AsiaWatch - 6 Oct 2020
The Quad meet; Malaysian PM Muhyiddin self-quarantines; Indonesia expedites omnibus labour bill
Supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) wearing face masks take part in an election campaign rallly, amid the COVID-19 spread, in Yangon, Myanmar on Sep 10, 2020. Photo: Reuters via CNA
Good morning.
The Quad group comprising US, Australia, India, and Japan are set to meet today to discuss China’s increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Malaysia’s PM Muhyiddin self-quarantines after a Cabinet Minister was found to have tested positive for the virus. Indonesia rushes to pass an omnibus labour bill to create jobs and increase investment, ahead of potential strikes. In our opinion section, we look deeper at the history of The Quad, and the possibility that the real source aggression might stem from The Quad members themselves.
Today in Asia
(8 min read)
US, Australia, India, Japan to Discuss China’s Growing Power
Foreign ministers from four Indo-Pacific nations known as the Quad group are gathering in Tokyo on Tuesday for talks that Japan hopes will increase their involvement in a regional initiative called “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” aimed at countering China’s growing assertiveness.
Singapore’s revenue position to be 'weak' in coming years, spending strategy one of 'prudence, not austerity': DPM Heng
The Government expects Singapore’s revenue position to remain weak for a number of years due to the impact of COVID-19 on the global and local economy, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in Parliament on Monday (Oct 5).
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Quarantines After Cabinet Minister Tests Positive for COVID-19
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Monday he will self-quarantine after a Cabinet minister he was in contact with tested positive for the coronavirus, as new cases in the country hit a record high.
Indonesia passes law to simplify labour, investment rules
Indonesia has rushed the approval of a law aimed at creating jobs and attracting investments, a day before 2 million workers were set to stage a three-day strike to reject it. The bill was strongly opposed by labour unions and politicians.
Former Thai Transport Minister Named as New Economy Tsar
The Royal Thai Government Gazette on Monday has named former Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith as Thailand’s new Finance Minister, succeeding Pridi Daochai who resigned on Sept. 1 after only 20 days in the office.
Thai defence forces chief denies possibility of coup
Newly appointed defence forces chief Gen Chalermpol Srisawasdi on Monday insisted that the military will not get involved in politics and a military coup is not on their mind.
Vietnam seeks 6.5% growth through 2025 after missing current goal
Vietnam looks to propose a five-year economic plan targeting growth of 6.5% to 7% for 2021-25, aiming to boost per-capita GDP to $4,700 from this year's estimate of $2,750.
India gives Myanmar Remdesivir drug, talks security along border
A package of 3,000 vials of the antiviral Remdesivir, support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of Rohingya refugees, operationalisation of the crucial Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by March 2021, a liaison office in Nay Pyi Taw, a bust of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Mandalay Jail, and a mutual commitment to not allow activities against each other.
Palace welcomes Duterte’s high performance rating, twits Robredo for lagging behind
Malacañang on Monday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s high approval and trust ratings amid the coronavirus pandemic, and at the same time took a swipe at Vice President Leni Robredo who lagged in the survey score.
China triples Japan government bond purchases
China has raised its purchases of Japanese government bonds to the highest level in three and a half years, in an apparent effort to reap greater yields on Beijing's massive reserves of foreign currencies.
Suga: Tokyo can be global financial hub
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said his government will consider lowering tax rates and implement other steps to draws foreign talent as the Japanese capital seeks to reinvent itself as a global financial hub.
Yoshihide Suga calls for diversity among Japan Inc executives
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday called for reforming Japan's Corporate Governance Code in an effort to breathe new life into the economy by encouraging a more diverse business community.
Chinese anxiety over Tibet fuels rising tensions with India
Several issues are fueling Xi's concerns over Tibet: controlling who succeeds the 85-year-old Dalai Lama; continued Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule; and China's growing suspicions about India, which hosts a Tibetan government-in-exile and welcomes fleeing Tibetans.
Taiwan Debates Military Preparedness Measures as Chinese Threats Escalate
The Financial Times reported in August top U.S. officials have internally debated reconsidering the policy of “strategic ambiguity,” possibly hinting at a formal and public U.S. commitment to defending Taiwan from the Chinese military.
Amid border standoff, PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come face-to-face with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time amid the standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh during a virtual BRICS summit on November 17.
Discrimination is rampant for members of Hong Kong ethnic minority groups seeking housing, survey finds
More than 90 per cent of members of ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong have encountered some form of discrimination when looking for a place to stay, according to a survey released on Monday.
COVID-19 Quick Look
A researcher holds up a vial of COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Thai scientists. Photo credit: Khaosod Thailand
Thailand sets aside 3 billion baht for advance purchases of 60 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Hong Kong was said to have lost up to US$262 million in tourism revenue over Golden Week. Malaysia’s new daily cases count hit a record high, which the government blamed on migrants from neighbouring countries.
Opinion
We share what experts and insiders are saying about key issues in Asia.
Quad is built on wobbly foundations
On Tuesday, as foreign ministers of Australia, Japan, India and the United States meet in Tokyo to form what will be known as the Quadrilateral Dialogue – four nations cooperating to meet China’s alleged aggressiveness in Asia – few will remember that the original idea of a Quad goes back much farther, to the early 1970s.
Flooded Asia: Why climate change hits region the hardest
A study in the science journal Nature Communications last year estimated that 300 million people live in places where climate-triggered flooding will likely occur by 2050, with most of the vulnerable in Asian countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
What next for Myanmar-West relations?
Almost five years after international newspapers adorned their front pages with messages of hope for Myanmar after Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) romped to power, the country is again heading to the polls, this time with much less fanfare.
Trump and Melania 'paid the price': Chinese propaganda mocks president after COVID-19 diagnosis
Shortly after President Donald Trump announced early Friday morning that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, tested positive for the coronavirus, the editor-in-chief of one of China's state-run media outlets tweeted to suggest they deserved it.
Indian Delegation Visits Myanmar Amid Growing Outreach
Last week, on October 1, India and Myanmar held the 19th round of Foreign Office Consultations virtually, with the Indian side led by Shringla and Myanmar’s by Permanent Secretary U Soe Han. The visit takes place amid growing disarray in India’s relations with many of its land neighbours, and China’s political and economic thrust in India’s sphere of influence.
Suga must build on Abe’s Mideast legacy
Suga has an opportunity to build on his predecessor Shinzo Abe’s legacy as well as make a few needed changes to his country’s Middle East policy.
North Korea is likely to start acting up again during the US presidential election — but this year might be different
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonpartisan think-tank in Washington, D.C., recently examined North Korea's behaviour during a 64-year span and found that it averaged a provocative act within 4.5 weeks before or after a midterm or presidential election.
Violence Against Women in India Must End. Now.
On September 14, a 19-year-old Dalit (formerly “Untouchable”) woman was tortured and allegedly gang raped by four upper caste men in Hathras district in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
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.
Gender equality is an area requiring an urgent transformation in Asia. Deep-seated patriarchial values and social norms stymie efforts to bring about meaningful change, and as a result, many developing Asian societies see slow progress in changing perspectives about women. Organisations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) do important work in this regard, and McKinsey’s report looks at possible ways to tackle this issue systemically. Yet, to solve this Gordian knot might take generations. This is where the approaches of The Philippines, Singapore, and New Zealand might yield some important lessons, tackling the issue through parallel efforts in education, access to digital services, and legal reform.
Personally, I believe that empowering women and encouraging women’s labour-force participation will be fundamentally game-changing for the region. In 2014, my editorial team at a business magazine interviewed several female leaders in Singapore for International Women’s Day. I was inspired by their drive and vision for leadership, but more so for their awareness that they were role models to young women looking to excel in their professions. I can only imagine what Asia could be if equal opportunities were open to the 48% of Asia’s population who are female, many of whom remain suppressed.