Category Archives: NEWS DIGEST

 EXSE FOCUS

China begins construction of ‘world’s tallest’ dam – Thanh Nien News China has begun building a 314-metre (1,030-ft) high dam which will be among the world’s tallest, officials said, as the country massively expands hydropower. The Shuangjiankou dam on a tributary of China’s mighty Yangtze river will be completed in 2022, the environmental ministry said on its website Tuesday. The facility, costing 36 billion yuan ($5.8 billion), will be higher than the world’s current tallest dam, the 305-metre Jinping-1, also in China. //Hydroelectric energy sources can help decrease carbon emissions, but the environmental hazards, as well as social impacts, of these mega dams aren’t negligible.

Related: Burma, Thailand, China sign MoU for Salween dam – DVB

Related: Is China’s hydroelectric revolution as green as it sounds? – International Rivers

Chinese police kill three ‘Xinjiang terrorists’ in north-east, authorities say – The Guardian Police in north-eastern China on Monday killed three knife-wielding “terrorists” from Xinjiang, the mainly Muslim region in the far west, who attacked officers, local authorities said. One other assailant, described as a 28-year-old woman, was injured in Liaoning, said a notice posted on a verified provincial government social media account. Shenyang, the Liaoning capital where the incident happened, is almost 3,000km (1,900 miles) from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, which has seen sporadic violence in recent years blamed by authorities on Islamist terrorists.

Related: Behind the veil: China’s policies in restive Xinjiang hurt traditional minority businesses – The South China Morning Post

ASEAN Seen As Future Labour Powerhouse, Succeeding China – InvestVine The structural change in the East Asian labour market and rising wages in China – which used to be the cheap manufacturing hub of the world – will shift a lot of labour towards Southeast Asian countries, especially the ones which still have low labour costs and/or minimum wages, experts say. Southeast Asia will eventually displace China for the title of “world’s factory”, another study released in April by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, or ANZ, said. This would happen over the next 10 to 15 years, “as companies move to take advantage of cheap and abundant labour in areas such as the Mekong [delta],” ANZ said in the report.

Developing Asia To Grow At A Slower Pace: ADB – InvestVine The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on July 16 cut its economic-growth forecast for developing Asia amid slower-than-expected growth in the US and China. The Manila-based bank said the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) was projected to grow by only 6.1 per cent from the original forecast of 6.3 per cent in its annual Asian Development Outlook published in March this year. It added that the growth outlook for Southeast Asia was trimmed to 4.6 per cent because Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore’s economies disappointed in the first half, while subregional growth will likely accelerate next year to 5.1 per cent.

An HA/DR Solution to South China Sea Tensions – The Diplomat Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief could offer innovative approach to territorial conflict. China’s extensive land reclamation in the South China Sea poses a challenge to the security environment of the Asia-Pacific. Territorial conflicts are difficult to resolve given complex and deeply rooted sovereignty and historical interpretation issues. However, the essence of the issue is not the Chinese land reclamation itself (many other countries in the region have engaged in land reclamation), but rather the legal and political consequences that could escalate into a security issue, which in turn could destabilize a region that has the potential to drive the world economic growth.//Get ready for the annual CSIS South China Sea Conference.  It’s kinda like DC’s version of Shark Week.  Also watch this week for critical ruling re the Philippines arbitration case vs. China.

Related: Naval Buildups in the South China Sea – The Diplomat

Related: How China Views the South China Sea Arbitration Case – The Diplomat

Myanmar Faces Daunting Post-Election Challenges, Experts Warn – The Diplomat Myanmar faces significant challenges following historic elections to be held later this year, experts warned Tuesday. Last week, Myanmar confirmed that it would hold its election on November 8, setting the stage for polls following a historic opening in 2011 after half a century of military rule.

Related: Myanmar Reveals Date for Historic 2015 Elections – The Diplomat

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Forecasting the Future of US-China Competition – The Diplomat China figured prominently in this year’s annual conference conducted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), which held the massive, all-day event at the end of last month in Washington, D.C.  While the event focused on global challenges from Russia and the Islamic State to technology and energy, one of four breakout sessions focused exclusively on “The Future of China.”

Obama official sees momentum to conclude Asia-Pacific trade pact – Thanh Nien News The 12 nations negotiating a Pacific trade pact are “keenly focused” on reaching an agreement as ministers prepare to meet in Hawaii this month, according to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Froman acknowledged sticking points remain to the Trans-Pacific Partnership on issues including market access. He wouldn’t be drawn on a specific time line after five years of negotiations, but said he’s optimistic ahead of the next discussions.//Waiting for details of this deal whose negotiations are conducted in secret is unnerving.

RMB Internationalization and US Economic Leadership: Reforms and Rebalance – The Diplomat The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently considering whether or not to recognize the Chinese currency – yuan or renminbi (RMB) – as an official reserve currency to be included in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) along with the dollar, euro, yen and sterling. Eswar Prasad, the former head of the IMF’s China division recently stated, “The IMF’s imprimatur is nice to have but ultimately it is market forces that will drive the renminbi’s adoption as a reserve currency.”//with Saudi Arabia and oil not meaning so much to the US anymore, RMB internationalization and position as a potential reserve currency is probably one of the top five international developments with long-term, game changing implications to watch.

Can Myanmar benefit from China plan? – New Mandala China’s leaders are looking to convince us that their dreams of “one belt, one road” can lead to a new wave of global prosperity. These initiatives are designed to enmesh partners from near and far in a Chinese-led network of investment and economic growth. The Chinese government inevitably has firm ideas about how Myanmar fits into its bold plans for 21st-century economic development. It sees the country as a key site for large-scale Chinese projects, including the dams, bridges, roads and ports that will be the concrete-and-steel manifestation of the “one belt, one road” idea.//The answer is Yes.  Would Myanmar benefit by being left out of the Belt and Road project?  No.  But the devil is in the details – who gets the projects, what are environmental implications, and how can the projects be implemented with efficiency and on a predictable schedule with ethnic conflict looming and raging in Myanmar?

Related: The Belt and Road: China’s Economic Lifeline? – The Diplomat

Connectivity with China a priority – The Star BEIJING: Malaysia is ready to work with China on developing connectivity, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. Among others, ports in Malaysia will be upgraded and more free trade zones and industrial parks will be built near the ports.

China’s slowdown may widen Vietnam trade gap, official says – Thanh Nien News China’s economic slowdown may widen Vietnam’s trade deficit as the Southeast Asian nation counts on its largest trading partner to buy commodities, according to a government official. China has been Vietnam’s biggest trade partner since at least 2007. The recent stock plunge and the slowdown in China’s growth has triggered concerns in regional governments including Indonesia and Philippines.//Enter opportunity for US purchases of more Vietnamese goods – maybe not commodities, but purchasing fewer commodities from Vietnam may help the country implement higher environmental standards.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

To sustain its forests, Asia needs to invest in local people: experts – Thanh Nien News Asia has a unique opportunity to fight climate change and lift many more people out of poverty if it invests more in the communities living in its forests, experts said. The Asia-Pacific region’s forests, which account for almost 20 percent of the world’s forested area, play a big role in fighting climate change because of trees’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2).

Silence of the dammed – Mekong Commons In the ongoing controversy over the costs and benefits of hydropower in the Mekong River basin, there is much debate among governments, private business and civil society especially in Thailand and internationally. But one voice seems to be always silent in this debate: that of the local communities of Laos in whose country at least two mainstream Mekong dams are being built or planned and who will face the brunt of the projects’ impacts.//More needs to be done to bring local stakeholders to the discussion table.  NGOs can serve as a bridge, representing and passing on the voices of local community stakeholders.  NGOs, contrary to popular opinion, the Laos government wants to hear from you.  Laos government, to get more NGOs to talk to you, stop detaining and kidnapping development activists and whistle blowers.

 18,000 trees to be felled for new tourist road through Vietnam mangrove forest – Thanh Nien News Ho Chi Minh City has approved a plan to build a new road through Can Gio Mangrove Forest, a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO, in a bid to attract more tourists. Here’s the catch: the road will be 17 meters wide and run 3.5 kilometers, which means 18,600 trees will have to be cut down to make space for it. Can Gio District conceded that the construction will destroy 6.4 hectares of forest and force creatures living in that area to move.

Long-term overuse of fertilisers saps China’s farmlands – South China Morning Post

CHINA

Uncivil – The Economist Some were taken from their homes in the middle of the night. Others had their offices raided, or were summoned to “take tea” at the local police station—a euphemism for being interrogated. According to Amnesty International, around 120 lawyers, as well as more than 50 support staff, family members and activists, have been rounded up across the country since the pre-dawn hours of July 9th. Many have been released, but as The Economist went to press at least 31 were still missing or were believed to remain in custody. //Is this the rule of law that Xi promoted in at his 3^rd plenum?

Related: China’s ‘Rule by Law’ Takes an Ugly Turn – ChinaFile

Remaining Uighurs in detention may go to Turkey – The Nation The last group of 52 Uighur migrants detained in Thailand will likely be going to Turkey because China has already been given those it wants for alleged crimes and violence in its territory. Beijing has got those who are suspected of involvement in crimes in China, so the remaining Uighur migrants are not wanted by China. It seems that the remaining migrants have no criminal record in China so they may go to the country of their choice or Turkey,” a high-ranking security official said yesterday.//To further understand this case, in general it would be helpful for the Chinese government to release the names of the 70 refugees repatriated to China two weeks ago as well as the charges surrounding their cases. Transparency.

The Environmental Problem China Can No Longer Overlook – The Diplomat China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection is taking steps to clean up soil contamination. Will it be enough? China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) is on a roll, pushing out action plans, regulations, and laws to address a number of its most pressing environmental challenges. Most recently, in mid-July it announced that it had submitted an action plan to the State Council to tackle one of the country’s least visible but most serious problems: soil contamination. Plans are also in the works for a new soil pollution prevention law in 2017.

China must make use of minority cultures to develop poorer border areas, says senior official – The South China Morning Post China must utilise the linguistic and cultural links of its ethnic minorities with neighbouring countries to help develop its poor border areas, but also guard against an infiltration of extremists, a senior official wrote in an influential journal.

China’s Rapidly Changing Views on Wildlife Conservation in Africa – ChinaFile A dramatic shift in Chinese public opinion about animal welfare and global wildlife conservation appears to be underway. Supported by high-profile celebrity campaigns by NBA legend Yao Ming and actress Li Bing Bing, there is growing awareness in China over the country’s role in the illicit African wildlife trade.//Glad to see the mass PSA campaigns working as well as bar raised on punishment for offenders on this issue. 

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Clock ticks on rice harvest – The Phnom Penh Post As el niño continues to buffet Cambodia, the next two weeks could be crucial in determining whether the Kingdom will suffer from a smaller-than-usual rice harvest and potential food shortages, experts said yesterday. The bulk of the rice harvested in Cambodia is normally planted between May and July, but amid unusually high temperatures and reduced precipitation, concerns are mounting regarding the hardships farmers might face and how it could affect their crops, according to a report released late last week by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). //With such a huge portion of the kingdom’s population in the agriculture sector, lower precipitation and high temps would mean trouble for Cambodia.

Everyone must save water till rains come mid-Aug: PM – The Nation It is now absolutely necessary for everybody – be they farmers or not – to save fresh water for consumption and daily use, at least until mid-August, when more rain is expected, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday. The government ordered a big cut yesterday in the amount of water released from four key dams – Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwai Noi and Pasak Jolasid – from 28 million cubic metres to 18 million cubic metres per day, so there is more left until the rains come.//This year’s drought seems to be the #1 conversation topic and concern among mainland Southeast Asians.

NGO alert: Cambodia legislation gives government new powers to monitor, fine or disband – The Guardian The government has just passed a Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (LANGO) which will impose mandatory registration on all domestic and international associations and NGOs, in order to have legal standing. They must also file annual reports on their activities and finances to the government. This bill will give the government powers to monitor activity and to fine or take legal action against NGOs. The government will also have the power to disband NGOs if their activities “jeopardise peace, stability and public order or harm the national security, national unity, culture, and traditions of Cambodian society”.//Call this THE CHINA EFFECT.

Related: Does Cambodia Really Need a New NGO Law? – The Diplomat

Shelling Sends Civilians Fleeing in Shan State – The Irrawaddy More than 100 people from Kaung Kha village in Muse Township have fled their homes after artillery shells were fired into the settlement on Monday, reportedly leaving one person dead and two others injured. The displaced villagers told The Irrawaddy that the artillery bombardment began at about 10 am on Monday and stopped sometime in the afternoon. The villagers have sought shelter at nearby Namtaw village and say they dare not return to their homes amid reports that the Burma Army is occupying the village.

YUNNAN

Kunming to invest in public electric car fleet – GoKunming The Kunming municipal government is moving toward the acquisition of all-electric cars that will be made publicly available by year’s end. Once delivered, the vehicles would become the centerpiece of a public transportation initiative designed to reduce general traffic congestion and cut down on overall tailpipe emissions in the Spring City. //Kunming is following suit in finding ways to alleviate traffic and reduce carbon emissions. Kudos to the municipal government for working to improve a city whose air conditions are already above standards for larger cities in China.

Video: Hip-hop grannies in Kunming’s Green Lake Park – GoKunming For anyone who has spent time in China, witnessing nocturnal dances by groups of women is not a new occurrence. Every evening across the country, in rural hamlets and huge metropolises alike, ladies gather in public squares and shake it to all different types of music. The nightly gatherings are simply a way to connect with like-minded people who want to step out, get some fun exercise and indulge in a bit of good-natured exhibitionism. //One of the exciting bits of Kunming’s urban personality that makes you fall in love with it!

REVIEWS

The Dog by Jack Livings review – a risky debut collection of extraordinary power – The Guardian The Dog is, among other things, a forceful argument for the role of imagination in fiction and in life. These short stories successfully put us into other people’s shoes, extending a gift of empathy. Livings has spent time studying and teaching in China, but it is still a gutsy move for an American writer to build his first work of fiction around the imagined lives of people in a foreign land. Like his characters, he seems to find something productive in being an outsider.

This week’s analysis was compiled by Rachel Tritsch with analysis by Rachel Tritsch and Brian Eyler.

Happy July to all of our ExSE readers and happy Fourth of July to our American readers. This weekend and the week following it will be pivotal for the world economy. And I’m not referring just to the ‘Grexit’ – on the other side of Eurasia, the Chinese stock market has dropped 30% in the past three weeks. China’s top brokers collectively pledged more than 120 billion yuan ($26.6 billion) to stabilize the market.

EXSE FOCUS

China rolls out emergency measures to prevent stock market crash – Reuters China’s stock markets face a make-or-break week after officials rolled out an unprecedented series of steps at the weekend to prevent a full-blown stock market crash that would threaten the world’s second-largest economy. With everyone’s eyes on Greece, China’s stock market crisis gets ignored. In reality, this could turn out to be the bigger story long-term.

China Deepens Planned Cuts to Carbon Intensity – ChinaFile China has mapped out how it will try and peak greenhouse emissions by 2030 or before, details that could have a major bearing on U.N. climate talks aimed at delivering a deal in Paris later this year.

Related: China analysts react to national climate plan – ChinaDialogue

Japan pledges $6 billion to Mekong nations as China prepares new bank – Thanh Nien A summary of the Japan-Mekong cooperation agreement expressed a veiled criticism of China’s recent maritime expansion. Japan has long been a quiet force of infrastructure development in SE Asia. Certainly staying low-key on this.

Lao Provincial Official to Grant Concession for Public Property to Chinese Investor – Radio Free Asia A Lao official has decided to grant a land concession to a Chinese investor to develop the area around one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks, despite heavy criticism by locals who oppose such deals involving public property. If this goes through, it will be a disaster. The Kuangsi Falls are one of the jewels of the Luang Prabang region, losing it to ‘development’ by anyone would be a true tragedy. 

Xi Hosts 56 Nations at Founding of Asian Infrastructure Bank – NYT Many attendees at the Beijing event were American allies that Washington had urged not to join the China-led bank, seen as a rival to Western-led institutions.

Related: Why US Allies Are Happy to Join China’s AIIB – The Diplomat

Related: China to Hold Some Veto Powers in New Asian Bank – The Irrawaddy

Vietnam Communist party chief to make first US trip – The Guardian Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said on Friday he hopes to build trust and create more opportunities to improve relations between one-time foes as they mark the 20th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties. They are also being brought closer together by shared concerns over China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Related: The Dramatic Transformation in US-Vietnam Relations – The Diplomat

Who Else Will Join the TPP? – Asia Unbound As the TPP’s chances rise, more countries in Asia appear ready to join the negotiations, most likely as members of the second round of nations joining the deal. Sometimes I look at the TPP/AIIB as two teams picking players for a neighborhood game of football. 

Related: Getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership Right – Project Syndicate

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Thai navy votes to buy three Chinese submarines worth $1 bn – Thanh Nien The deal would see China build three brand new submarines fitted with arms and also include training for Thai officials.

Sino-Burmese border market shelled – DVB Unknown assailants have targeted the 105-Mile Trade Zone, a major import-export camp on the Sino-Burmese border near Muse in northern Shan State. No casualties have been reported.

Southeast Asia Plans Fund to Help Migrants, But Offers Decried as Inadequate – The Irrawaddy Southeast Asian nations proposed on Thursday setting up a fund to tackle illegal migration, in one of the first coordinated actions after thousands of “boat people” arrived on the region’s shores, but rights groups dismissed the offers as mere tokens. These states need to tackle the problem at its core. Why are so many people leaving? If they do leave, they need to be treated humanely. Sending them back out to sea isn’t a humane, nor viable strategy. 

Related: Burmese refugees offered job training in Thailand – DVB

Related: Interior Ministry Seeks Help on Illegal Migrants – The Cambodia Daily

Find Peng Jiasheng, Burmese military tells Thais – DVB Burmese military officials have called on their Thai counterparts to help capture Kokang rebel leader Peng Jiasheng, who they claim is hiding in Thailand. Would not be the first time Chinese nationals making a ruckus in Myanmar flee to Thailand to regroup. 

China and India Are Sitting Out Refugee Crisis – NYT Asia’s giants could play leadership roles but see it as a losing issue that could diminish their clout and bilateral interests.

Mysterious Motives: India’s Raids on the Burma Border – The Irrawaddy It has been several weeks since Indian troops crossed the Burma border and attacked camps where ethnic rebels form India’s volatile northeast have camps, and, despite some press coverage immediately after the event, few details have emerged—and what has been said has been utterly contradictory.

 Burmese Fisherman Goes Home After 22 Years as a Slave – The Irrawaddy Thailand’s booming seafood business alone runs on an estimated 200,000 migrant workers, many of them forced onto boats after being tricked, kidnapped or sold. A heart-breaking story, very good read. 

Related: Rescued Fishermen Return From Indonesia – The Cambodia Daily

Preah Vihear Border Checkpoint to Go International – The Cambodia Daily A delegation of Cambodian officials including Foreign Affairs Min­ister Hor Namhong will meet with Thai counterparts in Bangkok next week to sign off on an agreement that will open an international border checkpoint in Preah Vihear province, the ministry said Friday.

China Angered by Philippine Documentary on South China Sea – The Irrawaddy China on Monday accused the Philippines of spreading misinformation and “creating the illusion of the victim” in their dispute over the South China Sea after Manila aired a three-part documentary defending its position.

Phnom Penh, Hanoi to Investigate Alleged Attacks Along Border – The Cambodia Daily Cambodia and Vietnam have agreed to create a joint working group to investigate the CNRP-led trip to a disputed border mark­er in Svay Rieng province late last month, where opposition lawmak­er Real Camerin claims he was as­saulted by Vietnamese civilians backed by soldiers.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Carving up Cambodia’s forests – New Mandala Human relocation and Chinese developments threaten the country’s largest national park.

US tells China its legal imports of ivory offer loophole for black market – The Guardian A senior US official told China on Friday that its legal imports of ivory act as a loophole for illegal traders, and that it needs to understand the importance of wildlife NGOs.

As their fields dry up, farmers face the threat of financial ruin – The Nation To rice farmers, ongoing drought is an imminent financial crisis. Their paddy fields remain parched this year as authorities warn locals against sowing seeds or planting seedlings on their farmland.

3 forest rangers arrested in Central Highlands timber poaching case – Thanh Nien 139 valuable trees have been stolen from their forest this year

Shanghai residents throng streets in ‘unprecedented’ anti-PX protest – ChinaDialogue Daily protests against a proposed relocation of a chemical plant in Shanghai reached a peak last week of 50,000, said to be the largest protest in China so far against production of paraxylene (PX), a compound used to manufacture plastic bottles. As a comparison, the 2013 Kunming anti-PX protest drew 2,000 participants. Wherever these plants pop up in China, the protests inevitably follow. 

Krabi locals reject coal-fired power plants – The Nation A planned coal-fired power plant could destroy the sustainable economic life cycle of Krabi and also affect the whole national economic system, the business sector in Krabi has warned.

Family Members of Lao Elite Smuggling Rosewood to China – Radio Free Asia Luxury rosewood illegally logged throughout Laos is routinely smuggled north across the border to China by family members of the country’s elite officials along a route paved with bribes to local authorities, according to sources with knowledge of the network.

Songkhla rides the waste-to-power bandwagon – The Nation Songkhla has come a long way from being a province with an overwhelming amount of accumulated garbage over a year ago to one that has taken a technology-savvy approach to eradicating trash via a waste-to-energy power plant.

Major Boost in Finance is Key to Helping Asia Manage Climate Change – ADB Asia needs at least $40 billion annually to adapt to climate change. Climate finance will need to come from different sources, such as multilateral funds, private investments, and capital markets.

Related: WLE partner ICEM releases Climate Resilience Kit for Mekong Towns – CPWF Mekong

 CHINA

China Approves Sweeping Security Law, Bolstering Communist Rule – NYT The measure is even broader than an earlier draft, extending its call for security to be defended on seabeds, at the poles and in space.

Related: The Truth About China’s New National Security Law – The Diplomat

Everything Xi wants – The Economist Since taking over as China’s leader in 2012, President Xi Jinping has shown an unusual preoccupation with challenges to the country’s security.

Satellite images Chinese-built runway artificial island finished – The Guardian China has almost finished construction of a 3,000m runway on the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea, satellite images have shown.

Related: Vietnamese Prime Minister calls for strong army to respond to new challenges – Thanh Nien

China freezes new share offers in bid to shore up plunging stock markets – The Guardian China has frozen share offers and set up a market-stabilisation fund, according to reports, as Beijing intensified efforts to pull stock markets out of a nose-dive that is threatening the world’s second-largest economy.

China’s Proposed Non-Governmental Organization Law: Cooperation or Coercion? – The Diplomat The language of the Overseas NGO Management Law must be amended to protect freedom of expression and association.

Related: Police, Guards Block Marches Against NGO Law – The Cambodia Daily

 China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Enters Phase Two – The Diplomat The second phase of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign will require an intensification of legal efforts.

China’s military must help Xinjiang modernise, top army officials say – The Guardian China’s military must bring “modern civilisation” to the restive southern areas of the Xinjiang region, where Muslim ethnic Uighurs are in a majority, and help develop its economy, two senior army officers wrote in an influential journal. Unfortunately, ‘modern civilisation’ is a code word for more state-led development that will most likely alienate the local population. 

 ADB Loan to Improve Urban Services, Connectivity in Xinjiang Border Area – ADB ADB has approved a $150 million loan for infrastructure and service upgrades that will help lift living standards, improve the environment, and boost trade opportunities for urban centers in the northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

 Tibet After the Dalai Lama – Project Syndicate On the 80th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet’s future looks more uncertain than ever. Once he dies, China is likely to install its puppet as his successor, potentially leading to the erosion of the institution – and fueling the rise of a violent separatist movement in Tibet.

Almost a third of China’s Great Wall has disappeared – The Guardian Around 30% of China’s Ming-era Great Wall has disappeared over time as adverse natural conditions and reckless human activities – including stealing bricks to build houses – erode the Unesco world heritage site, state media has reported.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Vietnam Gets Fourth Submarine from Russia amid South China Sea Tensions – The Diplomat Another one of Hanoi’s Kilo-class subs arrives.

Indonesian SMEs and the ASEAN Economic Community – The Diplomat Indonesia’s president needs to lead in preparing the country’s small business sector for 2015.

How tourism in Laos, Cambodia is galloping ahead of Vietnam – Thanh Nien Government agencies are greatly responsible for Vietnam’s declining tourism , an industry insider says

Burma rejects UNHCR proposal on Rohingya Muslims – DVB The Burmese government has rejected a proposal from the UN Human Rights Council decision regarding Burma’s ethnic Rohingya Muslims by the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).

Related: The Rohingya and Islamic Extremism: A Convenient Myth – The Diplomat

Fisheries operators warn strict measures will sink the industry – The Nation The fisheries sector warned that overly strict fishery regulations being implemented under the “illegal, unreported and unregulated” (IUU) fishing protocol will result in the collapse of Thai fishery and related industries, which will affect Thai people’s access to seafood.

Related: Fisheries situation ‘expected to return to normal soon’ – The Nation

Related: With Stocks Falling, PM Tells Citizens, Retirees to Raise Fish – The Cambodia Daily

 200,000 jobs at stake as garment factories threaten closures – DVB The Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) has threatened to close down factories if the proposed 3,600 kyat (US$3.60) per day minimum wage is approved by the Burmese government.

Khmer Rouge Leaders Begin Appeal Against Guilty Verdicts – The Cambodia Daily Appeal hearings began Thursday in the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s first case against senior regime leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, who are attempting to have their life sentences for crimes against humanity overturned.

1,142 seats up for grabs in general election – DVB The Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that the constituencies for this year’s general election as the same as those marked for the polls in 2010 with a total of 1,142 MPs to be elected for both houses of parliament and the regional assemblies.

Related: Thein Sein To Consider Second Term: Japanese Media – The Irrawaddy

 Asia Highway Closed as Burma Army, DKBA Exchange Fire – The Irrawaddy Renewed fighting between government troops and ethnic Karen rebels in eastern Burma led to a temporary shutdown of the new Asia Highway on Thursday morning. As many have warned before, Myanmar’s ethnic conflict may hamstring efforts to cash in on economic reform. Companies don’t want their investments getting blown up by mortars. On the flip side, the mining industry has done alright operating in eastern Congo, security overhead is a bit expensive though. 

Related: DOCUMENTARY: ‘With only our voices, what can we do?’ – DVB

UN Rights Office Urges Thailand to Free 14 Student Activists – The Irrawaddy The UN human rights office called Tuesday on Thailand to release 14 student activists and drop the charges that were filed against them for holding a peaceful anti-coup rally.

YUNNAN

Hairy monster: ancient ‘super-armoured’ worm discovered in China – The Guardian An ancient marine worm discovered in China has been identified as the earliest known animal to have used body armour to defend itself against predators.

Monsterous mushroom found in Pu’er – GoKunming Villagers discovered the colossal fungus growing in the shade of a tree in Kangping, a town in Pu’er 30 kilometers east of the prefectural capital.

 The Dai stilted house – GoKunming When the ancestors of Xishuangbanna’s Dai people first migrated to southern Yunnan over two millennia ago they discovered the lush valleys were suitable places to grow the kind of rice that was so important to their way of living. So the new settlers selected sites near rivers or streams and set about building the kind of houses that they were accustomed to back in their original southeast China homeland. Fascinating article by Jim Goodman.

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.