AsiaWatch - 29 Sep 2020
Asia at the UN General Assembly; Reform in the Philippines; Sabah surprise win.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at a regional summit in Bangkok in 2019. Photo credit: Reuters
Good morning.
At the UN General Assembly, China continued to defend itself, as pressure mounts on Beijing to answer for its response to the COVID-19, lashing out at US politicians for finger-pointing. Philippine President Duterte’s government made several key announcements week, notably in healthcare and food security reform. Over in East Malaysia, a surprise win by PM Muhyiddin’s ruling coalition in Sabah’s snap election boosted the PM’s standing as his government faces a challenge from opposition leader Anwar.
Today in Asia
(7 min read)
Thai Navy Defies Cabinet, Asks China to Sign Submarine Deal: Source
A source within the Royal Thai Navy said Monday its leadership tried to encourage the Chinese defense agencies to put into writing an intent to sell two Yuan-class submarines to Thailand, despite a Cabinet resolution suspending the deal.
Japan and Australia wary of China as RCEP talks enter last stretch
With India, Australia and Japan intent on pursuing their arrangement in parallel, the road looks relatively clear for an RCEP accord in November. Even if there are still a few points of contention, the 15 countries may sign an "agreement in principle," predicted a Southeast Asian official close to the talks.
State Poll Win Boosts Malaysian PM Muhyiddin
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s ruling coalition has unexpectedly prevailed in a snap state election in Sabah, a result that is likely to shore up his teetering seven-month-old administration.
Philippines' Duterte calls out Facebook after accounts taken down
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday (Sep 28) that Facebook could not stop him from promoting the objectives of his government, telling the social media giant that they should talk about its purpose in his country.
Phlippine Gov’t to address food security, food production in National Food Policy — Nograles
The government will focus on food security and food production in its National Food Policy (NFP) coming out in October, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.
Vietnam and UK foreign ministers to meet for trade deal
U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will visit Vietnam on Tuesday to hold talks with his counterpart Pham Binh Minh, with a trade deal at the top of the agenda ahead of Brexit later this year.
China holds simultaneous military drills in four seas: Report
Two of the exercises are being held near the Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea, one in the East China Sea, and one further north in the Bohai Sea, the Maritime Safety Administration said in notices on its website.
China's carbon neutrality goal to advance global schedule by 5-10 years
China has vowed to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, a huge challenge and responsibility for the world's largest developing country to commit to as part of global society to lead green development, and the bold target may advance the schedule for global carbon neutrality by 5-10 years, environmental experts said.
China Fires Back at US Over Environment, South China Sea
US-China friction flared again Monday, with Beijing calling the US “the greatest danger to the global environment”, and that Asia needed to be “highly vigilant and resolutely oppose the sinister plot of some U.S. warmongers to sow chaos in the South China Sea and East Asia”.
Hong Kong bans China National Day protest
Hong Kong authorities on Monday (Sep 28) banned a pro-democracy group from holding a rally on China's National Day, the latest refusal in the semi-autonomous city where protest has been all but outlawed.
In phone talks with Moon, Putin says Russia set to cooperate on Korea peace: Cheong Wa Dae
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday in phone talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that Moscow is ready to continue cooperation on efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
India and Japan Hold Bilateral Naval Exercise in North Arabian Sea
The three-day India-Japan bilateral maritime exercise, held this year in the North Arabian Sea, concludes today against a backdrop of deepening military ties between the two countries.
Pakistan opposition leader arrested in corruption case
Pakistani authorities have arrested Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the opposition and president of the country’s main opposition party, on corruption charges, the latest high-profile arrest of an opposition figure by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
COVID-19 Quick Look
A Sinovac employee holds up several coronavirus vaccine syringes for inspection at a factory in Beijing. Photo credit: AFP
The Philippines moves into a less restrictive “general community quarantine” from 1-31 Oct. Myanmar continues to see a spike in numbers as it heads towards its elections. Thailand extended the grace period for visa renewals for foreigners as new cases jump. An expert said that Indonesia’s virus death tool could be as high as three times the reported number. On Monday, India’s infections passed 6 million. At the UN, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi lashed out at US President Trump’s attempts to blame and punish Beijing for its handling of COVID-19. China inoculates 350,000 more citizens as trials continue.
Opinion
We share what experts and insiders are saying about key issues in Asia.
Asian leaders hedge bets at UN as Trump throws barbs at China
"Several of the Southeast Asian states, in particular the Philippines, have been using these speeches to continue their strategy of hedging between the United States and China," said Joshua Kurlantzick, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
'New Cold War with China' demands US-Europe united front: Germany
Europe and the United States need to face up to a "new Cold War with China" together, regardless of who wins the White House in November, Germany's point man on transatlantic ties Peter Bayer told AFP. "The new Cold War between the United States and China has already begun and will shape this century."
Duterte to consider declaring ‘climate emergency’
President Rodrigo Duterte will consider declaring a “climate emergency” given that mitigating the effects of climate change is high on his agenda.
Japan Airlines embraces gender neutral greetings
Japan Airlines is ditching the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" and instead embracing gender neutral terms during in-flight and airport announcements from next month, the company said Monday (Sep 28). Same-sex marriage is not legally recognised in Japan but the government has gradually expanded rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens in recent years.
Sino-Russian alliance coming of age
“The document that came out of Wang’s visit turns attention to the core areas of the Sino-Russian partnership for discourse analysis, and the two powers’ mutual interests, and the ever-evolving global geopolitical context in the contemporary world situation.”
Discussions on US intermediate missile deployment in S. Korea premature: US envoy
Marshall Billingslea, special U.S. presidential envoy for arms control, also said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency and other local media outlets in Seoul that North Korea's recent apology for the killing of a South Korean fisheries official is a good first step toward resolving the issue.
Jaswant Singh and George Nathaniel Curzon: The Minister and the Viceroy
Veteran Indian politician Jaswant Singh – who, during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance governments, variously served as the country’s external affairs, defense, as well as finance ministers between 1996 and 2004 – died on September 27 after a prolonged illness, leaving behind a storied legacy.
The United States’ miscalculation in South Asia
The US has spent the last couple of decades entirely basing its foreign policy and strategies on wars in the Middle East, fortifying Israel. In the process, it has implemented policies in South Asia that have been, it is safe to say, failures.
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 secret worlds of Indonesia. It would be impossible to cover the sprawling Indonesian Archipelago, which comprises some 17,000 islands. The world’s largest island country teems with exotic and diverse wildlife, being is home to some of the most stunning flora and fauna. As Indonesia’s development accelerates, much of this wildlife comes under threat. (Find out more about efforts to conserve Indonesia’s wildlife here.)