followed a verdict of the Supreme Court’s Division for Election Cases to issue a yellow card to a former MP for the province from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party due to his involvement in an election fraud. [Thai PBS World 1][Thai PBS World 2]
Thailand: Main opposition party announces candidates for Bangkok constituencies in upcoming general election (td) In preparation for the upcoming general election, the opposition Pheu Thai Party announced its first 21 candidates who will run for 33 constituencies in Bangkok. Although the party has already announced its plan, the exact number of constituencies has yet to be formally announced as it is pending the final demarcation of constituency boundaries from the Election Commission. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand: Former deputy leader of Democrat Party faces graft-related allegations (td) The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found grounds to move corruption allegations against a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party. The politician has allegedly demanded USD 820,000 in kickbacks in connection with a state utility construction project back in 2013-2014. The NACC alleges a violation of Section 149 and Section 157 of the Criminal Act and Section 123/1 of the Anti-Corruption Act. That time, he was a Democrat MP for Ubon Ratchathani, while also serving as a member of a House committee in charge of scrutinizing the national budget bill in 2014. The MP’s actions were also previously scrutinized with regards to a case of rotten canned fish distribution to flood victims in the southern Thai province of Phatthalung, which led to his resignation as social development and human security minister in 2009. Further, he had also resigned from the party in 2021. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand: Parliament passes chemical castration bill (td) The parliament has passed the third reading of the chemical castration bill which would allow the voluntary injections of chemical castration to recidivists to reduce their testosterone levels upon the approval of two doctors. The bill is expected to help law enforcement officers tackle sex crimes more effectively. After the lower house of representatives passed the bill in March, the Senate approval followed and opened the doors to the Cabinet to proceed with a final deliberation prior to royal endorsement. Once successful, criminals could have their sentences reduced. Nonetheless, the accused would be monitored for 10 years with the support of electronic monitoring bracelets. The move sparked critics. The Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation argued that offenders should be rehabilitated instead of execution or injection to cope with sex crimes in the long run. Between 2013-2020, there were 4,848 recidivists in sex-related crimes of 16,413 convicted offenders released from prison. [Bangkok Post][Reuters]
Thailand: Bangkok Councilor resigns from opposition party following sexual offense charges (td) A Bangkok Councilor and Move Forward Party (MFP) member resigned from the party following his charges of sexual harassment. Nevertheless, he is set to continue serving as city councilor for Sathorn district amidst the public criticisms. Following him pleading not guilty, the court granted him a release on bail with a surety of 100,000 baht (about USD 2,731), under the conditions that he must not leave the country, and keep afar from the witnesses involved in the case. According to the party, the councilor would undergo disciplinary investigation by a group of committees. In addition, the MFP has urged the city councilor to step down from his post to take political responsibility, which would help the party maintain its credibility as well. Overall, he vows to fight back all the plaintiffs as he reiterates his innocence. In the meantime, a network of civil groups responsible for monitoring sexual misconduct calls on every political party to inspect potential candidates as well as political officer holders. [Bangkok Post 1][Bangkok Post 2][Bangkok Post 3]
Thailand: Government soon to resume controversial Chana industrial project (td) Following the Cabinet’s decision to resume the Chana industrial project, the government has reiterated its willingness to consider the public criticism and demands on the matter. Protests against the Chana project, which includes the transformation of 16,800 rai of land into an energy industry complex, gas power plants, and deep-water seaport, have been ongoing since December, 2021. Demonstrators have been requesting a suspension of the construction until the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in addition to criticizing the fact that locals will be expropriated of their lands if the project moves forward. Since the proposal was first put forward by the government in 2016, political activists and environmentalists have constantly demanded the government to allow for inclusive public hearings. Expectedly, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) should have arranged public forums to discuss the Chana project with all of the local stakeholders to allay their concerns. Nonetheless, only residents from three sub-districts nearby the project site were allowed to take part. Overall, in light of civil demonstrations that first broke out in 2020, tensions between the government and local activists have all but ameliorated. While the local residents expect the development project to fit into the local context through better public participation, the government is likely to proceed with the original plan to stimulate the southern economy. [Bangkok Post 1][Bangkok Post 2][AiR No. 50, December/2021, 2]
Vietnam: Government pushed to tighten abortion regulations (bs/ntan) Following the United State Supreme Court’s decision to end the right to abortion, the Vietnamese government is facing strong pressures to adopt a more conservative approach to the issue. The critics came as Vietnam has the world’s second-highest abortion rate and has one of the world’s most liberal abortion laws. This was supported by the government, which, before 2020, had imposed a ban on having a third child to civil servants and public sector employers. To date, the ban still applies to Communist party members. In early June, the parliament discussed a bill on the criminalization of sex-selective abortion. The practice seems to be common in Vietnam as, due to cultural beliefs, the citizens tend to prefer sons over daughters. [The Diplomat] International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia G20 Finance Ministers unable to make communique, Ukraine war an obstacle (dbk/jvk) The G20’s finance ministers met in Bali on July 15-16 for a summit that aimed to tackle issues in the global economy. The forum intended to come up with concrete action on global food insecurity and a possible fertilizer crisis. During the meeting, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati cited G20’s success in policy coordination on finance and health and urged coordination on food security challenges. [Reuters] However numerous rifts over the war in Ukraine meant that a final communique was not reached, and instead a 14-paragraph “chair’s summary” was published. Said rifts were around the globally soaring inflation, and food and goods export shortages. The Indonesian minister said that most of the paragraphs have strong support from the members, however the issues faced caused a regrettable canceling of the communique. Western countries appeared to take one stance, while Russia and China faced the other, with America blaming the global uncertainty on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite these conflicts, not all analysts view the summit as a failure. Deni Friawan, an economic researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said that important issues were raised, and actions moved forward, like in the issue of attention to the global food crisis. “The cancellation of this communique was very unfortunate, but also understandable because of the tension that exists between the West and Russia and China,” Friawan said. Friawan also said that people should remove the expectation that a summit will succeed or fail, and rather take the meetings for what they cover and produce. He also warned that this might cause a downward turning spiral for our major G20 countries. [Al Jazeera] [DW News] [China Global Television Network] [Global Times]
Leaders of India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, United States meet virtually for I2U2 summit (sg) The leaders of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States met virtually on July 14 for the first time under the framework of the quadrilateral forum called I2U2. The host, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and US President Joe Biden met in person in Jerusalem, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit virtually, along with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The discussions centered on issues pertaining to the global food security crisis and the expansion of clean energy. [The Hindu] The I2U2 grouping first convened last October with a virtual meeting of foreign ministers. Many analysts see the new initiative as a partner to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a four-nation grouping comprising the US, Australia, Japan, and India. However, contrary to the common desire of the Quad member states to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, the I2U2 is set to focus mainly on economic contacts and will bolster ties between Washington's partners in the East. India shares close partnerships with all I2U2 nations. The UAE for example represents a significant source of oil imports to India and more than 3 million Indians currently live in the UAE, representing almost a third of the UAE‘s labor force. The US, in turn, represents one of India's largest trading partners and with Israel, New Delhi shares close defense cooperation as Israel also exports a substantial number of arms to India. [The New York Times, $] Prime Minister Modi revealed that the grouping had achieved a positive plan, including a framework with multiple joint projects in various sectors. This agenda includes a significant USD 2 billion investment by the UAE to develop a series of integrated food parks in India. According to the statement, the US and Israeli private sectors will provide expertise to contribute to the project's overall sustainability. The flagship project will bolster South Asia and the Middle East's food security. [Hindustan Times] Apart from food security, the grouping is also looking to expand its influence into the five other non-security areas: energy, health, space, transportation, and water. A second project announced at the summit would focus on developing renewable energy in India. This includes a 300MW hybrid renewable energy project in the west Indian state of Gujarat. [The Indian Express] With this momentum, the I2U2 looks set to hail in a new era of cooperation between US partners in the region. Its role in countering Chinese influence might seem apparent at first sight. At the same time, the US is pushing to build the group against Iranian influence in this part of the world. By grouping Israel and the UAE, the US hopes to strengthen relations that only came to exist in 2020, when the two countries first entered diplomatic relations with each other. India's participation also signals hesitance to seek closer ties with Iran; the two countries previously shared closer ties. [Foreign Policy, $]
Pakistan, IMF reach preliminary agreement on USD 6 billion bailout program (sg/ha/lm) Pakistan has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive a USD 6 billion loan package originally signed in 2019. The development comes after Pakistan raised petroleum and energy prices; strict conditions set out by the IMF. It also comes after the two sides had reached a broad agreement last month to revive the program, with Pakistan sending a draft of economic targets to the global lender on June 28. The funds from the Washington-based lender will help prevent a monetary default in Pakistan and mark a major win for the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. [PBS] The staff-level agreement comes amid Pakistan’s worst economic woes in decades, with foreign reserves plummeting below USD 10 billion. The country requires at least USD 41 billion through June next year to keep the foreign-exchange stock at a “respectable” level and repay debts, the finance minister has said. [Al Jazeera] To boost the economy and to fulfill IMF conditions, the budget for this fiscal year includes critical measures such as raising taxes on the rich and on banks and privatizing government assets to increase revenue and limit spending. [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]. Since coming into power, the current government has already raised the prices of petroleum products by about 70 percent [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]. Pakistan entered the deal with the IMF in 2019; however, due to political and economic issues, only half the funds had been distributed. The government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan had significantly cut electricity and fuel prices amid rising energy prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, this shift threw off fiscal targets and stalled the program. [Dawn] The agreement announced on July 14 comes after Pakistan proved a primary budget surplus of 0.4 percent of GDP or around USD 700 million, a significant target set out by the IMF. Furthermore, the staff-level deal includes an extension of approximately USD 1 billion, bringing the total amount to around USD 7 billion. The resumption of the IMF loan means Islamabad will have easier access to monetary funds from other international lenders, such as the Asian Development Bank. [Bloomberg] [Voice of America] Pakistan has contacted other nations to aid its economic difficulties, including close partner China. Beijing financed a USD 2.3 billion loan to Pakistan last month. Pakistan’s tight-knit partnership with China has angered the IMF, which regards payments to Chinese energy producers in Pakistan as excessively high. The lender has even considered a loan ban from China as a condition of the agreement. [NDTV] [Republic World] At the same time, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail is optimistic to get USD 4 billion from friendly countries by the end of the current month. According to Ismail, the government is expecting a friendly country to provide USD 1.2 billion oil facility on deferred payment. While another friendly country will invest between USD 1.5 billion to 2 billion in stocks. The government is also expecting to receive USD 3.5 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), USD 2.5 billion from the World Bank and USD 400-500 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the current fiscal year. [Gulf News] [Reuters]
Vietnam has lowest proportion of youths without secondary education level skills in Asia, UNICEF finds (sg) Vietnam has the lowest proportion of youths aged between 15 and 24 without secondary education level skills in Asia, according to a UNICEF report released on July 15 for World Youth Skills Day. The report compiled by UNICEF and the UN Education Commission bases its data on school students meeting literacy and numeracy benchmarks in multiple educational assessments. Based on the data, only 14.5 percent of Vietnamese do not possess adequate secondary education skills. In comparison, most Southeast Asian countries feature lower statistics between 50 percent and 70 percent, with Myanmar at 80 percent and Timor-Leste at more than 95 percent. East Asian countries generally perform better with China, Japan, and South Korea, all similar sharing figures of around 20 percent. South Asia performs worst among all Asian regions, with the highest-ranking Bangladesh at just under 60 percent, while India and Pakistan come in at 73 percent and 85 percent, respectively. [Skills Clock] UNICEF stresses that 61 percent of global youth remain without secondary education level skills. The impact is most pronounced in low-income income countries where three-quarters of youth fail in skill assessments. [UNICEF]
Cargo plane carrying defense equipment from Serbia to Bangladesh crashes in Greece (sg) A Ukrainian-owned-and-operated cargo plane carrying defense equipment – including mortar shells for the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard of Bangladesh – from Serbia crashed on July 16 near the Greek city of Kavala. [ABC News] [Bloomberg, $] [Radio Free Europe] Greece later protested to Serbia and Ukraine for not being timely informed about the munitions cargo on board the aircraft. [Reuters]
US, Australia and New Zealand continue attempts to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific (jw) At the Pacific Islands Forum held between July 11 and July 14 in the Fijian capital Suva, China’s role in the region was one of the key topics discussed. Even though the Pacific Islands Forum typically consists of 18 member states, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Cook Islands did not send a representative to the meeting because of divisions in the forum, the COVID-19 pandemic problems or domestic issues. Furthermore, the US and China, which have traditionally participated, were disinvited like all other “dialogue members”, to ensure that “Pacific leaders had space to resolve issues and decide on their key priorities without having to simultaneously navigate meetings with powerful outside players jostling for influence”, according to a Pacific Island source cited by ABC Australia. [ABC Australia] [The Diplomat 1] Although an official statement on the outcome of the forum has not yet been released, a major breakthrough was not reached, as contentious points like Australia’s dependence on coal that drives climate change forward or Chinese efforts to convince some members of the Pacific Islands to sign a wide-ranging agreement on economic and security cooperation were shelved for another day. However, the members agreed to further pursue action against climate change, pushing for a doubling of funding for developing countries affected by climate change, taking action at the International Court of Justice and committing to sourcing all of their energy from renewables. [Reuters 1] [The Diplomat 2] [The Guardian] Even though the US was told not to attend the forum, Vice President of the US Kamala Harris could hold a video speech due to a personal invitation by Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama who chairs the forum. In her speech, Harris vowed to heavily increase US presence in and support for the region, planning to triple the funding for fisheries assistance to USD 60 million a year. Furthermore, Harris proposed new embassies in Kiribati and Tonga and announced that the US would appoint the first-ever United States Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum and return Peace Corps volunteers to the region. Harris also acknowledged that the US neglected the region in previous years and promised to change. The vice president’s promises of increased engagement come after China has stepped up its diplomacy in the region, signing many bilateral deals with Pacific nations but failing to secure a large agreement with multiple regional players amid warnings and skepticism of countries like the Federal States of Micronesia [see AiR No. 22, May/2022, 5]. The US as well as Australia and New Zealand are now trying to catch up with China, offering the Pacific Island nations a second option to cooperating closely with China. Reacting to the announcements made by Harris, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that “when pursuing cooperation with the island countries, all countries should follow the principle of openness, inclusiveness and not target any third party or harm their interests.” Furthermore, China hosted a counter-meeting on the last day of the Forum, inviting officials, leaders of political parties and businesspeople from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to discuss increased economic cooperation with China. Liu Jianchao, head of China’s International Liaison Department reassured the attendees that China is willing to work together with Pacific nations under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to tackle issues such as climate change. [Associated Press] [Reuters 2] [South China Morning Post] [White House] Australia also engaged the Pacific Islands diplomatically, with Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese meeting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in person for the first time since he assumed office. Relations between the two countries were strained as the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China that prompted concerns about an increased Chinese military presence in the region [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]. At the forum, Sogavare reiterated that the security pact would not lead to the development of a Chinese military base on the Solomon Islands and spoke of the pacific nations as a “family”. Albanese also displayed that he aims to achieve closer ties again, telling Sogavare that he wishes to “develop […] relationships of trust and mutual understanding.” [Reuters 3] [Sky News Australia] New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also held a meeting with Sogavare, saying after the meeting that she “will constantly speak on the priorities New Zealand has” and will retain close communication with all Pacific neighbors as the defense strategy of one country impacts all the others. Ardern added that New Zealand itself holds “a very strong view on militarization of the region” [New Zealand Herald]
Bangladesh, Cambodia top diplomats hold diplomatic talks (bs) On a courtesy call between Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the diplomats praised their countries’ bilateral relations and committed to strengthen their future partnerships. During the call, Momen invited Sen to visit Bangladesh in 2023 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. While discussing regional issues, Momen also urged the Cambodian Prime Minister as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s chair to speed up the repatriation of stranded Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar. Furthermore, the parties also discussed global issues such as the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine War stressing their concerns over the alarming food and energy shortages. Meanwhile, on July 14-16, Bangladesh-Cambodia bilateral talks between Foreign Minister Momen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn were held in Cambodia. While similar discussions were held, the foreign ministers also agreed on enhancing cooperation in trade, commerce, investment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food security, manpower, ICT, tourism, and cultural exchange among others. [Dhaka Tribune] [The Phnom Penh Post]
Cambodia, Thailand sign security MoU to combat transnational technology crimes (td) Following ongoing bilateral efforts to tackle transnational technology crimes, Cambodia and Thailand have officially signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a view to streamline cooperation on the suppression of call center and hybrid scam gangs. Online gambling was also included. The MoU is expected to enhance the increasing exchange of information between the two parties, knowledge, and technical expertise, as well as closer collaboration in the process of investigation and gathering of evidence to be used in the legal proceedings against perpetrators, and other forms of cooperation. That said, the parties pinned their hopes on the MoU to ensure effectiveness of tackling cyberthreats for mutual benefits. [AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2][Khmer Times]
China protests as US military vessels sail through the South China Sea (jw) The US Navy sent the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold through the South China Sea on July 13 and July 15, which sailed close to the Paracel Islands. The islands are controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. According to a statement released by the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, the destroyer was on a patrol, asserting “navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law”. As China’s claims in the region are unlawful according to a 2016 ruling of an international tribunal that China refuses to accept, the US frequently carries out so-called “Freedom of Navigation Operations”, purposefully ignoring China’s warnings against passage through the contested waterways. The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command presented its view on the incidents, stating that the destroyer “seriously violated China's sovereignty and security by illegally entering China's territorial waters”, and that the Chinese military scrambled “sea and air forces to follow, monitor, warn and drive away” the ship. [Associated Press] [Reuters 1] [Reuters 2] [US Navy 7th Fleet 1] The US navy is also trying to show more presence in the region overall, sending the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group to operate in the South China Sea. According to the US Navy 7th Fleet, the carrier fleet is conducting “maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units”. The presence of the Fleet is meant to demonstrate the US support for “a free and open Indo-Pacific region.” On July 11, the sixth anniversary of the abovementioned international tribune, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the US would defend its ally the Philippines in case of a Chinese attack in the South China Sea. Blinken urged China to “abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior” [Reuters 3] [Reuters 4] [US Navy 7th Fleet 2]
China raises doubts over US proposal of price cap on Russian oil (jw) On July 14, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that the proposal of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to put a price cap on Russian oil would be “complicated” and could worsen the Ukrainian crisis. According to the Ministry, countries should focus on pursuing peace talks instead. The idea of a price cap involves multiple countries working together to build a cartel that buys Russian oil at a price that is high enough to render the Russian oil industry sustainable but low enough to ensure that the revenue made from exporting oil does not contribute to funding the Ukraine war in a major way. However, China and India, the two countries currently benefitting the most from importing record amounts of discounted Russian oil, are currently not backing the idea. [Markets Insider] [The New York Times] [Washington Examiner] Hoping to gather more domestic and international support for her idea, Yellen stated that a price cap would not only reduce the funding for Russian war efforts in Ukraine but also reduce energy prices and inflation. To the US, this is a pressing issue as inflation soared to a 40-year high of 9.1 percent at the beginning of July. [CNBC] [Reuters]
China willing to “recalibrate” relationship with Australia as danger of confrontation in South China Sea increases (jw) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on July 14 that China is willing to “recalibrate” its ties with Australia but demanded that the country corrects its understanding of China instead of hyping up differences between the two nations. Furthermore, Wang called on Australia to refrain from joining other nations that try to contain China. Wang’s statement comes a week after he met the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2] in a first foreign ministers’ meeting after a three-year freeze of high-level diplomatic exchange prompted by the previous conservative Australian government pursuing a harsher course on China, banning Huawei’s 5G gear and calling for an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, China imposed punitive tariffs which have not yet been cut and also put a strain on relations with the current Labor government under newly elected Prime Minister Antony Albanese. According to Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, a key step toward normalization of relations would entail China ending its ban on Australian coal imports. [Al Jazeera] [Reuters] [South China Morning Post] Furthermore, disputes over the South China Sea, present a danger to bilateral relations, according to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. As China is heavily building up its military, Marles warned of “China's disruptive and destabilizing actions” and claimed that there is an increased risk of military confrontation. Both China and Australia are trying to be present in the South China Sea which leads to dangerous encounters, such as the interception of an Australian jet by a Chinese aircraft in May [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]. [ABC News Australia]
US considers limiting exports of semiconductor chips to China (jw) According to Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez, the US is currently reviewing its export policy on semiconductor chips to ensure that China cannot extract technical know-how of US industries. The remarks come as US lawmakers attempt to finalize a “China competitiveness bill” that includes billions of funding for research, design and manufacturing initiatives of the US semiconductor industry. Different versions of the bill have been approved by the Senate and House, leading to tedious reconciliation efforts between Republicans and Democrats. However, lawmakers are now expected to vote on a finalized bill soon in order to finish the legislative process before Congress goes on its annual recess in August. [CNBC] [Reuters]
China presses UN Security Council to ban arms sales to Haiti (jw) On July 15, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on all countries to refrain from selling small arms, light weapons and ammunition to Haiti, which is suffering from gang violence and surging crime one year after the country’s president Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and an earthquake killed over 2000 people. The UN resolution also involves a one-year extension of the UN political mission to Haiti which is aimed at fostering political stability and human rights protection. Negotiations on the resolution were prolonged as China demanded a harsher stance on Haiti, including a complete arms embargo and the possibility of sanctions on certain individuals within 30 days after adopting the resolutions. China’s political attitude toward Haiti is largely determined by the Caribbean country upholding diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of China. [Associated Press] [France 24]
China and Vietnam agree to deepen economic cooperation, properly handle South China Sea disputes (jw) In a July 13 meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vietnam’s Standing Deputy Prime Minster Pham Binh Minh, both parties agreed to enhance their economic cooperation and establish mechanisms to effectively deal with conflicts arising over disputed areas in the South China Sea. According to Chinese media, China and Vietnam agreed to “further strengthen the docking of development strategies and speed up cooperation” under the Belt and Road Initiative. Discussion touched on the contentious issue of illegal fishing in the South China Sea, with both sides agreeing to accelerate the establishment of a hotline to discuss unexpected fishing activities. Furthermore, they agreed to cooperate on search and rescue missions in the South China Sea. Despite expressing interest to deepen cooperation, Vietnam’s representatives at the meeting also voiced their frustration over trade imbalances and obstacles to cross-border trade, urging China to open up more for Vietnam’s exports, speed up cooperation projects and cut travel restrictions that were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [CGTN] [South China Morning Post]
UK considers cutting anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese steel (jw) As less steel is available in the UK due to supply chain issues related to the Ukraine war, Britain’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) proposed cutting tariffs on Chinese high-fatigue performance reinforcement bars (called “rebar”) that were imposed in 2016 because of price dumping. Rebar is mostly used in construction. According to TRA Chief Executive Oliver Griffiths, “the impact [of higher prices] on the British economy […] would significantly outweigh the impact [of removing tariffs] on the sole UK producer of rebar”. The recommendation of the TRA comes less than two weeks after China decided to retain tariffs on steel fasteners exported by the UK [see AiR No. 27, July/2022, 1]. [Reuters]
China condemns Taiwanese Vice President’s attendance of funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe (sb) On July 11, Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te travelled to Japan to attend the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had been assassinated days earlier [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2], making him the most senior Taiwan official to visit Japan in five decades. In 1972, Japan severed ties with Taiwan in 1972 to establish relations with China. The move is indicative deepening relations between Taipei and Tokyo in the face of heightened tensions in their relations with China. In response, China’s foreign ministry condemned Lai’s visit to Japan, accusing Taiwan of using the death of the former Prime Minister “to engage in political manipulation.” [Japan Today] [CGTN] Meanwhile, a delegation consisting of lawmakers of Lai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is set to visit Japan in August. The visit aims to promote parliamentary exchange and push for Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which is ked by Japan and for a Japanese version of the 2018 U.S. Taiwan Travel Act, which allows for allows high-level visits between Taiwanese and U.S. government officials. [Focus Taiwan]
China warns Japan of revision of its pacifist constitutions (sb/dql) China’s Foreign Ministry has warned Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of his plans of amending of Japan’s pacifist constitution, calling on him to “earnestly learn the lessons of history, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete actions.” The warning comes in response to the landslide victory which Kishida’s party, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, (LDP), secured in the recent House of Councillors election [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2] and after which Kishida vowed to continue to push for a revision of the war-renouncing article 9 of the constitution. The LDP and other political parties in favor of revising are now commanding the two-thirds majority in both Houses of the Diet necessary for such an amendment. [Foreign Ministry, China] [The Mainichi 1] The revision of article 9 has been a long-standing political goal of the LDP, vehemently advocated by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It prohibits the use of force as a means to settling international disputes. Further, it forbids Japan to maintaining an army, navy or air force, making – in strict legal terms – Japan’s Self Defense Forces extensions of the national police force. However, the issue remains highly divisive in the Japanese society, even within the ruling coalition, as reflected in a recent survey according to which about 70 percent of the winners of the House of Councillors election from Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition partner, voiced opposition to revising article 9. [The Mainichi 2]
Amid strained relations, India sees record imports from China (rk) India has imported goods from its neighbour China worth USD 57.50 billion in the first half of the current calendar year. Seeing a highly imbalanced bilateral trade, the country could export goods worth only USD 9.50 billion. The trade numbers have come amid the two sides are going to hold military level talks for the 16th time since the deadly June 2020 clash at the disputed border, killing 20 Indian soldiers while China had not revealed its casualties. [The Hindu]
Indian Prime Minister Modi in phone call with Dutch counterpart Rutte (sg) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte discussed bilateral ties in a phone call on July 13. The two leaders exchanged their views on issues such as cooperation in agriculture and technology, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and their joint strategic partnership on water, which was launched last year. [ANI] [The Times of India] The Netherlands and India share close cooperation, with the two leaders frequently meeting, most recently in a virtual session in March this year.
Indonesia stops sending domestic workers to Malaysia after alleged violation of bilateral agreement (tp) On July 13, the Indonesian ambassador announced a temporary halt in sending Indonesian workers to Malaysia citing a violation between the countries' recruitment agreement further emphasizing the intrinsic human rights issue. The decision was reportedly made in response to Malaysian authorities' continued usage of the online recruitment system for domestic work:- the Immigration Department's System Maid Online (SMO), which was previously linked to the allegation of trafficking and forced labor. Indonesia considers the practice to be a direct violation of the previous terms of the agreement, which clearly stated that recruitment of Indonesian workers could only be done through the One Channel System (OCS) under the Indonesian government’s oversight. [Reuters] Similarly, there is growing concern about foreign workers rights, particularly about the treatment of domestic workers in Malaysia. Numerous reports have surfaced over the years of maids being mistreated or being forced to work without a salary. Before the announcement, the process of sending maids from Indonesia was already notoriously slow, fueling speculation that Indonesia might aim to stop sending maids to Malaysia entirely. [The Star 1] Additionally, Malaysia is a country that heavily relies on foreign workers in various fields. Experts believe that the suspension of Indonesian workers might further worsen economic recovery, as Malaysia is currently suffering from a labor shortage particularly in the palm oil industry, of which Malaysia is considered as the second largest exporter in the world. [The Star 2] Malaysia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the protection of migrant workers on April 1 after over 4 years of negotiations. The agreement outlines the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia and ensures the implementation of recruitment mechanisms. [AiR No. 14, April/2022, 1]
Indonesia repatriates domestic worker facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia (jvk) On July 10, Indonesia facilitated the repatriation of an Indonesian domestic worker who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. The worker was found guilty of homicide in 2019 by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia for killing the employer's child. Reportedly, prior to the homicide, the domestic worker had not been allowed to leave the employer’s house for five years, since 2014. During the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh coordinated with relevant agencies in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. There are currently around 177 Indonesian migrant workers in the Embassy’s shelter, facing legal challenges from unpaid work to harassment. [Antara News][KEMLU, in Indonesian]
World Bank offers Indonesia fundings to finance clean energy transition (jvk) On July 14, during a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the World Bank offered Indonesia USD 1.6 billion to finance clean energy projects and food security. The National Development Planning agency has not yet announced financing details and if Indonesia intends to receive the offer. On the same occasion, the World Bank’s delegates suggested that Indonesia increase exports as an effective way to boost the country’s economic growth. Further, Indonesia was also advised to implement structural reforms in the export sector to reduce tariff barriers. [Tempo]
Indonesia, United States launch annual Peacekeeping exercise (jvk) The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), US-INDO Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), and member nations’ personnel are participating in an annual peacekeeping exercise. This year’s Garuda Canti Dharma 2022 (GCD22) is taking place from July 18-31 at the Indonesian Peacekeeping Training Center (PMPP). The event is an annual peacekeeping field training exercise hosted rotationally by TNI and USINDOPACOM. The exercise will work on “common tactics, techniques, and procedures” according to UN doctrines on peacekeeping. [USINDOPACOM]
Japan holds bilateral and multilateral talks to address the challenges caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (sb) Last week Japan held bilateral and multilateral meetings to discuss the impact of the Ukraine conflict, trade, food crisis and energy security. On July 12 U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Tokyo to meet Japan’s Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki for a discussion about the cooperation against Russia’s invasion, free trade, and sustainable energy. Both parts agreed to work together in reducing financial funds to Russia by setting a price cap on Russian oil and decrease war consequences on gas and energy prices. In this meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock a day earlier, both sides vowed to work together to counter Russia’s threat to the rules-based international order and agreed to retain economic sanctions on Moscow. They also agreed to deepen defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and to opposed any "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" and "economic coercion" in the region Indo-Pacific, in an apparent reference to. Lastly, on July 13 a meeting of the Quad group took place in Sydney, attended by the energy ministers of Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India. All four sides agreed to deepen cooperation to promote technological development of clean-burning hydrogen and ammonia as fuels, aimed at strengthening their countries’ energy security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was reportedly not discussed during this first energy meeting of the Quad. On the sidelines of the meeting, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagiuda had a separate conversation with his U.S. and Australian counterparts, with Hagiuda requesting to increase the production of liquefied natural gas to reduce his country’s dependence on Russia in the field. Japan plans to realize net-zero emissions by 2050. The key to this plan is the use of hydrogen and ammonia. In that way the energy reliance on Russia is reduced. [Japan Today 1] [Japan Today2] [The Mainichi] [Kyodo News] [Nikkei Asia]
Japan, Philippines agree on deepening military cooperation (sb) Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi held a phone call on July 12 with the Foreign Minister of the Philippines Enrique Manalo to boost cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to counter China’s growing military assertiveness and activities in the East and South China seas. Both ministers reaffirmed to push for a peaceful resolution of their territorial disputes with Beijing. The day marked the sixth anniversary of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in which the court had rejected China's sweeping claims to contested waters in the South China Sea. [The Mainichi]
Japan, U.S. conduct joint military exercises (sb) Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force has revealed that it conducted joint drills with the United States over the Sea of Japan, the Pacific, and the East China sea earlier this month that involved more than 50 aircraft over, including 20 ASDF fighter jets, 29 fighters and two warplanes of the U.S. Air Force, and a U.S. Navy patrol plane. Furthermore, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy also conducted a joint exercise on July 13 in waters near Japan's southwestern islands. [Kyodo News] The drills came after early July Chinese and Russian warships were spotted maneuvering around Japan. For about twenty days, two guided-missile destroyers and a supply ship from the Chinese navy circled Japan. Russian destroyer, frigate, and supply ships did the same when returning from waters around Taiwan [see Air No. 27, July/2022, 1] Meanwhile, on July 11 the Mayor of the southwestern city of Kanoya announced his intention to agree to a plan of the U.S. military to deploy aircraft including the unmanned surveillance planes MQ-9 at the MSDF's Kanoya Air Base in the city for one year, starting as soon as September. He cited “defense reasons amid the security environment around Japan becoming increasingly severe.” [The Mainichi]
Russia bans Japanese lawmakers from entering the country (dql) Russia has banned 384 Japanese lawmakers of the House of Representatives from entering the country, in retaliatory move against Japan’s sanctions against Russian lawmakers imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Among the banned are former Prime Ministers Taro Aso and Yoshihide Suga. In May Russia’s Foreign Ministry revealed that it had imposed an indefinite entry ban on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and many high-ranking officials. [Aljazeera]
Laos welcomes Thai Army Chief visit to discuss security cooperation (td) On an official visit to Laos, the Thai Defense Minister discussed with his Laos counterpart ways forward to step up security cooperation. Central to their mutual interests was border security, specifically to ensure effectiveness and interoperability in tackling drug trafficking, smuggling of goods, and illegal immigration. Aside from border security discussions, the parties vowed closer cooperation in the areas of agriculture and animal farming. [The Laotian Times][Vientiane Times]
Lao, Vietnamese vice-presidents meet in two-day diplomatic visit (bs/ntan) Vietnam’s Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met her Lao counterpart Bunthong Chitmany on July 17-19 during a meeting in celebration of the Lao-Vietnam 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The parties discussed their strong bilateral relations in various fields including economy and politics. The Vietnamese side also shared her wishes to Laos to effectively tackle current economic challenges while continuing to develop in all sectors. Meanwhile, with an eye to the future, the leaders agreed to further improve their cooperation and to maintain high-level visits. They also vowed to grow their cooperation in defense, security, transportation, education, training, and culture, as well as in trade and investment cooperation. During the two-day meeting, the parties also discussed regional and global issues and agreed to uphold their mutual support at multilateral forums. [Vietnam Plus]
Mongolia signes MoU with UNESCO (dql) The Government of Mongolia and UNESCO have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to achieve three major goals, including enhancing the country’s education system, unlocking the opportunities provided by science, and showcasing Mongolia's unique culture and heritage. The MoU runs until 2029. [PR Newswire]
Myanmar military leader lands in Russia for a ‘private’ visit (cmsk/jp) Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing went on a ‘private visit’ to Russia this week. Notable among a range of meetings was Hlaing’s discussions with officials from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, where the two sides reportedly agreed to deepen bilateral defense cooperation. Russia is already one of Myanmar’s top defense suppliers. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia sold arms worth USD 247 million to Myanmar between 2015 and 2021. It was also reported that the Myanmar military had ordered six SU-30 fighter jets before the 2021 coup; two being delivered in March this year. Other meetings attended by Hlaing were with chairpersons of the Russia-Myanmar Friendship Association, the Russia-ASEAN Economic Council, and representatives from the Rosatom State Corporations of Russia, and Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos. In his meetings Hlaing discussed, among other things, cooperation in economic and education sectors, tourism, and training for military and civilian officials, electric power generation, and nuclear energy production. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the regime’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Rosatom State Corporation. The content of the MoU is unknown. Although nuclear cooperation between the two countries started as early as 2007, Myanmar neither has access to nuclear energy nor a single nuclear scientist at the moment, say analysts. Hlaing’s trip this week follows meetings with Russian officials in Naypyidaw, in June. Amidst an energy and economic crisis in Myanmar, the two sides in June reportedly discussed Russian oil drilling in Myanmar, the construction of a nuclear power plant as well as the possibility of direct exchanges of currencies between their respective central banks, and the purchase of fuel from Russia. Analysts are doubtful about the extent of Russia’s willingness to provide Myanmar with a major energy deal, as well as the junta’s ability to manage any such arrangement, given its financial constraints. Further, according to one observer, cooperation with Russia over a nuclear program would be difficult without China’s support and sufficient foreign currency. Nevertheless, the defense relationship between Myanmar and Russia has benefited the junta. Observers point out that Russian-made missiles (in addition to other weapons) have been used to fight some of the most powerful and well-equipped ethnic armed groups such as the armed wings of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Kachin Independence Organization. Hlaing’s recent visit to Russia emphasizes the Myanmar military’s heavy dependence on Russian technology. Without reliable spare parts, locally produced air-launched munitions and adequately trained personnel to operate Russian equipment, the Myanmar military could face serious challenges, according to an analyst. Furthermore, Hlaing’s visit could be indicative of the junta’s desire to prove the regime’s legitimacy, particularly as it faces acute international isolation. Critics also argue that the visit intentionally followed United States (US) Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Thailand where Blinken threatened to increase international pressure on the Myanmar military dictatorship. Excluding Indonesia, where Hlaing was summoned by ASEAN on account of the coup, Russia is the only other country the junta leader has visited since the February 2021 coup. On the other hand, an absence of reports on any meetings with senior most Russian leaders during the coup leader’s visit this week may indicate that Russia is not yet willing to formally recognize Hlaing or the military regime. In 2021, by allowing Myanmar’s ousted civilian government’s ambassador to keep his seat at the United Nations, Russia (and China) denied formal recognition of the junta. With Hlaing having attended a slew of meetings this week, officials from the two sides are expected to meet again at the ASEAN counterterrorism meeting in Moscow – which is controversially going to be co-chaired by the two countries. [Aljazeera] [Radio Free Asia 1] [Radio Free Asia 2] [Bloomberg] [The Irrawaddy] [The Defense Post] [Reuters][World Nuclear News]
Myanmar expels head of British Embassy for failure to present credentials (jp) On July 13, Pete Vowels, the acting charge d'affaires of the British Embassy in Myanmar, was officially expelled from Myanmar after being barred from entering the country since February for refusing to produce his credentials. Vowels began working in Myanmar as the United Kingdom’s ambassador in August of 2021. However, after he failed to present his credentials, he was downgraded to charge d'affaires and later locked out of the country after he went abroad on a regional consultation trip. [Radio Free Asia, Facebook, in Burmese] [Thai Newsroom]
Nepal, China agree to reactive bilateral mechanisms to settle border row (op) Nepal and China on July 14 agreed to reactivate three boundary-related mechanisms in an effort to resolve any outstanding bilateral concerns. [The Kathmandu Post] Even though Nepal and China signed the boundary protocol in 1963, they signed another similar agreement, the Boundary Management System, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal in October 2019. But the latter has not yet taken effect. In September of last year, the administration of Nepalese Prime Minister Deuba formed a fact-finding committee to study boundary issues along the country’s border with China, especially in the district of Humla. The panel submitted its report later the same month after a series of on-field studies, and made a dozen recommendations and identified a host of issues along the Nepal-China border. [AiR No. 37, September/2021, 2] Against this backdrop, the July 14 pre-consultation meeting assessed and discussed the overall status of the Nepal-China border; the status of boundary inspection; the issue of livelihoods of people living in bordering areas; setting up the boundary mechanism; and issues such as trade, customs, ports, and border points, among others, according to a Nepali official who is participating in the meeting. During the conference, all parties decided to restart commerce through the Rasuwagadhi/Kerung border port while complying to COVID-19 health policy and norms. According to the statement, both parties will build a framework for the prevention and control of epidemics. At the conference, all parties agreed for the first time to Nepal's desire to open a second border crossing in far western Nepal. Notably, the virtual meeting came just days after a seven-member Chinese delegation arrived in Nepal on July 10 for a four-day visit. The delegation was led by the new head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, Liu Jianchao, who met key leaders of all political parties, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, while in Kathmandu. [AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Nepal ratified MCC despite China’s ‘disinformation campaign’, US ambassador nominee claims (op/lm) The United States nominee for ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, in his opening statement before the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate on July 15 said that lawmakers in Kathmandu had ratified the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact despite a “disinformation campaign” by China. [The Kathmandu Post 1] The remarks likely marked the first time that a US official has pointedly criticized China, Nepal’s northern neighbor, with regards to its believed attempts of swaying lawmakers in the run up to the ratification of the USD 500 million infrastructure assistance package by the Nepali Parliament in February. [AiR No. 9, March/2022, 1] The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu issued a statement on July 15 saying that the allegations were completely unfounded. It also said that the MCC compact was endorsed along with an interpretative declaration to ensure that the Constitution of Nepal shall prevail over the compact and other associated agreements, and that Nepal shall not be a part of any United States strategy, military, or security alliance, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy. [The Kathmandu Post 2] [The Kathmandu Post 3] [The Kathmandu Post 4] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Chair of Nepal’s Maoist political party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, concludes three-day India visit (op) The head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, concluded a three-day visit to neighboring India on July 17. Dahal had traveled to New Delhi on the invitation of the president of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party; among those he met with were India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. [The Kathmandu Post 1] Notably, Dahal’s trip to India came just days after a seven-member Chinese delegation arrived in Nepal on July 10 for a four-day visit for talks which were believed to center on a possible electoral alliance among Nepal’s communist political parties [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2]. According to officials, the Chinese team did not directly call for unity among Nepal's communist groups, but the implication was that it would be better if the leftist forces united. The Chinese also expressed a desire to collaborate closely with the ruling Congress party. In light of this, the scheduled meetings render Dahal's India tour totally political, with onlookers and experts speculating that the goal may be more than simply developing party-to-party connections. According to observers, given China's goal in combining communist troops, the message from New Delhi to Dahal might be to maintain the present alliance. Nepal's post-election political landscape has changed, and observers believe that New Delhi is trying to keep Maoists informed. Furthermore, the visit is believed to be part of Delhi's reconciliation effort with Dahal, as contact between the two sides has been limited since the UML-Maoist Centre merger in May 2018. [The Kathmandu Post 3] [Setopati 2] On July 16, while speaking at an event held by the Foundation for Public Awareness and Policy, Dahal praised Nepal-India relations, stating they are built on centuries of history, socio-cultural traditions, and people-to-people relationships. He also emphasized the need of resolving certain remaining concerns through communication. [The Kathmandu Post 2] Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal contributed research to this article.
Ukraine cut ties with North Korea (dql) Ukraine has severed ties with North Korea after Pyongyang’s recognized the two breakaway territories – the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) in Ukraine’s Donbas region. This makes North Korea the third country after Russia and Syria to do so. [Aljazeera]
Singapore issues ultimatum to ex-Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave country (sg/lm) Singapore on July 18 issued an ultimatum to ex-Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, telling him that he cannot continue to stay in the country beyond the 15 days that they had initially granted. [India Today] The announcement comes after Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka for neighboring Maldives on July 13, days after thousands of protesters, enraged by the government’s inability to ease acute economic stress, had stormed the presidential palace. Accusations quickly floated that India had facilitated the departure; the Indian High Commission in Colombo categorically rejected the allegations, with the Sri Lankan Air force admitting its role in aiding the president's escape. Rajapaksa's arrival in the Maldives was greeted with protests, with Sri Lankans residing in the country and Maldivians alike calling on the government to bring Rajapaksa to justice. Former Maldivian President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been accused of facilitating Rajapaksa's escape – reportedly enabling the plane to land. [Avas] [BBC] On July 14, then, Rajapaksa flew on to Singapore, though the government there said it had permitted him to arrive on a “private visit,” and that he had not requested asylum. Against this backdrop, some observers reasoned that Singapore may not be Rajapaksa’s final destination, noting that the country has a large population of Tamils, and Rajapaksa has been accused of being complicit in the killing of “tens of thousands” of Tamils in Sri Lanka during the country’s civil war. [Foreign Policy, $] The following day, Rajapaksa submitted his resignation via email to the Sri Lankan parliament. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as interim president, promising to resign as prime minister once a new government was formed. [Al Jazeera] [CNN] The chaos in the island nation has interrupted high-level talks between the Sri Lankan government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sri Lanka defaulted on its USD 51 billion foreign debt in April after missing interest payments on two USD 1.25 billion sovereign bonds. Colombo is in talks with the IMF and bilateral creditors such as India and China for fresh funds [see AiR No. 28, July/2022, 2].
Pakistani delegation visits Afghanistan days after Taliban raise price on coal exports (fq/tj) A Pakistani delegation led by the commerce secretary is currently visiting neighboring Afghanistan to negotiate bilateral trade issues, transportations and transit issues between the two countries. Additionally, both sides are also negotiating night-time operations at the border to facilitate coal import from Afghanistan to Pakistan. [Dawn] Timing and context of the delegation’s visit are noteworthy: The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have tripled prices for coal in less than a month from USD 90 to USD 200 per ton. It revealed this move soon after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would import coal from Afghanistan using local currency, in order to conserve foreign reserves. [Voice of America] Furthermore, the visit comes amid threats by Chinese companies generating electricity from imported coal of reverting to coal from South Africa – a top Pakistani supplier that has risen in price in recent weeks – if the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority fails to resolve payment issues.
South Korean foreign minister visits Japan (dql) South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin met with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on July 18 and 19 respectively to discuss ways to improve ties between their countries which have been strained for years over disputes over forced labour and women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army during Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. During the meetings, both sides agreed that a quick settlement of the major dispute between the two countries over the South Korean Supreme Court’s 2018 rulings, that ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to South Korean victims of forced labour during the Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula, was needed to improve their countries relations. Signalling a conciliatory stance, Park added that his government would try to find a resolution of the forced labour issue to pre-empt the South Korean Supreme Court’s final ruling on liquidating the assets of Japanese companies in question in South Korea, which is expected for August or September. Japan had warned of serious repercussions if the court orders were to enforced. Both parties also agreed to work together to “resolutely respond” to North Korean provocations and to speed up bilateral dialogue in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [The Korea Herald] [Reuters]
South Korea, Thailand strengthen trade partnership through mini-free trade agreement (td) Thailand has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a mini free-trade agreement (mini-FTA) with Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city. According to the Thai Commerce Minister, the agreement would pave the way forward for future economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries. South Korea is considered as one of Thailand’s key trading partners. With the port of Busan handling Thai shipments into the country, the MoU is thus crucial to stimulate trade with the port city through streamlined regulations. In addition, the two-way trade between Thailand and South Korea amounted to USD 15.5 billion in 2021, of which USD 2.33 billion was the trade value with Busan. The deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries coincides with their 64th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as well as the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in the year 2022. [Bangkok Post][National News Bureau of Thailand]
South Korea, UK agree to deepen defense cooperation (dql) During a defense strategic dialogue on July 18 in London, attended by South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and his UK counterpart Annabel Goldie, the two parties agreed to substantially expand defense cooperation in multiple areas, that would include joint exercises, cyber domain and outer space, among others. They also agree to launch regular military consultation channels between the two defense ministries, the army, navy and air forces. It was the first defense strategic dialogue, held to implement the “bilateral framework for closer cooperation” that was adopted at the South Korea-US summit in June and in which both sides pledged to strengthen their partnership in various fields, including Indo-Pacific regional strategy, defense and security, North Korea issues, supply chains and trade. [The Korea Herald]
South Korea, US conduct joint military exercises (dql) South Korea and the US conducted joint air combat exercises involving at least 30 fighter jets from both countries and including for the first time F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters. [Stars and Stripes] The drill comes a few days after State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, a key aide to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met with Yeo Seung-bae, deputy minister for political in the South Korean foreign ministry in Seoul to discuss the bilateral alliance and other issues, on a wide range of which the two countries “are working closer than ever,” Chollet tweeted after the meeting. [Yonhap News Agency] Meanwhile, 4300 South Korean and 300 US troops have been carrying out a 11-day high-intensity combat training that involved a high-tech training system Army's Korea Combat Training Center (KCTC) in Inje, 165 kilometers east of Seoul since July 11. [The Korea Herald]
Timor-Leste begins visit to Indonesia with accession to ASEAN talks on agenda (bs) On July 17, Timor-Leste's President José Ramos-Horta kicked off his visit to Indonesia. The meeting agenda includes Timor-Leste's accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bilateral ties with Indonesia. The Timorese President also aims at discussing the speeding up of land border demarcation and beginning negotiations on the maritime border in the South China Sea. [Visao, in Portuguese] Meanwhile, the Timorese government authorized several ministers to sign six memoranda of understanding with Indonesian executives. The agreements will be specifically on agricultural cooperation, meteorology, climatology, geophysics, cross border movements, and communication and IT. [E-Global, in Portuguese]
European Parliament Vice-President reassure Taiwan Europe’s support and solidarity (dql) Arriving in Taiwan on July 19, European Parliament Vice-President Nicola Beer expressed in strong words Europe’s support for Taiwan, saying that there is “no room for Chinese aggression in democratic Taiwan,” adding that Europe and Taiwan belong to the "family of democracies," and reassuring that “Europe will not turn a blind eye to the Chinese threat toward Taiwan.” Beer is schedule to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang als well as Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang, Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang, and Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san, during her three-day visit. [Focus Taiwan]
US State Department greenlights USD 108 million in military aid to Taiwan (dql) On July 15, the U.S. State Department approved sale of spare and repair parts for tanks and other combat vehicles, worth USD 108 million, together with federal and contractor technical and logistic support. The sale aims to help sustain Taiwan‘s military vehicles, small arms and combat weapons systems and to increase interoperability with the U.S. and other allies. [Focus Taiwan]
Vietnamese delegation to European Union presents new term goals (ntan) On July 15, a Vietnamese delegation to the European Union discussed enhancing cooperation in trade, climate and energy transition with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Vietnamese Ambassador, who also presented his credentials on the same occasion, presented the four cooperation pillars he intends to focus his term on. Firstly, trade and investment will be promoted through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), secondly, Vietnam will focus on achieving the goals set in the Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26)’s framework which include reaching zero emissions by 2005. The third pillar relates to improvement in green and sustainable energy cooperation, while the last objective is to strengthen relations in a variety of areas including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and partnership in ensuring regional peace and stability. [Vietnam Plus] Announcements Upcoming Online Events 20 July 2022 @ 16:00 (GMT-4), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (United States) Does the War in Ukraine Herald a New European Era? The need to recalibrate Europe’s ties with Russia, and its ally China, topped the EU’s agenda earlier this year in the in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is especially true of Germany, which has been transitioning to a new post-Merkel era. Meanwhile, the EU’s partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has become more interconnected than ever, even as the alliance has expanded to include Finland and Sweden. To examine the implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict for Europe, the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center will organize a public panel discussion. For more information, see [Carnegie].
20 July 2022 @ 19:00 (GMT-3), Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (Brazil) Webinar | Master Class | 6th edition of the | Challenges of Public Management today In this event, the renowned Brazilian political scientist and professor of fgv's Governance Program, Fernando Abrucio, will address the main challenges faced by the Brazilian public administration today. He will also share knowledge and good management practices derived from his extensive experience with the public sector. The teacher and tutor of the final project, Joaquim Rubens, will also participate in the webinar and will be available, along with the coordination, to explain the dynamics of the classes of the Governability Program and answer questions from the participants. The [FGV] website gives more information.
20 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States) U.S.-India Clean Energy and Climate Action and Collaboration: A Subnational Perspective In the United States as in India, state governments play a critical role in addressing climate change, whether by advancing clean energy technologies, demonstrating the viability of innovative policy and regulatory approaches, or engaging stakeholders to manage the impacts of the transition. This meeting will bring together policy leaders in both countries to explore opportunities for continued subnational and international cooperation and best practice exchange in financing, technology, and policy innovation. See this [webpage] for more information.
20 July 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States) Now the Real Work Begins: The U.S.-Japan Alliance Agenda Following Japan’s Upper House elections on July 10, the stage is set for an ambitious U.S.-Japan alliance agenda. In May, President Biden met with Prime Minister Kishida and Quad partners in Japan, where he launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Biden and Kishida also participated in the G-7 and NATO summit meetings in June to address pressing geopolitical and economic challenges such as the war in Ukraine. The two countries will convene the first economic “2+2” ministerial in late July, and bilateral consultations will accelerate as Japan considers revisions to its National Security Strategy and other key documents due later this year. What can we expect in this vital relationship in the months to come? Get answers to these questions and further information on this [webpage].
20 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) (United States) The Economic Future of Zero-COVID China China's zero-COVID-19 policy has brought major cities to a standstill and closed large parts of the country for more than two years. How will persistent disruptions affect China's economy and its global leadership ambitions? How will the pandemic reshape the Belt and Road Initiative and global trade relations? And how should the United States and European Union handle Beijing? To get more information and join this event, follow this [link].
20 July 2022 @ 1:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Wilson Center, FKA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (United States) USMCA at Two: What Comes Next? This event presents a discussion on what the priorities should be in the months and year ahead for implementing USMCA and how that work fits into the broader frame of strengthening North American prosperity and competitiveness. Following introductory remarks by Congressman Kevin Brady, Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne will lead a panel discussion with leaders in the business and trade community from the US, Canada, and Mexico. See this [page] for more details.
20 July 2022 @ 2:30 p.m. (GMT-4), Center for American Progress (CAP) (United States) The 32nd Anniversary of the ADA Disabled people have been disproportionately affected by efforts to curtail immigration in the United States. Disabled asylum-seekers, or people fleeing persecution, also face heightened barriers both during their journeys to the United States and in U.S. detention centers. These barriers can have devastating impacts: Children with disabilities are often placed in the most restrictive detention settings, and adults with disabilities have been denied access to necessary accommodations during the asylum process. It is critical to shed light on the often-overlooked experiences of disabled noncitizens and enact progressive policy change to improve the asylum process for disabled people. Thus, the Center for American Progress as we commemorate the ADA and discuss how the U.S. asylum system can better serve disabled noncitizens. See [here] for more details.
20 July 2022 @ 16:00 EEST (GMT+3), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Center (Lebanon) Does the War in Ukraine Herald a New European Era? The need to recalibrate Europe’s ties with Russia, and its ally China, topped the EU’s agenda earlier this year in the in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is especially true of Germany, which has been transitioning to a new post-Merkel era. Meanwhile, the EU’s partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has become more interconnected than ever, even as the alliance has expanded to include Finland and Sweden. The United States has also reengaged with Europe through a revival of the NATO alliance. This [webpage] has additional information on this event.
20 July 2022 @ 12:00 p.m. (GMT+2), Elcano Royal Institute (Spain) Presentation of the Elcano Global Presence Report 2022 Prior to the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic globalisation was already showing signs of fatigue, but the data for 2021 show the largest annual drop for the entire time series. Of the three economic, military, and soft dimensions, the latter is the most hit, despite being the most dynamic over the past decades. The United States maintains the first position, although China gains an enormous volume of external projection and continues to narrow the gap. Spain is the country that loses the largest volume of global presence despite retaining its 13th position. The EU has a higher global presence than the United States and much higher than China. But after the pandemic and the Brexit, the EU’s global presence has decreased significantly. Get further details [here].
20 July 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) (Canada) Future of Institutions Dialogue The data-driven economy (DDE) presents specific challenges for institutions. Data forms a powerful value chain: it is used with artificial technologies to create analytics that drive decision making. First movers in big data have tremendous advantage through economies of scale and scope, network effects and information asymmetries. This new paradigm has also created novel interconnected issues and vulnerabilities related to innovation, intellectual property, cybersecurity, personal privacy, democracy, and national security. Find out more about this event on this [page].
20 July 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Urban Institute (United States) Improving the Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data for Health Plans to Advance Health Equity Data on health plan enrollees’ races and ethnicities remain incomplete and inconsistent, making it difficult to track and evaluate efforts to reduce health inequities. Join the Urban Institute, the American Benefits Council, and Deloitte’s Health Equity Institute for an event exploring key insights on solutions to improve the collection of self-reported race and ethnicity data. The event will feature a discussion of the opportunities for improved data collection to advance health equity and findings from a forthcoming report on key barriers and solutions to more complete data collection. A panel of experts will reflect on the tools and strategies needed to propel further action. For more information, follow this [link].
20 July 2022 @ 16:30 (GMT+2), Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) (Spain) Algorithmic democracy or democratise the algorithm In an urban environment marked by digitisation, the use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) modifies the way we perceive, inhabit, and organise the city. These thoroughgoing changes have come with a new wave of urban innovation that offers the opportunity to incorporate AI as a tool to analyse and design urban policies and infrastructure aimed at covering citizens’ needs. Hence, there is an increasingly pressing need to reflect on whether the use of algorithmic tools make cities more open and participatory, facilitating exchange between local administrations and citizens, and supporting the exercise of democracy in general. This [webpage] offers more information.
20 July 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. (GMT-4), American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) (United States) What Happened to the Vital Center? A Book Event with Sidney Milkis, Nicholas Jacobs, Philip Wallach, and William Galston In What Happened to the Vital Center? Presidentialism, Populist Revolt, and the Fracturing of America (Oxford University Press, 2022), Colby College’s Nicholas Jacobs and University of Virginia’s Sidney Milkis trace the rise of radicalism, demagoguery, and populism to weak political parties, which presidents and ideological activists have dominated since the late 20th century. See [here] for additional details.
20 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) Biden’s Trip to the Middle East: Outcomes and Opportunities Arriving amid an Israeli government collapse and new parliamentary elections in November, President Biden will meet with Israeli leaders to discuss a myriad of security and economic topics and partake in the first-ever virtual I2U2 summit. Thereafter, he will travel to Bethlehem for a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, for a “new and reinvigorated dialogue” between the US and Palestinian Authority. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Biden will meet bilaterally with his Saudi counterparts as well as in a broader forum with leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and all the GCC states to discuss issues related Iran, energy, terrorism, and investment opportunities, and others. For additional information, see [here].
21 July 2022 @ 14:00 (GMT-3), Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (Brazil) Webinar | The Effects of Cybersecurity on Marketing Considering the damage of cybercrime is not only the responsibility of the IT department, but of the other business areas and, increasingly, of marketing. There are strategic, financial and brand considerations to justify cybersecurity being on the executives' agenda. Sophisticated phishing, ransomware, and data breaches are increasing. The level of complexity of the other attacks as well. This seminar will discuss ways to develop communication campaigns without exposing organizations, explore cases of failure, success and point out paths to the future of campaigns and organizations. Find out more information [here].
21 July 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. (GMT-3), Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (Brazil) Webinar | The Challenges of the Adoption of Value-Added Management Systems in Brazil - Day 4 The event "The challenges of the adoption of Value-Added Management Systems in Brazil" is a series of webinars that aims to discuss this method of project performance management in Brazil, based on the EIA-748 Standard. Considering its little dissemination in our country, FGV Projetos brings this theme with national and international experts, performing this series of webinars in partnership with the College of Performance Management, North American Institute dedicated to Value Added Management and that will bring all international experience in good practices in this tool. Further information can be accessed [here].
21 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States) Will the Bubble Still Not Pop? A Discussion of China’s Economic Future This online event will feature Thomas Orlik, Chief Economist for Bloomberg Economics, and author of the book, China: The Bubble That Never Pops. Orlik will discuss the soon-to-be-released 2nd edition of his book, including the performance of China’s economy during the Covid pandemic, risks from the real estate crisis, President Xi Jinping’s Common Prosperity agenda, and what it all means for the US-China economic race. Find out more and join this interesting discussion via this [link].
21 July 2022 @ 11 a.m. (GMT-4), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States) Assessing the 2022 G7 Summit: The Sherpa Perspective The 48th G7 summit was held from June 26 – 28 in Schloss Elmau in Germany. Leaders from each country convened to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global community and made new commitments on sanctions against Russia, global infrastructure, and food security. In this event, the CSIS Economics Program hosts a virtual armchair conversation between Jörg Kukies and Michael Pyle, the German, and U.S. G7 Sherpas, respectively, about the commitments made during the 2022 June meetings. Get more information [here].
21 July 2022 @ 9:30 a.m. (GMT-4), Chatham House (United Kingdom) Towards just Transition in Africa: Green Financing for Nature-Based Solutions and Rural Resilience Financing environmental protection must go beyond compensation and contribute to creating fair social and economic conditions for incentivizing conservation. At this hybrid event in Libreville, participants will discuss green financing for nature-based solutions, particularly the integration of plans for job creation in conservation and rural resilience within just transition planning. Further details can be found [here].
21 July 2022 @ 17:30 (GMT+2), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany) The Transitioned - Structurally Weak & Experienced Regions that have undergone structural change or are still in the middle of it are plentiful, over 13 million people live in such spaces in Germany. As part of our current study, numerous doorstep surveys were carried out and then evaluated. The result was contradictory: Although climate protection is recognized by the majority of respondents as one of the most important collective challenges, other concerns and wishes are in the foreground in everyday life, for instance with regard to local transport, infrastructure or local cultural and leisure activities. There is a fear of an unstoppable downward spiral and a lack of prospects. The study "The Transitioned – Structurally Weak & Strong Experience" shows ways in which people in structurally weak areas can become co-creators of the future. Visit this [website] for more event details.
21 July 2022 @ 19:30 (GMT+2), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany) Revolution for Life. Philosophy of the New Forms of Protest War, climate catastrophe - the future does not seem exactly inviting. Nevertheless, there have been new and hopeful social struggles in recent years. The talk will focus on climate activism, the Black Lives Matter movement and feminism (especially in Latin America). Despite their different emphasis, these movements are united by the utopian reference to the category "life". They protest a certain form of domination, namely "material rule", which degrades parts of life to the cause and abandons them to destruction. Thus, they at least open the possibility of a habitable future. Eva von Redecker is a philosopher, author, and freelance publicist. Her book Revolution for Life. Philosophy of the New Forms of Protest has been published by S. Fischer, Frankfurt a. M. Get more details [here].
21 July 2022 @ 11:00 a.m. (GMT+8), Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) (Japan) Recovering Learning Losses from the COVID-19 Pandemic Closing schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial learning losses, which threaten to weigh down a generation of students for life. What can be done to recover these losses? A panel of experts will explore different approaches to address this urgent challenge. See additional information [here].
21 July 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4), American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) (United States) Can Billions of Dollars in Federal Grants Solve Broadband Access and Availability Throughout the US? American internet providers have routinely outperformed their more heavily regulated global counterparts. Why would the administration risk adopting broadband policies that will slow closing the digital divide? What past lessons should states heed as they try to implement NTIA’s plans? Join AEI’s Shane Tews and Mark Jamison as they dissect the BEAD Program with the Federal Communications Commission’s Brendan Carr. Follow this [link] for more on this event.
21 July 2022 @ 5:30 p.m. (GMT-4), American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) (United States) The Supreme Court Year in Review The recently concluded Supreme Court term will be remembered as one of the most impactful series of rulings in American history. The Court made headlines with its rulings on abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the scope of gun rights in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, climate change in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, and free speech in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. Join the Pacific Legal Foundation of AEI, and the National Review Institute for a recap of the term’s biggest rulings and other important issues surrounding the future of the Court. See this [webpage] for further details.
21 July 2022 @ 2:30 p.m. (GMT-4), Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (United States) 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak: Situational Awareness The 2022 Monkeypox outbreak continues to expand with case counts mounting in many countries. This seminar will cover where we are in the global fight against monkeypox, where we may be headed as a nation, and what we need to do right now to mitigate the growing threat of monkeypox. Join Belfer Fellow Dr. Syra Madad in conversation with Dr. Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, Dr. Jay K. Varma, Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, Dr. Anne Rimoin, and Kai Kupferschmidt. This [page] has more information.
21 July 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) Religious Freedom in China under Xi Jinping Join the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub for a virtual panel discussion on the current state of religious freedom in China under Xi Jinping and the CCP and what to expect after the 20th Party Congress this fall, featuring a distinguished group of experts and officials. For more details, see this [webpage].
21 July 2022 @ 3:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) A Conversation with the Ambassadors of Finland and Sweden Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war has changed the discourse around transatlantic security, and Sweden and Finland have responded by taking the historic step of applying to join the NATO Alliance. Both strong bilateral partners of the United States, Sweden and Finland would bring modern capabilities and new opportunities in strengthening the European security architecture. To discuss these implications and the future of security in Europe, the Council is excited to welcome Ambassadors Hautala and Olofsdotter for a conversation on how Sweden and Finland are conceptualizing their role in transatlantic defense as future NATO allies. Further details can be accessed [here].
22 July 2022 @ 12:00 p.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House (United Kingdom) British Foreign Policy and the Conservative Leadership Contest As the contest for the Conservative leadership contest concludes, experts will discuss the foreign policy positions of the two candidates remaining in the field, what this means for the world and how the demise of the Johnson government has impacted UK foreign policy overall. Find out more via this [link].
22 July 2022 @ 11:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Heritage Foundation (United States) The Administrative State, U.S. Constitution, and the Supreme Court Over the last decade, however, the Supreme Court has reined in agency lawmaking. In particular, the Court has questioned whether federal courts may defer to their interpretations of the law. Columbia Law School Professor Tom Merrill, an expert on administrative law, will discuss this trend and a book that he recently published on this subject and will analyze the future of the administrative state along with two other experts. Get further details [here].
22 July 2022 @ 1:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) Indo-Russia Relations, Energy Ties, and Crude Flows in the Post-Invasion Period Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has further introduced further complexity into ties between Delhi and Moscow, as India continues to purchase discounted Russian crude oil exports yet faces growing pressure from Western countries to limit crude import volumes and prices. What are India’s interests in importing Russia crude, and how can Western countries work with Delhi to limit Russian earnings from crude oil exports while continuing to build ties with the world’s largest democracy? See this [webpage] for more details.
22 - 24 July 2022 @ 18:00 (GMT+2), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany) Peace, Security and Social Democracy A free and just world has always been the goal of social democracy. That is why questions of foreign and security policy are central to social democracy. But how can peace and security be ensured in an international context? How has
the concept of "security" changed? What are the new challenges in foreign and security policy? What is the role of political institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union? When are the limits of political action reached? And what is the significance of arms control and disarmament policy, as well as détente and development policy in the prevention of international crises?
25 July 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Heritage Foundation (United States) The Freedom Agenda & America’s Future featuring The Honorable Mike Pence Today, Americans have more at stake than ever before. The basic rights for which our Founders fought are under attack by the left, and there’s never been more of a need for strong conservative policies. The Freedom Agenda, a bold policy agenda from 48th Vice President Mike Pence, paints a bright picture of what America could be, if we're willing to fight for her. The former Vice President Pence will elaborate on what policies he believes will save our great nation and why Americans can't give up the fight for country's future. Follow this [link] for more.
25 July 2022 @ 12:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Urban Institute (United States) State of the States: How States Are Navigating Volatile Times State and local government officials have had to adapt and adjust their budgets in the past two years because of unprecedented changes caused by the pandemic. State leaders originally thought the pandemic would lead to sharp cuts in revenues, but thanks to recent economic dynamics and robust federal aid, many states collected higher revenues than anticipated. However, states still face fiscal challenges due to rising inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain shortages, the lingering impact of the pandemic, and changing consumer behavior. Speakers will highlight states’ current economic and fiscal outlook and trends in recently enacted state budgets. This [page] has additional information.
25 July 2022 @ 1:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) Iran and Iraq: The struggle for tenable relations Since the US overthrew Saddam Hussein nearly two decades ago, Iraq has struggled to form an independent democratic government and construct an economy not overly tied to its powerful neighbor and former bitter rival, Iran. The Atlantic Council’s Future of Iran Initiative and Iraq Initiative invite you to a conversation about the political, economic and cultural ties and irritants between these two pivotal Middle Eastern nations and the outlook for their relations in the future. Get more information [here].
25 July 2022 @ 4:30 p.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) A Conversation with H.E. Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana How can recent US announcements from last month’s Summit of the Americas address CARICOM’s food and energy challenges? What steps is Guyana taking to lead regional initiatives aimed at improving food and energy security? How can a stronger US-Guyana partnership benefit long-term development and prosperity in the Caribbean? Join the Caribbean Initiative at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center for a public conversation with the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, H.E. Irfaan Ali, on how he envisions the future of the US-Guyana relationship. See this [webpage] for further information on this event.
25 - 29 July 2022 @ 14:00 (GMT+2), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany) From Live Switching to Moderation: The Practical Introductory Training in On-Air Journalism What is a successful live reportage? And what actually distinguishes a good Moderator? This coaching is intended to be the entry into on-air journalism. From the classic moderation in the studio, the live reportage outside, to the live switching perhaps also with the mobile phone on site - in this training we want to explore the different on-air television formats together and try them out in many individual and This [page] has more on this event.
25 - 29 July 2022 @ 8:00 a.m. (GMT+2), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany) Church and Society - The Old Faith Organizations in an Increasingly Secular Environment The substantive position of the church(s) has been shaken with the Enlightenment and the increase in importance of the sciences from the 17th/18th century onwards. Nevertheless, the two large churches still have an important ethical leadership function. In the seminar, we want to ask how Christian faith can position itself in the context of scientific findings today and what political implications this entails. To what extent can recent scientific findings explain the phenomenon of religiosity in general and the Christian faith in particular? What significance can such declarations have for the discussion about the future position of the church(s) in the society and political system of the Federal Republic? Further information can be accessed on this [page].
26 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States) Twelfth Annual South China Sea Conference The CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative are pleased to present the Twelfth Annual South China Sea Conference to provide opportunities for in-depth discussion and analysis of developments in the South China Sea over the past year and potential paths forward. Panels will address the state of play in the South China Sea, legal developments and dispute management, partnerships and force posture, and the role of the Quad, AUKUS, and Europe. This [webpage] offers more.
26 July 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Wilson Center, FKA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (United States) How Sustainability and Technology are Reshaping China and the World’s Future—A Green Tea Chat with UPenn’s Scott Moore After decades of breakneck growth and development, Chinese officials, businesses, and institutions now play a critical role in every major global issue, from climate change to biotechnology. To this, the Wilson Center will sit with Dr. Scott Moore, Director of China Programs and Strategic Initiatives at University of Pennsylvania, about his soon-to-be released book China’s Next Act that re-envisions China’s role in the world in terms of sustainability and technology to discuss how these issues are reshaping China’s economy and its foreign policy with major implications for the world. Follow this [link] for further information.
26 July 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Wilson Center, FKA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (United States) Open Data - What’s Next in Policy and Practice? Alongside the success of open data initiatives, it has also become clear that truly accessible and equitable open data requires much more; simply making data open does not make it usable by all. Limits on computing power, navigating discipline-specific databases, licensing issues, and lack of standards all limit its impact as a public good, and open data is just one part of a transformative open science agenda. What is next for open data, as a movement and a practice? What collaborations, infrastructure, and policies are needed to facilitate adoption and mitigate current barriers? What actions would make open data more accessible, equitable and usable? This [page] has further information about the event.
26 July 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4), Heritage Foundation (United States) What’s Next in Syria: Captagon and Assad’s Booming Drug Empire In Syria, the drug empire is run by businessmen tied to the Assad regime, close associates of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad, and even family members. A widespread drug epidemic in Syria is not only creating a drug crisis along Jordan’s borders and throughout the region, but it is also fueling instability by empowering the illicit activities of the Assad regime, a close client of Russia, Iran, and China. So, what does the future hold for Syria? Join a distinguished panel of experts to tackle the scale of the problem and realistic actions that the United States can take to mitigate the damage. For additional information about the event, see [here].
26 July 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4), American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) (United States) Is It Time to Rethink the Federal Reserve? The Federal Reserve is having a bad year. As the Fed struggles to control inflation, it is also being asked to expand its policy remit to include climate change. Moreover, the House of Representatives just passed a bill requiring the Fed to adopt new policy goals of equal employment and wealth outcomes for targeted interest groups beyond its existing goals of price stability and full employment. How will these efforts to “rethink the Fed” affect monetary policy, credit availability, and economic growth? Further details can be accessed [here].
26 July 2022 @ 3:00 p.m. (GMT+1), LSE IDEAS (United Kingdom) Russia-Ukraine Dialogues: Economic Scars of the War This week’s panel of LSE IDEAS’ Russia-Ukraine Dialogues will focus on the economic impact of the war on Ukraine with speakers discussing specifically: the Economic damage done to Ukraine, the immediate economic and development support and the long-term reconstruction and development needs. Visit this [website] for more.
26 July 2022 @ 12:30 p.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council (United States) Cybersecure the Future: Ransomware | Report launch In 2021, the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center convened subject matter experts from the cybersecurity industry and federal law enforcement agencies for a series of four off-the-record roundtable conversations. The objective of these roundtables was to convene and allow subject matter experts to speak freely on issues surrounding ransomware and to compile these conversations into a report with concrete findings and corresponding observations. The GeoTech Center, in partnership with the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab)’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, will bring featured experts to discuss this report along with the key challenges in predicting and safeguarding against, and dealing with ransomware attacks See this [webpage] for further details.
Recent and upcoming book releases Meenakshi Ahamed, A Matter Of Trust: India-US Relations from Truman to Trump, HarperCollins India, 562 pages, published on July 13, 2021. The book is reviewed in [The New York Times] Aaron L. Friedberg, Getting China Wrong, Polity, 246 pages, published on June 7, 2022. See [SupChina] for a review. Kerry Brown, Xi: A Study in Power, Icon Books, 176 pages, published on July 19, 2022, reviewed in [The Guardian] Mae Ngai, The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics, W. W. Norton, 464 pages, published on August 24, 2021. Read a review at [London Review of Books]. The book received the 2022 Bancroft Prize. Gurminder K. Bhambra and John Holmwood, Colonialism and Modern Social Theory, Polity, 272 pages, published on August 23, 2021. A discussion of the book with the authors is available on [Youtube]. Tuesday Reitano and Mark Shaw, Criminal Contagion: How Mafias, Gangsters and Scammers Profit from a Pandemic, Hurst, 304 pages, published on July 15, 2021, reviewed in [LSE]. Ghassan Moazzin, Foreign Banks and Global Finance in Modern China: Banking on the Chinese Frontier, 1870-1919, Cambridge University Press, 352 pages, to be published on September 30, 2022. For a review, visit [LSE]
Calls for Papers The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) invites abstract submission for its virtual conference on “Climate Change 2022: Commitments to Actions,” to be held on November 29-30, 2022. Submission deadline is September 2, 2022. For more information, visit [A&WMA]. The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) invites proposals for panels, roundtables, workshops, and individual papers for the AAS 2023 Annual Conference, scheduled for 16-19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. Closing date for submission is August 9, 2022. Learn more about the call at [AAS].
Jobs and positions The Energy Studies Institute (ESI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is seeking a Research Associate in Energy Studies. For more details, see [NUS]. The Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit at the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General is looking for a Deputy Director, Political Affairs. Applications must be submitted by August 1, 2022. Find further information at [UN]. UN Women is hiring a Planning and Coordination Analyst, with core responsibilities in providing technical and coordination support to information management activities and requirements; providing technical and research support; facilitating knowledge sharing and advocacy and communications; as well as providing technical support to the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships. The closing date for application is July 21, 2022. If you are interested, visit [UN]. The Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Department of Defense is looking for a Foreign Affairs Specialist. Visit [USA Jobs] to find more details of the vacancy. The House of Commons, Canada, is looking for a Legal Counsel. Deadline for application is August 16, 2022. More details are available at [Parliament, Canada]. The School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at Leeds University is recruiting an Associate Professor in Climate Change Practice. Applications must be submitted by July 29, 2022. For further information, visit [University of Leeds]. The Faculty of History of Oxford University invites applications for the position of Departmental Lecturer in Early Modern European History. The closing date for application is July 27, 2022. If you are interested, learn more about the position at [Core HR]. The College of Social Sciences at Birmingham University is looking for a Research Fellow to enforce its Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability & Representation. Applications are accepted until July 25, 2022. See [University of Birmingham] for additional information. Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is hiring a Regional All-Source Analyst, with expertise in characterizing, assessing, and forecasting political and military developments in Europe-Eurasia. Follow [ARA] to find more details. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), is offering the position of Senior Manager for the Eurasia Regional Programs. The position is based in Washington, D.C. Further information is available at [NED]. The Ford Foundation is seeking a Program Officer – Middle East and North Africa. The position is based in Cairo, Egypt. Deadline for application is August 16, 2022. If you are interested in the position, find more information at [Ford Foundation]. Harvard Business School is looking for an Associate Director to lead the School’s Gender Initiative to catalyze and translate cutting-edge research to transform practice, enable leaders to drive change, and eradicate gender, race, and other forms of inequality in business and society. For more details, see [Harvard University]. The Department of History at Bucknell University is offering a full-time, tenure-track position in Eurasia, focusing on Russian imperial relations. The position is at the level of assistant professor and to commence in August 2023. Screening of applications will start on September 12, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. Learn more about the position at [Bucknell University]. The Development Economics Center at the University of Chicago is seeking a Policy Impact Senior Manager to provide support in designing and implementing the Center’s Policy Impact plan to take policy evidence to action. Further information is available at [The University of Chicago]. Intuit Inc., an American business software company specializing in financial software, is looking for a Senior Manager, Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs. Visit [Intuit Inc] to find additional information. Team: Beatrice Siviero (bs), Charisma M S Kundan (cmsk), Daniela Bozoski (dbk), Duc Quang Ly (dql), Faryal Qazi (fq), Henning Glaser (hg), Hira Akram (ha), Jessica Pierre (jp), Joanna V. Kumendong (jvk), Julian Wendt (jw), Kashif Ali Hadi (kah), Lucas Meier (lm), Mary Osei (mo), Nguyen Thi An Nhan (ntan), Oshin Pandey (op), Peer Morten Strantzen (ms), Rakshit Kumar (rk), Sebastian Gräff (sg), Shilpa Ramachandran (sr), Sofia Bertolino (sb), Tarapoom Panpin (tp), Theerapon Damrongruk (td), Tomwit Jarnson (tw), Vaishnavi Deegwal (vd), Venus Phuangkom We would greatly appreciate your feedback! Please send any feedback you have regarding this newsletter to: info@cpg-online.de Also, don't forget to Like CPG on Facebook, and browse our website for other updates and news!
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