AsiaWatch - 18 Sep 2020
China reacts to US activity in the Mekong and Taiwan; Suga's government approval ratings at third highest with 74%; India sets up committee to investigate China's monitoring scheme
China’s Foreign Ministry warns of “necessary response” to US visit to Taiwan. Photo credit: Reuters
Good morning.
China’s “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy, so-called for the sharp tone Beijing has recently taken with many countries, has triggered considerable backlash from her neighbours and the international community. In Japan, PM Suga’s government is enjoying the third-highest approval ratings for a new government, but time will tell if their objectives to calm a crippled economy and resolve the pandemic crisis will be met. Across Asia, countries are considering how to slowly open up to tourism, a lucrative sector that was crushed by COVID-19.
Today in AsiaWatch (6 min read)
Thai prime minister discourages protests in name of COVID
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is citing the global resurgence of the coronavirus to discourage protesters from attending pro-democracy rallies scheduled for the days ahead, though his argument does not take into account Thailand's own success at keeping COVID-19 at bay.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry criticized the US for groundlessly accusing a Chinese company of assisting in the building of a military base in Cambodia, and also for driving a wedge between China and other Mekong countries.
Duterte gives Gierran ultimatum: Cleanse PhilHealth until yearend
President Rodrigo Duterte has given new Philippine Health Insurance Corp.(PhilHealth) chief Dante Gierran until the end of the year to “clean up” the corruption-laden state insurance firm, Malacañang said Thursday.
Philippine telco hires US company to ease China spying fears
China Telecom's Philippine affiliate has enlisted U.S. company Fortinet as a key cybersecurity partner in a bid to allay fears over potential spying by Beijing.
Japan's Suga shoots to 74% approval on 'trust' factor: poll
Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's new government comes in at 74%, the third-highest result for any cabinet at its debut, a snap Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll shows.
China hails Xinjiang jobs success as criticism mounts
China lauded the success of its vocational and jobs schemes in the troubled Xinjiang region on Thursday (Sep 17), just days after the US government said they were being operated from facilities run like "concentration camps".
China says will make 'necessary response' to US official's Taiwan visit
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China has lodged "stern representations" with Washington about Krach's trip, and that it opposed any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.
Wuhan next-of-kin accuse China of blocking Covid lawsuits
At least five lawsuits have been filed with the Wuhan Intermediate Court, said Zhang Hai, whose elderly father died of the virus and who has emerged as a vocal advocate and spokesman for families of virus victims.
Students in Hong Kong. Photo credit: Dickson Lee (via SCMP)
More than 95 per cent of some 230 Hong Kong schools polled have reported cases of students withdrawing over the past few months, with most furthering their studies in mainland China or overseas.
After Express investigation, Indian Government sets up panel to study #ChinaWatching reports
The Government today set up an “Expert Committee” under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study revelations that a Shenzen-based technology company with links to the Chinese government, and the Chinese Communist Party, is monitoring over 10,000 Indian individuals and organisations in its global database of “foreign targets”.
Siddaramaiah hits out at PM Modi on his birthday, calls it National Unemployment Day
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday on Thursday, Congress leader Siddaramaiah said the youth of India have decided to celebrate September 17 as ‘National Unemployment day’ as 14 crore people allegedly lost their jobs in the past six months.
Opinion
We share what experts and insiders are saying about key issues in Asia.
Hun Sen’s labor sop will cost Cambodian industry
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s political move to hike the minimum wage for textile and footwear workers threatens to undermine the crucial industries, which combined account for two-thirds of the nation’s exports.
Why China's 'dual circulation' plan is bad news for everyone else
What matters for China's foreign partners is that the arrival of the dual circulation strategy looks set to mark a drive to reduce dependence on imports, particularly of high-end manufacturing equipment and inputs.
S. Korea, US, Japan should work together against assertive China: Knapper
Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, made the remark as he expressed hope for Seoul and Tokyo to mend their ties badly frayed over wartime history so as to promote trilateral cooperation for security in the region.
Analysis: China's wolf warrior overreach draws comparison to Imperial Japan
"Not confronting multiple countries at the same time has been a basic rule of Chinese diplomacy for a millennium," Yuan said. "The reason is simple. Making enemies on all sides is the worst diplomatic strategy."
Indonesia's angry COVID doctors face burnout as colleagues die
As many as 115 doctors died during the pandemic as of Sept. 12, according to the Indonesian Doctors Association. Amnesty International said a total of 188 medical workers had lost their lives as of Sept. 8 -- one of the highest numbers for health professionals in Asia.
Thailand’s Silk Road to prosperity
Noppapon Pakprot, deputy governor for domestic marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the country needed local tourists to stimulate the economy.
In Japan’s Post-Abe Era, Addressing Political Gender Inequality is Essential
Accordingly, many Japanese women either do not feel comfortable pursuing an ambitious career or simply do not have the time to do so while also raising a family, leaving men to dominate the realm of politics.
As a result, women entering politics can face a barrage of mistreatment ranging from misogynistic expectations of how they dress and interact with constituents, to outright sexual harassment.
India's official tally understates COVID-19 death toll: Experts
"He died because of the virus and there is no point lying about it," Abhijit Mitra said of the finding, which came despite national guidelines that ask states to not attribute deaths to underlying conditions in cases where COVID-19 has been confirmed by tests.
'End of the road' for pro-India politicians in Kashmir
Waheed Para from the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) believes that the militaristic steps New Delhi took on August 5, 2019 and in its aftermath are not a solution to Kashmir. Modi's government also suspended the regional assembly and downgraded India's only Muslim-majority region to a federally-administered territory in a move that critics say has snatched away the democratic rights of the people.
Bhutan foreign minister Dr Tandi Dorji eyes more collaboration with India
“India is one of the largest economies in the world and it is predicted to be the second-largest economy by 2050. There is much scope for collaborations in sectors other than those we are already engaged in. Indian investment in tourism, information technology, space and satellites, and pharmaceuticals are some areas that could be explored in the immediate future.”
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.
The kris. A symbol of power, status, and heritage. A weapon of devastating lethality. Named as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO, the kris has a rich history in Southeast Asia that dates back to the 10th century CE. The kris remains as a highly recognisable ornament that was used in prestigious settings today, adorned by state officials in their national regalia. It’s even used as the name of a well-known premium frequent flyer club and likely inspired the Dune novels. My personal experience with an actual kris goes back a several years ago, when a knife collector showed me a beautiful kris knife with a Damascus blade. Wielding it deftly, he demonstrated why kris knife fighting was one of the most respected knife martial arts known. It’s left a deep impression on me since.