🇨🇳🇦🇺 China says AUKUS on dangerous path with nuclear subs deal

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom are traveling “further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest,” China’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. That was China’s response to Australia’s plans to buy nuclear-powered submarines.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the AUKUS arrangement arises from the “typical Cold War mentality which will only motivate an arms race”.

“The three countries claim that they will abide by the highest nuclear non-proliferation standards, which is pure deception,” Wang said, accusing the three of “coercing” the International Atomic Energy Agency into giving its endorsement for the deal.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the country is seeking nuclear-powered submarines to better ensure a strategic equilibrium and to help keep the peace in the region. I guess, what Canberra is trying to do is to balance Australia’s capability with China’s military potential, so it would feel safe with Beijing’s nukes in the region. At least it is the official excuse.

Of course, the main player, who receives all of the profits of this agreement, is the US. Countering China everywhere in the Pacific is the key to Washington’s foreign policy and such submarines are the perfect way to do so.

#China #Australia

@asianomics

🇰🇵 North Korea fired 2 ground-to-ground ballistic missiles

North Korea has launched two ground-to-ground ballistic missiles in a demonstration drill, which was a response to the US-South Korea military exercises called "Freedom Shield".

South Korea's military said Tuesday the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Jangyon area toward the East Sea.

The North fired what appears to be KN-23 missiles, its version of the Russian Iskander, from a transporter erector launcher.

#NorthKorea

@asianomics

🇰🇷🇯🇵 South Korea's Yoon says cooperation with Japan vital

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that cooperation with Japan is vital in confronting growing threats.

"There is an increasing need for Korea and Japan to cooperate in this time of a polycrisis, with North Korean nuclear and missile threats escalating and global supply chains being disrupted," Yoon said. "We cannot afford to waste time while leaving strained Korea-Japan relations unattended."

Yoon prepares to depart for Tokyo on Thursday for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

#SouthKorea

@asianomics

🇦🇺🇫🇯 Australia PM visits Fiji to discuss nuclear submarines

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet his Fiji counterpart in Suva on Wednesday.

Albanese will meet with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Wednesday to discuss regional security, a day after unveiling details of the AUKUS submarine programme in San Diego with the leaders of United States and Britain. Prime Minister wants to convince Fiji that AUKUS doesn’t violate any nuclear proliferation treaty.

Australia is party to a nuclear-free zone treaty with 12 other South Pacific nations, including Fiji.

At least somebody answered a call from Australia.

#Australia #Fiji

@asianomics

🇰🇵 North Korea’s drills help to carry fire assault

According to state media, North Korea’s latest missile launches were designed to train crews to carry out their mission at any time and “annihilate the enemy” if necessary.

“Saying that they will surely annihilate the enemy if they fight it, the commander of the unit resolved to thoroughly have the ability to fully carry out their duty of fire assault any time by further intensifying the training of every fire assault company,” KCNA reported.

#NorthKorea

@asianomics

🇺🇸🇸🇬 US sends RQ-4 Global Hawk drone to Singapore

The US Air Force has rotationally deployed the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone to Singapore. This UAV was sighted at Changi Air Base (East) on multiple occasions from January onward.

This is the first known operational deployment of the Global Hawk to Singapore, although it has previously visited the island nation for air shows in 2018 and 2022.

The drone is used primarily for surveillance purposes. Given that it is the first time this UAV is deployed in Singapore an that the city-state is located near South China Sea, the US plans to strengthen its surveillance capabilities in order to observe China’s activity in the highly contested region.

#USA #Singapore

@asianomics

🇨🇳 China's new cabinet - who is who? Part 2

This post is dedicated to Wang Xiaohong, who was approved as minister of public security during China’s “Two sessions”.

Wang is the first professional police officer to lead the Ministry of Public Security in 24 years. He served as Fujian’s deputy chief of public security in the early 2000s, when President Xi Jinping was the province’s No 2 official, and was responsible for Xi’s personal security during that time.

Three years after Xi rose to become party leader in 2012, Wang became Beijing’s chief of police. He was quickly promoted to China’s deputy minister of public security the following year, in 2016.

▪️ The public security ministry is tasked with overseeing police forces across China, investigating white-collar crimes, monitoring the internet and cracking down on “cults” that Beijing sees as a threat to social stability.

Wang’s promotion bucks a trend: at least five former deputy ministers of public security have been purged by Xi’s anti-corruption campaign since it began in 2012, although two fell from grace in subsequent roles.

Wang is expected to further Xi’s national security vision and anti-corruption drive in the law enforcement apparatus. Corruption is one of the main issues that was a top priority for Xi. Now, with plans to increase economical growth set at “Two sessions”, anti-corruption campaign will also be in the spotlight especially in Chinese institutions responsible for economy.

#China

@asianomics

🇭🇳🇨🇳Honduras President announces plan to seek formal ties with China

President Xiomara Castro of Honduras announced that she had instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Reina to begin negotiations with Beijing about opening official relations.

The move will likely end Honduras’s formal relations with Taiwan. Castro promised to seek diplomatic and economic ties with China during her 2021 presidential campaign.

In response to the news, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "serious concerns" to the Honduran government.

#Honduras #China

☠️ Blood Meridian

🇲🇾 Malaysia police to call in Muhyiddin over alleged defamation of Anwar

Former Malaysia premier Muhyiddin Yassin is among several people who will be called in by the police to have their statements recorded over alleged defamation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The police on Monday opened a defamation probe after Anwar’s political secretary, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, lodged a report against Muhyiddin, who is facing seven graft charges.

Kamil said Muhyiddin’s statement about the nature of his charges being a political persecution was defamatory and could create a negative perception on the leadership of Anwar.

This case is getting more and more interesting every day.

#Malaysia

@asianomics

🇱🇹🇨🇳🇹🇼 I am not surprised at all by such remarks. Actually, Lithuania was one of the several countries that let Taiwan open its embassy in Vilnus using the name “Taiwan” in 2021. It was the island’s first new diplomatic outpost in Europe in more than a decade. After Taiwan’s trade office opened, China withdrew its ambassador and faced accusations of halting the clearance of Lithuanian goods in its ports.

And in 2022 Lithuania opened its own office in Taiwan. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also said China’s punitive action and its backing of Russia showed that Beijing is the EU’s “systemic rival.”

So, there is a history behind recent statements. It is still unclear why Lithuania wants conflict with China. My guess – the country wants to show off before other states in the EU, considering the fact that EU leaders last year discussed ways to reduce dependence on China for tech equipment and raw minerals used to make microchips, batteries and solar panels. Lithuania just chose Taiwan as another partner, which has already promised to invest 3.5 million euro in the local laser technology sector.

#China #Taiwan #Lithuania

@asianomics

🇭🇳🇨🇳🇹🇼 Honduras to establish diplomatic relations with China

Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted about starting the process of establishing diplomatic relations with China, and severing official ties with Taiwan. During the election campaign, the country's leader spoke out about making such a decision, but later, while already in office, she retracted her words, expressing the hope of maintaining relations with Taipei.

If Honduras stops recognizing Taiwan as an independent state, only 13 states will have diplomatic relations with the island. And if Efrain Alegre, who has similar views to Castro on relations with the PRC, wins the elections in Paraguay, Taipei will be left with 12 diplomatic allies.

🔻 Why does Honduras need the PRC?

China's importance to the country is mainly due to an increase in bilateral trade, as well as Chinese investment, particularly in energy infrastructure.

▪️ The fact is that one of Castro's campaign promises was that during her presidency 70% of Honduras' electricity would be generated from renewable sources. I note that according to the World Bank, almost 10% of the population has no access to electricity whatsoever and the poverty rate in the country is steadily rising.

The new president's promise seems simply unachievable. China, however, may be able to change the situation a bit. A few weeks before Castro announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the Honduran government announced that it was in talks with China to build a hydroelectric dam. Beijing had already given the country a $300 million loan for a similar project in 2021. It seems that it is time to pay for the investment.

In addition, since the economy of Honduras is based on agriculture, a parallel with Paraguay, where Efrain Alegre wants to establish ties with China in order to have access to Beijing's market, could also be drawn. Perhaps formalizing the bilateral relationship will help Honduras enter the huge agricultural market of China.

▪️ One interesting fact is worth noting. In January, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Feng held a meeting with his counterpart from Honduras, during which the investments in energy infrastructure were discussed. Taiwan reacted rather sharply to this situation and most likely realized that Xiomara Castro intended to abandon Taipei as a diplomatic ally.

Already in March, reports of a leaked letter from David Panuelo, the outgoing president of Micronesia, appeared in the media. In it, he writes about how China is trying to change the political course of the country towards active engagement with Beijing.

▪️ Panuelo, according to the letter, even held a meeting with Taiwan's foreign minister to discuss recognition of the island as an independent state. The island's spokesman assured that under such an arrangement, Taiwan will continue to pursue Chinese projects by cooperating with local companies, unlike China, which does not do projects in such manner.

Of course, the leaked letter may indicate a political struggle in Micronesia. However, we can assume that it also serves as a nod to states that are considering strengthening ties with China. The message is as follows: do not establish relations with the PRC, otherwise you will be spied on by Chinese intelligence and PLA officers will influence the policy of your state. But you can develop ties with Taiwan, because they will help you with money, and local businesses will be stimulated. The contrast here is obvious.

Every year more and more countries refuse to recognize Taiwan. Obviously, no matter how hard Taipei tries to help its diplomatic allies, China has more economic and political resources at its disposal. It is likely that in the future we will see those countries that have maintained formal relations with Taiwan since the 20th century establish official ties with Beijing. And while there is a possibility that the island will have new allies, it is rather unlikely that Taipei will be formally recognized as an independent state.

#Honduras #China #Taiwan

@asianomics

🇰🇷🇯🇵 South Korean President starts his visit to Japan

President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Japan on Thursday for a summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The two-day visit is South Korea's first bilateral presidential trip to the neighboring nation in 12 years.

This week's trip comes less than two weeks after Seoul announced a solution to the long-running dispute over compensation for Koreans forced into hard labor for Japanese companies when Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-1945.

#SouthKorea #Japan

@asianomics

🇯🇵🇰🇷 Japan to lift export restrictions on South Korea

South Korea’s trade minister says Japan has agreed to lift its export controls on South Korea. Tokyo banned exports of the key materials in production of displays and semiconductors in 2019.

Trade Minister Lee Chang-yang said Thursday that South Korea subsequently agreed to withdraw its WTO complaints over the Japanese curbs.

The announcement came just before the leaders of South Korea and Japan were to meet for a summit to mend their frayed ties and boost cooperation.

#SouthKorea #Japan

@asianomics

🇭🇳🇺🇸🇨🇳🇹🇼 US warns Honduras over establishing ties with China

The US State Department on Wednesday said China makes many promises that are unfulfilled after Honduras announced it would seek official relations with Beijing and cut them with Taiwan.

"The Honduran Government should be aware that the PRC makes many promises that are unfulfilled," a State Department spokesperson said.

#Honduras #USA #China #Taiwan

@asianomics

🇮🇩🇲🇲 Indonesia in talks with Myanmar, says Widodo

Indonesia is in ongoing discussions with various parties in Myanmar behind the scenes in hopes of helping to resolve the crisis in its fellow ASEAN member country, but this will take time, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Widodo also stressed that ASEAN will strive to continue being a peaceful region and avoid becoming a proxy for any global power.

Indonesia, as ASEAN chairman this year, will do its best to improve the situation in Myanmar, even as things there have become “complicated”.

#Indonesia #Myanmar

@asianomics

🇲🇾 Malaysia introduced stricter rules on concerts

Male foreign artistes will not be allowed to “cross-dress” or dress up like women when performing in Malaysia, according to new government guidelines on concerts and live shows.

This is one of the new rules added to guidelines by the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes.

Another new rule is that large-scale concerts and live performances by international acts will be barred from being held on the night before and actual days of Islamic public holidays unless permitted by the “respective Islamic authorities”.

The updated guidelines also specify that both male and female foreign acts are not allowed to remove any clothing during their performances.

#Malaysia

@asianomics

🇰🇷🇯🇵 Japan, South Korea renew ties at Tokyo summit

Japan and South Korea agreed to resume regular visits between their leaders and take steps to resolve a trade dispute during a long-awaited summit Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol both stressed the importance of improved ties as they opened the summit.

🔻 Summit's key statements:

▪️ The countries had agreed to resume defense dialogue and vice-ministerial strategic talks.

▪️ The two leaders agreed that “reinforcement of Japan-South Korea relations is an urgent task under the current strategic environment.”

▪️ The meeting “has special significance as it shows the people of both countries that South Korea-Japan relations are off to a new beginning after being plagued by various issues.”

▪️ “The ever-escalating threat of North Korea’s nuclear missile program poses a huge threat to peace and stability not only in East Asia but also to the (broader) international community. South Korea and Japan need to work closely together and in solidarity to wisely counter the threat.”

▪️ Sides agreed to "completely normalize" a military intelligence-sharing pact between South Korea and Japan to better respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

#SouthKorea #Japan

@asianomics

🇨🇳🇯🇵 Japan's return to path of militarization is risky, China says

Japan’s tendency to return to the path of militarization is "very dangerous", China's defense ministry said.

Japan should stop doing things that harm regional peace and stability, Tan Kefei, spokesman at the Chinese defense ministry, said at a media briefing.

"We urge the Japanese side to earnestly learn from the lessons of history, be cautious in words and deeds in matters of military security," Tan told reporters.

#China #Japan

@asianomics

🇯🇵🇬🇧🇮🇹 Japan, UK, Italy push joint fighter jet development by 2035

Japan, Britain and Italy reaffirmed their commitment to push joint development of a next-generation fighter jet.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his British and Italian counterparts, Ben Wallace and Guido Crosetto, confirmed their commitment to achieve the fighter jet deployment in 2035.

The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China’s growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

#Japan #UK #Italy

@asianomics

🇰🇷🇯🇵 South Korean opposition slams Korea-Japan summit

Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, lashed out at President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday, calling his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the "most humiliating moment" in the country's diplomatic history.

According to him, the Yoon administration has chosen to become a "puppet" of the Japanese government. "Japan's apology or regret on the biggest issue of forced labor was nowhere to be seen," Lee said during a party meeting.

#SouthKorea #Japan

@asianomics