AsiaWatch - 1 Oct 2020
Trump and Biden talk China, India; A special report on Singapore; Suga looks to continue ASEAN policy
A cinema in Mumbai, closed for months, now set to reopen. Photo credit: AFP
Good morning.
As the US Presidential debates dominated the headlines, issues around the strategy toward relations with Beijing took a strong focus.Both Trump and Biden camps promised to take action against China, though analysts said that those measures would be limited by budget cuts and domestic politics. A special report from the Financial Times put the spotlight on Singapore, diving deep into how the futuristic city state was poised to rise to challenges in the years to come. Newly minted Japanese PM Suga announced plans to reinvigorate relations with ASEAN, continuing on is predecessor’s plans for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”.
Today in Asia
(8 min read)
No Matter Who Wins in November, Budget Cuts and Domestic Politics Will Crimp America’s China Strategy
Both Trump and Biden camps share at least one major strategic imperative: addressing the increasing challenge that China poses to American foreign and security policy goals, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Chinese analysts advised keeping a close watch on voter sentiment, instead of the debate rhetoric.
Special Report - Singapore: Charting The Future
The city-state has long thrived as a vital hub in the heart of south-east Asia, but recent events have shaken up global trade. How is Singapore innovating and adapting to meet the challenges it faces today and in the future?
Singapore leaders congratulate China on 71th anniversary of founding
“I wish the People’s Republic of China continued peace, stability and prosperity,” Madam Halimah said, adding that she looks forward to her forthcoming state visit to China. Other nations like Thailand also sent congratulatory messages to Beijing.
Vietnam backs UK to join TPP in Hanoi talks
The United Kingdom said it has Vietnam's support to join a trans-Pacific trade deal, a boost for the country facing the dire economic impacts of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.
M'sia becomes 46th country to ratify nuclear weapons disarmament treaty
Malaysia has ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, making it the 46th country to do so.
Suga to take up Abe's Indo-Pacific mantle with ASEAN tour
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is considering visits to Vietnam and Indonesia in mid-October, Nikkei has learned, in a bid to demonstrate his commitment to predecessor Shinzo Abe's push for a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
In China, self-indulgence is off the menu
A report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has cautioned against the prevalent culture of carousing and feasting. In 2025 the country of 1.4 billion will have to plug a shortfall of 130 million tons of food, especially corn, though wheat and rice production could be steadily ramped up in the next 15 years.
China launches largest and most advanced maritime patrol vessel
As the world's largest public service enforcement vessel, Haixun09 has far-reaching comprehensive command capabilities and global patrol and rescue functions, and is regarded as a dynamic platform for maritime patrol law enforcement, emergency command, and maritime pollution prevention command, China Ship News reported.
Japan’s military seeks record $52 billion budget
Japan’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday unveiled a record $US52 billion budget request in a push to maintain military readiness under pressure from China and North Korea.
Former Hong Kong leader CY Leung launches legal bid to force government to reveal names of teachers caught up in protests
A group founded by former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying wants to force the Education Bureau to reveal the names of teachers found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to last year’s civil unrest.
Hong Kong fugitives’ families plead for release
Relatives of 12 Hong Kong fugitives detained on the Chinese mainland after trying to flee the financial hub petitioned Beijing’s office in the city on Wednesday, pleading for their loved ones to be returned.
At India-China diplomatic meet, stress on maintaining stability on the ground
A day after Beijing hardened its position and said that it does not recognise the Union Territory of Ladakh and is opposed to the construction of Indian infrastructure there, Indian and Chinese diplomats met through virtual mode and New Delhi said that the two sides should “avoid misunderstandings and maintain stability on the ground”.
Trump questions India coronavirus data
“When you talk about numbers you don’t know how many people died in China, you don’t know how many people died in Russia, you don’t know how many people died in India,” Trump said at the debate in Cleveland.
New Delhi loses cleaner COVID-19 lockdown air as farmers burn crop waste
India's longest spell of clean air on record came to an end in September when New Delhi, the world's most polluted capital city, recorded a significant deterioration in air quality, partly due to crop waste burning by farmers.
Sri Lanka cancels Japan-financed light rail project
The Sri Lankan government has cancelled a light rail project that was to be built with Japanese financial assistance in the country's biggest city of Colombo and its suburbs, citing its ability to source cheaper alternatives.
COVID-19 Quick Look
A vial potentially containing the coronavirus. Photo credit: AFP
In The Philippines, mayors in Metro Manila consider relaxing quarantine restrictions in Nov 2020. A rapid testing kit from South Korea fails to meet World Health Organisation standards. Thailand projects 50,000 tourists in Q4 2020, down 99.5% from the same time last year. In India, schools and cinemas are set to reopen in spite of an increase in new cases, and as some analysts say that actual infection numbers could be as high 60 million. Singapore lifts border restrictions for short-term visitors from Australia and Vietnam. Chinese travel restrictions have caused ginseng to be piled up among exporters, like Canada. In Japan, health workers snub government efforts to digitally track pandemic data real-time. A global study found that there was no link to case surges with school reopenings.
Opinion
We share what experts and insiders are saying about key issues in Asia.
Commentary: China charts a path with iconic Beidou satellite system
The 35 active Beidou satellites not only provide global coverage — they also offer better positional accuracy in the Asia Pacific than the US-built Global Positioning Service (GPS). In contrast to GPS, Beidou also offers a text messaging service capable of sending up to 1,200 Chinese characters.
China, Food Security and Geopolitics
China’s more aggressive “ wolf warrior ” diplomacy, as reflected in Beijing’s aggressive moves along the Indian border , South China Sea , as well as tetchy relations with three of its most important food suppliers (Australia, the U.S. and Canada) could be part of an effort to divert attention from domestic problems such as food insecurity.
How the Philippine Army Can Find Its Place in the South China Sea
Despite being consistently provided with the largest share of the defense budget, the Philippine Army has long been perceived as a land force that’s unaffected by what is taking place in the larger context of the Indo-Pacific security environment, particularly in the South China Sea (SCS). Nonetheless, the army may well be positioned now to finally prove its critics wrong.
Duterte’s China gambit fails to deliver the goods
But nearly four years since China’s initial pledge of US$24 billion in investments, not a single big-ticket infrastructure project has broken ground. That includes a promised railway project for Duterte’s home island of Mindanao. Now, as Duterte desperately seeks new investments amid an unprecedented economic crisis at home, Chinese state-affiliated companies are making commitments with potentially major security implications for the Philippines.
As Thailand’s Protests Gather Momentum, What is the Endgame?
The 10 demands for royal reform proclaimed by protest leaders are indeed radical and they would significantly weaken the political powers of the monarchy, the alleged vulnerability of which has figured as the excuse for successive military coups.
Facebook finally blocks Duterte’s army of trolls
But now the Filipino strongman is turning on Facebook following the California-based social media giant’s crackdown on networks of disinformation ahead of crucial elections in the US and around the world. He accused the social media giant of engaging in biased censorship, warning “[y]ou cannot bar or prevent me from espousing the objectives of government.”
BTS is peaking, but South Korea still playing the same old song
BTS, and K-pop in general, is an enviable thing to have. The band and its peers are creating jobs, profits, export opportunities and joy at a dark moment. Yet Moon's government must resist the urge to conclude a boom in one industry, lively as it is, equals broader success. Moon's reform team is past due for some hits of its own.
India's procurement of US rifles 'can't yield border advantage'
India's latest military procurement plan worth Rs 2,290 crore ($310 million) involving US-made rifles cannot help it gain an advantage in the border tensions with China, and recent Indian military moves again revealed its insincerity in solving the dispute through talks, Chinese analysts said on Tuesday.
Tea Time
The humble tea leaf is one of Asia’s best known exports, best shared in the company of those who love it. With Tea Time, we take a break from politics to share the stories that give a glimpse into the lives of peoples of Asia.
Singapore. City of the Future. What’s it like to live in this modern metropolis? When I get asked about my homeland, it’s always mixed feelings. I know the wins, I’ve seen the warts. I understand how it it ticks, even when it doesn’t. It’s a business Disneyland with a death penalty. Most of all, it’s home. And while I look at videos and reports with a healthy level of skepticism, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Especially for the food.