AsiaWatch - 2 Oct 2020
US sets sights on trade action on Malaysia and Vietnam; India-Pakistani tensions at Kashmir
Chinese flags fly in Nanjing on China’s National Day on 28 Sep. Photo credit: AP
Good morning.
Malaysia and Vietnam face action from the US, with the US banning palm oil from Malaysia’s top producing FGV Holdings and President Trump’s administration announcing investigations into potential currency manipulations, which it calls “worse than China”. In Kashmir, Pakistani attacks killed three Indian soldiers. In the opinion section, we look at the US’s policy of alliances in Asia.
Today in Asia
(6 min read)
Asia's real energy crisis will hit the day it stops looking for oil
Rapid changes in the world's anticipated long-term energy and environmental needs in recent years prompted several international oil-producing companies to start retreating from fossil fuels.
Malaysian palm oil giant hit with US ban
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the ban on palm oil imports from FGV Holdings – one of Malaysia’s top producers – on Wednesday following a year-long probe that also found indications the firm was withholding wages and using child labour.
Vietnam says China military drills could harm maritime code talks
Vietnam said on Thursday (Oct 1) that military drills conducted this week by Beijing in the South China Sea will hurt negotiations on a regional maritime code of conduct (COC) for the disputed waters.
Trump takes trade war aim at Vietnam’s dong
The US government plans to investigate Vietnam for alleged currency manipulation in a charge that could lead to major trade sanctions against the Southeast Asian nation, according to a September 30 Bloomberg report that cited three sources familiar with the situation.
Outgoing China ambassador bids farewell via online reception
“The mutual trust between China and Malaysia has become stronger, the prospect of our cooperation has become broader, the quality of our cooperation has become higher, and the resilience of our bilateral ties has become tougher, ” Bai Tian said.
China Doubles Down on Xinjiang Policy Amid Reports of Cultural Erasure
New reports also show that Beijing’s Xinjiang policies go further, including concrete strategies aimed at the erasure of Uyghur culture and heritage in the autonomous region.
Millions on the move as China eyes Golden Week holiday bounce
Hundreds of millions in China hustled to enjoy their first major national holiday since the country beat its COVID-19 outbreak, filling airports and train stations on Thursday (Oct 1).
China’s best step forward for space missions
Chinese women are playing a more significant role in the country’s aerospace programs, working as astronauts, helping develop aeromedicine and Mars exploration, the Global Times claimed.
National Day: Hong Kong’s leader vows to resist foreign pressure and leverage on Beijing’s strong support
Hong Kong’s leader vowed to resist pressure from hostile foreign governments and leverage on Beijing’s strong support, as the city marked National Day with official celebrations and muted protests under a heavy police presence on the streets that led to scores of arrests.
Head of Beijing’s liaison office visits Hong Kong’s needy in rare festival charm offensive
Beijing’s top representative in Hong Kong Luo Huining visited underprivileged residents on Thursday in a Mid-Autumn Festival charm offensive that marked the first time in three years the central government’s liaison office has publicised such a community outreach effort.
Japan jobless rate rises to 3.0% in August
The jobless rate in Japan stood at 3.0% in August compared with 2.9% in July, data from the Statistics Bureau showed Wednesday, amid a fragile economic recovery following the deep recession sparked by the coronavirus.
India says Pakistani shelling killed three soldiers in Kashmir
India says Pakistani shelling killed three soldiers in Kashmir Indian army says Pakistan opened fire across LoC without provocation, killing two Indian soldiers, while another was killed overnight.
COVID-19 Quick Look
A Sinovac employee holds up several coronavirus vaccine syringes for inspection at a factory in Beijing. Photo credit: AFP
In Indonesia, COVID-19 threatens to put millions on the brink of poverty, as the government acts to secure supplies of the treatment remdesivir. India extended a debt service relief to Myanmar to help tide over the pandemic. Some experts say that COVID-19 will leave us poorer and angrier. An upcoming supply crisis will see the poor see major obstacles in obtaining vaccines.
Opinion
We share what experts and insiders are saying about key issues in Asia.
The Asia Inheritance: Trump and US Alliances
The Trump administration’s approach to traditional allies in Asia can be characterized by two disparate — and contradictory — impulses: A view that deeper cooperation between the United States and its allies will be critical amid deepening competition with China, and a unilateralist impulse that is highly skeptical about the value and fairness of alliances.
Southeast Asia is Rushing Headlong Toward an ‘Asian Fall’
Several of the region’s largest governments (Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, The Philippines) are struggling to maintain their legitimacy as they deal with fractious internal politics, contentious elections or outright public protest.
On China's national day, remember the sins of its leaders
“If, over the next generation of great power competition, the world comes to prioritize pragmatism over moralism, then so be it. But it must not be done on the basis of China's high domestic satisfaction rates. There is no doubt that Washington's hard-line policies can create more harm than good. The globalists are right when they say that the world is in desperate need of a more nuanced and long-term strategy from the White House.”
UK-China Relations: From Gold to Dust
In just a few months, the United Kingdom’s overall policy toward China has changed dramatically. Until recently, Downing Street was famously defining itself as “China’s best partner in the West” and was committed to intensifying its proclaimed “golden era” of relations with Beijing. Since then, however, the U.K. has become one of China’s most vocal critics, infuriating Beijing with its removal of Huawei from its 5G network, its decision to provide millions of Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship and its plans to clamp down on Chinese investments.
Nuclear War with North Korea Shouldn’t Be an Option
Indeed, if war had broken out it would have killed millions in Seoul and Tokyo, at American bases in the Pacific, and in U.S. cities as far away as Washington, D.C. and New York City. Thankfully, war was averted. But this episode should serve as a warning of how easily a crisis could spin out of control.
INDIA: Inspecting New Delhi’s Initiative Acronyms
These names not only form acronyms which are words in their own right, but these words relate to the objective of a given policy. Moreover, the choice of the names is clearly a careful and culturally-driven one, as many of the chosen words come from the formal, Sanskritized style of Hindi.
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.
A man at Onsen @ Moncham, a Japanese-styled hot spring resort in Thailand. Photo credit: Nikkei Asia.
Thailand’s love for all things Japanese is well-known. Some of the best ramen restaurants in Southeast Asia can be found in Bangkok, and until it recently shuttered its doors, Isetan was a fixture in the city’s retail experience. Japanese-themed experiences in Thailand is a growing and welcome trend. Not only spurred by local interest but perhaps also because of the Japanese expat population that resides in Bangkok (Japnese form the largest group of expats in the city). Given the popularity of Japanese culture in Southeast Asia, having a chance to experience this within a 3-hour flight is very much welcome!