Grasp the pattern, read the trend
No. 26, June/2022, 4
Brought to you by CPG
Dear Readers,
The Asia in Review (AIR) team is please 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 the Canada Day and the Independence Day of Belarus, Burundi, Congo, Djibouti, Rwanda, and Somalia in this week.
With best regards,
Henning Glaser
Editor in Chief
Webpage: www.cpg-online.de, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPGTU
Main Sections
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in East Asia
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in South Asia
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Southeast Asia
International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia
Announcements
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in East Asia
China: New restrictions on livestreaming issued
(dql) The National Radio and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China’s top media and culture authorities, have issued a new guideline to regulate livestreaming activities in the country.
Under the new regulation more than 30 behaviors of live-streamers are banned, including “publishing content that subverts state power, endangers national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, endangers national security, leaks state secrets, and damages national dignity, honor and interests;” and “Publishing content that weakens, distorts, or denies the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the socialist system, and reform and opening up.” [National Radio and Television Administration, in Chinese] [South China Morning Post]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: Amendment to anti-monopoly Law adopted
(dql) The National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, has adopted a revision of the country’s anti-monopoly law under which antitrust authorities will establish unified anti-monopoly enforcement to secure “an open, competitive, and orderly market system,” including the creation of standardized rule to regulate the overall platform economy.
The new law will enter into force on August 1. [Global Times] [Gadgets Now]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: New law to strengthen black soil protection
(dql) In a bid to boost China’s grain security, National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislature, has adopted a law on the conservation of black soil that accounts for roughly a quarter of the country’s total grain production and that is therefore crucial to the food supply in China.
Under the new law, black soil is to be used in growing farm produce including grains, oil crops, sugar crops, and vegetables, while black soil designated as part of the country's “permanent basic farmland” must be strictly protected to ensure stable grain yields and quality.
The law will enter into force on August 1. [Xinhua]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: Premier calls for higher coal production amid unprecedented heat
(dql) In the wake of last week’s unprecedented heatwave in northern and central China and record-high electricity usage of air-conditioners caused by temperatures in the high 30s and above 40 on consecutive days, Premier Li Keqiang has urged to increase coal production and consumption to prevent a recurrence of last year’s energy crisis that saw power shortages which left homes without power and stopped production at factories in the country’s north-east.
This call comes as China is pushing for a transition from coal to more sustainable alternatives, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in the country by 2026, as announced by President Xi Jinping at the UN General Assembly last September [see AiR No. 39, September/2021, 4].
Responding to concerns that such a move might impact the government’s plan to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and the 2060 carbon neutrality goal, Li insisted that coal was the only immediate answer to the country’s power demands, reassuring that the high amounts of coal which the government has been mining and importing would suffice to tackle heat emergency. [The Guardian] [Earth.Org]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: Prominent rights activist put on trial behind closed doors
(dql) Xu Zhiyong, one on China’s most prominent was tried behind closed doors on June 22. He is charged with state subversion. However, no details about the court proceeding have been made public. A verdict will be handed down a later date.
Xu has been in detention since in February 2020 after holding a dinner gathering with other democracy activists in the southeastern port city of Xiamen in December 2019 during which they discussed political reform of the country. Shortly before his arrest, Xu published an article in which he accused President Xi Jinping of being incapable of handling crises China’s is facing, including the trade war with the USA, the political crisis in Hong Kong, and the Covid-19 public health crisis, and demanded his resignation. [CNN] [See also AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]
International rights organizations decried the “grossly unfair” trial, calling it “judicial harassment”, “a grave and shameful mistake” of the Chinese government. [Amnesty International] [FIDH] [PEN]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: Arrests ahead of anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to mainland
(dql) Hong Kong police have arrested five people suspected of sedition. The arrests come ahead the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China on July 1. President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the former British colony to attend a ceremony to held on this occasion. On the same, the city’s new administration under Chief Executive John Lee, Hong Kong’s former Chief Secretary for Administration between 2021 and 2022, Secretary for Security between 2017 and 2021, will be sworn in.
Since the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law in June 2020 [see AiR No. 26, June/2020, 5], nearly 200 arrests for national security crimes have been reported. [The Guardian]
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong police have revealed that in a month-long crackdown on organized crime and triad syndicates in June more than 1,800 people have been arrested on suspicion of triad-related activities, drug offences, wounding, criminal damage, blackmail, possession of offensive weapons and operating illegal gambling dens. More than 2500 locations have been raided across the city. Targets included bars, game centers, cyber cafes, party rooms and homes.
The operation, code-named “Thunderbolt 2022” and conducted in cooperation with the Macau and Guangdong police, will end on July 4. [South China Morning Post]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
China: President Xi’s ally appointed as new minister for public security
(dql) Wang Xiaohong, a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed the country’s new public security chief. He is the first with a professional background as police officer to head the ministry in 24 years.
His appointment has been widely expected after he was made party secretary of the Ministry for Public Security last November. From 2015 to 2020 he served as Beijing’s police chief. In 2002, he was the Deputy Chief of Public Security in Fujian province when Xi was the province’s governor. It is believed that during that time Wang was responsible for Xi’s personal security.
The appointment is part of a reshuffle of central and local governments that comes ahead of the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party later this year where a new leadership is expected to be unveiled while Xi is believed to secure a third term as the party chief. [South China Morning Post]
Peer-Morten Strantzen contributed with research to this article.
Japan: Joint parental custody after divorce to be proposed
(nc) The Ministry of Justice will propose to the Legislative Council, which oversees formulating and issuing the state legislation, an amendment that will allow both divorced parents to retain custody. The council is expected to include it in the draft of revisions to the Civil Code in August.
The current Civil Code recognizes that married parents have joint custody, but stipulates that sole custody comes into function after a divorce.
The Justice Department will seek opinions from the public on the drafts for the amendment. The Justice Department and the Legislative Council will also discuss joint custody adoption requirements, such as parenting agreements and court orders. [Japan Times]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Japan: Campaign started for House of Councilors’ election on July 10
(nc) On June 22, the official campaign for the Upper House of the Diet’s election started and the different parties presented their pledges.
In a fight to grab the 125 available seats in the House of Councilors election, the ruling and opposition parties pledged to address the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the inflation resulting from it which is affecting Japan. Even though the Diet has already approved a supplementary budget to fight it, the tackling of inflation remains a pivotal point in determining which party can bring results. [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]
During a debate held between parties’ leaders, the opposition, composed of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Japan Innovation Party, declared wanting to focus on global inflation by reducing taxes.
But the ruling government, composed of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito, declared that it will concentrate mostly on effective policies regarding reducing the prices of energy and food as they are the main fields of inflation. [Japan News]
All parties agree on child-rearing benefits to boost the birth rate and on increasing the defense budget when it comes to foreign policy and security. But the difference in defense is about Article 9 of the Constitution. The ruling government plans to update the Constitution by enabling Japan to have a counterstrike ability and Self-Defense Forces. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is opposing the mention of the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9. It proposes to prioritize the quality, not the size, of the defense budget.
Furthermore, the record of women running for the election has been broken as 33.2% of the candidates are women. 181 women are running in the election. It is the first time this rate has exceeded 30%. This emphasizes how both opposition and ruling parties try to show voters they are in support of gender equality in politics. [Japan News] [Japan Today]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Japan: State to compensate a detained immigrant’s injuries
(nc) The Tokyo District Court ordered the state to compensate for the injuries a Brazilian man sustained from being forcibly restrained in an immigration center.
The Brazilian was to be transferred in 2018 to another immigration facility and refused to do so. He then locked himself in the toilet and when the officers were getting him out, his head was pushed to the ground for eight minutes. This act was ruled unlawful by the Tokyo District Court and the state must pay USD 734.
This case is an echo of the Sri Lanka woman’s case who died in an immigration center detention. [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3] [Mainichi]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Japan: No numerical targets for defense budget
(nc) During a debate among political party leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has declared that no decision has been made concerning a number for the defense budget augmentation. He has outlined that this will be done in five years to counter the assertiveness of North Korea and China in the region. But no numerical targets have been decided yet. This topic is one of the two key points of the current election for the House of Councilors. [Japan Today]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Japan: Rewards points for energy-saving and power usage warning issued
(nc) A program granting points for saving energy in households will be implemented by the Japanese government. Around USD 14 will be given by power companies, an amount funded by the government, to households taking part in the program. This plan is part of the national effort to save energy as possible electricity shortages may happen this summer and winter. [Japan Today] [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]
Furthermore, as temperatures rise in Japan, the government issued for the first time a power usage warning on June 26. It requested to save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights on Monday between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Reserve rates of electricity were expected to decrease during this temperature rise. [Japan Today]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
North Korea: New military action plan discussed at party meeting
(dql) North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly issued an order to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities. The order was made at a key meeting during which top military officials adopted an “important military action plan” for front-line troops.
Details on the action were not reported. Observers, however, believe that the deployment of battlefield nuclear weapons targeting South Korea along their tense border could be planned by Pyongyang, given the recent tests of a new short-range missile and other intercontinental ballistic missiles and new hypersonic missiles. [KCNA] [Aljazeera]
South Korea: Major parties in power struggle over prosecution reform
(dql) South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is considering to use its majority 170 out of 300 seats in the parliament to unilaterally elect a parliament speaker to open a provisonal parliament which is currently stalled as the DP and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) failing to reach agreement on who should take key legislative posts.
The DP and the PPP are currently clashing over the former’s offer to give up the chair post for the important Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which reviews bills before they are submitted to the parliament for vote, in return for PPP’s participation in the special committee for prosecution reform and the retraction of a competence dispute request it filed with the Constitutional Court. The PPP, however, turned down the offer, arguing that the DP’s demands and intention to misuse its parliamentary majority to open a provisional assembly amounted to starting a “legislative dictatorship.”
The mentioned retraction refers to a petition jointly field by Justice Ministry and the state prosecution with the Constitutional Court on June 27, resquesting it declare void two recent laws – the Criminal Procedure Act and Prosecutors’ Office Act – that weaken the prosecution’s investigative powers in favor of the police. The move appears as the last attempt by President Yoon Suk-yeol of the PPP and his administration to prevent the prosecution from being stripped of its remaining investigative powers.
The DP, using its parliamentary majority, had pushed through these laws in April against strong resistance of Yoon, the PPP and the prosecution. [The Korea Herald] [Korea JoongAng Daily][See also AiR No. 18, May/2022, 1]
South Korea: President Yoon lashes out against announcement of police leaders
(dql) South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed strong discontent over the release of the names of new senior superintendents general by the police without his approval. He decried the move as “disturbance of national discipline.” Senior superintendents general are ranked third highest in the South Korean police.
The incident comes on the heels of plans of the Ministry of Interior plans to establish a new bureau which is authorized to directly control police [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3], indicating a looming power struggle between the government and the police. [Yonhap News Agency]
South Korea: Ruling party defers decision on possible disciplinary measures against party leader
(dql) The ruling People Power Party’s (PPP’s) ethics committee has decided to defer a decision until July on whether to hand down disciplinary action against the party’s chairman Lee Jun-seok who is accused of accepting sexual services as a bribe and trying to cover up the case.
Lee, who became party chief last year, could be stripped of this post depending on what disciplinary action the committee will take. [Yonhap News Agancy]
Taiwan: Cabinet approves reform bill to tackle driving under the influence of narcotics
(dql) On June 23, Taiwan’s Cabinet Executive Yuan approved a draft amendment to the country’s Criminal Code under which driving a vehicle under the influence of narcotics would be regarded as an “offense against public safety” with a maximum sentence of three years in prison. [Taipei Times]
Taiwan: Indigenous combat drone passes 10-hour-non-stop test flight
(dql) Taiwan has successfully conducted a 10-hour-non-stop test flight for the homegrown combat drone l Teng Yun 2 on June 26. The test was celebrated by a local defense expert as a "major milestone" in Taiwan’s indigenous defense history.
Capable of conducting tactical reconnaissance and combat missions deep into the Chinese mainland and compatible with U.S. AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and other locally developed anti-ship missiles, the Teng Yun 2 drone is believe to strengthen the Taiwanese military's asymmetrical warfare capabilities. [Focus Taiwan]
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in South Asia
Bangladesh: Four million people stranded by floods in urgent need of help, UNICEF says
(lm) Four million people, including 1.6 million children, stranded by unprecedented floods in northeastern Bangladesh are in urgent need of help, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on June 20. The agency is urgently seeking USD 2.5 million in funding for the emergency response as it provides lifesaving supplies and services to children and families affected by the flooding. [The Straits Times]
In recent weeks, several regions in Bangladesh – a densely populated delta nation – have been battered by catastrophic flooding, killing at least 42 people since May 17 and displacing hundreds of thousands. At least 17 of the country’s 64 districts, mostly in the north and northeastern Sylhet region, are affected, with several areas also losing electricity.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the affected area earlier this month and stressed the need for better preparedness to face such natural disasters. Hasina also pointed out that there will be no quick respite for the country. She said floodwaters would recede soon from the northeast, but they would likely then hit the country's southern region, on the way to the Bay of Bengal. [Associated Press]
Mr. Sheikh Afif Bin Zaman contributed research to this article.
India: Political crisis engulfs Maharashtra state as ruling coalition’s members turn rebellious
(rk/lm) India’s opposition-ruled western state Maharashtra has struck into a political crisis when more than 40 lawmakers from the Shiv Sena party – which governs the state in a coalition with two other parties – jostle to take control of the party and bring down the state government.
Reports show that at least 46 members of the state’s legislative assembly, led by Eknath Shinde – a senior state minister – are currently holed up in a city in the northeastern state of Assam, thousands of kilometres away from their home state. They claim that the Shiv Sena's strident right-wing Hindu legacy has been diluted by its alliance with the centrist Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Indian National Congress. [The Hindu 1] [The Hindu 2] [ThePrint]
The ruling coalition and other parties, who are opposed to Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre, have alleged that the BJP is trying to destabilise the state government as it did in other opposition ruled states earlier, such as in Madhya Pradesh in 2020 and Karnataka in 2019. Notably, while the BJP has denied its involvement in the political drama, Shinde was heard saying in a video that a “national party” was supporting the rebellion. [The Indian Express] [The Week]
Meanwhile, Thackeray has said that he would quit the party if asked by the rebel lawmakers on his face. Another senior leader of Shiv Sena has said that moving out of the ruling coalition would be considered if all rebel lawmakers came back. Leading to a deadlock, Shinde has said the party should first withdraw support from the coalition. [The Economic Times] [The Free Press Journal]
Out of the 288-strong Maharashtra state assembly, the ruling tri-party coalition until now had 152 seats, eight more than the majority mark. However, out of the reported 46 rebel lawmakers, 37 are from Shiv Sena alone, while nine are independents. Therefore, the opposition BJP – having 106 seats – could form the government in the state with the support of the rebels and some other independent lawmakers.
Against this backdrop, Maharashtra’s incumbent chief minister and son of the Shiv Sena party founder, Uddhav Thackeray, has sought to disqualify the rebel lawmakers from the state assembly. To avoid the disqualification under India’s anti-defection law, Shinde needs the support of 37 lawmakers in the state. On June 27, the Supreme Court extended the deadline given to the rebel lawmakers to file their responses to disqualification notices against them. [BBC] [Business Standard]
India: Ruling BJP, opposition parties announce candidates for 15th presidential elections
(rk) The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a big tent political alliance led by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has named Droupadi Murmu as its candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections. Murmu, a tribal politician, is expected to win the contest against the opposition’s nominee, Yashwant Sinha, as the NDA has enough numbers to ensure her success.
Murmu comes from the eastern state of Odisha. She has spent decades with the BJP and had a stint as the governor of Jharkhand state. If elected, she would be the country's first tribal leader in the top post. [BBC]
In the elections, Murmu will be pitted against veteran politician and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. A senior minister in the BJP government led by then prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee in the 1990s and early 2000s, Sinha is now a vocal critic of the party and Prime Minister Modi. His nomination came after two veteran opposition politicians - Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah - and Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, rejected the opposition’s offer to stand for the post. [The Diplomat] [The Straits Times]
The president in India is the head of the state, but does not exercise executive powers. He or she is elected by the members of both the houses of parliament and of the legislative assemblies of states and federally-administered union territories. The presidential election is to be held on July 18 and the results declared on July 21. The winning candidate will replace President Ram Nath Kovind whose term ends on July 24. [Business Standard]
India: Uttar Pradesh government defends demolition drives after riots over anti-Islam remarks as lawful
(rk/lm) The government of India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state has defended the recent demolition of homes of people accused of involvement in riots earlier this month before the Supreme Court, saying the demolitions were not “extra legal punitive measures” but routine measures taken against owners of illegal structures. [ThePrint]
The demolition of illegal establishments and homes came after riots had erupted in the state over derogatory remarks remarks against Islam’s Prophet Mohammad made by two senior leaders of Prime Minister Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party earlier this month [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]. The move drew condemnation from constitutional experts and rights groups, which interpreted the destruction as punishment, but state authorities said it was because it was illegally built on public land [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]
Against this backdrop, a leading Islamic organization in India, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, had petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking issuance of directions to the Uttar Pradesh state government to take no action in Kanpur district against property of alleged rioters. The state government, in turn, had filed an affidavit. [The Hindu]
India: Activist faces charges of fabricating evidence against Prime Minister Modi for 2002 riots
(sr/lm) Authorities in India have detained a prominent human rights activist, Teesta Setalvad, who spearheaded a campaign to hold officials responsible for deadly inter-communal violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002. Setalvad, alongside two former police officers, faces charges of fabricating evidence in a case brought against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who served as the chief minister of Gujarat at the time of the riots. [The Straits Times]
Setalvad was detained a day after the Indian Supreme Court on June 24 dismissed a petition seeking to establish that the mob violence against Muslims – in which more than 1,000 people were killed – were the result of a high-level conspiracy involving then-Chief Minister Modi. The court’s decision effectively forecloses any further legal challenge to the premier. [The Indian Express]
But the three-judge panel went further in its judgment, pointing a finger at Setalvad for having “exploited the emotions” of the petitioner, Zakia Jafri, whose husband was murdered during the riots. In light of this, the top court also said that “all those involved in such abuse of process need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law.”
According to Human Rights Watch, various government and Gujarat state agencies have investigated Setalvad and her husband, saying they misappropriated funds meant for riot victims, among other accusations. A related case is pending in court. [Human Rights Watch]
India: Police arrest Muslim journalist, Modi critic over tweet from 2018
(sr/lm) Indian police on June 27 arrested Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt-News, accusing him of having insulted religious beliefs in a 2018 Twitter post commenting on the renaming of a hotel after the Hindu money god Hanuman. [NDTV] [The Hindu]
Zubair, who has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and regularly tweets on rising marginalisation of the Muslim minority in India, was arrested in Delhi after being called in for questioning in an earlier case. He has been charged under two sections of the Indian Penal Code related to maintaining religious harmony. [Newslaundry] [The Guardian]
Some local media reports linked Zubair's arrest to the recent controversy over derogatory remarks against Islam’s Prophet Mohammad made by two senior leaders of Prime Minister Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]. Many Hindu nationalists in the last few weeks have drawn attention to past comments on social media made by Zubair and other critics of Prime Minister Modi’s, and demanded that he be prosecuted for hurting their religious feelings. [The Straits Times]
Most government critics however see Zubair's arrest as part of a crackdown on free-speech and rights activists that India has seen since Modi's ascent to power in 2014. On June 25, police detained activist Teesta Setalvad, who spearheaded a campaign to hold Prime Minister Modi responsible for deadly inter-communal violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002. [see entry above]
Maldives: Protesters attack event organized by Indian embassy
(lm) A mob charged into a soccer stadium in the Maldives’ capital, Male, attacked people taking part an event organized by the Indian embassy on June 21. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to stop the attackers before any serious violence took place. [The Straits Times]
Authorities said some attackers carried flags and placards traced back to the opposition Progressive Party led by former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. The Progressive Party has taken critical and even hostile positions towards India’s military presence and political influence in the island nation, launching an “India Out” campaign in 2020. The current government banned the campaign in April, after it had been gaining steam – particularly after the country’s Supreme Court overturned a money-laundering conviction against Yameen in March [see AiR No. 17, April/2022, 4].
The attack may also have religious undertones. Before it took place, some social media posts had decried yoga as a Hindu practice that wasn’t welcome in the majority-Muslim Maldives.
Nepal: Ruling coalition partner replaces cabinet ministers as intra party crisis brews
(lm) The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Unified Socialist), the third largest party in Nepal’s four-party coalition government, has replaced its ministers in the cabinet of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. [The Kathmandu Post 1]
Though a cabinet reshuffle is considered a routine exercise, the announcement on June 26 came with an indication that the party is going through a rough patch: The party’s Standing Committee had decided to recall its current set of ministers during a meeting on June 5. But the four ministers defied the party orders, and submitted a memorandum to party chair Madhav Nepal expressing their displeasure over the decision, saying recalling ministers at a time when discussions were ongoing on the budget was uncalled for. The four ministers, along with six other party lawmakers, even demanded a meeting of the Parliamentary Party. [The Kathmandu Post 2]
But on June 26, seven rebel lawmakers withdrew their demand. And on the following day, one of the ministers even submitted a letter to Nepal committing to stepping down whenever the party wanted him to do so.
Still, some observers say the latest developments indicate that the (CPN) (Unified Socialist) is not happy with the current coalition government but cannot withdraw its support either. Party chairman Nepal had formed the party in August last year by splitting from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) after a long intraparty struggle with then-ousted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli [see AiR No. 34, August/2021, 4]. [The Kathmandu Post 3]
Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal and Ms. Oshin Pandey contributed research to this article.
Nepal: Police fires teargas to break up fuel price protests
(lm) Police in Nepal fired teargas and charged at protesters in the capital, Kathmandu, on June 20 to disperse a demonstration by students against fuel price hikes, in a sign of growing public anger over rising inflation.
Around 100 protesters from the All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of the main opposition Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist-Leninist) clashed with police after they were stopped from rallying in Kathmandu. The protests erupted after the state-owned monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation had raised the price of one liter of petrol and diesel by 12 percent and 16 percent respectively, prompting fears of broader price hikes. [Reuters]
Against this backdrop, a parliamentary committee on June 25 directed the government to slash the taxes on petroleum products by half. [The Kathmandu Post]
But experts say it's easier said than done. Taxes on fuel imports are among the government’s most important revenue sources, and Nepal's fuel import bill almost doubled from the previous year within the first 11 months of the fiscal year that ended this month. Imports were valued at about USD 2.7 billion, compared to about USD 1.5 billion in the same period last year.
Ms. Vaishnavi Deegwal and Ms. Oshin Pandey contributed research to this article.
Nepal: Rohingya refugees protest outside UNHCR office, demand official recognition
(lm) Members of the Rohingya ethnic group have protested outside the local Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to demand official recognition as refugees. Several protesters were injured when a dispute started between police and the demonstrators after the latter demanded that the UNHCR representatives should receive a memorandum they had prepared. [The Kathmandu Post]
According to Nepalese authorities, the ethnic Rohingya entered Nepal in the 1990s and mainly in 2012. However, since Kathmandu has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol, it does not recognize the Rohingya community as refugees but as illegal immigrants. Until 2016, the UNHCR had been providing monthly financial support to Rohingya refugees in Nepal, who have been living in rented land in northern Kathmandu.
Ms. Oshin Pandey contributed research to this article.
Pakistan: Ex-Prime Minister Khan challenges amendments related to accountability law in Supreme Court
(ha) Pakistan’s former prime minister and the chairman of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge recent amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance. The ousted premier claims that through the amendment any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder would be virtually eliminated and certain forms of corruption would be legitimized. [Dawn]
Pakistan’s parliament passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill and the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, in an effort to bring the necessary reforms the ruling coalition parties had promised [see AiR No. 22, May/2022, 5]. However, President Arif Alvi had twice refused to sign both bills into law, terming them “regressive”. But ten days after a joint sitting passes a bill, it is considered law even if the president refuses to give assent. [Pakistan Today]
The amended Ordinance limits the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), removing federal and provincial tax matters from its domain as well as financial irregularities in any development project. In addition, the NAB is also no longer able to take action on any regulatory body's decisions and is bound to ensure the availability of evidence prior to arrest.
In his petition, Khan claims that the amendment has taken away the authority of appointing a NAB chairman and has given the responsibility to the current government which will “maneuver by the bulk of the holders of public office to assume control over and influence the impartiality of the NAB chairman.” The PTI chairman also argues that through the amendment it has become impossible for the prosecution to prove white collar crimes against the holders of public office. [The News]
Pakistan: Government imposes super tax on major industries to help meet IMF bailout goals
(ha) Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a television speech on June 24 unveiled a series of proposed new taxes, including a 10-percent “super tax” on major industries, to “save the country and avoid further taxes on the poor”, as his government seeks to finalize a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). [Associated Press] [Dawn]
In addition to the 10-percentage point increase in tax for one year on 13 industries, other new fixed levies are planned for high-income earners, real estate, automobile dealers, jewelers, retailers and others. The measures are expected to go into effect on July 1, following approval by parliament. [Bloomberg]
Following the prime minister's address, the Karachi Stock Exchange plunged more than 2,000 points or 4.8 percent in less than an hour. However, as clarity emerged that the government intends to impose it as a one-time levy, stocks gradually recovered. [Business Recorder]
Pakistan: Economic future of the country linked with success of CPEC, Prime Minister Sharif says
(ha) While addressing a passing out parade at Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan's economic future was linked to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He stated that Gwadar port is a key component of CPEC and stressed the need for a “strong and vibrant” navy for maritime security and strategic defense.
He also said that Pakistan believes in “peaceful co-existence” and “does not harbor any aggressive designs against any country”. However, the country’s desire for peace should not be misconceived as a sign of weakness. Any country which tried to threaten Pakistan's land, aerial and maritime defense in the past “befitting response from us” and “this should serve as a reminder to all those harboring ill-intentions that Pakistan armed forces are fully capable of defending the country against all threats”. [Dawn] [The News]
Pakistan: Four terrorists killed in military operation
(ha) At least four terrorists have been killed in an intelligence-based operation in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The terrorists were believed to have been actively involved in attacks on security forces. [The Express Tribune]
Constitutional Law and –Politics, Human Rights and National Security in Southeast Asia
Brunei: Government set to reduce climate change risk
(bs) As sea levels and global temperatures are expected to rise by the end of the century, Brunei must increase its efforts to reduce climate risk, the country’s development minister said at the opening of the Climate Change Week in the framework of Brunei mid-year Conference and Exhibition 2022 in early July. [Brunei Tourism]
Although Brunei’s greenhouse gas emissions account for a minor percentage on a global scale, the country’s rainforest, which covers 72 percent of the territory, is able to absorb 97 percent of Brunei’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions. In this light, the government is set to conclude the preliminary climate risk and disaster assessment that drafts Brunei’s long-term climate change strategy by late 2022. [The Scoop]
Cambodia: Ruling party wins 80 percent of local council seats
(bs) The ruling Cambodian People’s Party won 80 percent of the local council seats in the June 5 commune elections, the National Election Committee (NEC) officially announced. The poll results also showed that the main opposition Candlelight Party (CP) gained 2,198 local council seats and will lead four communes. [Bangkok Post]
The political tension prior to the elections was noticeable as the CP alleged the ruling coalition’s attempts to reduce its popularity and arbitrarily persecute opposition members. In fact, ahead of the election, the NEC removed several opposition commune council candidates in 13 communes for allegedly being registered on the candidate lists without the committee’s approval. In the same context, political analysts foresaw that the June 5 commune election would indicate the status of the country’s democratic principles after the ban of the main opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2017 as well as the results of the upcoming general election scheduled for 2023. [AiR No. 19, May/2022, 2]
Cambodia: Casino strikers urge Prime Minister and National Assembly to intervene in major labor dispute
(bs) A group of 100 casino workers filed a petition addressing the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodia’s National Assembly calling for immediate intervention in the six-month-long labor dispute.
The NagaWorld casino workers began striking on December 18, 2021, for the reinstatement of 365 employees who were laid off in 2020, also asking for better working conditions, and protesting alleged discrimination against labor union members. Since then, 13 negotiation attempts were carried out unsuccessfully. [AiR No. 2, January/2022, 2]
The same reasons were laid out in the latest petition to the government where the strikers advanced three requests: that Prime Minister Hun Sen helps the reinstatement of at least 200 laid-off workers, that NagaWorld pays legal compensation to other dismissed workers who are willing to accept it, and to drop all criminal and civil charges against 15 NagaWorld union leaders and activists.
To date, 199 strikers have agreed to accept severance payments while 174 others have refused the offered compensation. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Cambodia: Rights group calls on government to drop criminal convictions against members of national human rights body
(bs) Human Rights Watch urged the Cambodian authorities to drop the criminal convictions against five human rights workers. The defendants were members of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) when they were arrested in April 2016 by the government’s Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly making false statements on a criminal case against former opposition leader Kem Sokha.
The call came after the activists filed a bid against the appeals court ruling upholding their convictions to the Cambodian Supreme Court. The appeals court in 2018 denied two appeals against the municipal court’s verdict of a suspended five-year prison term diminished by 14 months, which is the time the defendants spent in pretrial detention. [Human Rights Watch]
Cambodia: Workshop on child exploitation held while child abuser receives additional jail years
(bs) On June 20, 50 representatives from local administrative institutions and organizations participated in a workshop on human trafficking and child exploitation in central Cambodia’s province of Kampong Chhnang.
The event aimed at educating the community on the national legislative framework related to children’s rights as well as strengthening law enforcement and regional cooperation in implementing effective protection measures. Measures that seek to align with the guidelines of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Cambodia ratified in 1992. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Despite the implementation of national regulations throughout the years, several cases of child sexual exploitation and assault have been reported. An Australian appeals court has recently extended an eight-year jail sentence to 12 years for an Australian man convicted for sexually abusing children in Cambodia from 2002 to 2005. [ABC]
Indonesia: Speculations rise on political partnerships ahead of 2024 elections
(jvk) Key stakeholders in the 2024 Presidential Elections have begun forming coalitions and becoming vocal. Chairman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and former President, Megawati Soekarnopoetri, stated that endorsing a presidential candidate has become her prerogative. PDI-P is currently exploring coalition options and blocked off cooperation with opposition parties. [Jakarta Post]
Observers say that a new coalition comprising the oldest party Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the United Development Party (PPP) is forming to accommodate candidates. Other unofficial names had been announced previously. [The Straits Times] [AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]
In the same light, the recent meeting between the son of Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister and former Widodo’s presidential rival sparked widespread speculation of a potential political partnership between the two ahead of the 2024 regional elections.
As Gibran’s popularity as Surakarta Mayor rises, the gubernatorial post is often a springboard for presidential candidates. Analysts say that the meeting aligns with the President’s strengthening political dynasty. However, political observers state that it would require a big effort by the ruling party to increase Gibran’s electability and win a gubernatorial position. [Jakarta Post] [CNN in Indonesian]
Indonesia: Government pushes ahead with new criminal code
(jvk) Drafting and legislation for Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP) continue to happen behind closed doors. Protests from journalists and students regarding articles on press freedoms and presidential defamation have recently occurred. [CNN Indonesia 1, in Indonesian]
The government has claimed that 14 unpopular provisions have been amended. However, the draft is yet to be released in full and potentially remains discriminatory and undemocratic, according to the critics. Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights is doubtful that the House of Representatives will ratify the new Criminal Code by the initial target of early July, but will increase efforts to expedite the process. [The Diplomat] [CNN Indonesia 2, in Indonesian]
The bill comprises regulations such as incriminating blasphemy, cohabitation, pre-marital sex, and presidential defamation among others. The draft has sparked heavy protests since 2019 when it was first proposed. [AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]
Indonesia: Health sector call for stricter pandemic curbs
(jvk) The government is receiving calls from health experts to reimpose stricter curbs. Indonesia is seeing an increase in Covid-19 infections fueled by the confirmed spread of Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) asked the government to review its eased policies on outdoor mask-wearing. The Covid-19 taskforce continues to promise increased vaccination rollout and testing capacity. [Jakarta Post]
Indonesia: Taiwanese company to invest in new capital project
(jvk) Indonesia is moving ahead with the construction of its new capital city, Nusantara. An effort costing USD 34 billion. Construction of infrastructure in water, toll roads, and government buildings, are expected to start in August. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese company Foxconn has met Indonesia's President with a plan to invest USD 8 billion toward building a green manufacturing plant in the city.
So far, among others, the governments of the United Arab Emirates, China, and private companies in Hong Kong have expressed interest in investing in Nusantara. Efforts to secure foreign investment into the new capital continue amidst voices for and against the construction. [Bloomberg] [AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]
The Indonesian parliament passed a bill to relocate the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, on the Borneo island, in 2019. The decision was met with a large opposition among groups of environmentalists who voiced their concerns over the move´s alleged negative environmental and economic impact. The relocation is expected to increase Nusantara’s population by 10 times by 2045, according to the National Development Planning Agency. [AiR No. 8, February/2022, 4]
Indonesia: Military modernization moves at a slow pace
(jvk) Indonesia’s National Armed Forces (TNI) is currently struggling to meet its 2024 target of achieving the Minimum Essential Force (MEF). Factors include budget constraints and political uncertainty contribute to the slow pace. The Ministry of Defense has requested the parliament to increase investments in arms procurement and modernize TNI’s weapons system.
TNI is among the many ministries and government institutions impacted by budget cuts. Experts also pointed out that increased funding for defense could impact Defense leadership Prabowo’s potential campaign in the 2024 Presidential Elections. [The Diplomat]
Laos: Government reshuffles the cabinet amidst economic crisis
(bs) Amidst a fuel crisis and critics of the country’s approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lao government has reshuffled the Cabinet removing Sonexay Sitphaxay as governor of Lao’s central bank and Khampheng Xaysompheng as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh announced the establishment of a special task force to handle Laos’ economic crisis. The move was met with widespread critics which hoped to see such a move earlier on.
In May, the inflation rate soared to 12.8 percent marking the highest number Laos has experienced since 2004. The local currency, Laotian Kip, has seen a drastic collapse in value, falling from 9,400 Kip per USD in May 2021 to almost 15,000 Kip per USD today. Moreover, the World Bank recently announced that the country has accrued a public debt of USD 14.5 billion in 2021, half of which with China. [AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3][The Diplomat]
Laos: 700 million liters of fuel smuggled into the country
(bs) Around 700 million liters of fuel have illegally reached Laos, according to Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh.
While Laos’ fuel imports amount to 1,200 million liters yearly, recent reports show that the country has received 1,900 million liters of fuel. In response to the findings, the prime minister alleged that a number of government officials have been illegally smuggling high amounts of fuel into the country to avoid paying levies and taxes.
Meanwhile, as the fuel crisis is harshly affecting the Lao population, the government announced the allocation of USD 200 million to purchase enough fuel to avoid shortages during July and August. [AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3][The Laotian Times]
Laos: New prison inaugurated in Chinese-run SEZ
(bs) The board of directors of the Chinese-run Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has inaugurated a new prison for people convicted of crimes that happen in the SEZ, which is located in the northern Lao province of Bokeo and is known to be a major center of human trafficking, forced prostitution, drug production, and smuggling. The prison was founded and built by a Chinese company, costing around USD 764,000. According to a local villager, those who will be detained in the new prison include Thai, Myanmar, and Lao nationals who work in the Chinese-run Kings Romans Casino.
The casino is well-known for luring Lao nationals to work over 16 hours a day as scammers. Those who would not meet the employer’s expectations would often be detained against their will, asked to pay around USD 3000before leaving the SEZ, and in some cases sold off to prostitution.
The Golden Triangle SEZ is run by Zhao Wei whose firm owns an 80 percent stake in the zone compared to the 20 percent owned by the Lao government. The casino business network in the area was declared a “transnational criminal organization” by the US Treasury Department in 2018. [Radio Free Asia]
Malaysia: Malaysian ambassador-elect to Indonesia removed from ruling party’s supreme council
(tp) On June 21, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the major party in the ruling coalition, removed Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the Malaysian ambassador-elect to Indonesia and a politician who has sparked controversy for his use of abrasive language, from the party’s supreme council.
This is not the first time that Tajuddin has been removed from a prominent political role; he was removed in May 2021 as the non-executive chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, a corporate body established under the Ministry of Finance, after he made a joke on a light rail transit (LRT) collision incident. [malaymail 1] [malaymail 2]
Malaysia: President of ruling party calls for corruption trial to be put on hold while obtaining additional witness statements
(tp) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the president of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), has asked the court to keep his corruption case on hold while he is in the process of obtaining 11 witness statements from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The action sought to overturn a court decision made on May 9, when he submitted an application to MACC for additional witness statements, which was denied. He then filed a new application to obtain new statements, claiming that he was not attempting to delay the trial, but rather to obtain the necessary statements to complete his defense.
Zahid, who was charged with 47 counts, including criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering involving the misappropriation of funds from the charitable foundation YAB, is currently in the process of testifying in his own defense, stating that additional witness statements are required in order for him to receive a fair trial. [The Edge Market ] [Free Malay Today]
Malaysia: President-designate of newly formed party invites independent MPs to join the party
(tp) President-designate of the newly registered Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) Zuraida Kamaruddin invited independent Members of the Parliament (MPs) to join the party. This has been speculated as two independent Sarawak MPs are said to be joining the PBM.
However, one of the said MPs has denied the rumor and stated that he has already applied for the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), the local Sarawak party that acted as the party component for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, formed primarily from Sarawak-based parties that splintered from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Coalition in the aftermath of the 2018 defeat. [Free Malaysia Today 1] [Free Malaysia Today 2][The Star]
Malaysia: Former Prime Minister’s speech attacked over alleged revanchist remarks
(tp) Former Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s alleged revanchist speech sparked widespread critics. Mohamad, mentioning that Singapore was historically owned by the Malsiayan Johor State, claimed that Singapore should be returned to Malaysia.
His speech revolved around the idea of the "Tanah Melayu" or ancestral Malay land, which he asserted extended all the way from southern Thailand to Indonesia's Rieu Island. He also made a reference to Pedra Branca island, which he claimed should be a part of the Johor State, but instead had been ruled out by the international court to Singapore in 2008; as a result, he advocated the returning the island to Malaysia. [The Straits Times]
Following his statement, the Indonesian ministry of foreign affairs denounced his speech, pointing out that his claim was without merit and that it was counterproductive for him to make such a revanchist statement during the current global crisis. Moreover, his statement has received harsh criticism from Singaporean social media users, who blamed it for inciting animosity between the neighbors. [Free Malay Today]
On June 23, however, Mahathir made it clear that the media had largely omitted important context when reporting on his speech. He claimed that he wasn't encouraging Malaysia to retake the lost territories; rather, he was attempting to highlight how Malaysians frequently worry about the smaller potions of the lost territories but not the bigger ones. And thus Malaysians should be proud of any gains, emphasizing Malaysia's victory over Indonesia involving Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan islands.
Likewise, Malaysian commentators suggested that his controversial statement was targeted at the Sultan of Johor, Ibraham Ismail. According to Mahathir's clarification statement, the dispute would not have arisen if the monarch of Johor had accepted Malaysia's claim to the Pedra Branca island, which is supported by the fact that the monarch has long refused to do so, specifically in response to Ibraham's statement to the Johor assembly in 2018 calling for the withdrawal of the Pedra Branca appeal from the international court. Ibraham claimed that the federal government had not consulted Johor about its sovereignty over Pedra Branca. Later on, following its election victory, Malaysia's Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, led by Mahathir, decided to withdraw its request to have the disputed island ruling overturned. [South China Morning Post]
Malaysia: Johor Sultan advises against protest on rising cost of living
(tp) On June 22, the presidential council of Pakatan Harapan (PH) demanded that the federal government of Johor develop strategies to address the rising cost of living within a day. In conjunction with the demand, the Democratic Action Party (DPA), one of the party components of the PH coalition, proposed a street demonstration to pressure the government on the aforementioned issue. In response, the Johor sultan, Ibrahim Ismail, has issued a statement to denounce the proposal.
This series of events started after the government declared that it would end subsidies for cooking oil and the chicken price ceiling by July 1. The government recently reversed its course by declaring that subsidies for cooking oil are still be maintained and the price ceiling for chicken would not be floated and a new price ceiling would be announced by the ministry of agriculture and food industries shortly. [malaymail 1][malaymail 2]
Myanmar: Shadow government introduces Kyat digital currency
(jp) Myanmar's first blockchain-based digital currency, Digital Myanmar Kyat (DMMK), was introduced on June 19. Since DMMK is the shadow Nationa Unity Government (NUG)'s official currency, either Myanmar Kyat or DMMK can be used.
The NUG clarified that DMMK would remain in the Central Bank Digital Currency markets (CBDCs). The NUG government manages the independent, easy-to-access DMMK monetary system, which is based on innovation, security, privacy, and the current financial crisis of society.
One DMMK kyat has the same value as one Myanmar kyat. The NUG Ministry of Planning, Finance, and Investment said the DMMK is free from the military's financial mechanism.
Meanwhile, the Military Council's Central Bank, which the NUG controls, announced on June 10 that unofficial mobile payments are illegal. Under the Military Council, the Central Bank banned unofficial mobile payments after the NUG government announced a digital currency.
Unofficial mobile payments can cause a lot of losses and operate without permission, according to Section 172 of the Financial Institutions Act. The central bank threatens to prosecute anyone using unofficial online wallets, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison. [IDigital News][BNI][Rajacreator][Ministry of Planning, Finance, and Investment]
Myanmar: Military authorities reject request to resume prison visits
(cmsk) The Myanmar military has rejected requests made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to resume prison visits and allow family visits for prisoners. The ICRC’s regional director also called for the facilitation of humanitarian assistance in Chin, Kayah, and Karen states, Magwe, and Sagaing regions in a meeting with junta cabinet members.
However, the two sides could not come to an agreement to allow ICRC its humanitarian activities in Myanmar, according to the organization. Prison visits by ICRC and family members of detainees were reportedly suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to the latest figures released by Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 11,000 people have been arrested since the 2021 coup. The junta’s rejection of ICRC’s request to access prisons also comes after recent torture reports of political prisoners across the country. [The Irrawaddy] [AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]
Myanmar: Authorities move Suu Kyi's trial to prison
(jp) The Myanmar Police Force's Special Branch informed former civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her lawyers of the transfer during a court hearing on June 21. According to sources, Kyi was moved to Naypyitaw Prison on the following day, June 22, from an undisclosed location. Authorities say she will be in solitary confinement in a small prison building.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's trial will be held in a prison court. If convicted of all the charges against her, She will spend the rest of her life in prison as all the 11 charges carry a combined 100-year sentence. [The Irrawaddy]
Myanmar: UN expert urges action as Myanmar's death toll tops 2,000
(cmsk/jp) United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged the international community to do more to address the crisis in Myanmar triggered by the 2021 military coup as the number of people killed in the ongoing military crackdown on the regime’s opponents tops 2,000.
The call came during Andrews’ visit to Malaysia, where he welcomed the country’s efforts to push the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a firmer stance on the crisis, including engaging with the National Unity Government (NUG), which was set up by ousted elected politicians and other military opponents.
ASEAN, which admitted Myanmar in 1997, is leading diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation but has been criticized for not enforcing the peace path known as the "five-point consensus" agreed upon with military chief and coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in April 2021.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has monitored the crackdown in Myanmar since the coup, said more than 2,000 civilians had been killed. Rights groups warned that the actual death toll was likely much higher.
Andrews noted that the Myanmar military was notorious for atrocities against civilians before the coup, citing 2017 "genocidal attacks" on the predominantly Muslim ethnic minority Rohingya. [Aljazeera] [BBC, in Burmese]
In this light, the parallel administration of the NUG has also called on the international community to support its operations in its fight to end the military rule in the country. The NUG emphasized that in addition to cross-border humanitarian aid, it also needed defense equipment to stop the military from killing people.
Regarding the region’s response to the military coup, a NUG representative said whilst his government appreciated individual ASEAN member states’ efforts at engaging with opposition forces and particularly Malaysia, it was disappointed with the regional block for permitting the junta to participate in ASEAN Defense Ministers’ meetings. [The Irrawaddy]
Myanmar: Anti-regime civilians’ whereabouts remain unknown after arrest
(cmsk) After the anti-junta Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed organization in the Myanmar southern Rakhine State, abducted three military-affiliated security officers, the authorities retaliated by arresting at least 20 residents in Rakhine State. [The Irrawaddy 1]
Meanwhile, Yangon activist Lin Htet Naing’s whereabouts also remain unknown. The military administration arrested him on incitement charges punishable under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code, which has often been used against regime opponents. The law makes it a crime to make a statement that is seen as undermining the morale of the military or government employees. [The Irrawaddy 2]
Myanmar: Armed resistance has a chance of winning against the military regime, analysts say
(cmsk) According to US-based Wilson Center analysts, if the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) is able to forge a unified political objective for all anti-junta groups and establish a unified military command under its control, pro-democracy forces in Myanmar have a chance of defeating the regime.
The analysts acknowledge that the armed resistance was slowing down and being increasingly challenged by the junta’s superior Chinese and Russian weapons. However, they also noted that the military was struggling to maintain control in rural areas without incurring heavy losses. The breadth of the conflict across Myanmar was also making it difficult for the military to stamp out the resistance.
On the other hand, whilst the NUG has successfully recruited 100,000 members, only 40 percent of its members have access to weapons. Nevertheless, the analysts argue that if the NUG can consolidate its own chain of command and also convince the more loosely affiliated independent ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to accept a shared military strategy against the authorities, it could defeat the military regime.
For the political objective to succeed, according to the analysts, the NUG must make the case to EAOs that their autonomy could be secured under a democratic federal structure, to which the NUG will commit. To enhance the military strategy, the NUG could integrate high-level officers from aligned EAOs to formulate strategy and conduct operations across what have been identified as “seven theaters” in Myanmar. The analysts also argue that political unity could also help overcome the shortage of weapons for the People Defense Forces (PDF), particularly if it were able to find ways of cooperating with well-equipped EAOs.
Further, according to the Janes analyst, the military has not been able to prove its capabilities: failing “to contain — let alone crush — the resistance, which appears to be spreading, becoming more organized, more effective and to a degree better armed and equipped.” The monsoons will only make things more difficult for the military. [War on the Rocks] [Financial Times] [Center for Strategic and International Studies]
Myanmar: Ongoing armed conflict kills over 100 people
(cmsk) Fights across the country continue. Reports stated that two militiamen were killed and 10,000 residents fled as at least 20 villages in the northwestern Sagaing Region were torched by the military’s security guards at a Chinese copper mine company. Meanwhile, at least 100 guards at the mine reportedly raided and fired heavy artillery shells at another village setting ablaze 300-400 houses, according to sources. [Radio Free Asia 1] [The Irrawaddy 1]
In the same region, thousands of residents from at least five villages fled artillery strikes allegedly launched by the junta forces. According to a villager, the regime has increased its use of indiscriminate artillery strikes killing hundreds of people on a weekly basis. [The Irrawaddy 2]
Contemporarily, in Magway’s Salin Township, 12 resistance members were reportedly shot dead and three others arrested after a shootout while transporting weapons. The police reportedly confiscated 25 KA-25 rifles and a grenade. [Radio Free Asia 2]
Tensions between the military and the ethnic armed group Arakan Army (AA) in the Rakhine state continue to simmer as the military arrested people it suspected of having links with the AA. The junta’s arrests were reportedly in retaliation to the AA’s arrests of junta soldiers. [Radio Free Asia 3]
The Philippines: Media sector to push for decriminalization of libel
(bs) The media and journalism sector will push the new Marcos Jr’s administration to pass the legislation to decriminalize libel. The news was published after media organizations and media staff agreed upon the move during the Local Press Assembly 2022.
According to the president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI), "the libel law carries a very heavy presumption of unconstitutionality.” He added that laws on libel are likely to restrict freedoms of speech and expression if not carefully drafted.
Under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code, the penalty for the crime of slander or oral defamation which has all the elements of libel amounts to imprisonment or a fine, or both.
During the Assembly, the parties also agreed to endorse the passage of tougher regulations to combat fake news, a definition of human rights and the press, and of law in the protection of media organizations and practitioners. [Manila Times]
The Philippines: President-elect Marcos Jr to empower village officials
(bs) Ahead of his presidential appointment, Marcos Jr. has reiterated his commitment to empowering the country's village officials by providing additional funds. The officials will also be trained under the new administration. The move comes after the Supreme Court's Mandanas-Garcia ruling, which requires the government to expand the share of local government units (LGUs) in tax collections. [Manila Times 1]
On June 30, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will succeed Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential office after he won the May general election by a landslide. The president-elect previously served as a senator and is the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who ruled the Philippines under martial law from 1972 to 1986 when he was exiled. [Manila Times 2]
The Philippines: International Criminal Court to resume investigation on extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s war on drugs
(bs) The outgoing president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, challenged the intention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reopen the investigations into the abuses and killings perpetrated in his drug war.
Duterte was brought before the ICC in 2019 under accusations of crimes against humanity. However, in 2019 the Philippines withdrew its membership from the court. Nonetheless, the ICC carried on with the probe, as the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state, until November 2021, when the Philippine authorities committed to lead the investigation on a national level. [Manila Times][Reuters]
Since Duterte took office in 2016, official reports found that security forces killed over 6,252 drug suspects sparking outrage among rights groups, which claim that the number of deaths amounts to 12,000 to 30,000. On the same line, on February 16, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations committed in the “war on drugs” under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The document also denounced the Philippines’ continuous repression of press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights activism while threatening to end the country’s trade and market benefits under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus, which grants the Philippines special incentives and zero tariffs on more than 6,000 European products. [AiR No. 8, February/2022, 4]
The Philippines: Soldier injured in clash with terrorist group
(bs) A Filipino soldier was injured in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on the northernmost island of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. The ASG is the most well-known pro-ISIS terrorist group in the southern Philippines.
The group has been operating in several subgroups since the death of its founder Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani in December 1998. The organization has resorted to kidnappings to finance its terrorist activities in Mindanao where it is seeking to establish a caliphate.
Meanwhile, the authorities arrested an ASG member who was wanted for carrying out several murders in the Sulu region. [Manila Times]
Singapore: Report argues emotional abuse of migrant domestic workers is underregulated
(bs) Migrant domestic workers in Singapore have been experiencing increased emotional abuse, a report released by the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) found.
Although Singapore has adopted a number of laws to protect migrant workers from sexual or physical abuse, the latest findings depict the hidden truth behind the work of migrants in Singaporean households. The report, Invisible Wounds, stresses the severity of emotional abuse against migrant domestic workers compared to physical abuse, arguing that it is equally damaging. Among others, emotional abuse includes threats, intimidation, insults, social isolation, surveillance, and the invasion of privacy.
HOME and other rights groups have been observing and documenting labor rights abuses and exploitation that foreign migrant workers are subject to in Singapore. The majority of the victims are women, especially Filippino, employed as domestic workers or nannies, who frequently live in their employers’ households and whose work is often “invisible and unregulated.”
Finally, the report advises Singapore to enhance the country’s legal protection for foreign domestic workers against emotional abuse. [The Diplomat]
Thailand: No-Confidence debate scheduled for July 19
(bs) A no-confidence debate against Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 other ministers will kick off on July 19, the Cabinet deliberated. The debate aims at discussing the alleged ethical code violations and poor performance in handling the government administration of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand: Senators face public backlash over alleged nepotism while reaffirming the legality of hiring relatives
(td) After the Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) revealed that more than 50 cousins of the incumbent senators have been employed in Senate working panels, a Senate representative reiterated that the appointment of relatives is by no means illegal.
In principle, a senator can hire one expert along with seven assistants to support senatorial works. Securing jobs for their relatives, nevertheless, could be considered nepotism — violating Section 185 of the charter that refrains them from having conflicts of interests. It should be noted that this is not a new political phenomenon as then the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), appointed by National Council for Peace and Order in 2014, led an example of hiring relatives as assistants in the past.
Overall, despite senators downplaying the matter and insisting on the necessity to bring in trustworthy partners, the House committee on corruption and misconduct has launched an investigation into the issue amidst public criticisms. The objective is to rule out whether the move breached the code of political ethical conduct. In light of qualifications for assistants of senators and MPs, they must possess knowledge and experience in parliamentary affairs to justify their employment and avoid corruption. [Bangkok Post 1][Bangkok Post 2][National News Bureau of Thailand]
Thailand: Traffic violators failing to pay fines now at risk of arrest under new regulation
(td) Starting on June 20, motorists and motorcyclists who fail to pay for traffic-related fines are likely to be arrested after a warning and two summons. The measure aims at reducing traffic violations and accidents as Thailand’s roads are amongst the deadliest in the world, according to the Royal Thai Police and World Health Organization.
Should they be arrested, not only would the violators be charged with a fine of up to 1,000 baht (about 28 USD) but also their names will be recorded in police criminal records and the central database of the Provincial Administration Department. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand: Muslim institution opposes three newly-approved bills on Cannabis, alcohol, and same-sex marriage
(td/bs) Muslim groups in Southern Thailand have opposed the passing of three recently approved draft laws, namely the Cannabis and Hemp Bill, the Progressive Liquor Bill, and the Civil Partnership Bill. The League of Islamic Council argued that such bills are against Islamic principles.
In line with said arguments, the Prachachat Party, which is mostly formed by Muslim members, opposed all the bills during their first reading in parliament. The party also opposed the Marriage Equality Bill on same-sex marital partnership. In fact, according to the Holy Quran, same-sex marriage, narcotics, and alcoholic drinks are against Islam and its ethical and moral values. [Bangkok Post]
Thailand: New plan to tackle conflict in deep south disclosed
(td/bs) The National Security Council (NSC) announced that a new plan to tackle the ongoing conflict in the deep South will be implemented in 2023 dismissing the proposal of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of designating the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat as a special administrative zone. [Bangkok Post]
The deep south of Thailand is characterized by major cultural differences between the Muslim majority and the Thai national Buddhist culture. Peace attempts have been carried out for over two decades. Last January the talks resumed after two years of the covid pandemic.
Since the deep-south issue arose in early 2000, the military has played a significant role in the use of aggressive measures on the side of diplomatic channels. As a result, social and political outreach from the central government are instrumental in reconciliation with Muslim communities in the south. The Muslim separatist group has been suggesting further cooperation in the issues of language, economics, culture, and education in the area. The special focus was on the imposition of the Thai language and civil law in Malay-culture regions, where the majority of the population speak a Malay dialect and follow Islamic Law. [AiR No. 3, January/2022, 3][Office of the National Security Council, Thailand][International Crisis Group]
Timor-Leste: New biometric system in Braille to be introduced
(bs) Timor-Leste’s upcoming parliamentary election is set to have a new biometric system that includes Braille and an updated voters’ database, the National Election Commission (CNE) and President José Ramos-Horta discussed.
By introducing a new biometric system in Braille, people with visual impairment can exercise their right to vote. Moreover, an updated voters’ database along with the biometric system would allow Timorese citizens abroad to participate in the elections even though the voter registration was carried out in Timor-Leste. [E-Global, in Portuguese]
Timor-Leste: Government urged to repatriate seven women victims of human trafficking
(bs) Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta and several Members of the Parliament urged the Timorese government to promptly address the situation involving seven Timorese workers strained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who are alleged victims of human trafficking and slavery.
In response to the appeals, the deputy minister of foreign affairs and cooperation ensured that measures aimed at the resolution of the case have already been taken. The Timorese and the UAE governments are closely monitoring the matter in cooperation with Timor-Leste’s Criminal and Scientific Investigation Police and INTERPOL. [E-Global, in Portuguese]
By June 24, the authorities had already arrested three East Timorese people and two foreigners as primary suspects, from Bahrain and Sudan respectively. The men were detained for allegedly being members of a network of human traffickers who carry responsibility for smuggling, among others, seven Timorese women into the UAE without proper documents. The victims declared that they had not signed an employment contract and their documents were immediately confiscated by their employers. They also reported that they are forced to work 12 hours every day earning only USD 54 per month. When they requested to be repatriated to Timor-Leste, the employers demanded USD 80,000 in compensation. [UCA News]
Vietnam: Legislative body passes new law on mobile police
(ntan) in mid-June, Vietnam National Assembly approved the Law on Mobile Police with over 91 percent of the votes of the delegates present. The law, which would replace the 2013 Ordinance on Mobile Police, will enter into force on January 1, 2023.
In adherence to the law, mobile police will be equipped with aircraft and boats in addition to weapons, explosives, supporting tools, vehicles, and professional technical equipment. Moreover, the new legislation drafts mobile police forces’ duties, among which there are “carrying out patrols in areas with complicated security and order situations, executing action plans to free hostages kept by malefactors, and dispersing gatherings causing chaos or disturbances.” [Tuoitre News]
Vietnam: Human rights protection remains poor
(bs) Despite the country’s improvement, Vietnam has yet to reach international standards of human rights protection, according to the latest annual report from Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI). Similarly, the Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN) reported that, due to the current human rightssituation in Vietnam, the country’s goal of joining the United Nations Human Rights council remains out of sight.
Specifically, the Vietnamese government is reprimanded for suppressing the freedom of expression of journalists and media workers as well as political and religious freedoms. According to the HRMI, which measures 13 rights, including five economic and social human rights and eight civil and political human rights, Vietnam scored 5.3 out of 10 in the section named “safety before the state,” meaning that the population is not yet safe from the risk of arbitrary arrest, torture, mistreatment, enforced disappearances, and execution without trial. Meanwhile, the country ranked an even lower score in the section on civil and political freedoms. [Radio Free Asia 1][Radio Free Asia 2]
International Relations, Geopolitics and Security in Asia
G7 leaders announce USD 600 billion investment plan to counter Belt and Road Initiative
(jw/dbk) Between June 26 and June 28, leaders from the Group of Seven (G7: Canada, France, Germany Japan, Italy, UK, US) convened in Germany to attend the G7 summit, announcing a USD 600 billion investment plan to counter the Chinese led Belt and Road initiative. The plan is a relaunch of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) that was announced at the 2021 G7 talks in the UK. [DW]
According to US President Joe Biden, the plan which is meant to tackle issues such as climate change, global health, gender equality and digital infrastructure allows countries to “see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies”. The US already promised to contribute USD 200 billion to the plan while the EU pledged USD 300 billion. According to Biden, further funding will come from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds and other sources. [Al Jazeera] [BBC]
Hinting at the previous dominance of the Belt and Road initiative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that it is up to Europe to “show […] partners in the developing world that they have a choice” and that there is an intention “to step up in solidarity to meet their development needs.” [Reuters 1]
In a reaction to the announcement, the Chinese foreign ministry stated that “China continues to welcome all initiatives to promote global infrastructure development” but is “opposed to pushing forward geopolitical calculations under the pretext of infrastructure construction or smearing the Belt and Road Initiative.” [Reuters 2]
The G7 leaders also promised to continue providing financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and urged Russia to stop blocking food from Ukraine’s ports. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the meeting via video call and requested more heavy weapons from its G7 allies. He also pressed the Group to keep pressure on Russia with more sanctions. [BBC]
Multiple sources cited by Reuters and Politico indicated that besides the Ukraine war and opportunities to further sanction Russia, engagement with China was a crucial issue discussed at the G7. According to the White House, the G7 leaders were planning to address forced labor in China as well as intellectual property theft. Another official cited by Politico emphasized gradually more “aggressive” economic practices of China. [Politico] [Reuters 3]
China is anticipated to play an even bigger role at the NATO summit between June 28 and June 30 as observers expect China to for the first time be included in NATO’s new strategic concept, a key document that outlines the future strategy and development of the defense alliance and is to be revealed over the course of the summit. China’s regional competitors Japan and South Korea as well as Australia and New Zealand are also invited to participate in the summit, indicating that NATO is increasingly willing to shift from its original focus on the North Atlantic. These developments come as a recent survey shows that 52 percent of responders across NATO countries view China as a security threat, an eleven-point increase compared to last year. [Reuters 4] [Reuters 5] [South China Morning Post]
China hosts virtual BRICS summit, promotes grouping as blueprint for alternative to US-led global order
(jw/sg/lm) The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, collectively known by their acronym BRICS, met for a virtual summit last week that was hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and attended by leaders from 13 other developing nations, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand. [Hindustan Times 1]
President Xi used the virtual gathering as an opportunity to promote Beijing’s vision of the BRICS as an alternative to the United States-led global order. In his welcoming remarks, he stressed the necessity and fruitfulness of cooperation between the BRICS countries, and later called on the grouping’s member states to “take up responsibility” and strive to “abandon Cold War mentality and block confrontation”. [Associated Press] [Xinhua]
Previously, setting the tone ahead of the virtual summit, Xi had called sanctions a “double-edged sword” while addressing a business forum on June 23, saying the measures would lead to the global economy's politicization, mechanization and weaponization. The comments were widely considered to be a veiled reference to the United States and NATO, whom Beijing has repeatedly blamed for provoking Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. [CNN]
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for greater cooperation within the group to aid in the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke of mutual security concerns within the grouping - possibly a thinly veiled reference to China. [Business Standard] [The Hindu]
According to observers, for New Delhi, the summit presented the latest instance of a growing balancing act as it attempts to contend with increasing partnerships with the United States and Western allies through frameworks such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, all the while remaining open to opportunities with key trading partners such as China and Russia. [Foreign Policy, $]
India and China share a conflicting relationship regarding their shared border in the Himalayas and increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. However, the two superpowers managed to avoid confrontation at the BRICS summit. Instead, discussions will take place next month as military leaders from the two countries meet to discuss their collective issues at the 16th India-China senior military commanders meeting. [Hindustan Times 2]
Notably, the virtual summit marked the first time Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a forum with the heads of major economies since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine this February. In his own video address at the virtual summit, Putin said Russia was “redirecting” its trade flows to BRICS countries and other “reliable international partners,” according to a Kremlin transcript. [CNN]
“Partners in the Blue Pacific” initiative launched by Australia, Japan, New Zealand, U.K. and U.S.
(nc) On June 24, the U.S., Japan, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand launched the “Partners in the Blue Pacific” initiative as “an inclusive, informal mechanism to support Pacific priorities more effectively and efficiently.”
In a joint statement, the five countries expressed their commitment to “facilitating stronger and more regular engagement” with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Islands Forum and to deepening cooperation in the areas of climate crisis, connectivity and transportation, maritime security and protection, as well as health, prosperity, and education.
The move comes in response to the rise of the Chinese military power in the Indo-Pacific region and its stronger ties and cooperation with Pacific Island countries. [The White House, USA] [Japan Times]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
ASEAN defense ministers meet with Japan and China
(dbk/jp/nc) The 10 ASEAN defense ministers adopted a joint declaration on defense cooperation in order to reinforce unity in multilateral security issues. The declaration was adopted on June 22 at the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), which was held in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. The meeting also saw the approval of four other documents, including concept papers on enhancing ASEAN military cooperation and support for female peacekeepers.
The meeting was also attended by General Mya Tun Oo, the Myanmar defense minister appointed by the ruling State Administration Council (SAC). This was despite recent calls for Cambodia not to invite the minister, with almost 700 civil groups signing a petition to remove him. It was said that by inviting General Mya Tun Oo, Cambodia was not only “emboldening” him but also associating themselves with his “terror campaign”. The petitioners also emphasized he had allegedly committed “extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, looting and torching of civilians’ properties in Myanmar since the coup last year”.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' informal meeting and the ASEAN-China defense ministers’ meeting were also held on the ADMM’s sidelines.
The Japanese Minister of Defence Kishi Nobuo aimed at discussing China’s growing maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region and improving Japan’s relations with the ASEAN. Kishi called for an effective and substantial code of conduct in adequation to international law to be applied in the South China Sea to defuse tensions as many territorial disputes subsist. The ASEAN and China are also working on such a code.
Kishi also declared that Japan will continue providing defense equipment to ASEAN members to enhance security cooperation. The defense ministers and Kishi discussed boosting cybersecurity and they welcomed Japan’s “Vientiane Vision 2.0” initiative, a tool to improve Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation with the ASEAN having a leading role. The Cambodian Defense Minister General Tea Banh said this tool will strengthen ASEAN-Japan cooperation in addressing security issues in the region.
Finally, Kishi raised concern over the possible participation of Russia in the ASEAN Defense Ministers Plus Eight meeting in November.
ASEAN and China have also agreed to strengthen cooperation within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and build a “community of common destiny”. The parties discussed regional and wider security issues, and ways to move forward into a future of global security. The ASEAN chair reiterated that regional ministers are enthusiastic about cooperation with China in order to promote multilateralism, equality, renunciation of coercion and the use of force, adopting peaceful solutions, and promoting the UN Charter among other issues under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He also noted that ASEAN-China is devoted to defense and security collaboration through other frameworks, like the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, as well as creating a nuclear-free Southeast Asia
Both the ADMM retreat and the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism meetings will be conducted in July this year. The ADMM-Plus is a dialogue between ASEAN and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States. However, Australia has officially opted out of attending either in person or virtually in light of the controversy surrounding the participation of Myanmar.
Set to be held in Moscow, this will be the first meeting Australia has missed since the Group’s foundation in 2011. Official Australian Defence documentation found that Australia “expressed concern about Myanmar conflating opposition to the military coup with terrorism” as early as 2021; moves that have been lauded by rights groups like Justice for Myanmar. The rights group said that it recommends other countries follow Australia’s lead in boycotting the meeting, clashing with Cambodia’s views of “unity” and non-segregation. [Kyodo News] [Khmer Times 1] [The Khmer Times 2] [Prensa Latina News] [The Irrawaddy] [The Phnom Penh Post] [The Straits Times]
ASEAN chair hosts ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) 2022
(dbk) As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nationa (ASEAN) Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) 2022, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) hosted a three-day conference from June 21-23 to evaluate a number of documents connected to the promotion of human rights in the region. The 35th meeting of AICHR, run via video conference, was hosted by CHRC chairman Keo Remy and saw representatives of all ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat participating.
The AICHR reported that the meeting was focusing on preparing three specific documents for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ annual meeting in early August. This included the AICHR 2022 annual report, the AICHR chairman’s statement to the foreign ministers, and the AICHR priority programs and activities for 2023. They also announced the meeting would review the progress of applied past programs and assess the proposed concepts of AICHR priority programs scheduled for implementation in 2022.
The committee vice-president Chin Malin said that the main documents would be ready in time for the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting in August. Malin also emphasized that the conference would discuss renovations to regional general human rights. To name a few, women's and children’s rights, the rights of people with disabilities, the prevention of torture, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, access to clean water and sanitation, access to health care, and the right to citizenship. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Sri Lanka suspends fuel sales for two weeks, plans donor conference with China, India, Japan
(sg/lm) The Sri Lankan government on July 27 announced a two-week halt to all fuel sales for essential services and called for a partial shutdown as it attempts to manage a severe shortage amid a worsening economic crisis.
Sri Lanka defaulted on its USD 51 billion foreign debt in April after missing interest payments on two USD 1.25 billion sovereign bonds [see AiR No. 17, April/2022, 4]. Colombo is in talks with the International Monetary Fund, as well as bilateral creditors such as India and China for fresh funds [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]. The South Asian nation needs USD 6 billion in the coming months to prop up its reserves, pay for ballooning import bills and stabilize its currency. [Financial Times]
Earlier this month, all government schools were shut down and state institutions operated with skeleton staff to reduce commuting and conserve the fast-depleting fuel stock [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3]. The state sector shutdown was meant to end this week, but it is now being extended until July 10, when the government promised to restore fuel supplies.
Also on June 26, the government implemented a 12-22 percent fuel price increase. Separately, a token system to ration distribution of the limited fuel stocks was supposed to start on that - but it failed to take off. [The Guardian]
According to Bloomberg, the government is also preparing a cabinet paper that would allow foreign companies to distribute fuel. Currently only the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corp and Indian Oil Corp Ltd’s Sri Lanka unit are permitted to distribute fuel. The new distributors will be asked to import oil on credit, according to Energy Minister Wijesekera. [Bloomberg]
Colombo is also seeking a donor conference with China, India, and Japan in an effort to drum up more foreign assistance and present an interim budget in August. Speaking to parliament, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on June 22 that the three Asian nations were historical allies and could provide solutions to the worsening economic crisis engulfing Sri Lanka. [The Straits Times]
In related developments, an Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra arrived in Colombo on June 23 for talks with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. India has been the principal source of foreign assistance to Sri Lanka this year, supplying more than USD 3.5 billion, including a USD 400 million swap and credit lines totaling USD 1.5 billion. Sri Lanka has sought additional USD 500 million to import fuel. [Al Jazeera] [The Hindu]
A delegation from the US Treasury and State Departments arrived in Colombo for a three-day visit on June 26 to assess the situation. [CNN]
Furthermore, Sri Lanka is seeking cheap oil from Russia and Qatar. On June 28, two ministers left for Moscow to continue talks that Colombo has been having with Russian authorities to directly purchase fuel, among other related issues. [Associated Press]
Pakistan, IMF likely to seal deal on resumption of bailout package
(ha/lm) According to Pakistan’s finance minister, a “broad agreement” has been struck between Islamabad and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in talks on the revival of a crucial bailout program. At the time of writing, the multilateral lender was expected to submit a draft of an initial memorandum on macroeconomic and financial targets to Pakistan on June 27, a first step towards an official agreement. [Reuters]
The development is considered a key step towards the resumption of a USD 6 bailout package, which was initially agreed in 2019 but frozen in March when the previous government reneged on an agreement to reduce fuel subsidies AiR No. 10, March/2022, 2]. Pakistan had asked the IMF to extend its support until June 2023 and also up the value to USD 8 billion, to include the country’s 2022-23 financial year.
The new government, led by incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, unveiled a USD 47 billion budget for the next fiscal year earlier this month aimed at tight fiscal consolidation in a bid to convince the IMF to resume the much-needed bailout payments [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]. The budget needed to be finalized by June 28. However, the Washington-based lender later said additional measures were needed to bring Islamabad’s budget in line with the key objectives of the IMF program.
In light of this, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail confirmed that taxes on petroleum products would further increase by about 20 percent in the next 12 months. Similarly, there would be a hike in the tariffs of electricity and gas. 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].
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Singapore attend Commonwealth summit in Rwanda
(sg/lm) The 6th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in Kigali, Rwanda, between June 20 and 26. The weeklong summit was attended by officials from 56 countries, representing roughly one-third of the world population, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Singapore.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the summit met with representatives from many Commonwealths member states, most notably Rwandan, the United Kingdom, and South African. [The Hindu] [ThePrint]
Pakistan was represented by the state minister for foreign affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar. The Pakistani minister met up with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; the two discussed stronger UK-Pakistan economic ties and the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. Khar also met with representatives of Jamaica, Dominica, and Sierra Leone. [Geo News]
However, some experts argue that the increase in energy prices was “devastating for the country’s 5.2 million small and medium-sized businesses”. Almost 80 percent of the country’s population is vulnerable to the impacts of the removal of fuel subsidies because they live on USD 5.50 a day or less – the World Bank’s poverty line for the lower middle-income class in developing countries. [South China Morning Post]
Separately, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced on June 24 that a loan of USD 2.3 billion had been credited to the central bank's account from a Chinese consortium of banks. The finance minister thanked the Chinese government for facilitating the transaction. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed his gratitude to the Chinese leadership and labeled Beijing as an “all-weather friend”. [Dawn] [Gulf News]
Criminal gangs controlling SEZs in Myanmar and Laos pose threats to regional security
(bs) Security in Southeast Asia is facing growing threats after an increasing number of organized crime gangs have taken control of the region’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by building over 240 casinos and using them as hubs for their criminal activities, according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.
Among the most popular crimes are drug trafficking and production, money laundering, online gambling, and scamming. Human trafficking, and forced prostitution. A notorious hub is the King’s Romans casino in an SEZ in the northern Lao province of Bokeo where the Lao national authorities are not allowed to operate without the Chinese SEZ’s owner’s permission.
Another challenging case regards the “crime city,” which is located in a Chinese enclave in Myanmar and run by a local border guard force known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). The area was highly populated by Chinese workers before the Covid pandemic, however, when asked for clarification on the status of the SEZ, Chinese embassy officials disassociated China’s involvement in the activities run in the area, which allegedly involved fraudulent crypto coins and other scams. [Asia Financial]
Brunei will set up the ASEAN Center for Climate Change
(bs) By the end of 2022, Brunei will launch the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change. The country is currently waiting for the approval of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)’s members. The announcement came on the sideline of the Climate Change Week of Brunei mid-year Conference and Exhibition 2022, where ASEAN representatives also noted that the region was regarded as the most vulnerable to climate change, according to the Climate Outlook 2021 Survey Report by ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Among the most affected countries over the past 20 years have been Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. [Borneo Bulletin]
Brunei, as the former ASEAN chair, launched the initiative in 2021 and is now carrying out the project, which is expected to enhance the country’s reputation as a regional research hub on climate change. [The Scoop]
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam meet to discuss ASEAN Trans-Rail Link project
(dbk) Representatives of the logistic sectors from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos met on June 21-23 to discuss the potential of creating a cost-effective railway line connecting the three countries as well as to begin the operations on the Southern Corridor of the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) project.
The team sought to understand the logistics around creating the promising railway and analyze a system that would also involve Thailand. The research found that rail transport between China and Cambodia would be reduced from two weeks to just four days.
The Cambodian representative said that even though it is unclear whether the Lao government currently has the resources to complete the project, a successful realization would improve the cross-national relationship of multiple countries. [The Khmer Times] [The Phnom Penh Post]
Cambodia, India sign agreement on cooperation in demining operations
(bs) India agreed to support Cambodia in the country’s operations to clear affected areas from unexploded landmines. The project aims at making Cambodia a mine-free county by 2025.
India has been cooperating with Cambodia for several years, during which it has also provided Cambodia’s armed forces with USD 1.5 million in grants for the procurement of demining equipment. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Cambodia, Japan agree to strengthen bilateral defense ties
(dbk) On the sideline of the ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting, the Japanese Minister of Defence Kishi Nobuo met with Prime Minister Hun Sen to confirm the cooperation in strengthening defense systems between the two countries.
The two parties agreed to share military and defense information as well as to examine changing perspectives on both regional and global levels collaboratively. Nobuo said after the meeting that “the Prime Minister expressed support for existing cooperation and requested that the Cambodia-Japan Bilateral Cooperation Plan be boosted, through officer exchanges and cross-training which would enhance the capacity of the Cambodian Army in humanitarian work, disaster relief, engineering, and health services.” [The Phnom Penh Post]
US President Biden introduces policy framework on illegal fishery aimed at China
(jw) Taking a clear aim at China, the White House released a National Security memo on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) on June 27 for the first time. The memo directs US agencies to coordinate and cooperate with foreign allies in efforts to render the exploitation of the world’s oceans more sustainable.
While the memo does not explicitly mention China, the country with the world’s largest distant fishing fleet that operates thousands of fleeting fish factories across the world, it aims to combat practices that China is frequently accused of following such as using forced labor or violating other countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ) with its fishing fleets.
In language clearer than in the memo, a US official called China “a leading contributor to IUU fishing worldwide” that has “has impeded progress on the development of measures to combat IUU fishing and overfishing in international organizations”. In response, China’s embassy in Washington called the accusation “completely untrue”. [Associated Press] [Reuters]
US domestic debate on China-tariffs continues as ban on goods from Xinjiang comes into effect
(jw) After weeks of indications that US President Joe Biden might soon decide to cut a number of tariffs imposed on Chinese exporters during the Trump administration, discussions among officials are ongoing with a final decision most likely being made after the G7 summit taking place between June 26 and June 28. Amid surging inflation, many Washington politicians and analysts do not see a strategic value in the tariffs imposed on some USD 350 billion of Chinese goods, arguing that cutting them would lead to a decrease in prices.
As the White House is trying to simultaneously ease the burden on US consumers and employers and retain the strategic advantage of tariffs on key goods such as aluminum, steel or semiconductors, a selective easing of certain tariffs on consumer goods is one of the options that could be chosen according to anonymous officials cited by Reuters. [Reuters] [Quartz]
However, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai remains skeptical of cutting tariffs, stating that they provide the US with diplomatic leverage over China that should not be easily relinquished. Indicating that tariffs might be necessary to exert pressure on China, Tai emphasized that the US “has repeatedly sought and obtained commitments from China, only to find that lasting change remains elusive.” [Voice of America]
The Chinese side reiterated its support for the removal of trade barriers with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce claiming that “amid the high level of inflation, the sooner the tariffs against China are lifted, the sooner consumers and enterprises will benefit.” [China Daily]
The discussions take place amid new US regulations on imports from the Chinese province of Xinjiang coming into effect. Under the new regulations, imported goods from Xinjiang are heavily scrutinized with sellers having to prove that there is no forced labor connected to the production of the sold item or any other item that belongs to the supply chain. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US is rallying allies and partners to “make global supply chains free from the use of forced labor [and] to speak out against atrocities in Xinjiang”. [BBC] [CNN]
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce reacted to the law calling it an instrument of “economic coercion”, accusing the US of threatening supply chains and announcing that it would respond with “necessary actions to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests”. In similar remarks, the Chinese foreign ministry again denied allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and asserted that the law instead reflects US efforts to “make the world decouple with China” and create “forced unemployment” in Xinjiang. [Global Times] [South China Morning Post]
Swedish court upholds ban of Huawei’s 5G gear
(jw) In a June 22 decision, a Swedish court of appeals upheld the ruling of a lower court that barred Chinese company Huawei Technologies from providing their 5G gear to Swedish mobile firms. Previously, Huawei challenged the decision of Swedish telecom regulator PTS to ban Huawei from selling 5G equipment in court. After the US claimed that China could use technical infrastructure provided by Huawei to engage in spying and data theft, Sweden was among the countries that heavily limited Huawei’s operations citing national security concerns. The decision of Sweden to ask its telecom companies to stop using gear provided by Huawei or Chinese state-owned enterprise ZTE by January 1, 2025 also led to Swedish phone company Ericsson facing backlash in China. [Reuters]
For an account on the status of the relationship between the Nordic states Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and China, see Andreas B. Forsby in [The Diplomat] who describes a shift from “pushing for closer ties with China,” to “eroding political trust between the two sides,” that has paved the way for a “broader decoupling agenda” in the European states.
China’s envoy urges new Australian government to repair relations
(jw) In a June 24 speech, China’s ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian urged the new Australian government to take action to repair bilateral relations after years of no high-level diplomatic contact. Even though Xiao alleged that the former government’s decision in 2018 to ban Huawei Technologies from selling 5G gear was the “first shot” in the history of deterioration in Chinese-Australian relations, he claimed that there is “great potential for cooperation” and “no reason to be enemies”.
In his speech which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters shouting out slogans regarding the prosecution of minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet and the suppression of free speech in Hong Kong, Xiao defended China’s human rights record stating that “there is no such thing as absolute freedom” and that freedom has to take place within rules and boundaries instead. He also dismissed concerns about Australian citizens currently detained in China, urging Australia to respect China’s legal system. [ABC Australia] [Reuters] [The Guardian]
Peruvian indigenous protestors agree to negotiate over Chinese operated copper mine
(jw) After weeks of protest, indigenous Peruvian communities who initiated a blockade of the Las Bambas copper mine agreed to engage in negotiations with the Peruvian government and the operator of the mine, Minerals and Metals Group, an Australian-Chinese company fully owned by Chinese state-owned mining giant China Minmetals.
The blockade was part of large-scale, sometimes violent protests of indigenous communities claiming the land covered by the mine as their own [see AiR No. 20, May/2022, 3]. The protests led to the operations of the mine being halted several times, causing great concerns in the Peruvian government as the Las Bambas copper mine alone accounts for one percent of the Peruvian gross domestic product. However, a return of protesters remains possible should the negotiations be unsuccessful. [Reuters]
The Philippines ends joint maritime resource exploration talks with China
(dql) Speaking at a ceremony held on the 124th anniversary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin disclosed that his country will terminate joint energy exploration negotiations with China. He cited constitutional constraints and concerns about the country’s sovereignty for this move.
The MoU on these talks was signed in 2018. It allows for cooperation between the two counties in the exploration of deposits of oil and gas that lie within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Critics of the agreement have always seen it as a method “to buy the Philippines’ de facto acquiescence to its expansive maritime and territorial claims in the South China Sea.” [The Diplomat]
China delivers the second of four frigates built for the Pakistani navy
(jw/tj) On June 23, the second of four Type 054 A/P Frigates built by Chinese shipbuilding companies for the Pakistani navy was commissioned in Shanghai. Citing military experts, Chinese state-owned media emphasized that the frigates are one of the most advanced and will help Pakistan in trying to secure its waterways, especially the sea routes of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). [Global Times] [The Express Tribune]
China to provide aid after Afghanistan hit by earthquake
(jw) After Afghanistan was hit by an earthquake killing more 1000 people this week, the Chinese foreign ministry promised to send USD 7.5 million in emergency aid to the nation which has been in an economic and humanitarian crisis since the Taliban took power in 2021. China, which does not officially recognize the Taliban government but has been in closer diplomatic contact than most other nations, pledged to send aid including tents, sheets and convertible beds.
Commenting on Taiwan’s promise to send US 1 million in aid to Afghanistan, the Chinese foreign ministry characterized Taiwan’s support as a political attempt to gain international influence that “will never succeed.” [Global Times] [Reuters]
Tuvalu Foreign Minister leaves UN Ocean Conference after Taiwanese delegates blocked by China
(jw) After China blocked the participation of three Taiwanese officials at the UN Ocean Conference, the foreign minister of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, decided to pull out of the conference which started on June 26. Originally the Taiwanese officials were set on the delegation list of Tuvalu, a move that was later challenged by China which claims Taiwan as part of its own territory. Tuvalu is one of just 14 states which have diplomatic relations with the self-governed island that is mostly barred from participating in international institutions due to the diplomatic weight of China.
The Chinese foreign ministry commented that “The Taiwan authorities' attempts to squeeze into the United Nations Conference on the Oceans and the Law of the Sea by engaging in petty maneuvers in the international arena or acting as followers of other countries will only demean themselves” [Reuters]
China’s Horn of Africa envoy offers mediation in regional issues
(jw) Xue Bing, China’s first special envoy to the Horn of Africa appointed only in February [see AiR No. 9, March/2022, 1], attended the first “China-Horn of Africa on security, governance and development" conference on June 20 displaying China’s footprint in the region and telling the participants from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda that he is “ready to provide mediation efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes”.
The troubled region that is repeatedly shaken by violence due to conflicts, civil wars and terrorism has received more attention from China in recent times due to multiple, large multi-billion investment projects and the first Chinese overseas military base located in Djibouti. [Associated Press] [South China Morning Post]
China steps back from hosting UN biodiversity summit due to COVID-19 restrictions
(jw) Due to ongoing insecurity and heavy restrictions remaining in place because of China’s zero-covid strategy, a UN summit on biodiversity will take place in Canada and not in China where it was originally planned. The decision comes after China already withdrew from hosting multiple sporting events such as the soccer’s 2023 Asian Cup or the 2022 Asian Games. [Associated Press]
China’s continued international isolation was lamented by ambassadors from Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Croatia and France who pointed out that the lack of face-to-face exchanges makes misunderstandings more likely and contributes to international tensions. [South China Morning Post]
Japan criticizes China for naval and drilling activities in East China Sea
(nc/dql) On June 24, Japan confirmed that two Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan's territorial waters near a chain of the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands, and stayed there for more than 64 hours this week, marking the longest incursion of its kind since 2012 when Japan purchased some islands in the disputed area from a private Japanese owner. [The EurAsian Times]
The incursion comes weeks after China and Russia conducted their first joint-areal patrol since the beginning of the Ukraine war over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea and the Western Pacific on May 24 [see AiR No. 22, May/2022, 5].
Days earlier, on June 20, Japan lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo against the setting up of a gas drilling facility by China in a contested area of the East China Sea. A declaration to which Beijing replied by saying that Japan should not meddle with China’s gas development as the facility was set up inside its jurisdiction.
China and Japan decided in 2008 to jointly develop their gas facilities by preparing a bilateral agreement. But due to tensions after a Chinese trawler's collided with a Japan Coast Guard vessel, the negotiations on the implementation have stalled since 2010 and never resumed.
Around 18 structures like this one have been constructed by China. Japan fears that this may lead to China siphoning off all the resources from its side of the median line. But China maintains that the facility was built within its exclusive economic zone. [Mainichi] [Japan Today] [Kyodo News]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
US lawmakers submit resolution calling on White House to designate India ‘Country of Particular Concern’
(sg/lm) A member of the United States House of Representatives has introduced a resolution condemning alleged violations of human rights and religious freedom in India and calling on the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). [The Hindu]
The resolution, introduced by Representative Ilhan Omar and jointly supported by three more representatives, is based on the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an autonomous US government panel. Published earlier this month, the report recommended – for the third year in a row – that India should be classified as a CPC, along with 14 other nations [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1]. India rejected the report, citing “vote bank politics in international relations.” [Congress.gov]
This is not the first time Representative Omar has been at loggerheads with the Indian government. Earlier this year, she traveled to the Pakistan-administered part of the disputed Kashmir region and promised to push the White House to pay more attention to “the plight of Kashmiris”, prompting an angry response from New Delhi. [AiR No. 17, April/2022, 4]
In light of this, many in India have labelled the resolution anti-Indian, accusing Omar of partnering with Muslim-majority neighbor Pakistan. An Indian American Muslim body, by contrast, on June 23 praised the representative for introducing the resolution. [Business Standard] [The Indian Express]
Indian, Australian defense ministers meet in New Delhi, compare notes on China
(sg/lm) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in New Delhi on June 20, marking the highest-level interchange between Australia and India since Antony Albanese became the new Australian prime minister late last month. [The Hindu] [The Times of India]
Marles’ visit to India marked the latest leg of a multi-nation tour aimed at rallying support among allies concerned about China. The defence minister traveled to Japan earlier this month for talks with his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi. Prior to this, Marles attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. While there, he held Australia’s first ministerial discussion with China in more than two years, during which he affirmed Canberra’s concerns about growing Chinese military might and its position in the Indo-Pacific. [AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]
Against this backdrop, discussions between Singh and Marles centered on China, with both countries agreeing to work towards more defense and strategic cooperation to contain Beijing in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides later also issued a joint statement in which they promised to collaborate on intelligence sharing, military exercises, and logistics. Marles also used a speech at the National Defence College in New Delhi to again urge China to be more transparent about its sweeping military expansion. [ABC News] [The Diplomat]
Both countries share complex relations with China. India faces multiple border disputes with China, including the ‘Line of Actual’ along India’s north-western border in Ladakh. The conflict has flared in the past, with skirmishes in 2020 leading to large casualties on both sides. In comparison, Australia faces challenges from China in Pacific Island nations. Neighboring Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with China in April this year, leading to fears of Chinese military presence in what Australia regards as its sphere of influence [see AiR No. 25, June/2022, 3].
Indian forces will participate in the Exercise Pitch Black, a multilateral air force exercise conducted in Australia this coming August.
India re-establishes diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, sends aid after earthquake
(tj/sg) India has announced that it would resume its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, just weeks after a team of Indian officials met the country’s acting foreign minister in Kabul [see AiR No. 23, June/2022, 1], indicating that both sides are willing to strengthen bilateral relations.
However, New Delhi in a carefully-worded statement emphasized that the move did not amount to a recognition of the Taliban regime, but rather was aimed at ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the victims of an earthquake that struck southeastern Afghanistan on June 22. [Hindustan Times] [ThePrint]
India pulled its officials out of Afghanistan last August and closed its embassy, although it is keen to retain ties with Kabul, not least because its regional rival Pakistan wields considerable influence. In fact, there had been unconfirmed reports of backchannel talks taking place last June [see AiR No. 24, June/2021, 3]. Furthermore, the two sides meet in Doha, the capital of Qatar, in September [see AiR No. 36, September/2021, 1].
Earlier this month then, Afghanistan’s defense minister and the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, answered “yes” when asked about sending Afghan army personnel to India for military training.
China grows Twitter diplomacy in Indonesia
(jvk) The new Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Lu Kang, has opened a Twitter account and has quickly garnered followers. Lu has used Twitter to comment on growing China-Indonesian relations, Belt and Road Initiative, and to respond to the Indonesian public’s concerns over the treatment of Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region, among others.
The move aligns with a growing trend of diplomacy through Twitter, often referred to as “Twiplomacy”. As China’s growing role in Indonesia has produced some negative public sentiment, Twitter seems to be an opportunity for China to convey information efficiently and influence public opinion. [The Diplomat]
Indonesian President Widodo visits Russia and Ukraine
(jvk) President Joko Widodo is visiting Ukraine and Russia on a peace-building mission on June 29 and June 30. In a statement released on June 26, Widodo announced his plan to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to order an immediate ceasefire. According to his statement, Widodo’s main concerns are forging peaceful negotiations in the ongoing war and the reactivation of the supply chain.
The mission follows Indonesia’s attendance at the G7 meeting as chair of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies. Ukraine and Russia have been invited to the G20 meeting, despite the backlash against the latter’s invitation. [Reuters][The Sun Daily]
Japan cancels financing plan for coal-fired plants in Indonesia and Bangladesh
(nc) On June 22, Japan announced it will put to stop two financial plans providing loans for the construction of coal-fired power plants that were proceeding in Bangladesh and Indonesia.
In 2021, the G7 agreed to end new support for coal-fired power generation, responsible for gas emissions and therefore climate change. Environmental groups have pointed out that these loans violate the G7 promise. So Japan announced not proceeding with this support for coal-fired plants. The targets were two projects, the Matabari 2 coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh and the Indramayu coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. Both projects were investigated for construction with the support of Japan. Construction has not started. [Japan Times]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Japan and Philippines plan defense cooperation in space
(nc) Japan Air Self-Defense Force chief of staff Shunji Izutsu visited the Philippines on June 23 and met his counterpart Air Force chief Connor Anthony Canlas. Both officials revealed their interest in increasing surveillance capabilities through satellites. They agreed on sharing technology to strengthen their defense cooperation with China's military activities in the South China Sea in mind.
Shunji Izutsu promoted cooperation in the space field and defense technology transfer to the Philippines. He argued that surveillance through satellites was necessary as the sea and the airspace are no longer safe with China’s increasing power in the Indo-Pacific region, a feeling shared by the Philippines as they are embroiled with China in a territorial dispute over an area with plenty of resources in the South China Sea.
Anthony Canlas, for his part, explained accepting sharing technology with Japan as the country is progressing in spatial technology while the Philippines are just entering the market. They are expecting a delivery of four air defense radars from Japan to help communication capabilities. [Kyodo News]
Sofia Bertolino contributed with research to this article.
Laos exports hydropower energy to Singapore through Thailand, Malaysia
(bs) On June 23, Singapore began importing hydropower renewable energy from Laos after signing an agreement with Laos' state-owned Electricite du Laos (EDL).
The energy will reach Singapore through Thailand and Malaysia as part of the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP) which is expected to import up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy through existing interconnections. The project is the first multilateral cross-border electricity trade involving four countries members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will facilitate the growth of a regional market while contributing to Singapore's sustainable energy goals. [Channel News Asia]
On another note, such a project could support the critics moved against Laos’ plan to build over a hundred hydropower dams making the country “the battery of Southeast Asia.”
Myanmar, Russia discuss Economic Cooperation Development Strategy and nuclear technology for energy
(cmsk) The Myanmar military administration and Russia have reportedly discussed a draft Russia-Myanmar Economic Cooperation Development Strategy to promote bilateral investment and trade and to establish industrial zones in Myanmar for Russian businesses. The junta also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Inter Rao-Export to cooperate on issues related to electricity production.
In addition to recent reports of the Myanmar regime joining the Russian Financial Messaging System to facilitate international payments, the two countries also discussed investment and trade issues, the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Myanmar and the Eurasian Economic Commission, capacity building programs, and a free trade agreement, as well as agriculture, digital technology, infrastructure development, information sharing, and tourism.
The discussions on nuclear technology however are not new. The two countries have been in talks about nuclear technology since 2007. In 2015, under Thein Sein’s administration, Myanmar signed another MoU with Russia on nuclear cooperation technology.
More than 7,000 Myanmar army officers have undergone training in and received university scholarships to Russia. Soon after the 2021 coup, General Min Aung Hlaing also made a week-long visit to Russia. [Myanmar Now] [Eleven Myanmar]
Myanmar moves detained Australian economist’s case to special court
(cmsk) The case of Australian Economist and advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi, Sean Turnell, has been reportedly moved to a special court in a prison compound in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Earlier this week, Turnell and Kyi reportedly appeared in a special court in a municipal compound; both are now expected to appear at the prison court in Naypyitaw.
Turnell is understood to be under trial for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act. The colonial-era act criminalizes “the possession, collection, recording, publishing, or sharing of state information which is “directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy.” A violation of the law carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
In early June, the Australian government opposed a ruling by a Myanmar court to resume Turnell’s trial which had reached the second phase. In the first phase, the prosecution presents its case and if the judge finds merit in it, the trial proceeds to the second phase, where the accused is usually given an opportunity to present his defense.
Human rights groups have raised concerns about Turnell’s prosecution, particularly since the Australian Embassy was denied access to Turnell’s court hearing last September. It appears, however, that the junta did not heed the Australian government’s latest requests to stop the trials from proceeding.
At least 14,055 individuals have been arrested since the February 2021 military coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. [The Irrawaddy] [AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]
Nepal backs away from United States security program; China welcomes decision
(sg/lm) Nepal has decided to back away from an agreement on the State Partnership Program (SSP), a key United States security cooperation program, that was supposed to be signed during Prime Minister Deuba’s visit to Washington next month, over fears that joining it might antagonize neighboring China.
The SPP is an exchange program between a US state's National Guard – a state-based military force, often tasked with supporting first-responders in natural disasters – and a foreign partner country. However, critics of the program state the SPP is a tool to advance US political and military objectives under the overall veil of humanitarian engagement. [The Diplomat]
The Nepalese government had initially asked to join the program in 2015 and 2017, with the US finally agreeing to work towards Nepal joining in 2019. China objected to Nepalese participation in the program, and India reportedly voiced their displeasure about Nepal furthering military cooperation with Washington. During a four-day visit to Nepal, the commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, Charles A. Flynn urged Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba earlier this month to sign the SSP, in the latest of a series of signs that Washington seeks to widening its engagement in South Asia [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2].
The SPP, together with another program, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), forms the core of the US’s strategic partnership in the country. The MCC, an economic cooperation program, was ratified between the US and Nepal in February and was strongly criticized by China, who called the move “coercive diplomacy,” stating that the partnership would undermine Nepalese sovereignty [see No. 9, March/2022, 1].
In light of this, China welcomed Kathmandu’s decision to back away from the SSP. [The Kathmandu Post]
Pakistan’s army chief visits Saudi Arabia to review military cooperation
(tj) The Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, met with the Saudi Arabian crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah on June 26 to review bilateral relations, especially in the military sphere. During the meeting, General Bajwa was conferred the Order of King Abdulaziz, a Saudi Arabian order of merit awarded for meritorious service to the Kingdom. [ThePrint]
Notably, there were also reports that General Bajwa traveled to Dubai to visit ailing former army chief Pervez Musharraf, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2016 after being allowed to leave Pakistan for medical treatment. At the time, Musharraf was facing multiple court cases related to his period of rule, and was sentenced in absentia to death for treason, a ruling that was later annulled. [Business Standard]
US House Armed Services Committee approves bill on maintaining 28,500 troops in South Korea
(dql) An annual defense policy bill for the fiscal year 2023 under which the current level of around 28,500 American troops in South Korea is maintained has been endorsed by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.
The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), also requires the defense secretary to brief the committee no later than March 1 next year on the question of how the Pentagon plans to continue to strengthen its long-term security commitment to Seoul. [Korea Times]
Inter-Korean relations: Reopening of case of repatriated North Korean fishermen demanded from President
(dql) Members of South Korea's ruling party People Power Power (PPP) and rights activists are urging President President Yoon Suk-yeol to review a 2019 case of two North Korean fishermen who were the repatriation by the administration of then President Moon Jae-in of the rivalling Democratic Party (DP).
Critics of Moon see in the deportation of the two men an attempt of the former president to curry favour with Pyongyang in this case. [Reuters]
South Korea, the Philippines sign warship contract
(dql) On June 27, South Korea’s shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) concluded a contract with Philippine Department of National Defense to build six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Philippine Navy (PN). The deal is worth more than USD 540 million.
The 94.4m-long and 14.3m-wide vessels with a displacement of 2,400t, maximum speed of up to 22 knots, a range of 5,500 nautical miles will be equipped with a 76mm main gun and two 30mm secondary guns, as well as a helideck to operate a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles. Delivery is expected by 2028. They will will replace PN’s World War II surface vessels. [Naval News]
China bans imports of Taiwanese horse mackerel
(dql) On June 23, China announced that it will suspend food imports from Taiwan's Tong Ho Food Industries Co, an Agricultural & Foods supplier, for one week, citing detection of the COVID-19 virus on the packaging of the company’s frozen horse mackerel.
In response to the ban on mackerel imports, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) declared that there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmittable via aquatic products, demanding that China delivers scientific evidence to support its ban. [Focus Taiwan]
Beijing’s ban on mackerel follows a ban on imports of grouper from Taiwan on June 13 after banned chemicals and excessive levels of oxytetracycline was found in the fish, according to Beijing [see AiR No. 24, June/2022, 2]. In highly symbolic countermove, that Japan announced that it will import two to three tons of grouper, as Taiwan searches for alternative markets for what it calls now “Democracy Fish”. [Taiwan News]
Lithuania applies for beef exports to Taiwan
(dql) Taiwan Council of Agriculture (COA) has confirmed that it is reviewing an application of Lithuania to export beef to the island.
The application was submitted in this month after a high-level virtual conference between the COA Minister Chen Chi-chung and his Lithuanian counterpart had been held in March during which both sides agreed on setting up a dialogue mechanism to promote trade and cooperation in agricultural products between the two countries. [Focus Taiwan]
The application is part of efforts of the Baltic state to increase its food exports to Taiwan by tenfold after obtaining the export licenses later this year, as expressed Lithuanian Vice Minister of Agriculture Egidijus Giedraitis who led a delegation of 17 participants that visited Taiwan from June 22-24. The visit included a high-level meeting with Taiwanese agricultural officials. [Taiwan News]
US, Taiwan hold first talk on trade initiative
(dql) On June 27, US deputy trade representative Sarah Bianchi and Taiwanese minister without portfolio John Deng met to hold a first round of talks on an initiative aimed at promoting trade ties between the US and Taiwan “based on shared values”, in a latest attempt of the US to counter Beijing’s economic influence.
The US side confirmed that both sides expect to sign “agreements with high-standard commitments”, which “will cover a number of trade areas, including trade facilitation, regulatory practices, agriculture, anti-corruption, small- and medium-sized enterprises, digital trade, labour, environment, standards, state-owned enterprises, and non-market policies and practices”.
Observers view the trade initiative as a response to pressure on Biden to include Taiwan in his Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), after he failed to able to convince other IPEF members to accept Taiwan on board due to concerns in some of these countries over Beijing’s possible reaction. [South China Morning Post]
US lawmakers seek to enhance ties with Taiwan in annual defense bill
(dql) On June 24, the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee approved its version of the US annual defense policy bill — the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023 — which contains provisions for enhancing military ties with Taiwan.
Among others, these provisions state that Beijing’s rising hostility toward Taipei contradicts the principle of a peaceful resolution the future of Taiwan. They also require Washington to maintain capabilities to “resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan.” Furthermore, the US should continue provide Taiwan with military articles and services to enable the island nation to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. Also, the bill highlighted the need for “exchanges among defense officials from the two countries, joint military training and exercises, and timely evaluations of Taiwan’s defense and acquisition strategy.” [Taipei Times]
In an earlier move, the Senate’s Armed Services Committee endorsed the 2023 NDAA. [Focus Taiwan]
Thailand resumes negotiations on free trade agreement with European partners
(td) The Thai Commerce Minister met with high-level representatives from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland on June 20, to vow closer cooperation in the realization of a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The first round of negotiations is scheduled to be held between June 28-30 in Bangkok, Thailand. If successful, the pact would reduce tariffs, promote multilateral trade cooperation, and enable the utilization of e-commerce platforms to facilitate International trade among contact parties.
Thailand first launched negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) between 2005-2006. However, they were soon put on hold until 2019. In 2021, Thailand has accepted EFTA as its 17th trading partner with a trading volume worth USD 7.5 billion. [Bangkok Post][European Free Trade Association][The Nation Thailand]
Vietnam signs cooperation agreement with Hungary
(bs) The Vietnamese and Hungarian national assemblies have signed a new cooperation agreement aiming at strengthening the countries’ bilateral relations in the framework of the existent comprehensive partnership and the cooperation agreement signed between Vietnam and Hungary in 2008.
The parties also stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, science, and technology. [Vietnam News]
Vietnam, Ukraine join forces to protect citizen
(ntan) Vietnam and Ukraine have been cooperating to help the Vietnamese people leave Ukraine during the ongoing conflict that started with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Vietnam has supported Ukraine for its humanitarian and helped Vietnamese people leave the country that is destroyed by the war. It is highly recommended that the two countries will continue to co-operate in citizen protection. In case, co-operation regulations could be updated, revised, or amended to be suitable with the reality. [Vietnam Plus]
Announcements
Upcoming Online Events
29 June 2022 @ 14:00 (GMT+2), Bruegel - Belgium
Autonomous, Digital and Green Europe: A Conversation with Margrethe Vestager
Should Europe use its competition rules to pursue strategic autonomy? What are the next steps in digital regulation? What does the Green Deal mean for competition? Bruegel is delighted to host Executive Vice President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, Margrethe Vestager, for a conversation on these questions, with Bruegel’s Director, Guntram Wolff.
Check out the website of [Bruegel] for more information.
29 June 2022, 1:00 p.m. (GMT+1) Chatham House (United Kingdom)
G7 Summit: Priorities and Outcomes
Chatham House experts discuss the priorities and outcomes of the G7 summit. This event examines the priorities and outcomes that emerge from this critical meeting: What commitments were made for the G7 to make progress on these issues? What is the G7’s role in fulfilling sustainable economic recovery, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement? What are the implications for the UK’s global role in a time of international turmoil?
This page has more details about the event.
29 June 2022, 10:00 (GMT+2) Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) (Belgium)
Cyber Resilience, Skill Shortage and Augmented Capacity Through Artificial Intelligence
Ensuring a high level of cybersecurity in the EU, in view with global competition for a scarce resource (cybersecurity professionals) will be a prerequisite to the success of the current and pending EU cybersecurity legislation. At this critical juncture, CEPS to deep dive into these issues, is organizing this event on the 29th of June from 10 to 11.30 am with representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, the private sector and cybersecurity experts from academia and civil society.
For more details about the event, see [CEPS].
29 June 2022, 6:00 p.m. (GMT-3) Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (Brazil)
Webinar | Participatory institutions and public policies: History and recent developments in Brazil
The exhibition will address the trajectory of social participation in Brazil, from its emergence as a central part of the democratic-popular program in the 1980s to the crisis of this program in the Lula and Dilma governments. It will also discuss the effectiveness of participatory institutions for public policies.
Check this [webpage] for more on this event.
29 June 2022, 3:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Urban Institute (United States)
Supporting Georgia’s Early Care and Learning System with COVID-19 Relief Funding
This webinar is ideal for state leaders considering how they can systematically learn from their stakeholders and use data and research to allocate their CRRSA and ARP funding. The webinar is also geared toward members of Georgia’s early care and learning community, including child care providers, interested in learning more about potential funding opportunities. Finally, researchers and other policymakers will find the information presented pertinent to their work.
For more information, see this [webpage].
29 June 2022, 9:00 a.m. (GMT+2) French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) (France)
The (Non)Protective State and the (Non)Regulatory State in the Sahel, Two Sides of the Same Problem?
The security crisis in the Sahel has highlighted multiple failures of States, to varying degrees depending on the geography. In particular, they result in serious difficulties in delivering services in certain parts of their territory and in regulating economic activity and conflicts within society in a balanced and positive manner. The conference will return to two dimensions that will allow us to address more concretely the question of the State: the security and the management of the gold sector.
See [here] for further details
29 June 2022, 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Wilson Center, FKA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (United States)
U.S. Diplomacy for LGBTQIA+ Rights Around the World: A Snapshot and a Look Forward
Advancing human rights around the world has been a diplomatic objective of the United States for a long while. Even with the U.S.’s complicated history, an incredible amount of work is done to push other countries around the globe to adopt more progressive and just policies for all people. One issue central to these endeavors is propelling the advancement of international LGBTQIA+ human rights. This event will dive into the interagency report, what the work entails, and its impact and will also discuss the innovative strategies currently on the table to take the fight for global LGBTQI+ equality to new heights.
For more details, see this [page].
29 June 2022, 2:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Wilson Center, FKA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (United States)
Environment of Peace — Security in a New Era of Risk (U.S. Report Launch)
This event will draw from the report to explore how environmental degradation and climate change are increasing risks to peace and security and how, conversely, environmental policies—if not designed well—can unintentionally create or exacerbate conflict, injustice, and inequality (or what the Wilson Center has called “Backdraft”). The session will highlight recommendations for developing policies that can address this environment-security link, simultaneously promoting peace and protecting the environment to achieve a just and peaceful green transition.
For more, see [here].
29 June 2022, 9:30 a.m. (GMT-4) Heritage Foundation (United States)
Untapped Potential: Maximizing Opportunities in U.S.-Taiwan Trade Relations
For decades, The Heritage Foundation has recommended expanding U.S.-Taiwan trade relations, specifically through a free trade agreement. Taiwan is a vital security and economic partner for the United States, especially amid escalating U.S.-China tensions. Now, it is more important than ever to capitalize on the untapped potential of deeper U.S.-Taiwan trade relations. Join the Heritage Foundation for this timely discussion on what more can be done.
Check out this [page] for further information.
29 June 2022, 18:00 (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
Building Bridges for Democracy - How Can Social Diversity be More Strongly Reflected in Local Politics?
About 21 million people with foreign roots live in Germany, of which about 11 million have a German passport. A few weeks before the Bundestag elections, a study by the German Economic Institute showed that only around 30 percent of these Bürger-innen have a party-political preference. People with an immigration biography – especially from the second or third generation – are no less interested in getting involved in politics than people without. One reason for the gap between willingness to participate and actual participation is that parties in Germany are still very homogeneous and often make policy for non-migrant groups. People with a migration background therefore feel politically addressed and at home to a much lesser extent and therefore vote less often than people without a migration background. The parties thus leave a lot of potential untapped and increase the already existing representation and participation gap of this population group. As a result, the bridge for a democratic and solidary coexistence is increasingly crumbling – especially since right-wing policies are simultaneously being established in the parliaments, which are directed against migrant population groups and their interests.
For more information, see this [page].
29 June 2022, 18:00 (GMT-4) Cato Institute (United States)
What Will Be the Impact of the War in Ukraine for the Future of European Security?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced big changes in NATO and EU states. But shock at Russia’s aggression and fear of its future intentions seem to point in one direction, whereas its dismal military performance and its vulnerability to economic punishment seem to point in another. NATO and EU expansion are once again on the table. Will the aftermath of the war strengthen NATO and, with it, the central U.S. position in European security? Or can Russian aggression impel greater non‐NATO security cooperation, giving European states and the EU a larger role to play and a greater say over security affairs in Europe? On the first day of NATO’s summit in Madrid, please join Nicole Koenig and Barry Posen for a discussion of what the war in Ukraine suggests about the future of European security.
See this [page] for more information.
29 June 2022, 7:00 a.m. (GMT-4) Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) (Canada)
Global Platform Governance Network Performance Measurement Working Group (June 2022 Meeting)
The working group’s next sessions will look to advance this thinking both to clarify objectives of digital platform governance and to tackle how to measure the effectiveness of government action. Lines of inquiry over the coming months will include: understanding and aligning existing and planned efforts to articulate success; identifying and examining existing and planned performance measurement tools; and noting the data requirements needed to measure success (which will feed into the transparency working group).
Join this event and get more information by visiting this [page].
29 June 2022, 14:30 (GMT+9) Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) (Republic of Korea)
Global Economic Security and Global Economic Outlook
The Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) will hold the KIEP-KEI joint Seminar under the theme of "Global Economic Security and Global Economic Outlook” on Wednesday, June 29th from 14:30 to 18:00 at Sejong National Research Complex(A) 1st-floor Conference Room
Register and join this event by following this [link].
29 June 2022, 18:00 EDT (GMT+8) Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) (China)
UN Ocean Conference Side Event: Developing the Capacity we need for the Ocean we want
This side event will focus on how to design and implement the capacity development we need to achieve the 2030 agenda by showcasing: Existing global and regional initiatives that build upon the foundation of capacity development for ocean sciences; Lessons learned from case studies and/or success stories from beneficiaries of training programs; Recommendations on an action plan for the ocean for scientists, policymakers, local communities and the private sector to accelerate global CD efforts and responses to achieve SDG14 in the current decade
Register and join this event by checking out this [webpage].
29 June 2022, 15:00 EDT (GMT+8) Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) (China)
Quotas for Women in Science: Are they an Effective Step towards Equality and/or Equity?
The Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES) is organizing the webinar “Quotas for women in science: Are they an effective step towards equality and/or equity?”.
This [webpage] has more.
29 June 2022, 15:00 (GMT-4) Atlantic Council (United States)
Celebrating Caribbean Americans: What role can they play in advancing US-Caribbean Ties?
What additional opportunities exist for the US-based Caribbean diaspora to shape US political, economic, and security policy to the region? How can US officials connect with these diverse communities to translate Summit commitments into tangible action? And what can US government and business leaders learn from diaspora communities to strengthen the US-Caribbean partnership? The Caribbean Initiative and the Caribbean Policy Consortium will hold a public, virtual discussion on how the Caribbean diaspora can strengthen US-Caribbean relations and advance newly announced commitments from the Summit of the Americas.
For further details, see this [page].
30 June 2022, 3:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Urban Institute (United States)
How Can Local Governments Support Employee Ownership?
Join the Urban Institute for a conversation about how local governments can help employees and owners transition firms to employee ownership. The event will convene experts in the worker cooperative space to discuss New York City’s Employee Ownership NYC initiative, its reproducibility in other local contexts, and best practices for how local governments can support employee ownership.
See this [page] for more.
30 June 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 1
This event 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.
For more details, check out this [page].
30 June 2022, 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4) Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States)
A Time for Antitrust Reform in the United States and European Union
The CSIS will hold a panel discussion on the unique competition issues associated with large technology platforms, as well as the privacy, security, and content moderation questions that surround pending U.S and EU antitrust legislative frameworks. The panel will feature Bill Baer, Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Krisztian Katona, Vice President of Global Competition and Regulatory Policy at CCIA, Ana Malheiro, Professional Staff Member at the Secretariat of the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee (IMCO), and Charlotte Slaiman, Competition Policy Director at Public Knowledge.
Follow this [link] for further information.
30 June 2022, 3:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (United States)
Advancing LGBTQIA+ Rights via U.S. Foreign Policy
In April 2022, the U.S. government issued its first public annual report on efforts by agencies to advance the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons as part of the administration’s foreign policy agenda, including the work of LGBTQIA+ persons as part of the administration’s foreign policy agenda, including the work of several departments and agencies departments and agencies. In this panel discussion, U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQIA+ People Jessica Stern and USAID Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam will speak to this important work, as well as next steps, moving from stock-taking to future strategy. They will be joined by Dr. Chloe Schwenke, President and Founder of the Center for Values in International Development, and Stephen Chukwumah, Policy Advocate at the Council for Global Equality, in a discussion moderated by CSIS Deputy Director for Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Hadeil Ali. CSIS Human Rights Initiative Director & Khosravi Chair in Principled Internationalism, Marti Flacks, will provide opening remarks.
See [CSIS] for more information.
30 June 2022, 12:00 p.m. (GMT-4) Heritage Foundation (United States)
Trust Decay: Rebuilding Intergenerational Trust in a Technocratic Age
Rebelling against one’s elders is almost a modern rite of passage. But it’s usually temporary and partial. Today’s youth culture, however, seems to profoundly distrust the generations that came before it. In the school, the workplace, the home, and even the church, much of the youngest generation, even when they pass in adulthood, continue to distrust their elders. What roles have social media, technology, and changes in family and religious belief played in this? And how can we rebuild intergenerational trust? Join the Heritage foundation for an engaging discussion of this peculiarly modern problem.
See this [webpage] for more information.
30 June 2022, 14:00 (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
Strategic Public Relations and Media Relations in Non-Profit Organizations - Introductory Seminar
Every organization that wants to make an impact and create social benefits depends on successful relationships, sympathy, and recognition in addition to its daily tasks. The more professional your own public relations and media work, the sooner topics, beliefs, and messages reach the desired target and support groups. This first requires good preparation. For a coherent communication concept, you need a basic understanding of the functionality and modes of action of the "new" and traditional media, means and forms of action available to you. In addition, you have to clarify for yourself which image you want to shape in the public and who you want to reach primarily. If you know the expectations, needs and participation wishes of your favorite target group, you can address them according to your interests and (still) expand the circle of your previous “Unterstützer-innen”. And if you succeed in spreading your messages and your actions across various channels in a catchy, consistent, and consistent manner, you will consolidate the most important foundation for the positive external impact of your organization: trust.
Follow this [link] for further details.
30 June 2022, 14:30 (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
Again and Again Hesse: How do we defend our Democracy Against Right-Wing Extremism?
The murders of the NSU, the racist act of terror in Hanau, the threatening letters of the NSU 2.0, the murder of Walter Lübcke - many of the worst right-wing extremist acts of violence of the recent past have one thing in common, namely their connection to our federal state of Hesse. We would like to approach the question of why this is the case and how further actions can be prevented in the conference together with you. This seminar will present the opportunity for participants to listen and discuss in one of two workshops and to work together on solutions.
Check this [page] for more on this event.
30 June 2022, 19:00 (GMT-4) Cato Institute (United States)
The United States of Anonymous: How the First Amendment Shaped Online Speech
In the debate over the right to conceal one’s identity versus the potential harms of anonymity, is it possible to strike a constitutionally sound balance? In his latest book, The United States of Anonymous: How the First Amendment Shaped Online Speech, Jeff Kosseff tackles these and other questions through primary‐source research and interviews with participants in the debates, as well as through court cases that have shaped the current legal and political climate impacting anonymous speech and the First Amendment. Join the Cato Institute for an exciting discussion about Jeff Kosseff’s timely new book.
See [Cato] for more details about this event.
30 June 2022, 11:00 a.m. (GMT-4) Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (United States)
The Learning Agenda is an unprecedented effort by the Department to institutionalize evidence-based learning and implement the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (“Evidence Act”). The Evidence Act requires federal agencies to develop a “learning agenda” – a systematic plan to answer a set of policy-relevant questions critical to achieving the agency’s strategic objectives. It will guide the Department’s efforts over the next four years across eight questions to increase the impact of U.S. foreign policy and bolster the Secretary of State’s modernization efforts. The event will feature a keynote address followed by a panel of foreign policy and evidence-building experts for a thoughtful discussion
Follow this [link] for further information.
30 June 2022, 10:00 a.m. (GMT-4) Atlantic Council (United States)
Transatlantic Policies Enabling Deployment of Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy- Duty Vehicles
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) represent a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions and produce most on-road nitrogen oxides that cause adverse health effects. Recognizing the importance of these vehicle segments and the increased technology and economic viability of zero-emission technologies, 16 leading countries signed a Global MOU to align on a common ambition towards 100% new MHDVs being zero emissions by 2040. To support this ambition, adequate policy support is vital to the expansion of ZE-MHDVs. Governments and private stakeholders have a vested interest in the success of ZE-MHDV market expansion, and there exist positive avenues for policy cooperation. During this panel, government leaders will discuss how governments in Europe and the United States can better collaborate to accelerate ZE-MHDVs, gather further momentum worldwide towards the Global MOU ambition, and serve as partners with industry stakeholders to advance ZE-MHDV deployment.
See [Atlantic] for more.
01 July 2022, 8:30 a.m. (GMT+2) Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) (Spain)
CIDOB Breakfast with Benedetta Berti, Head of Policy Planning, Office of the Secretary General at NATO
A new edition of CIDOB Breakfasts will take place with the participation of Benedetta Berti, Head of Policy Planning in the Office of the Secretary General at NATO. Benedetta Berti is a foreign policy and security researcher, analyst, consultant, author, and lecturer. Her work focuses on armed groups and internal wars, analyzing the impact of insecurity on civilians and studying how to build more peaceful and resilient communities. She is the author of four books, including Armed Political Organizations. From Conflict to Integration (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013) and her work and research have appeared, among others, in Al-Jazeera, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Get further details [here].
01 July 2022, 15:00 (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
The Extreme Right Between Climate Change Denial and Climate Nationalism
The workshop presents (extreme) right-wing Akteur-innen and their positions in the field of climate and energy policy and in addition, to show a solidary counter-perspective of climate justice. The workshop will be led and designed by Yannick Passeick from the Unit for Radicalisation Prevention and Engagement in Nature Conservation (FARN - see www.nf-farn.de). It is aimed particularly at those involved in environmental and nature conservation as well as in local politics on an honorary or full-time basis. But other interested parties are also welcome.
Check out this [website] for more details.
01 July 2022, 1:00 p.m. (GMT+1) LSE IDEAS (United Kingdom)
City on the Edge: Hong Kong under Chinese rule
The 2019 protests and the 2020 National Security Law ushered in a new phase for Hong Kong’s existence as a global metropolis, financial centre, and enclave at the edge of a great power. In the context of local social and political grievances, the gradual undermining of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has long been met with fierce resistance on part of Hong Kong society. As the City’s freedoms seem all but extinguished, what future is possible for a Hong Kong under Chinese rule? What lessons should be drawn from the City’s experiences over the last decades and what does this mean for our assessment of China’s future as a global power as well as the country’s relationship with the West?
Join this intriguing event and inform yourself [here].
02 July 2022, 9:30 a.m. (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
How do I become a Successful Local Politician?
This seminar presents the opportunity to get to know topics, forms of participation and prerequisites for local political commitment. The event also gives the opportunity to exchange ideas with other participants in the seminar. The local political expert and trainer Brigitta Stöber (former 2nd mayor from 2004 to 2014 and long-standing city councillor in Hersbruck) will coordinate this seminar.
Get more details [here].
02 July 2022, 10:30 a.m. (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
Workshop Discussion: Standing up to Right-Wing Populist Opinion-Making
Simple answers in a complex world, supposed solutions to problems at the expense of the weaker, excitement instead of constructive cooperation, this is what distinguishes right-wing populist opinion-making. To oppose this is difficult and requires a lot of strength, patience and allies. But what if the sensible stay at home instead of opposing the noise makers? Then good advice is expensive. The workshop is an offer to all those who want to contribute constructively democratically, want to learn how to successfully defend themselves against slogan thumpers and find comrades-in-arms for an open, democratic, tolerant world view.
For further information about this event, check this [page].
04 July 2022, 14:00 (GMT-3) Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) (Brazil)
Webinar | Capital Market Talks - CRSFN Figures in CVM Cases: Enforcement in the Brazilian Capital Market 2021
On July 4, the theme of the Capital Market Talks series event will be on the performance of the National Financial System Resources Council (CRSFN) in reviewing the decisions of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) in sanctioning administrative proceedings (PAS). During the event will be presented and discussed the report "CRSFN numbers in cvm cases: enforcement in the Brazilian capital market 2021", prepared by the Center for Studies in Financial and Capital Markets of FGV Direito SP (MFCap).
Click [here] for more.
04 July 2022, 16:00 (GMT+2) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (Germany)
On the trail of German French Relations
The german-French relationship is an indispensable driver of the European integration process. France is Germany's most important partner in Europe. Both countries share a chequered common history. The aim is to strengthen relations through regular and intensive coordination at all political levels. In Metz and Strasbourg, we want to gather impressions on site, visit the EU institutions and get to know their functions. Within the framework of the seminar, we will deal with the political situation in France, the German-French relations and their potential for the European unification process.
Further information can be found [here].
Recent Book Releases
Henry Kissinger, Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy, Penguin Press, 528 pages, published on July 5, 2022. For a review, see [The Guardian].
Kyung Hyun Kim, Hegemonic Mimicry: Korean Popular Culture of the Twenty-First Century, Duke University Press, 328 pages, published on November 19, 2021, reviewed in [LSE].
Sarah Dryden-Peterson, Right Where We Belong: How Refugee Teachers and Students Are Changing the Future of Education, Harvard University Press, 272 pages, published on April 5, 2022, with a review in [LSE].
Jamie Susskind, The Digital Republic: On Freedom and Democracy in the 21st Century, Pegasus Books, 304 pages, published on July 5, 2022. The book is reviewed in [The Guardian].
Caroline Elkins, Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire, Knopf, 896 pages, published on March 29, 2022. Visit [The New York Times] for a review.
Jamie Martin, The Meddlers: Sovereignty, Empire, and the Birth of Global Economic Governance, Harvard University Press, 352 pages, published on June 14, 2022, reviewed in [Foreign Affairs].
Calls for Papers
The Institute for Modern Languages Research invites paper proposals for its conference “Posthumanism and the Posthuman: Chances and Challenges in German and European Literature and Culture,” to held on March 23-24, 2023. Deadline for submission of abstracts is August 31, 2022, in London. For more information, see [Institute for Modern Languages Research].
The Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR) welcomes paper proposals for the “2022 International eConference on Holocaust Studies”, scheduled for October 29-30, 2022. Closing date for abstract submission is August 31, 2022. If you are interested, find more details at [GCRR].
Jobs and Positions
The Eurasia Center of the Atlantic Council is looking for a Program Assistant to support the Center’s programming activities related to Russia, Ukraine, and the wider region. For more information, see [Atlantic Council].
Merck is recruiting a Global Public Policy/International Government Affairs Director for Asia Pacific (AP). This position is based in Washington, D.C., USA. Visit [Merck] to learn more about the vacancy.
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is hiring a Program Specialist, Asia, to support the Institute’s director in research, program planning and event management. If you are interested, find more details at [USIP].
The Presentation Center of National Journal, an advisory services company based in Washington, D.C., that provides services in government affairs, advocacy communications, stakeholder mapping, and policy brands research for government and business leaders, is looking for a Policy Research Associate to support the current team in producing insight and intelligence on how Washington works. This position is based in Washington, D.C., USA. See [National Journal] for further details about the job.
The Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is recruiting an Energy and Climate Associate Director. The position is based in Washington, D.C., USA. Find more about the vacancy at [RTI].
The Boeing Company is hiring a Compliance and Ethics (C&E) Advisor. This position is based in Seattle, Washington, USA. If you want to know more about the position, visit [Boeing].
Texas Tech University School of Law seeks applications for the position of a Professor of Law. Submission of applications is preferred by September 30, 2022. Further information is available at [Texas Tech University].
Miami University is recruiting an Assistant or Associate Professor – Public Administration. The position is open until filled. Review of applications will begin on September 9, 2022. Follow [Miami University] to learn more about the vacancy.
Northwestern State University (NSU) invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of History, tenure-track. The position is open until filled. If you are interested, find more information at [NSU].
The James Madison College at Michigan State University (MSU) welcomes application a tenure-track assistant professor position in International Relations and quantitative methods. Screening of applications will begin on September 15, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. See [MSU] for more details.
The University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences seeks applications for the position of Tenure/Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor of Black diasporas in the Américas. The Position is open until filled. More information is provided at [University of Virginia].
The Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, is looking for a Lecturer in Politics. Closing date for applications is July 11, 2022. Details about the position are available at [Royal Holloway].
The University of Aberdeen is recruiting a Senior Lecturer/Reader in Energy Politics. Deadline for applications is July 29, 2022. Visit [University of Aberdeen] for find further information.
The University of Southampton offering the position of Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Public Admin & Public Policy. Applications must be submitted by July 22, 2022. Find more information at [University of Southampton].
Team:
Beatrice Siviero (bs), Charisma M S Kundan (cmsk), Daniela Bozoski (dbk), Duc Quang Ly (dql), Henning Glaser (hg), Hira Akram (ha), Jessica Pierre (jp), Joanna V. Kumendong (jvk), Julian Wendt (jw), Lucas Meier (lm), Mary Osei (mo), Nguyen Thi An Nhan (ntan), Nitia Carttigueane (nc), Oshin Pandey (op), Peer Morten Strantzen (ms), Rakshit Kumar (rk), Sheikh Afif Bin Zaman (sabz), Shilpa Ramachandran (sr), Sofia Bertolino (sb), Tarapoom Panpin (tp), Theerapon Damrongruk (td), Tomwit Jarnson (tw), Vaishnavi Deegwal (vd), Venus Phuangkom
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