Author Archives: News Digest

This week, China and the US met during their Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The two global powers’ relationship has been strained as of late and issues like intellectual property, espionage, human rights and the South China Sea loomed over the talks. In truth, they were a prelude for Xi Jinping’s much anticipated state visit to the US this September. In the US, the TPA was signed which means the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) could come online soon. This agreement would have massive economic repercussions for the Asia Pacific. The AIIB and TPP look to be competitors of sorts, with China and the US each leading one. Many states will benefit from both, however.

EXSE FOCUS

US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue: Putting on a Brave Face – The Diplomat The U.S. and China tried their best to steer clear of controversy at their premier dialogue platform.

China proceeds with building artificial islands on reefs claimed by Philippines – The Guardian China is pressing ahead with the construction of artificial islands on at least two reefs also claimed by the Philippines in an increasingly tense territorial dispute, Filipino officials said, despite Beijing’s pronouncement that some work would end soon.

Related: Let’s Be Real: The South China Sea Is a US-China Issue – The Diplomat

Related: Serenity in the South China Sea – Project Syndicate

What Will the TPP Mean for Southeast Asia? – Asia Unbound Four Southeast Asian nations—Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia—currently are negotiating to be part of the TPP. (The Philippines has expressed interest in joining the negotiations.) Singapore and Brunei were two of the founders of the predecessor to the TPP, long before the agreement was enlarged and the United States decided to join negotiations, and Vietnam decided to participate in TPP negotiations very early on. These four countries’ economies are extremely varied. Unlike a potential free trade deal involving the United States and countries in Europe, the TPP contains both developed and developing nations, including Vietnam, which has a GDP per capita of less than US$2,000.

Related: Would a U.S. Failure on TPP be a Strategic Disaster? – Asia Unbound

Burma rejects proposal to let Aung San Suu Kyi seek presidency – The Guardian Burma’s parliament has voted against proposed constitutional amendments, ensuring that the military’s veto power remains intact and that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi cannot become president in an election this year. Unsurprising. November 2015 elections will still prove to be interesting, to say the least. These elections are more important than 2011 for Myanmar’s democratization. Second elections are always critical.

It’s Official: AIIB Constitution to Be Signed on June 29 – The Diplomat The China-backed development bank will be inaugurated this Monday.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

When Vietnam and China Bicker, Traders on the Border Feel the Bluster – NYT Political ups and downs between Hanoi and Beijing have profound effects on the small-scale traders who live near the shared 800-mile boundary.

Related: China brings oil rig back to waters near Vietnam’s Paracels – Thanh Nien News

How Did China Just Win Thailand’s New Submarine Bid? – The Diplomat The country has chosen Beijing to help realize its long-deferred submarine quest. As China and US duke it out over Asia Pacific, smaller countries like Thailand will look to benefit from both. 

Thailand blocks human rights group’s launch of Vietnam report – The Guardian Thailand’s military government has forced a human rights group to cancel the launch of its report on the Vietnamese government’s persecution of an ethnic minority, saying it could affect national security and bilateral relations.

ASEAN’s Connectivity Challenge – The Diplomat The organization’s quest for greater cohesiveness is central to its regional role.

CNRP Demands New Border Committee, Treaty’s Cancellation – The Cambodia Daily Following weeks of trips to disputed sites along the country’s border with Vietnam, the opposition CNRP issued an official statement on Thursday demanding that the government overhaul its border commission, cancel a 2005 border treaty and bring a case against Vietnam to international court.

Indian vessels dock at Sattahip to boost bilateral defence ties – The Nation TWO Indian navy vessels – stealth frigate INS Satpura and fleet tanker and support ship INS Shakti – berthed at Sattahip Port last week on a debut goodwill visit that was in line with the country’s Act East policy and part of the deployment of the Indian Eastern Fleet between May and July.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

US Gives Indonesia’s Climate Change Efforts a Boost – The Diplomat Washington looks to assist Jakarta in a critical field.

Green bonds: Financing renewable energy in Asia — by Thiam Hee Ng – ADB Asia’s share of world energy consumption could rise from around a third in 2010 to more than half by 2035, and raw energy consumption in the region will more than double. Meeting these needs in a sustainable way requires a shift in investment away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources.

Fish and Hydropower – MRC Workshop 16–17 June 2015 – MRC

Growing Pains for China’s New Environmental Courts – China File In recent years, China has set up hundreds of new environmental courts as part of institutional reforms that aim to encourage greener growth and curb pollution, but the country will have to speed up training and recruitment to ensure judges have the necessary expertise. Like many things in China, the idea sounds great but the implementation is less than stellar. Hopefully courts can get their act together. 

Climate change goals could cost China 41 trillion yuan – GoKunming In the run-up to United Nations climate negotiations scheduled for the end of 2015, China’s policymakers are busy authoring a plan to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal, which has yet to be made public, is expected to carry a price tag of more than 41 trillion yuan (US$6.6 trillion) — equivalent to more than half the country’s gross domestic product in 2014 — according to a report by Reuters.

Mekong Delta is losing thousands of acres of land to erosion – Thanh Nien News Vietnam’s rice basket is in grave danger

Why are China’s anti-pollution lawsuits stalling? – China Dialogue Currently the legal framework is there, but the necessary mechanisms aren’t yet in place.

CHINA

China Cuts Interest Rates After Market Plunge – NYT Action by the bank was viewed as a sign that the government is not eager to see an end to a rally that has more than doubled prices in the last 12 months.

After Zhou, who? –  The Economist By jailing him, Mr Xi has displayed extraordinary political muscle. But he has also rewritten the rules of Chinese politics, making it harder to predict what his next move might be. Views diverge to an unusual degree. Some believe that the anti-corruption campaign may now lose momentum; others that Mr Xi is getting into his stride. These next 6 months will be interesting for anti-corruption drive. Some say that corrupt businessmen are next in line on the chopping block. 

Deadly Clash Between Police and Ethnic Uighurs Reported in Xinjiang Region of China – NYT More than a dozen people were killed in the violence Monday, according to a Radio Free Asia report that was largely corroborated by local residents.

Almaty, Kazakhstan, Battles Perceptions and Beijing in 2022 Olympic Bid – NYT The executives trying to bring the 2022 Winter Olympics to Almaty say their bid is better than Beijing’s, but winning July’s I.O.C. vote will be another matter

Can China Beat Deflation? – Project Syndicate After 39 consecutive months of declining producer prices, deflation is becoming a serious concern among Chinese economists and policymakers. Given slowing economic growth and massive corporate debts, China’s authorities should learn from the recent past to avoid a deflationary spiral.

An Insider’s Guide to Better Eating in Chinese Detention Centers – NYT Zheng Churan, one of the “Feminist Five” detained in March, offers a rare glimpse of the culinary offerings at China’s pretrial detention centers.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Myanmar’s Military Uses Political Force to Block Constitutional Changes – NYT The military, which controls a quarter of the seats, voted against a bill rescinding its veto power and refused to ease a rule that helps prevent the opposition leader from becoming president. Like many democratizing countries, getting the military out of the way is the biggest step. Not always successful – see Egypt for a classic example. 

It’s Time for the Obama Administration to Get Tough on Human Rights in Vietnam – The Diplomat Nguyen Dang Minh Man’s story reminds us that Vietnam’s record on human rights remains deeply troubling.

Tara bandu: homegrown justice – SEA Globe A centuries-old form of community law and order known as tara bandu could hold the key to overcoming many of the difficulties in modern-day Timor-Leste.

Lao Villagers Must Accept Land Compensation or Face Detention – RFA Authorities in the Lao capital Vientiane have threatened to detain a group of villagers if they do not accept compensation to vacate their land, which the local government has granted as a concession to a development firm owned by the former mayor’s daughter and son-in-law.

The end of exile – New Mandala Since Myanmar opened up under the semi-civilian government in 2011, the diaspora have been encouraged to return. As persecution on the basis of political activity or ethnicity is often the reason they left, many are reluctant to return permanently to what is an unclear political situation. As a result, brief stays are common. After so many years away from home, family and friends, it is difficult to image the experience of returning.

Malacca buccaneers – The Economist Step aside, Somalia: South-East Asia is the new piracy capital of the world.

This is Malaysia – SEA Globe Meet the Malaysian skinheads who are fighting off the subculture’s fascist stereotypes and striving to laud the 1960s scene’s original anti-racist ideals.

YUNNAN 

China’s national meat scandal hits Yunnan – GoKunming This week news broke that dozens, if not hundreds, of police seizures had been carried out across the country in an ever-broadening meat scandal. The crackdown covers at least 14 Chinese provinces including Yunnan, where much of the spoiled food apparently entered the mainland.

Just news this week as we reboot the news digest.  In ExSE news, co-founder Brian Eyler has moved from Kunming to a new posting in Washington, DC with the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia program.  Now more than ever, we’re always looking for contributors and mulling funding opportunities.  Feel free to get in touch at eastbysoutheastmail@gmail.com if interested.

EXSE FOCUS

Aung San Suu Kyi concludes China trip by visiting Yunnan – GoKunming Myanmar’s main opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi wrapped up her first ever stay in China over the weekend.

Related: Following Suu Kyi’s Footsteps, Ethnic Politicians Set to Visit China – The Irrawaddy

 Myanmar’s Refugee Problem Is Worse Than You Thought – The Diplomat The numbers tell a shocking tale.

  Related: Burma Deports Another 37 Boat People to Bangladesh – The Irrawaddy

TPP Update: What Happened in the House – The Diplomat Friday’s antics in the House of Representatives highlight the obstacles for the Obama administration on trade.

Related: Obama’s Asia Policy Faces Toughest Test on Trade – The Irrawaddy

Water very low in 9 major dams – The Nation The disposable-water level at nine dams has already dropped below 10 per cent of their capacity, reflecting the severity of the drought Thailand is now facing.

Related: Nakhon Ratchasima officials to discuss Lamtakong dam’s low level – The Nation

Related: Farmers urged to cut or drop second crop – The Nation

Kunming’s CSAEXPO balloons to enormous proportions – GoKunming When the Spring City throws a trade and investment party, everyone comes.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Mekong River Commission Says Governments Must Decide Fate of Lao Don Sahong Dam – Radio Free Asia The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body that supervises development along Southeast Asia’s main waterway, said Friday that the fate of the controversial Don Sahong dam project in Laos must be decided by the governments of its four regional member states.

Related: Lower Mekong countries take prior consultation on the Don Sahong project to the governmental level – Mekong River Commission

            Related: Regional Concerns Over Dam Project in Laos Remain Unaddressed: Green Group – Radio Free Asia

US Mulls New Asia Infrastructure Facility to Rival Regional Players The Diplomat The United States is mulling the development of a new facility based in Asia to coordinate and market U.S. infrastructure to the region in the face of growing competition by China and other countries, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

Eight suspected tanker hijackers caught in Vietnam – The Star Hours after the pirates fled on a rescue boat from hijacked oil tanker MT Orkim Harmony, Vietnam said eight Indonesians were detained in its waters near Thổ Chu Island.

 As Tensions With U.S. Grow, Beijing Says It Will Stop Building Artificial Islands in South China Sea – NYT Experts said construction of the islands was all but complete and China will continue to build military installations on them.

  Related: Vietnamese fisherman accuse China of attacking them in South China Sea – The Guardian

Related: South China Sea Clash Complicates Vietnam-China Meeting – The Diplomat

 Thailand’s electricity utility may be complicit in human rights violations in Myanmar’s Salween dams – Mekong Commons The building of the 241 meter high Mong Ton (also known as Tasang dam) is well underway in the Upper Salween River in the southern Shan state of Myanmar.

 Laos Seeks Second Loan From China to Build Northern Road – Radio Free Asia Laos is planning to ask China for a second multimillion-dollar loan to build a 90-kilometer (56-mile) road in the northern part of the country, after using previously borrowed funds for the same project to host a summit for Asian and European leaders

 CNRP Suggests Legal Action if Vietnam Ignores Diplomatic Notes – Cambodia Daily Deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha on Wednesday said the government should bring the issue of Vietnamese incursions into Cambodian territory before an international court if its recent diplomatic notes to Vietnam demanding it respect Cambodia’s sovereignty go ignored.

   Related: CNRP Slams Gov’t Refusal to Share Border Map – Cambodia Daily

 We are not slaves – SEA Globe High-profile cases are shining the light on shocking working conditions for some Southeast Asian domestic workers in the financial powerhouse of Hong Kong

   Related: Asia Needs Better Data, More Funding to Stamp Out Modern Day Slavery – The Irrawaddy

Related: Strike one – SEA Globe

 Bangladesh and Burma Patrols Exchange Fire Along River Border – The Irrawaddy One Bangladesh border guard was wounded and another seized by his Burmese counterparts on Wednesday after the two sides exchanged gunfire while chasing drug smugglers on a river separating their countries.

 Burma’s Rice Exporters Eye European Market – The Irrawaddy Burma’s rice exporters will attend an exhibition in Milan late next month for the first time, hoping to promote Burmese rice in Italy and other European markets, according to the chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Australian Firm Says Community Opposition Impeding Consultations on Controversial Dam – The Irrawaddy An Australian company contracted to assess the potential environmental and social impact of the planned Mongton dam has responded to recent criticism of the consultation process, saying that interference with its data collection efforts could lead to “suboptimal outcomes for the affected communities.”

Related: Wind and Solar Power Are Taking the Lead – ChinaDialogue

Villagers Urge Environmental Protections for Inle Lake – The Irrawaddy Over 100 local communities in Shan State banded together on Monday to demand a stop to the deterioration of Inle Lake, which has suffered a dramatic drop in water levels and quality as a result of nearby development.

Report: Erhai Lake water quality steadily improving – GoKunming An assessment issued by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection claims that “rehabilitation efforts” concerning the water quality of Erhai Lake (洱海) are proving largely successful.

National park system in the works for China – GoKunming China’s National Development and Reform Commission, in cooperation with United States-based think tank Paulson Group, issued a white paper earlier this week concerned with establishing a national park system.

Coal crash: how pension funds face huge risk from climate change – The Guardian The plummeting coal sector and a growing green divestment movement is leaving firms who still invest in fossil fuels and connected pension holders heavily exposed

Burma’s water paradox – DVB At around 300 kyats (US$0.20-30) a litre, it remains too pricey for the majority of people in a country where the average annual per capita income of $1,105 remains one of the lowest in Asia.

Related: Burma one of countries most affected by climate change – DVB

Thorny frog and dementor wasp among new species discovered in Mekong – The Guardian 139 new species were identified in South East Asian region in 2014, including four moths named after Thai princesses and a new mammal

NRC panel eyes setting up of environment court – The Nation The National Reform Council’s (NRC) natural resource and environment reform committee is planning to propose a bill for the setting up of an environment court within this month, committee representative Sayumphon Limthai said yesterday.

China trials environmental audits to hold officials to account – ChinaDialogue China is moving ahead with plans to evaluate provincial officials on the environmental consequences of their decisions – even long after cadres have left office – but auditing experts say making such calculations is inherently difficult.

Related: Growing pains for China’s new environmental courts – ChinaDialogue

 Govt mulls disposal of 30m tonnes of garbage – The Nation Thailand would need up to Bt1 billion to properly dispose of its 30 million tonnes of garbage, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said yesterday.

 China’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Likely to Peak by 2025 – ChinaFile China’s output of greenhouse gases could peak in 2025, five years earlier than it has promised, meaning that the world’s largest emitter may be able to quicken the pace of cuts in coming decades, according to a new paper published June 8 by the London School of Economics (LSE).

 Thai police pleased with ‘Cobra III’ effort – The Nation Thai police said yesterday that their role in “Operation Cobra III” – a global operation to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking – was “most satisfying”.

Related: 35 rescued pangolins released to the wild in southern Vietnam – Thanh Nien

 CHINA

Hong Kong parliament defies Beijing’s insistence and rejects ‘democracy’ plan – The Guardian Proposal that would have allowed election of leaders, but only from candidates vetted by Communist party hierarchy, is defeated in key vote

   Related: Has China’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Experiment Failed? – ChinaFile

The Trial of Zhou Yongkang and China’s Rule of Law – The Diplomat The closed-door trial is a missed opportunity for judicial transparency and the rule of law in China.

 Foreign Groups Fear China Oversight Plan – NYT A proposed law would require international organizations to find a government sponsor, seek police approval for all “activities” and hire Chinese citizens for at least half of all staff positions.

 Attack Gave Chinese Hackers Privileged Access to U.S. Systems – NYT Undetected for nearly a year, Chinese intruders executed a sophisticated hack that gave them “administrator privileges” in government networks. Their ultimate target: information on anyone seeking a security clearance.

 China Ends Recovery Efforts on Ship That Capsized on Yangtze – NYT Officials said that the vessel had 454 people on board at the time of the accident on June 1, not 456 or 458, and that there were 12, not 14, survivors.

 Chinese police ‘find suicide note’ in case of ‘left behind’ children deaths – The Guardian Announcement comes after China’s prime minister, Li Keqiang, promises urgent inquiry into pesticide poisoning of four siblings in Guizhou province

 Chinese smartphone app adds new feature to dob in corrupt cadres – The Guardian Smartphone app lets citizen whistleblowers send compromising images of wayward Communist party officials straight to investigators

 Where Does the CCP’s Legitimacy Come From? (Hint: It’s Not Economic Performance) – The Diplomat New research shows that China’s economic performance has caused a decline in happiness among elites.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Fresh Fighting in Hpakant Sends 100 Villagers Fleeing – The Irrawaddy Fresh skirmishes have broken out between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)

Mers virus: fears of further spread as Thailand confirms its first case – The Guardian Thai authorities took four days to confirm that man from Oman who arrived in Bangkok on Monday was infected, raising fears of repeat of 2002 SARS outbreak

 Ranong revealed as longtime hub for the trafficking of Rohingya – The Nation The dense mangrove forest on both sides of the road through the Laem Son National Park leading to Bang Ben Bay is indeed intriguing.

Related: Suspected kingpins being interrogated – The Nation

 Myanmar’s Missing Rohingya – NYT Some 140,000 Rohingya Muslims, a persecuted ethnic group in Myanmar, are confined to a squalid government encampment in Sittwe. Tens of thousands have fled, setting out on a risky sea voyage. Many are still missing.

    Related: UN concern at Bangladesh plan to move thousands of Rohingya to flooded island – The Guardian

New Citizens Kept Grounded in Arakan State – The Irrawaddy The movement of about 500 people recently awarded citizenship remains restricted by authorities in restive Arakan State, according to the deputy minister of immigration, who was responding to questions on Monday from lawmakers taking a rare stand on behalf of persecuted Muslims in western Burma.

Related: Can Southeast Asia Tackle its Human Trafficking Problem? – The Diplomat

 Ruling CPP Set to Elect New Leaders – Cambodia Daily The ruling CPP will convene an extraordinary meeting of its central committee on Saturday—the day after the cremation of its longtime president Chea Sim—to elect the new party leadership.

 For Burma’s Journalists, a Bumpy Road to ‘Discipline-Flourishing Democracy’ – The Irrawaddy Three years after the end of the country’s draconian pre-publication censorship regime, journalists working in Burma remain fearful of arrest, criminal prosecution and violence, despite legal safeguards ostensibly guaranteeing reporters broad freedoms to operate without interference from authorities.

Related: Thailand’s Junta Deals Free Speech Another Blow – The Diplomat

 Activists seek bail at Tharawaddy court hearing – DVB Around 70 activists appeared in Tharawaddy district court on 16 June for their seventh hearing. They are being tried on charges relating to their involvement in education reform protests earlier this year that culminated in the violent disassembling of a sit-in by police in Letpadan on 10 March.

   Related: Most Student Demands Unmet as MPs Pass Amended Education Law – The Irrawaddy

 Enslaved Fishermen Return From Indonesia – Cambodia Daily A group of 230 fishermen who had been trapped in Indonesia returned to Cambodia on Thursday, many of them after being released from slavery on Thai-captained fishing vessels.

 Over 3,000 Illegal Doctors in Country: Ministry – Cambodia Daily A Health Ministry official said Thursday that an investigation in the wake of a devastating HIV outbreak in Battambang province’s Roka commune late last year had revealed more than 3,000 unlicensed doctors operating across the country.

Gov’t Ignored Arrest Warrant For Accused War Criminal – Cambodia Daily Judicial police ignored an arrest warrant for former Khmer Rouge navy commander Meas Muth, putting the government in breach of the rules of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, declassified documents released by the tribunal Wednesday show.

 Strong public reaction to proposal on legalising casinos – The Nation The controversial proposal of allowing legal casinos to operate has received a mixed public reaction, with supporters of the idea highlighting the huge revenue they would generate and critics denouncing them as immoral and the begetters of social and crime-related issues.

  Related: Police chief backs casinos, PM ‘not opposed’ to idea – The Nation

 Suu Kyi Vows Transparency With Candidates’ Asset Disclosures – The Irrawaddy Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday that every member of her National League for Democracy (NLD) who wishes to contest in Burma’s upcoming general election will have to declare their assets, as the party seeks to exercise transparency in the highly anticipated vote.

Related: UEC to Adjust Polling Policies for the Disabled – The Irrawaddy

A big week for the region. The death of Lee Kuan Yew, aged 91, wasn’t shocking news but it has rocked Singapore and the outpouring of grief has been non-stop. Rightfully credited with Singapore’s economic rise, his legacy is complicated and his influence international, especially with regards to China’s own economic development. In other news, Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the annual Boao Forum for Asia this weekend. Expect much of the talks there to revolve around the formal unveiling of China’s ambitious “One Belt, One Road” initiative.  

EXSE FOCUS

Chinese leader Xi Jinping spells out ambitious Asia vision at Boao Forum – SCMP Addressing the annual Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province, Xi said China welcomed all countries to join the Beijing-led “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which aims to improve regional connectivity in a project inspired by the ancient Silk Road. He stressed the project was not meant to replace existing economic partnerships.

一带一路愿景与行动文件发布 基础设施互通优先 – Sina Finance “一带一路”是促进共同发展、实现共同繁荣的合作共赢之路，是增进理解信任、加强全方位交流的和平友谊之路。中国政府倡议，秉持和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢的理念，全方位推进务实合作，打造政治互信、经济融合、文化包容的利益共同体、命运共同体和责任共同体。The official government document detailing the vision and action plan behind China’s “One Belt, One Road” project. The plan is massive in scope and its effects will be deep if it’s successfully implemented. 

Related: 重磅！中国发布“一带一路”路线图：将这样影响我们的生活 – Global Times Finance

China Executes 3 Over Deadly Knife Attack at Train Station in 2014 – NYT The rampage at the Kunming station in Yunnan Province last year killed 31 people and wounded 141. News reports suggests these three were part of the team responsible for planning the attacks. However, with conflicting reports over how many people planned the attacks and how they were caught (post-attack manhunt or picked up three days prior?) the real story of what happened is unclear.

Burmese Leaders Outed by Global Witness Over Alleged Land Grabs – The Diplomat A new report reveals the extent of land grabbing in Myanmar, especially along the border with China. Friends of ExSE have been talking about military land grabs in Shan State for the past few years. 

Despite China’s Warnings, Cross-Border Strikes From Myanmar Continue – The Diplomat Despite stern warnings from senior Chinese officials, Myanmar forces continue to take their fight against the Kokang rebels across the border. Two separate campaigns against Kokang and Kachin rebels all while ceasefire talks are happening with other ethnic armed groups are happening in Yangon. 

Related: Burmese fighter jets bomb Kachin outposts: KIA – DVB

Related: ‘The Government Has to Take Great Care in Dealing with China’ – The Irrawaddy

One In All In, AIIB Gains Momentum – The Diplomat Even with the South China Sea disputes, ASEAN countries insist they are committed to China’s new development bank.

Related: South Korea Joins the AIIB – The Diplomat

REGIONAL RELATIONS

The buds of March – The Economist On March 21st the countries’ [China, Japan, and South Korea] foreign ministers met for the first time in three years and agreed to push for a resumption of trilateral summits as soon as “convenient”.

Related: Northeast Asia’s Shared Destiny – Project Syndicate

ASEAN Connectivity and China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ – The Diplomat Could there be a convergence of interests between these two grand projects?

Related: China summit aims to boost economic connection to ASEAN – DVB

Related: AEC Dream’s Failure ‘Still A Success’ – The Diplomat

What’s the big deal? – The Economist Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an ambitious trade agreement linking America, Japan and ten other countries—together accounting for 40% of global GDP—have missed so many deadlines that one more may not seem to matter.

Tug-of-war over Uighurs at Suan Phlu – The Nation A family of 17 suspected Uighur Muslims at the centre of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Turkey and China will remain in custody after a Thai court yesterday rejected their argument that their prolonged detention was illegal. Turkey is the hoped-for destination for Uighurs escaping China. With the western gateways to Central Asia closed, more and more Uighurs have been taking the route through Southeast Asia and getting to Turkey via Malaysia and Indonesia.

Vietnam ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ as US-Russia rivalry deepens – Thanh Nien Major power competition has intruded into the politics of the South China Sea

Bukit Asam, Sinar Mas secure loans from Chinese lenders – The Jakarta Post State-run coal producer Bukit Asam and conglomerate Sinar Mas Group have secured billion dollars worth of loans from Chinese lenders to finance their mega power plant projects, the companies say.

Could Thailand Become the Transport Hub of Indochina? – The Diplomat New agreements to upgrade the country’s rail network could make Thailand a major regional transportation hub. Getting the trains to run on schedule and stay on the track would be a miracle. 

ADB President and PRC Premier Li Keqiang Discuss Deepening Partnership – ADB ADB President Takehiko Nakao today met Premier Li Keqiang of the People’s Republic of China and discussed deepening the partnership between ADB and the PRC.

Are Slaves From Burma Catching the Fish You Buy? – The Irrawaddy Here, in the Indonesian island village of Benjina and the surrounding waters, hundreds of trapped men represent one of the most desperate links crisscrossing between companies and countries in the seafood industry.

Lao Workers Protest Over Salary Withheld by China-Backed Potash Plant – Radio Free Asia Scores of laborers who work for a Chinese-backed potash plant in Laos have held a rare protest in the one-party communist nation to demand salary they say the facility’s owner never paid them, according to sources.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Oil exports resume on Thai-Burma border – DVB Burmese soldiers have reopened ports on the Moei River opposite to Thailand’s Tak Province to trade after Thai authorities allowed oil exports to resume through pipelines to Burma’s Myawaddy Division.

Karen Groups Aim to ‘Save the Salween’ – The Irrawaddy “Save the Salween,” organized by a network of civil society organizations, will bring together local river-reliant communities, environmental experts, and the general public for panel discussions, an art exhibition and a field visit to a Karen village that is likely to affected by proposed hydropower projects. With the Irrawaddy unofficially deemed ‘off-limits’ to hydropower, the Salween is likely to become Burma’s whipping boy, plenty of Thai and Chinese projects planned on one of Asia’s great rivers.

International Green Group Calls Attention to Negative Impacts of Dam Projects in Laos – Radio Free Asia The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says the much-criticized Xayaburi and the Don Sahong hydroelectric dam projects along the Mekong River in Laos will threatened the area’s freshwater resources.

Don Sahong fish studies will continue – Vientiane Times The developer of the Don Sahong Hydropower Project has said channel modification and monitoring of fish species and fish passages in the Siphandone area will continue as preparations are made to start construction.

Hanoi Citizens Protest Tree-Felling Plan – The Diplomat Plans to chop down the trees that line the city’s historic streets have met with a vigorous response.

Related: In Logging Hotbed, 7 Arrested for Felling Trees – The Cambodia Daily

Krabi residents demand details on coal power plant, threaten major protests – The Nation Local villagers and tourist business operators in Krabi oppose the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)’s plan to build a port for coal imports and an electricity-generating plant in Nuea Khlong district.

Related: Tourism worries over Krabi coal plant – The Nation

Vietnam province refuses to pull plug on controversial river construction – Thanh Nien “There’s no reason to ask us to stop this project,’ a Dong Nai official says

Garbage impeding flow of rainwater: BMA – The Nation More than 10 tonnes of garbage has been retrieved from pipes and sieves at each of Bangkok’s pump stations every time city officials rush there to facilitate the flow of water out of the capital.

Water users to pay for what they use – The Nation Residents of Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces will pay for tap water according to what they use, from April 1 onwards.

Conserving the benefits of floating rice in Vietnam – Mekong Commons Despite increased production from high yielding rice varieties, agricultural intensification has increased water scarcity and agro-chemical pollution, and reduced soil fertility in the Mekong Delta. Questions about the long term sustainability of this system have thus been raised.

CHINA

China rejects international pleas to release five feminists from jail – The Guardian Britain, the EU and US ambassador to the UN among those calling for activists detained just before International Women’s Day to be freed.

China, Kazakhstan Sign $23 Billion in Deals – The Diplomat China expands its economic ties with an important partner for its Silk Road Economic Belt project.

China’s Master Plan for Remaking Its Courts – The Diplomat Analyzing the Supreme People’s Court’s outline for reforming China’s courts.

Related: China gives list to US of ‘corrupt’ officials it would like sent back – The Guardian

China faces ‘grave risks’ from climate change – The Third Pole Head of China’s weather service warns that climate change could make droughts, crop failures and energy shortages increasingly likely in the world’s most populous country.

China Court to Hear NGO Lawsuit Targeting Polluter’s Profits – ChinaFile An environmental group has filed a lawsuit for 30 million yuan (U.S.$4.8 million) to seek compensation from a Shandong chemical company for pumping out harmful substances—a legal action thought to be the first public interest litigation for air pollution under China’s new environmental law. This is a big case. If the suit is successful it will pave the way for many other lawsuits to go forward – industry captains and NGOs carefully watching. 

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Lee Kuan Yew obituary – The Guardian The founding prime minister of an independent Singapore, he sought to encourage prosperity through ensuring a dominant role for the state

Related: Lee Kuan Yew: The Father of Modern China? – The Diplomat

The pen and the sword – The Economist Ten months after seizing power in a coup, Thailand’s junta chafes at still having to defend its record.

Related: We’ll probably kill journalists who don’t report the truth, says Thai leader – The Guardian The amount of verbal gaffes Gen. Prayuth has made is astounding. 

Related: Thai Junta Targets Dissent with Visits to Student Activist Homes – The Irrawaddy

Seven arrested as student protests reignite across Burma – DVB Burmese students and activists took to the streets again on Friday morning, calling for the release of fellow protestors and denouncing the watered-down amendments bill on the National Education Law, which was passed by the country’s upper house of parliament on Thursday.

Cambodia Defends Its Human Rights Record – The Diplomat The country has presented a human rights report to the UN in Geneva.

ADB predicts 8.3% growth in Burma for 2015 – DVB The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday predicted economic growth in Burma will surge by over eight percent for the next two years as it urged the nation to press on with reforms before landmark elections.

Ethnic Reps Remain Wary During Pause in Peace Talks – The Irrawaddy While government and ethnic peace negotiators catch their breath before talks on a nationwide ceasefire agreement recommence next week, various representatives from the ethnic groups’ Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) highlighted the fragility of ongoing deliberations.

13 confirmed dead, 28 injured in Vietnam scaffolding collapse as rescue mission ends – Thanh Nien Authorities are investigating into the accident, the worst of its kind in eight years

Related: More than 50 injured in train crash in Thailand’s Ayutthaya province – Thanh Nien

KRT Charges Second Suspect In Case 004 – The Cambodia Daily Former Khmer Rouge official Ao An, better known by his alias “Ta An,” on Friday became the third mid-ranking cadre to be charged this month by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Pol Pot era.

Four Children Injured by UXO Blast Near School – The Cambodia Daily Four children were injured, two of them seriously, after playing with unexploded ordnance near their school in Siem Reap province’s Chi Kreng district on Tuesday, police said Thursday.

Of Catfish Wars and Shooting Wars – NYT Graves in the life-giving rice paddies along the Mekong Delta suggest the Asian gift for acceptance.

YUNNAN

Infrastructure money continues to pour into Kunming – GoKunming The seemingly unlimited supply of development money made available to Spring City urban planners shows no signs of letting up. 

REVIEWS

Searching for a Magical Creature, Finding a Need for Wild Places – NYT William deBuys’ lyrical work “The Last Unicorn,” about the saola in Southeast Asia, reminds readers that what drives conservationists most is beauty.

EXSE FOCUS

Air raid by Burma kills four in China – The Guardian China has summoned Burma’s ambassador for a meeting after a bomb from a Burmese aircraft fell in Chinese territory and killed four people, the foreign ministry in Beijing said on Saturday.//Myanmar accuses the other side of sabotage, says damage didn’t come from Myanmar’s bombers.  China summoned Myanmar’s ambassador on Friday.  

    Related: After Myanmar Bombing, China Deploys Jets, Warns of ‘Resolute Measures’ – The Diplomat

Related: Supply Shortage for Kokang Refugees in China: Local Lawmakers – the Irrawaddy

Is China’s ‘Non-Interference’ Here to Stay? – The Diplomat Major General Huang Xing’s alleged involvement in supporting Myanmar’s Kokang rebels puts China in a tricky position.//Kokang’s ties to China and Yunnan run deep and long from the Cold War days of the Burma’s Communist Party and related rebel insurgency to the current era, the area has produced such colorful figures as Olive Yang and Lo Hsing Han. 

Knowledge Vacuum and Conflict Plague Salween River – The Irrawaddy Caught up in a web of international energy demand and supply, the fate of the Salween lies with the Burmese government, Burmese, Chinese and Thai hydropower companies, and to some extent the ethnic political groups who control pockets of territory along the river.//Hydropower projects on China’s portion of the Salween are stopped indefinitely.  

Deputy Party chief of Yunnan under probe – Global Times Qiu He, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee has been put under investigation, China’s top anti-graft body said Sunday.//This week’s biggest story.  Watch as it unfolds.  

Trouble at home – The Economist Political instability returns to South-East Asia

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay Caught in US-Russia Crossfire – The Diplomat How will Hanoi respond to U.S. pressure to curtail flights of Russian refueling aircraft out of Cam Ranh Bay?//And I thought Petrov was only interested in the Jordan River Valley.  

Chinese loans for Burma’s police – DVB Burma’s parliament has agreed to borrow 246 million yuan (US$40 million) from China in order to purchase vehicles and equipment for the country’s police force.//Hmm, which lending neighbor will they purchase said equipment from?

The periphery cannot hold – The Economist Things fall apart along a violent stretch of the Myanmar-China border. Two reports look at the conflict from each side

Laos and China Prepare to Sign Construction Contract for High-Speed Railway Project – Radio Free Asia China and Laos will sign a construction contract for a $7.2 billion high-speed railway project planned by cash-strapped Laos, linking the two neighboring countries and extending to Thailand, the Lao government official is charge of the project said.//The fanfare has been blasting on this project for many years – still no revelation on how Laos will pay for the project which has a price tag worth its yearly GDP

China Blasts ASEAN Head for South China Sea Remarks – The Diplomat Beijing scolds ASEAN’s Vietnamese chief for allegedly biased and false comments.

ASEAN Is Not a Security Community (Yet) – The Diplomat Has the bloc really been the force for peace in the region that some claim?//Yes.  Despite the need for evolution of core ASEAN norms, Southeast Asia has been at relative peace (at the interstate level) for 20+ years. How many other regions have this track record?

Vietnam has 128 investment projects in Cambodia to date – ShanghaiDaily Vietnam has had 128 projects in Cambodia with a total investment of 49.6 million U.S. dollars so far, reported Vietnam’s state-run news agency VNA on Tuesday.//Worth knowing in comparison to China’s projects.  China is trying to paint Vietnam as the bad guy in Cambodia too or at least remind us that China’s not the only tiger in Cambodia’s mountains.  

Vietnam, Cambodia Boost Defense Ties – The Diplomat The two sides are looking to expand their defense cooperation.

Japan and Laos Forge New Strategic Partnership – The Diplomat The two countries have decided to elevate their relationship at a critical time.//Laos may be following the path of Myanmar (finally) and weaning off its reliance on China.  

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Work begins on 30MW dam in Khammuan – Vientiane Times Construction of a hydropower project on the Hinboun River in Khammuan province kicked off on Friday, aiming to supply electricity to central Laos and boost development in the region.//30 MW looks small, but central Laos is strapped for power.  

Related: Cambodia PM says work on mega-dam will not start until 2018 – Cambodian Times

ADB to Help Lao PDR’s Vientiane Set up Sustainable Transport System – ADB ADB has approved a $35 million loan to help finance a bus rapid transit system and other transport innovations to improve traffic flows in Vientiane, the fast growing capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Mekong Delta building five areas to cultivate special rice – Viet Nam News The establishment of five new specialised rice-growing zones is underway in the Mekong Delta to meet the growing demand of domestic and international markets.

Rice shipments from Vietnam climbing on lower prices, China – Thanh Nien Rice exports from Vietnam, the world’s third-largest shipper, will probably rebound this year as lower prices boost demand, while competition with Thailand keeps the gain to single digits, according to the government.

A Turning Point in China’s ‘War on Pollution’ – The Diplomat For the first time since 2001, China’s total carbon emissions dropped last year.

Locals cold to garbage-powered electricity – The Nation The fight against plans to build a garbage-powered electricity-generating plant in Khon Kaen’s Phu Wiang Municipality has continued unabated. This plan was meant to be among various garbage-disposal methods to be used to help alleviate the problem of overwhelming waste in the municipality’s 24-rai dump, located in Tambon Ban Reu.//re-examine the technology – the burning and gasification process removes most of the toxins from exhaust.  Garbage any way you cut it has a net negative carbon contribution – turn it into electricity to prevent other carbon loss brings its carbon contribution closer to zero.  

‘Unprecedented Rate’ of Agriculture-Driven Deforestation: Report – The Irrawaddy The conversion of forestlands for agricultural development is occurring at an “unprecedented rate,” aided by a weak legal framework governing forest management and land use, according to a new report released on Thursday.

Related: Burma’s forests and the danger of agribusiness – DVB

Campaign to try and save Nan’s unique tree tunnels – The Nation In a bid to save Nan’s tree tunnels, the “Big Trees Project” will this morning submit over 6,000 signatures as part of a petition against cutting down the big trees to the National Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Transport.

CHINA

Chinese Police Detain Five Women’s Rights Activists – The Irrawaddy China formally detained five women’s rights activists on Thursday, apparently for planning to demonstrate against sexual harassment on public transport, paving the way for police to levy formal charges.//once again the reaction becomes the story. 

China’s Polluted Soil and Water Will Drive up World Food Prices – ChinaFile China’s push for more intense farming has kept its city dwellers well-fed and helped lift millions of rural workers out of poverty. But it has come at a cost. Ecosystems in what should be one of the country’s most fertile regions have already been badly damaged—some beyond repair—and the consequences will be felt across the world.//China’s farmers use 4-7 times global average of pesticides.   

China’s Real Inconvenient Truth: Its Class Divide – ChinaFile China is talking about its pollution problem, but its equally serious class problem remains obscured behind the haze.

Foreign NGOs in China Fear Clampdown Under New Law – The Irrawaddy Foreign non-government organizations (NGOs) in China are bracing for a crackdown as the government prepares to pass a new law to regulate their activities, which critics fear could curb activism and drive out several groups.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

About 50 Dead as Ferry in Burma Sinks in Bad Weather – The Irrawaddy About 50 people were believed to have drowned off Burma when a ferry sank in bad weather, government officials said on Saturday, though residents said they believed more people on the overcrowded vessel had died.//The Chinese news is quick to cover this issue too in the wake of Myanmar’s accidental bombing in Yunnan.  

VDO: 127 students arrested in Letpadan chaos – DVB One hundred and twenty-seven people were arrested in the police crackdown on students in Letpadan on Tuesday, the Burmese government has reported.

Related: 12 Letpadan students released from prison – DVB

Mass impeachment action launched against former Thai MPs – The Guardian Thailand’s anti-corruption body on Thursday launched impeachment proceedings against 250 ex-lawmakers, the majority from the toppled ruling party of Yingluck Shinawatra, in a move that could be a bodyblow to her family’s political network.

100 More Bomb Blasts Planned in Thailand, Police Told – The Diplomat Detained suspects disclose details about bomb plots following grenade attack.

    Related: Police nab two more over blast – The Nation

Suu Kyi’s NLD to Compete in Burma Vote Despite Block – The Irrawaddy  The party of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will contest the general election this year even if there is no change in the Constitution to allow the Nobel laureate to become president, one of the party’s top leaders said on Friday.

No More ADB Funding to Finish Stalled Railway Project – The Cambodia Daily Visiting Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao said Tuesday that no more money would be forthcoming from the bank to complete a stalled and bankrupt project to rehabilitate Cambodia’s old railway lines, a $142 million effort that had been billed as a key infrastructure initiative.//Perhaps the AIIB can help continue to line Hun Sen’s pockets.

Touching up Cambodia – SEA Globe After years of floundering near the foot of global rankings on a range of development indicators, Cambodia is finally taking some steps in the right direction

DSI probe into cooperative unveils fishy land deals – The Nation The Department of Special Investigation’s examination of financial transactions relating to the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement has found that up to three land plots covering as much as 1,000 rai (395 acres) were bought using stolen money and then transferred to other people in a bid to avoid detection.

Defiant Narong vows to fight his abrupt transfer – The Nation Dr Narong Sahametapat has vowed to put up a fierce fight against what he perceives as intimidation in the wake of an abrupt transfer order to remove him as Public Health Ministry permanent secretary pending a probe.

YUNNAN

Minor quake hits Songming, rattles Kunming too – GoKunming A moderate earthquake hit Songming County in central Yunnan on March 9. The temblor caused little noticeable damage, but was felt by many in Kunming.//Pretty scary for a city that rarely feels earthquakes.  My house rocked back and forth on a tiny pendulum arc.

EXSE FOCUS

Documentary on Air Pollution Grips China – NYT Since its online debut on Saturday, “Under the Dome” has inspired an unusually passionate eruption of public and mass media discussion.//Given the impressive nature of this important expose, it’s surprising (yet not unexpected to hear local China bash Chai Jing, not for the quality of her documentary, but rather for her former romantic relationships and how she chose to give birth to her child in the US.  

Related: China takes environmental documentary that went viral off the web – The Guardian//still available on non-Chinese sites like Youtube and on Hong Kong’s Phoenix News site.

How China Fuels Myanmar’s Wars – NYT Chinese-led development projects stoke ethnic tensions across the border.//NYT and the Guardian deepen their coverage of the China-Myanmar connection, but this is not new news rather this has been happening for decades.  The more interesting news is how Myanmar’s opening up has steered aid from ethnic areas and without support drives ethnic groups to war.  

Related: Ousted Chinese General Aided Myanmar Rebels: Report – The Diplomat

Living Next Door to China – The Irrawaddy Many Myanmar remain suspicious of Chinese investment and resent past Chinese mega projects that have had negative social and environmental impacts. Thus, a quick embrace of Japanese, South Korean and Western businesses has been evident as the country opens up.

Trashing the ASEAN Brand – Project Syndicate Three of Southeast Asia’s most important states – Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia – are raising serious doubts about their commitment to the rule of law, the integrity of their judicial systems, and the quality of mercy in the administration of justice. Worse, their political backsliding jeopardizes the entire region’s prospects.//Since when has the ASEAN brand at its core been about rule of law and quality of judicial systems?  

Villagers Call on Spirit to Curse Officials, Company Behind Dam – The Cambodia Daily Villagers in Stung Treng province displeased local authorities on Saturday by holding a traditional ceremony calling upon a powerful local spirit to curse those behind the construction of the Lower Sesan 2 dam.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Uighur migrants held in Thailand for 11 months take case to court – The Nation A Thai court will decide this month whether to release 17 Uighurs from the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, including 13 children, who have been detained for the past 11 months in Bangkok, a lawyer for the group said on Tuesday.

Vietnam arrests 4 for attempting to smuggle 58 workers into China – Thanh Nien Each of the job seekers has paid them a fee of around US$300

The Rebalance in Southeast Asia: Not About Containment – The Diplomat Far from trying to “contain” China, the U.S. is focusing on a wide array of initiatives with regional actors.

Vietnam opposes China’s illegal construction works on Truong Sa – Thanh Nien The country has requested China to immediately stop these wrongful actions

Chinese authorities hit back at border restriction ‘rumours’ – DVB Chinese authorities hit back at media, including DVB, who have reported that China has blocked access to camps at the Sino-Burmese border and sent Kokang refugees back to the troubled region despite fears for their safety.

350 Displaced Civilians Arrive in Shan Border Town – The Irrawaddy More than 350 displaced civilians arrived in northern Shan State’s Chin Shwe Haw on Wednesday after spending several weeks hiding in the forest on the Burma-China border to escape fighting in the Kokang Special Region, an aid worker said.

US to provide 6 patrol ships to Vietnam as ties strengthen – Thanh Nien US ambassador praises Vietnam for becoming more LGBT-friendly

US Army to Continue Military Dialogue with the PLA – The Diplomat US Army Pacific will push for closer ties with the Chinese military.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Thai firms agree Dawei signing ceremony – DVB Two Thai construction companies are expected to sign an agreement with the Burmese government to start developing the first phase of the Dawei megaproject.//Game of ports – one of three critically strategic ports to open on the Andaman Sean in Myanmar in the next 10 years.  

EIA report on Krabi coal port, plant rejected – The Nation Experts agree it is misleading, incomplete

Fishermen want help cleaning up oil in Rayong – The Nation Rayong fishermen and beachside vendors yesterday urged to the government to help clear up an oil slick and garbage from the Mae Rampeung Beach in Muang district.

Vietnam’s prime minister says climate change is real, calls for more responses – Thanh Nien “There is still a misconception that climate change is something abstract”

Thailand Tests Floating Homes in Region Grappling With Floods – The Irrawaddy The 2.8 million baht (US$86,000) amphibious house in Ban Sang village is one way architects, developers and governments around the world are brainstorming solutions as climate change brews storms, floods and rising sea levels that threaten communities in low-lying coastal cities.

Smog up North goes beyond safety levels – The Nation The problem of smog in the North is still severe as Chiang Mai province’s PM10 (particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in size) yesterday stood at 143 micrograms per cubic metre – which is beyond the safety level of 120.

Rangoon Govt Power Supplier to Become Corporate Entity – The Irrawaddy The Yangon Electricity Supply Board (YESB) said it will become a government-owned corporate entity on April 1. The move will make the government utility provider financially independent from the Ministry of Electric Power and marks the first phase of a plan to privatize the electricity supplier of Burma’s biggest city.

Vietnam officials say power price hike imminent – Thanh Nien They say a new price level is needed to attract private investors

China set to miss safe rural drinking water targets – chinadialogue In 2011, China launched a huge policy and investment drive to bring safe drinking water to the entire country, including its remotest areas

CHINA

China Lowers Official Economic Growth Target – NYT By cutting its growth target to approximately 7 percent, China is emphasizing more sustainable growth.

China Names 14 Generals Suspected of Corruption – NYT The generals, including the son of a former high-ranking leader, were the latest to fall under President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anticorruption campaign.

China knife attack suspect shot dead after wounding nine people – The Guardian Two assailants slashed people at train station in southern city of Guangzhou before police killed one and captured the other

China’s Defense Budget to Increase 10 Percent in 2015 – The Diplomat Details on what precisely China is spending money on remain murky.

China’s New Silk Road and Its Impact on Xinjiang – The Diplomat China’s plans for Central Asia are likely to see Beijing take a tighter grip on the restive Xinjiang region.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Students, Activists Allege Violence in Rangoon Protest Crackdown – The Irrawaddy After being released from custody early Friday morning, eight people detained after Thursday’s student protest in downtown Rangoon have said they were injured by police and a plainclothes mob during the subsequent crackdown.

Related: Burmese police block student protesters – NYT

Related: Junta-Era Thugs Are Back on the Streets – The Irrawaddy

Michelle Obama to Visit Japan and Cambodia – NYT The American first lady, Michelle Obama, will travel to Japan and Cambodia this month as part of an effort to support education for girls, the White House said Tuesday.

UN-Cambodia Tribunal Charges Two More Ex-Khmer Rouge Cadres – The Irrawaddy A U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia charged two former cadres of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime with crimes against humanity on Tuesday over their alleged roles in the deaths of an estimated 1.8 million people

Cambodia and Australia: Treating Refugees as Bargaining Chips – The Diplomat The two countries are selective in their interpretation of international laws on the rights of refugees.

Shwe Mann: the right man for the job? – SEA Globe With Aung San Suu Kyi likely to be out of the running, some fancy that Shwe Mann will become Myanmar’s next president

        Related: Election will be held in November, says Thein Sein – DVB

Related: Observers Lukewarm on Thein Sein, Suu Kyi Dialogue – The Irrawaddy

Human-trafficking bill passes first reading – The Nation The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday agreed in principle to a bill aimed at tackling human trafficking with heavier penalties, including the immediate closure of businesses found to be abusive to employees and death penalty if the abuse results in deaths.

MNDAA claims swelling of its ranks – DVB The Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) claims that the number of its troops has risen to around 5,000 since conflict reignited with Burmese government forces on 9 February.

Preah Sihanouk at Center of New Industrial Plan – The Cambodia Daily The Council of Ministers released a new policy on Friday aimed at boosting Cambodia’s industrial development beyond the garment and food sectors, placing Preah Sihanouk province at the center of plans to modernize the country’s economy.

Drowning in debt: the growing threat to Cambodia’s poor? – The Guardian In a growing microfinance market, some Cambodians are juggling as many as six separate loans. How can MFIs balance ethical concerns with commercial interest?

Lao Authorities Require Gun Re-registrations to Reduce Illegal Firearms – Radio Free Asia Lao authorities have put in place a new rule that requires the re-registration of firearms—including those owned by police officers, soldiers and village security officials—in an effort to eradicate illegal firearm possession, an Internal Security Ministry official said.

YUNNAN

Prince William in China: illegal wildlife trade a ‘vicious form of criminality’ – The Guardian Speaking at the Xishuangbanna Elephant Sanctuary in Yunnan Province, Prince William said: “it is appalling that elephants – and many others – may be extinct in the wild in our lifetimes”.

Related: China’s illegal ivory traders exploiting online market – The Guardian

Related: China’s temporary ban on ivory imports to be “ineffective” – chinadialogue

Blaze guts Guandu market, killing twelve – GoKunming A fire that broke out in a Kunming wholesale market on the afternoon of March 4, claimed the lives of a dozen people and destroyed 50 businesses before being extinguished. Investigators are now combing through the wreckage in attempts to discover the source of the blaze, which witnesses say began with a loud explosion.

We’re back this week with lots of content to roll out.  Spring 2015 orientation has come to an end at the IES Kunming Center, so it’s time to get blogging on ExSE.  Last week saw the end of the MRC sponsored regional consultation on the Don Sahong Dam with little progress made.  No news is likely to be bad news despite deepened protestations from Cambodia, Vietnam, and the international NGO sector.  In addition the headlines suggest the price of oil in Kunming and Southwest China has dropped a bit with the opening of the Kyaukphyu pipeline running from Myanmar’s coast to Kunming. However, Kunming’s oil refinery has yet to commence operations so it will be a while until true effects are felt.  The controversial project runs through large swaths of Myanmar’s war-torn Kachin state.

EXSE FOCUS

Mekong River Commission to Consider Lao Don Sahong Dam at Ministerial Level – Radio Free Asia An intergovernmental body which supervises development along the Mekong River on Wednesday referred a decision on the much-criticized Don Sahong Dam in Laos to the ministerial level after Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam were unable to agree on how to proceed with the project.

Related: PR- Regional Dispute Continues over Don Sahong Dam – International River

Related: Vietnam, riparian neighbors exert pressure on Laos over second Mekong dam – Thanh Nien

Chinese logging firms seek intervention over seized staff and equipment in Myanmar – South China Morning Post Dozens of Chinese logging operators have petitioned local authorities in Yunnan to intervene over the arrests of more than 150 logging workers in Myanmar’s Kachin State and the seizure of equipment worth hundreds of million yuan, the Beijing Times reported.//The initial reports said the Chinese workers are “trapped” or “kidnapped.”  The story has since been corrected, but most Chinese migrants working abroad in extractive industries or infrastructure development do not have official papers for employment abroad.  The Chinese working on the bridge leading to the Don Sahong dam, all employed by Sinhohydro, still do not have working permits – a 10,000 USD bribe to local officials took care of that problem.

 Madae Islanders to Protest Inauguration of Kyaukphyu Pipeline – The Irrawaddy The oil pipeline linking the Arakan State port of Kyaukphyu and China will commence operations on Jan. 30, with local residents planning a demonstration against land seizures and environmental damage at the project’s official inauguration.//Again Kunming’s oil refinery yet to open – perhaps later this year is anyone’s guess. 

 Vietnam approves power grid development project – Thanh Nien The Asian Development Bank has provided funds to strengthen the capacity of the power infrastructure in Hanoi and HCMC.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

ASEAN to Intensify South China Sea Response Amid China Concerns – The Guardian Grouping to accelerate efforts to conclude an elusive code of conduct.

Related: China’s Lawful Position on the South China Sea – The Diplomat

Related: Philippines, Vietnam upgrade ties in show of unity against China – Thanh Nien

Related: Asean seeks early conclusion of a maritime pact for South China Sea – South China Morning Post

 China and Indonesia Under Jokowi: Show Me The Money! – The Diplomat Sino-Indonesian relations appear to be off to a good start. But it is still early days.

 Burma ‘Not Ready’ for Asean Single Market by End of 2015 – The Irrawaddy The Asean goal of creating a single business market among the regional grouping’s 10 member countries is unlikely to happen for some years and certainly not by the target start date of the end of this year, analysts warn.//It’s best to view the end of 2015 as the beginning of the process rather than a new era for Southeast Asia.  

 Laos, Thailand move forward with border demarcation – The Nation Laos and Thailand have made progress in the demarcation of their shared border, with the Joint Border Committee agreeing on several issues relating to the placement of border posts.

 Full backing for Maritime Silk Road – The Star Malaysia fully supports the concept of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiated by China, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

 Eighteen More Montagnards Cross Into Ratanakkiri – The Cambodia Daily Eighteen Montagnard asylum seekers crossed into Ratanakkiri province from Vietnam on Wednesday morning, according to a rights group and a local villager, the fourth such group to arrive in the country this month.

 Myanmar nationals falsely claim to be workers of Thais – The Nation An unknown number of Myanmar nationals have crossed into Ranong to register as workers of Thai employers merely to obtain access to Thailand’s superior and free public-health services, Office of the Prime Minister inspector-general Orawan Khumsap revealed yesterday.

 “Asean should definitely intervene in human rights” – SEA Globe With the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting taking place today, human rights consultant Wathshlah Naidu gives her thoughts on the region’s social issues and the adequacy of Asean in addressing them

3-nation forum urged to boost rubber prices – The Nation Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told Malaysia yesterday that a tripartite meeting should be held as soon as possible between Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to find urgent ways to tackle the falling price of rubber. 

Work on 2nd bridge in Mae Sot to start in Sept – The Nation Construction of a second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot is expected to start in September, Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong has said. 

From caravan to the summit, GMS youth make their voice heard — by Civil Society Team – ADB Thirty-six youth leaders from the Greater Mekong subregion (GMS) embarked on an opportunity of a lifetime when they were selected to be part of the GMS Youth Caravan, an eight-day trip around the GMS countries that culminated in the 2nd GMS Youth Forum (YF2) and GMS Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19-20 December 2014.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Tsinghua chief ‘to be environment minister’ – South China Morning Post The head of one of the mainland’s most prestigious universities is tipped to take over the country’s top environmental job with Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian, reaching retirement age. 

Harnessing Disruption for Sustainability – Project Syndicate The inevitable shift toward sustainable development will increasingly disrupt lifestyles, livelihoods, and economies. But these disruptions, and the short-term crises they may cause, can serve a valuable purpose, providing the world with a powerful incentive to guide the shift toward a more sustainable, inclusive future. 

China’s renewables to shrug off oil price plunge – chinadialogue A plunge in the price for oil has prompted predictions that investment in renewable energy will be scaled back, but how will this impact China, which last year added more capacity in low-carbon energy than any other country?//unlikely to slow the building of dams.  

China coal production falls for first time this century – The Guardian Coal production fell 2.1% in 2014 against 2013, with further decreases expected this year, BusinessGreen reports. The impact of China’s clean air and renewable energy policies are beginning to have an impact on the country’s coal industry, according to reports suggesting domestic coal production fell last year. 

Ivory traders, owners must register – The Nation Traders, owners or people acquiring ivory extracted from domesticated elephants and relevant products are required to register the ivory with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) from March 22 until April 21. 

Burma Tallies 1,114 Bird Species, 20 Previously Unrecorded – The Irrawaddy An extensive survey of birds in Burma has revealed nearly two dozen not known to have existed in the country, including a large black seabird with a ballooning red neck sack and a tiny black and white falconet with a surprised, panda-like expression.

Mon Rebels Prohibit Controversial Coal Plant – The Irrawaddy Local communities and the state’s ethnic leadership voiced skepticism about claims that it would benefit local communities, positing instead that most or all of the energy produced would be exported to neighboring Thailand. 

Illegal Wood Found Near Military Police Base – The Cambodia Daily Environment Ministry officials on Thursday found a cache of more than 400 pieces of illegally logged first-grade wood in Ratanakkiri province’s Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary, which the ministry oversees, and suspect officers from a nearby military police base of being involved.

WWF Calls for Halt to Proposed Road in Mondolkiri – The Cambodia Daily A proposed new road and border crossing with Vietnam, which cuts straight through Mondolkiri Protected Forest, will cause irreversible damage to one of the country’s most important conservation areas and could ruin plans to re-establish Cambodia’s tiger population in the forest, environmental group WWF said Thursday.

CHINA

With Obama in India, China Hosts Pakistan’s Army Chief – The Diplomat China pledged greater defense cooperation with its “iron brother,” especially on counter-terrorism.

China to Tally Suicides by Civil Servants – NYT A spate of suicides last year has raised questions about the effects of the country’s continuing campaign to root out corruption. 

Alibaba Profit Surges, but a Revenue Gain of 40% Still Misses Forecasts – NYT The company, which had a huge initial public offering in September, is now facing trouble with China’s government regulators and an economic slowdown.

Related: Alibaba in row with Chinese regulator over fake goods – The Guardian

 Communist cadres in Tibet punished for helping Dalai Lama – The Jakarta Post Investigators have found that 15 Communist Party officials in Tibet joined underground Tibetan independence organizations, provided intelligence to the Dalai Lama and his supporters or participated in activities deemed harmful to China’s security, a party agency said Wednesday. 

New Rules in China Upset Western Tech Companies – NYT Stringent regulations, including a requirement to share secret codes, are another form of economic protectionism, Western technology companies say. 

U.S.-India Ties Deepen; China Takes It in Stride – NYT The reaction to the breadth of issues discussed during President Obama’s visit to New Delhi, and to the participants’ mutual anxiety about China, has been cool but controlled.

Related: China’s Navy to Send More Ships to the Indian Ocean – The Diplomat 

China to Force Authors to Provide Real Names When Publishing Online – NYT Linking the offline identities of authors with their online writings, new guidelines say, will encourage writers to “better take responsibility” for their works and bolster “moral education and training.”

Related: China to force buyers of computers and phones in Xinjiang to register names – The Guardian 

China: Embracing Africa, But Not Africans – The Diplomat The next step for Beijing in its Africa relations is better people-to-people relations.

Related: China’s ‘Maritime Silk Road’: Don’t Forget Africa – The Diplomat//See our perspective here.

Labour unrest: Out brothers, out! – The Economist As China’s economy slows, and labour-intensive manufacturing moves elsewhere in search of cheaper workers, anxious and angry employees are becoming ever bolshier.

Chinese universities ordered to ban textbooks that promote Western values – South China Morning Post The move marks the latest step in an ideological campaign that has already brought the media and internet under even tighter controls

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Volunteers take on human trafficking gangs in Thai south – South China Morning Post Bullet-proof vest, shotgun, sunglasses: Kompat Sompaorat could be mistaken for a member of a SWAT team. 

Malaysia formally declares MH370 crash an accident, passengers presumed dead – South China Morning Post Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was formally declared an accident, the Malaysian government announced on Thursday, paving the way for victims’ relatives to be compensated.

Related: MH370: Chinese families refuse to accept declaration – The Star

Related: Navy ends AirAsia jet recovery efforts with 92 bodies still missing – South China Morning Post 

‘Highly likely’ Malaysian militant was killed in Philippine raid that left 44 police dead – South China Morning Post There is a “high likelihood” a Malaysian militant who is suspected of being behind the 2002 Bali bombings was killed in the Philippine police operation that left 44 police commandos dead, a senior official said today.

Related: Most wanted terrorist Marwan suspected killed – The Star

 Thailand’s military junta forces cancellation of press freedom conference – The Guardian Thailand’s junta has forced a German foundation to cancel a prominent forum on media restrictions imposed since the military toppled an elected government last May.

Related: Ex-Thai PM’s Party Promises Calm Following Indictment – The Irrawaddy 

Students: ‘Our voice has been heard’ – DVB Student groups and observers have welcomed the news that four-way negotiations on the National Education Law have been agreed following a meeting in Naypyidaw on Wednesday.

Related: Confrontation looms as students approach Taungtha – DVB

 North Korea’s Own Pivot to ASEAN – The Diplomat Like China, Japan, and the US, North Korea is looking toward Southeast Asia — but with a different goal in mind.

 Cambodia: Justice Delayed – The Diplomat Lawyers for Pol Pot’s henchmen are proving skillful at delaying their clients’ trials. 

Self-Criticism at Center of CPP Congress – The Cambodia Daily As it began a three-day party congress in Phnom Penh on Friday, the ruling CPP blamed internal dysfunction and corruption for shock losses in the July 2013 national election, which was followed by a turbulent year marked by a political deadlock, mass opposition demonstrations and the government’s brutal suppression of dissents. 

Myanmar’s commercial capital: The square mile – The Economist The journey makes Yangon, or Rangoon, seem small and backward. In fact it is booming.

KNU, Govt to Build ‘Model Village’ for IDPs – The Irrawaddy Karen rebels have teamed up with the Burmese government to build a new “model village” for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southeastern Karen State. 

Cambodian casinos threaten Vietnam’s social security: police – Thanh Nien Gamblers avoid the ban at home by crossing the border into Cambodia where dozens of casinos are waiting.