Category Archives: NEWS DIGEST

EXSE FOCUS

Coal’s Future Is in the Hands of the People, Not Banks – Bloomberg Climate change is at the top of many American voters’ minds, as evidenced by a CNN poll last week that found “96% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say it’s very or somewhat important for a presidential candidate to promise aggressive action” on the issue.// Is coal a dying industry? In a study commissioned by think tank E3G that polled citizens from Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam on their preferences for foreign investment in the energy sector found that renewable energy was the top choice in every country.

Over 500 days in prison: Myanmar frees Reuters journalists jailed for Rohingya coverage – The Straits Times Two award-winning Myanmar journalists who were jailed over their coverage of the Rohingya crisis were freed from jail on Tuesday morning (May 7) after a presidential pardon.// Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were among 6,500 prisoners who were freed under presidential amnesty, however over 300 others who were unjustly imprisoned remain in prison in Myanmar.

Related: Aung San Suu Kyi tries to save face with Myanmar release of Reuters reporters – The Straits Times 

Cambodia’s Dam Troubles, Power Woes Seen as Arguments For More Solar Power – Radio Free Asia When the lights literally went out in many parts of Cambodia in February and stayed off in some areas during the following months, people immediately pointed their fingers at Prime Minister Hun Sen.// Stimson’s Southeast Asia experts, Brian Eyler and Courtney Weatherby, provide commentary on how to bridge the energy gap in Cambodia. 

Two-thirds of Earth’s longest rivers no longer free-flowing – Mongabay A first-of-its-kind analysis of Earth’s longest rivers found that they have been severely degraded by human activities and suggests ways for countries to maintain and restore rivers around the world.// Hydropower and dam development play a major role in the obstruction of free-flowing rivers and with 60,000 large dams in the world already, and as many as 3,700 more large hydroelectric dams in the works it’s hard to remain optimistic.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

China, Japan to join EEC smart city plan – Bangkok Post The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) smart city initiative is likely to be the second development project involving collaboration with China and Japan, following the high-speed rail network linking the three main airports of Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao.

Belt and Road forum marks subtle shift in China-Myanmar ties – Frontier Myanmar When the Chinese embassy in Yangon posted a Xinhua article about State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s meeting with Chinese Premier Mr Li Keqiang to Facebook on April 26, the solitary comment below the post was, “How about Myitsone dam?”

Related: China’s Dynamic Grip on Myanmar – The Diplomat

Sweden pledges to help Vietnam in energy saving – Nhan Dan Linde made the pledge during her meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh in Hanoi on May 8, which took place within the framework of the visit to Vietnam by Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree

Japan-Vietnam Military Ties in the Headlines with Defense Minister Visit – The Diplomat Last week, Japan’s defense minister paid a scheduled visit to Vietnam. Though the trip was only one of a series of activities within bilateral ties, it spotlighted some of the ongoing activity in the Japan-Vietnam defense relationship, which both sides look to continue to develop into 2019 as well.

How Indo-US Development Cooperation Benefits the Entire Indo-Pacific Region – The Diplomat India-U.S. relations have achieved yet another milestone with the recent renewal of triangular development cooperation in Asia and Africa.

CHINA

China’s calculus after the INF Treaty – East Asia Forum It seems that the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty is coming to an end. The Treaty prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or testing land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500–5500 kilometres, including both conventional and nuclear-armed missiles.

What’s in China’s New Belt and Road Recalibration? – The Diplomat As expected, China’s hosting of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, which lasted from April 25 to 27, saw Beijing deliberately seek to recalibrate how it is approaching the much-ballyhooed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a signature initiative of President Xi Jinping first unveiled in 2013, amid lingering concerns and challenges.

Belt and Road countries to China: clean energy, not coal-Southeast Asia Globe Citizens of countries participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative strongly prefer clean energy over the coal projects that have become Beijing’s calling card, a new survey shows.

China Expands its Global Military Footprint – Asia Sentinel China is using its Belt & Road Initiative to expand not only its economic, industrial and geopolitical clout but to join the world’s major arms exporters as a global power.

SUSTAINABILITY & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Several small steps – Elephant calves caught on camera in Cambodia – Fauna & Flora International First, the good news. Footage from the 46 camera traps deployed by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains is giving us a privileged insight into the lives of the Asian elephants that roam through one of the continent’s last remaining forest wildernesses.

Cambodia’s sanctuaries under threat – The ASEAN Post Cambodia’s Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary is symbolic of the country’s poor forestry management. Around 2,000 square kilometres (sq km) – around three times the size of Singapore – is lost to illegal logging in Cambodia every year where wildlife sanctuaries – despite their name – are not spared.

Meteorologists get lessons in climate modelling – Vientiane Times Meteorological officials from Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia met in Vientiane on Tuesday to discuss and learn about advanced climate modelling.  

Maya Bay closed for at least another two years – The Thaiger Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley, closed last June to allow coral restoration and beach recovery, will now remain closed to visitors for at least another two years.

A Renewable Vision for Myanmar – The Irrawaddy Myanmar continues to experience a rapid increase in economic activity as it transitions into an open market system. With that, power demand continues to increase—for modern amenities like air conditioning and power for industrial factories.

Sand mining ‘mafias’ destroying environment, livelihoods – UN – TRT World Sand mining is eroding the world’s river deltas and coastlines, damaging the environment and hurting livelihoods from Cambodia to Colombia, as government regulation fails to keep pace with rising demand, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.

Northern Thailand was once a paradise. Now forest fires have made the air worse than Beijing’s. – Washington Post In mid-March, the city with the worst air pollution in the world wasn’t an industrial powerhouse populated by millions. It was Chiang Mai, the tourist-friendly cultural center in northern Thailand.

Jakarta, the fastest-sinking city in the world, Ho Chi Minh city ranked among top 5 – Vietnam Insider Not only Jakarta – the capital and largest city of Indonesia, many parts of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City are sinking by 0.2-0.4 inches per year.

Govt raises concern on air quality around Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing – Myanmar Times The government has expressed concern over the elevated level of particulates in the atmosphere near the Letpadaung Taung copper project in Salingyi township, Sagaing Region, which has exceeded the prescribed level, a senior official of the Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Ministry said.

Indonesian group backs plastic bans amid judicial review-Strait Times A coalition of civil society organisations has challenged a judicial review petition on Bali’s ban on single-use plastics, which has been accused of violating other environmental regulations.

Pollution threatens 1 million Rohingya refugees: Study-Anadolu Agency Pollution has come to pose serious health risks for some one million Rohingya refugees at one of the world’s largest shelter camps in of Bangladesh, a new study indicated.

Jakarta citizens take legal action on air pollution – China Dialogue Earlier this year, citizens of Jakarta filed a lawsuit against the city government, the governors of West Java and Banten, and the central Indonesian government. Their demand? That elected officials address rising air pollution.

Mekong Delta pollution crisis, river turns black – Asia Times Severe pollution in southern Vietnam has caused water in a river in the Mekong Delta to turn black, killing fish and other marine life.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

No Dam: Images of devastation and determination – Mekong Eye As the Myanmar and Chinese governments continue to ponder whether after eight years to resume construction of the massive Myitsone Dam, the victims still fight for justice.

Govt to invite investors for poppy-substitute efforts – Myanmar Times The parliament was to discuss incentives that would entice private companies in poppy-substitute projects in the country in a bid to help reduce, if not eradicate the drug menace, a member of the parliament said. 

Are recovery efforts for the Lao dam collapse failing local communities? – ASEAN Today Last July, a dam at the Xe Pian Xe Nam Noy hydropower project in southern Laos collapsed, destroying 13 villages and displacing at least 7,000 people. The disaster killed 40 people and 31 are still missing, according to government reports.

CSOs’ participations key to development projects – Eleven Myanmar Civil society organisations (CSOs) have improved the quality of development projects and programmes by sharing their local knowledge and expertise over the years, according to Takehiko Nakao, president of Asian Development Bank.

How can Vietnam avoid becoming China’s dirty industrial backyard? – South China Morning Post Vietnam has become awash with Chinese investment in the last decade as businesses from its northern neighbour spread their wings abroad in a push for new markets.

What Did Suu Kyi’s First Cambodia Visit Achieve? – The Diplomat Last week, Myanmar’s de facto leader and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi paid her first visit to Cambodia in her current capacity.

How Can Indonesia Manage Its Concerns About BRI Investments? – The Diplomat On April 26, Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan signed 23 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with China while attending the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing.

Indonesia War on Illegal Fishing in the Headlines with New Sinkings – The Diplomat Last weekend, Indonesia conducted another round of sinking of vessels deemed to be illegally fishing within the country’s waters.

Cambodia To Extract And Export Its Own Crude Oil – Investvine After nearly two decades of discussions and proposals, Cambodia has announced it will begin to extract oil for the first time later this year, exploiting a potential rich new source of energy for state revenue.

Brunei will not enforce death penalty for gay sex-Strait Times But critics of the country’s newly enacted Islamic laws said several other harsh punishments remain on the books, including whipping and amputation, and they have called for continued opposition until the laws are completely revised.

Massive base metals mine in Myanmar to start production in 2021– Mining Australia-based Myanmar Metals (ASX: MYL) said Monday that its 51%-owned Bawdwin polymetallic project in Myanmar could kick off production as early as 2021, based on a prefeasibility study into a starter pit.

The Struggle Continues for Myanmar Migrants in Thailand-Irrawaddy Myanmar migrant workers and advocacy groups in Thailand have called for their rights to minimum wages, safety at work, better accesses to social security and smoother work permit and visa extension application processes on International Labor Day, or May Day.

Vietnam objects to China’s unilateral fishing ban in East Vietnam Sea-Tuoi Tre Vietnam opposes China’s unilateral decision to ban fishing in the East Vietnam Sea from May 1 to August 16, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said in a press meeting on Saturday.

Asean stocks end weaker as Trump threat jolts markets-Bangkok Post Southeast Asian stocks closed lower on Monday after US President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods this week, rekindling trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, with Singapore leading the losses in the region.

Thailand’s Election Commission endorses most polls results, but probes continue – The Straits Times Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday (May 7) endorsed the majority of results in the March 24 national ballot, but warned that it was still investigating allegations of wrongdoing that might affect the final tally.

Related: Prayut 2.0 may not last long in Thailand – Asia Times

Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project back on track, says Indonesia’s investment chief – The Straits Times Indonesia’s investment chief Thomas Lembong is optimistic that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project is back on track after years of mismanagement, but the concern over how long it will take to recoup the costs of the ambitious joint venture still remains.

Malaysia’s new government slow on reforms, rights groups say – The Straits Times Malaysia’s new government has failed to deliver on most of its human rights reform promises in its first year in power, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said on Wednesday (May 8).

Second BRI Forum Roundup—How Myanmar Fares – The Irrawaddy Despite global concerns about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) causing unsustainable debt for countries involved, China managed to attract no less than 40 heads of state and delegates from 150 countries and 90 international organizations from around the world to Beijing for the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in late April.

Women’s Participation in Politics Undermined by the NLD – The Irrawaddy A lack of political will and interest in promoting women leadership at national level is being compromised by the competing agendas of the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government.

One year on, Mahathir’s grip starts to slip – Asia Times One year ago today (May 9), Malaysians from all walks of life went to the ballot box seeking change. Victory for Pakatan Harapan, a reform-oriented multi-party alliance led by 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, stunned observers and brought six-decades of rule by the once-formidable Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to a jubilant end.

Philippines: Duterte to Enforce Court Order to Protect South China Sea, Spokesman Says – Radio Free Asia Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will enforce a Supreme Court order directing the government to protect and rehabilitate the marine environment in three areas the country claims in the disputed South China Sea, his spokesman said Monday.

Asean must embrace digitisation for development – Asian Correspondent ASEAN needs to put a stronger focus on digital literacy to enable the full potential of an Asean digital economy and society by 2025.

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.

EXSE FOCUS

Giving a dam about the Mekong – ASEAN Post Originating in the Tibetan highlands and running through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Mekong and its tributaries provide water, food and income for 60 million people.// Sheith Khidir provides insight into the effect dams are having on fish populations, food security, livelihoods, and development in the Mekong River.

Indonesia’s election leaves a polarised nation – East Asia Forum Indonesia’s national elections took place on 17 April 2019, after an eight-month political contest that was characterised by some as ‘the most polarised election campaign in Indonesian history’// Incumbent President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo leads in the polls following the April 17^th election.  The Indonesian Election Commission is expected to announce the final results of the election on May 22^nd however many expect Widodo’s opponent, Prabowo Subianto, to challenge the results.

Last Days of the Mighty Mekong: A Review – CFR The Last Days of the Mighty Mekong, by Brian Eyler, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Stimson Center, takes the reader on a journey from glaciers in China to rice fields in Vietnam, stopping along the way in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.// Review of Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book The Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

China throws Hun Sen an economic lifeline – Asia Times It is becoming a regular occurrence: Every six months or so, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen jets to Beijing and returns with a bounty of new trade deals, investment promises and assurances of the Chinese government’s backing against Western criticism.

Myanmar and China may have no choice but to scale back and move their troubled dam project – SCMP Aung San Suu Kyi wants cooperation with China and says backtracking on Myitsone would be a blow to Myanmar’s reputation.  However, intense local and environmentalist opposition to the project may force a change, if not an outright scrapping.

Laos, China sign more deals – Vientiane Times Laos and China have signed a new package of cooperation documents, which is expected to take collaboration between the two nations to new heights.

PM Lee Hsien Loong and Chinese leaders discuss Sino-US relations, Belt and Road cooperation and smart cities – Straits Times Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang separately on Monday (April 29), and discussed the progress of their governmental collaboration projects and other areas where they can work together.

Thailand and Cambodia reopen rail and sea links as ties blossom – Nikkei Asian Review Thailand and Cambodia have ramped up efforts to bolster diplomatic and economic ties with the aim of doubling bilateral trade by 2020.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Rubbish piles up in Vang Vieng – TTR Weekly Not that anyone noticed, but we have just completed the first quarter of Visit Laos-China Year, which I assume rolls out the red carpet to welcome more Chinese tourists.

Vietnam Uses so Much Rhino horns, and here is why – The Science Times Vietnam is listed as one of the world’s largest consumers of rhino horn, which makes them a top contributor to the poaching of rhinos in the wild.

Controversial aquaculture projects threaten Myanmar’s remaining mangroves – Mongabay Most of the waterways surrounding the islands of the Mergui archipelago in the Andaman Sea are lined with mangroves, and the one leading into the island of Kala from the east was no different.

ASEAN’s pangolin disaster – ASEAN Post Unprecedented seizures of pangolin scales in Singapore last month – when the island-state seized a world record 25.6 tonnes in five days – is drawing more attention to the trade of the little-known creature.

New-styled cooperatives in Mekong delta make breakthrough – Saigon Online The Mekong Delta is facing climate change with extreme impact of natural disasters causing difficulties for agricultural production, especially smallholder farmers are extremely vulnerable to agricultural risks and climate change.

Smog from sugarcane burning is fading – just for now – Thai PBS Smog from sugarcane burning may have faded, after sugarcane harvest season this year is about over. However, it does not mean the black smoke will disappear from the sky forever.

Hanoi takes initiative in reducing greenhouse gas emissions – Hanoi Times Joining the Ambitious City Promises project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, since October 2017, Hanoi is making every effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Wealthy Countries’ Trash Overwhelms Southeast Asia – VOA Wealthy countries are exporting millions of tons of plastic waste to Southeast Asia where the recycling systems are becoming overwhelmed, leading to widespread pollution problems, according to a joint investigation by Greenpeace and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).

Ministry campaign tackles plastic – Phnom Penh Post The Ministry of Environment has chosen Battambang as the first province to launch its plastic reduction campaign, to be followed by Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk.

Asian Development Bank to earmark $80bn for climate change impact – Nikkei Asian Review The Asian Development Bank plans to spend $80 billion through 2030 to build infrastructure that will help protect Asian countries from the impact of climate change, a central topic at the board of governors meeting that began here Wednesday.

Illegal logging poised to wipe Cambodian wildlife sanctuary off the map – Mongabay As you approach Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, five hours north of Phnom Penh, it’s difficult to tell exactly where the park begins.

Solar cell recycling beckons  – The Bangkok Post Local companies are keen on investment in solar panel recycling plants under the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme to capitalise on growth of solar panel installation in Thailand. 

CHINA

How China is redrawing the map of world science – Nature The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s mega-plan for global infrastructure, will transform the lives and work of tens of thousands of researchers.

China’s multiple coal deals – The Ecologist Investment deals emerging from China’s belt and road summit 25-27 April show continued support for controversial coal projects, despite leaders’ green rhetoric.

Related: Why Is China Placing A Global Bet On Coal? – NPR

China will build string of military bases around world, says Pentagon – The Guardian The US Defense Department expects China to add military bases around the world to protect its investments in it ambitious One Belt One Road global infrastructure program, according to an official report released on Thursday.

China’s coastline in transition – China Dialogue Aquaculture has spurred economic growth in Shandong province, but it has also seriously polluted its coastline. In the last two years the government has responded by curtailing fish farms in wetlands and mudflat ecosystems.

Curbing deadly ship emissions – China Dialogue Emissions from ships caused the early deaths of more than 20,000 Chinese people in 2015. China has been taking steps to curb this blight, notably by expanding its domestic emission control areas (DECAs) to cover the country’s entire coastline.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

ADB boosts support for region – The Nation TheAsian Development Bank (ADB) has vowed to deepen its support for Southeast Asia in development assistance, reflecting the region’s rising stature as a destination for trade and investment.

Aung San Suu Kyi Returns From China With 1 Billion Yuan Grant For Myanmar – Radio Free Asia Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi returned this week from a visit to China with a grant of 1 billion yuan (U.S. $148 million) for development projects, while her spokesman said a controversial Chinese dam project on the Irrawaddy River was not on the agenda.

New industrial zone proposed northwest of Yangon – Myanmar Times Golden Myanmar Investment Consortium, which was formed by investors from China, Hong Kong and Myanmar to develop industrial zones, is planning to set up a new zone in Htantabin township, Yangon, the Yangon Region government and Yangon Region Investment Committee have announced.

Lao gov’t promulgates new law for railway development – Xinhua Net Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit has issued a presidential ordinance promulgating the new Law on Railways, which provides guidance on railway development, local media reported on Tuesday.

Cambodia’s failing education system – ASEAN Post In December 2018, Cambodian Senate president Say Chhum had encouraged the country’s youth to study hard in order to become future leaders. 

Heat wave sends Saigon power consumption to 10-year high – VN Express According to the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC), the highest power consumption on a day in April was measured at nearly 90.04 million kWh, a 10-year high, 2.5 times higher than the figure recorded on February 6 at 35.5 million, the lowest so far this year.

Prayut tentatively embraces China’s Belt and Road strategy for Thailand – The Thaiger Thai PM’s appearance at the second Belt and Road Initiative forum in Beijing last weekend suggests the luke-warm relations between China and Thailand persist.

More power projects under way – Eleven Myanmar Construction works for electricity projects that will electrify more than 75,000 households in seven regions and states, will complete within one and a half year, said Union Minister for Electricity and Energy Win Khaing, at a ceremony to sign the contracts with tender-winning companies for the construction of power grids for the National Electrification Plan (NEP) being implemented with the World Bank’s loan on April 30.

Thai King’s formal coronation caps eventful two years on throne – Straits Times Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be crowned in an elaborate ceremony on Saturday (May 4), capping a busy period in which he displayed a different approach from his father since taking the throne more than two years ago.

While Locals in Laos Still Reel From Belt And Road, President Offers Full Support – Radio Free Asia The president of Laos is fully behind China’s Belt and Road initiative, saying that the Lao-China railway will transform the country’s infrastructure and improve the lives of the people by jumpstarting economic development and connecting the land-locked Southeast Asian nation with many other countries.

In Laos, A Chinese-Funded Railway Sparks Hope For Growth — And Fears Of Debt – NPR In Southeast Asia’s only landlocked country, the Mekong River is a lifeline.

Philippine midterms could extend Duterte’s rule – Asia Times Midterm elections in the Philippines will serve not only as a de facto referendum on President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial rule, but could also strengthen his grip on power, smooth the way for an anointed successor, or even extend his tenure beyond the current one-term limit.

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.

EXSE FOCUS

‘Green Belt and Road’ in the spotlight – China Dialogue “Promote Belt and Road cooperation for high-quality development” read welcome banners for the second Belt and Road Forum flying over Beijing’s boulevards. The forum, running from 25-27 April, will convene 37 heads of state to discuss China’s flagship global infrastructure plan.// During the 2nd Belt and Road Forum, Beijing looks toward greening the initiative and will ask delegates for their views on promoting green development. This could be the beginning of exchange between China and its partner countries.

Related: BRI opens opportunities for both big and small firms: SBF chairman

Illegal Charcoal Trade Wrecks Myanmar’s Bulwark Against Cyclones – Asia Sentinel The depletion of mangroves in southern Myanmar is impacting local fisheries near the island villages and playing havoc with the mangrove forest that protect the coastline from extreme weather events.// While charcoal production for commercial use is illegal in Myanmar, the underground charcoal trade endures due to a lack of law enforcement. Burmese-sourced charcoal ends up in various Asian countries. The lucrative trade is threatening the environment and livelihoods.

Vietnam just observed its highest temperature ever recorded: 110 degrees, in April-Washington Post Vietnam broke its national high temperature record Saturday, the latest in a mounting list of records to fall as the world continues to warm.// Although the peak of summer is usually observed in June or July in Vietnam, the country recorded its highest temperature yet this month.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Transatlantic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Where Does Southeast Asia Fit in? – Diplomat As the United States and Europe commemorated 70 years of the transatlantic alliance earlier this month, there has been a natural uptick in conversations regarding how both sides can collaborate in various regions, including Asia, over the past few weeks.

Cambodia and Thailand reconnected by rail after 45 years – Strait Times A railway reconnecting Cambodia and Thailand was officially inaugurated on Monday (April 22) in a bid to slash travel times and boost trade between the South-east Asian neighbours.

Thailand, Laos, China To Sign Pact On High-Speed Railway-Investvine Thailand has agreed to sign a memorandum of cooperation with China and Laos for a rail link aimed at connecting the three countries when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visits Beijing this week for the second Belt and Road Forum, the Thai foreign ministry said.

Japan Keen On Investing Further In Hybrid Car Industry In Thailand – Investvine Japanese companies are interested in investing more in hybrid car manufacturing in Thailand, the National News Bureau of Thailand cited Hiroki Mitsumata, president of the Bangkok branch of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), as saying.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

China plastic waste ban throws global recycling into chaos – Asian Correspondent FROM grubby packaging engulfing small Southeast Asian communities to waste piling up in plants from the US to Australia, China’s ban on accepting the world’s used plastic has plunged global recycling into turmoil.

Report finds World Bank’s coal divestment pledge not stringent enough – Mongabay Indonesia provides a litmus test for the World Bank’s commitment to divest from coal, with a recent report revealing its continued indirect financing of some of Indonesia’s most destructive coal-mining companies.

Tourist influx blamed for widespread reef damage – Bangkok Post  Park chief Narong Kong-iad confirmed that damage occurred in many locations, mostly around Koh Kradan after the island was overwhelmed by tourists.

Việt Nam ignores air pollution: experts – VNS Việt Nam lacks comprehensive studies on air pollution and its impacts on health, life and the economy, experts said at a conference in HCM City on Friday (April 19).

Coal-fired power plant development must come with environmental protection – Vietnam News Việt Nam has 25 coal power plants operating commercially. Their gas emissions, solid industrial waste and environmental issues have been closely monitored in accordance with Vietnamese standards issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).

Cambodians try out smartphones to track – and ease – climate woes – Reuters Yin Socheat, a 29-year-old Cambodian farmer, is immersed in her smartphone – but it isn’t the latest viral meme she’s looking at.

How an unlikely household item is fixing the coral reef at Thailand’s most famous beach – Telegraph Scientists have come up with an unlikely way to restore marine life to a Thai beach that’s been ravaged by overtourism: superglue.

HOW A $4 DEVICE IS SAVING FARMERS FROM CLIMATE DEVASTATION – OZY As American bombs rained down on the flooded rice fields of the Mekong River Delta, an adolescent Duong Van Ni would submerge himself in the water to avoid detection, breathing through a lotus stem. “That’s how I survived,” Ni says. “I want to teach people that the environment is our friend and will always help us if we protect it.”

CHINA

Cambodia embraces Belt and Road Initiative – Khmer Times President Xi Jinping’s announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 was widely welcomed by many Asian countries.

Related: Sihanoukville: A Cambodian City Losing Its ‘Cambodian-ness’–Diplomat

No land given to China in ECRL deal, says Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng – Strait Times Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says that he is unaware of claims that substantial acreage of land was “given” to China under the renegotiated East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) deal.

Related: Malaysia’s Evolving Approach to China’s Belt and Road Initiative-Diplomat

Fast track: Indonesia, Malaysia rail projects may give China more deals – Strait Times In a rural part of Indonesia’s Java island, two orange-clad workers confer in Mandarin over plans to lay tracks on a stretch of a US$6 billion (S$8.1 billion) high-speed rail project between the capital Jakarta and the textile hub of Bandung.

Related: Malaysia Revives Another Chinese-Backed Mega-Project – Investvine

China Digs Deep in Landlocked Laos–Diplomat China’s presence is growing in strategically located Laos, but the trend is often overlooked.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Opposition ‘Congress’ Wraps up With Call For Inclusive Restoration of Democracy in Cambodia – Radio Free Asia Cambodian opposition leaders and supporters wrapped up a weekend gathering in South Korea with a call for a concerted effort to “restore” democracy to Cambodia and an appeal for support from signatories of the Paris Peace Agreement, which reestablished elections there after years of conflict.

What Does Jokowi’s Win Mean for Indonesia’s Economy?-Diplomat The Indonesian president has made progress, but has unfinished business to complete in his probable second term.

Malaysia minister says plastic waste is being smuggled into country – Strait Times Plastic waste is being smuggled into Malaysia using shipping containers by being falsely declared as another type of import that do not require a permit, says the country’s Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

Water levels at three Johor dams fall below critical mark – Strait Times The water levels at three dams in Johor, which supply raw water to treatment plants that serve about one million people in the state, are below the critical mark.

Selangor water disruption for repairs at plant to hit 4 million – Strait Times Over four million consumers in Malaysia have been advised to store two days’ worth of water, ahead of the biggest water cut so far in Selangor state beginning next Wednesday.

More than 50 feared killed in landslide at Myanmar jade mine – Strait Times More than 50 people were feared dead after a landslide in northern Myanmar engulfed jade miners while they were sleeping, local police said on Tuesday (April 23), the latest deadly accident in a notoriously dangerous industry.

Top Myanmar court rejects appeal of award-winning Reuters reporters – Strait Times Myanmar’s top court on Tuesday (April 23) rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail for breaking the Official Secrets Act, in a landmark case that has raised questions about the country’s transition to democracy.

Thousands of Downstream Villagers Protest Against Myitsone Dam – Irrawaddy Thousands of residents of Waimaw Township in Kachin State staged a protest on Monday calling for the suspension of Myitsone Dam and other dams upstream of the Irrawaddy River.

KIA, Myanmar Army Clash for Several Days in N. Shan State – Irrawaddy The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Myanmar Army have engaged in a series of clashes since late last week in northern Shan State’s Muse Township as the end of the military’s self-imposed four-month truce nears, sources on both sides said.

Related: Violence Flares Amid Myanmar’s Faltering Peace Dialogue – Asia Sentinel

Death toll climbs to 16 as second quake hits Philippines – Strait Times The death toll from a strong earthquake that rocked the Philippines on Monday (April 22) has climbed to 16, while an even more powerful tremor struck the country’s central regions less than a day later.

Duterte wants to get tougher on drug menace – Strait Times More than 5,000 have died so far in President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on the narcotics trade – nearly all suspects killed in raids or by motorcycle-riding hitmen – yet illegal drugs continue to flood the Philippines.

Manila water utility apologizes to shareholders amid shortage – Nikkei Asian Review Privately run utility Manila Water issued an apology during Monday’s shareholders meeting for the chronic interruptions to the water supply affecting half the population of the Philippine capital, but restoration of full service does not appear imminent.

CP Foods taps into Vietnam’s TPP access to drive poultry exports – Nikkei Asian Review Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods is boosting investment into Vietnam, marking one of the first big moves to piggyback on Vietnamese access to Trans-Pacific Partnership countries since the pact took effect at the turn of the year.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta suffers tourist drought over lack of development strategy – Tuoi Tre Despite being well known for its waterway landscape and the greenery of numerous paddy fields and verdant orchards, tourism in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta remains underdeveloped, with experts pointing the finger at the lack of a well-planned strategy for tourism development in the region.

US-Vietnam Relations in the Headlines with First Indo-Pacific Commander Visit-Diplomat Last week, Philip Davidson, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, embarked on his first visit to Vietnam in his current capacity.

This week’s news digest was curated by Anvy Tran.

EXSE FOCUS

Southeast Asia’s energy majors pivot sharply to green power – Nikkei Asian Review Southeast Asian energy companies, long dependent on fossil fuels, are rapidly turning to renewable energy to answer the mounting demand for electricity in the fast-developing region.// As nations look toward renewable energy, a diverse mix of energy resources will allow Southeast Asia to meet its energy needs without being reliant on one. The type of principal renewable energy resource will depend on the country but it will contribute to a nation’s self-reliance as they invest in their own renewable energy resource.

Indonesia election: What happened on April 17 and what’s next – Strait Times It has been a whirlwind few days since Indonesia pulled off its first simultaneous presidential and legislative elections.// Voting has ended in Indonesia’s elections with unofficial results reporting a President Joko Widodo’s win. Jokowi ran on platform promoting social welfare and infrastructure development. However, compared to 2014, Jokowi won by smaller margins.

The Toll of Tourism: Can Southeast Asia Save Its Prized Natural Areas? – Yale Environment From Thailand to Bali, a huge increase in tourists, many from China and other rapidly developing economies, is straining sensitive ecosystems to the breaking point. Some countries are trying to control the boom, with a few closing popular destinations to allow damaged areas to heal.// Nations are forced to address the environmental impacts that are the results of tourism booms from their breathtaking natural sites. While foreign tourism is a significant fraction of Southeast Asian economies, they must create safeguards, reduce the number of visitors, and take time for the environment to heal in order to ensure future prosperity.

Related: Maya Bay to be closed for up to five years – The Thaiger

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Patrick Leahy: War legacies and the expanding U.S.-Vietnam partnership – Burlington Free Press When I became a senator for Vermont in 1975, one of the first votes I cast was for a law to stop funding the war in Vietnam. That law passed by one vote.

Japan pushes Asian Development Bank to end China loans – Nikkei Asian Review The Japanese government has urged the Asian Development Bank to stop granting new loans to China, on the grounds that the world’s second-biggest economy is rich enough to “graduate” from aid, Nikkei has learned.

Green Shoots Sighted for Asia’s Economies – The Diplomat Growth projections remain cautious, but there are promising signs Asia may be snapping out of its slowdown.

The Evolving Australia-Indonesia Relationship Amid Election Season – The Diplomat With Jokowi likely scoring another term in Indonesia, the bilateral relationship’s direction balances on Australia’s pending polls.

Indonesia, South Korea Ink $1 Billion Contract for 3 Diesel-Electric Submarines – The Diplomat The Indonesian Navy is slated to receive three more Nagapasa-class diesel-electric subs by 2026.
Vietnam and Thailand lead drive to make Southeast Asia cashless – Strait Times Governments across Southeast Asia are pushing ahead with efforts to create cashless economies, with less developed countries such as Vietnam and Thailand leapfrogging richer ones like Singapore and Malaysia in electronic payments.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Palm oil, logging firms the usual suspects as Indonesia fires flare anew – Mongabay Oil palm and logging companies in Indonesia have come into public glare once again as another season of forest fires flares up in Sumatra.

To rescue Sumatran rhinos, Indonesia starts by counting them first – Mongabay The government aims to finalize an official count of the critically endangered rhino within three years, according to the environment ministry.

Malaysia arrests Vietnam poachers and seizes tiger, bear parts – Channel News Asia Malaysian authorities have arrested two suspected poachers from Vietnam and seized body parts from tigers and bears, a minister said Tuesday (Apr 16), as the country clamps down on rampant wildlife trafficking.

Finally, Thailand Starts To Manage Is Plastic Junk Problem – Investvine Thailand is finally starting to tackle its plastic garbage problem and will ban three types of plastic by the end of 2019 – microbeads, cap seals and oxo-degradable plastics.

Malaysia govt okays controversial project to reclaim three new islands in south of Penang – Strait Times Malaysia’s federal government has given the green light for the reclamation of three islands off the southern coast of Penang island, a project that has been panned by environmentalists and civil society groups.

Water situation worrying – Nation Multimedia Minister warns of severe shortage under impact of El Nino if people do not use their resources prudently.

Illegal charcoal trade threatens Myanmar’s remaining mangroves – Mongabay Beyond a metal gate in Ranong, a port town in southern Thailand, a warehouse is filled nearly wall to wall and floor to ceiling with bags of illegally sourced charcoal. Children linger outside the building and ride their bicycles as their parents toil inside.

Agricultural Fires Across Southeast Asia Producing Massive Amounts of Smoke – NASA Huge swaths of smoke hang over the entire Indochina peninsula in this NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP image captured on April 16, 2019. During this time of year farmers across the entire region use the “slash and burn” method to remove the remnants of last year’s crops from fields and to enrich the soil for the coming planting season.

Asia-Pacific countries ranked from being most green to least. Where does your country rank? – Mashable As talks are centred more and more on climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions along with being much more green, there’s one question that lingers in the minds of people in this region. “Just how environmentally friendly is my country?”.

Hydropower dams linked to poverty and corruption – Environment Journal The study by the University of Sussex and the International School of Management in Germany compared the security, political governance, economic development and climate change performance of major hydropower states against oil-producing and all other countries using 30 years of World Bank data.

CHINA

The specter of Chinese investment looms over Indonesia’s election – CNBC Economic nationalism and issues of religious identity are at the forefront of Indonesia’s upcoming elections as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country goes to the polls on Wednesday.

Chinese businesses in Malaysia watch cautiously as Mahathir, Beijing move ahead on railway – CNBC Malaysia’s relationship with China is under scrutiny in the Southeast Asian country ahead of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s expected April visit to Beijing.

Ceremony Highlights China-Malaysia Warships Deal – The Diplomat A closer look at the significance of a recent develop within Sino-Malaysian relations.
Related: Chinese businesses in Malaysia watch cautiously as Mahathir, Beijing move ahead on railway – CNBC

As the West pulls back, Yunnan reaches out to Cambodia – GoKunming Yunnan’s provincial government is looking to strengthen ties with its Southeast Asian near-neighbor, Cambodia. Recent activity in this vein has included a slew of business and investment agreements, as well as a visit to Phnom Penh by Yunnan’s top-ranking politician, Chen Hao (陈浩).

Philippines says considering legal action against China over giant clams – Strait Times The Philippines is considering legal action against China for allegedly harvesting giant clams in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, the country’s foreign minister said on Tuesday (April 16).

China Adds Coal Capacity Despite Pledge to Cut – Radio Free Asia After years of cutting overcapacity in the coal industry, China appears to be reversing course, raising environmental concerns as the government spurs economic growth.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Why Brunei’s New Religious Hardening Matters – The Diplomat The new Islamic laws are only the latest symptom of broader issues in the tiny, oil-rich sultanate.

Indonesians Fight for Their Right to Not Vote – Foreign Policy It’s an act of protest—but the government calls it terrorism.

Bomb-Clearing Efforts in Laos Slow Due to Shortage of Funds – Radio Free Asia Programs set up in Laos to clear unexploded ordnance left over from heavy U.S. bombing during the Vietnam War are being hindered by shortfalls of funds from foreign donors, sources in the Southeast Asian country say.

Laos To Launch Electric Vehicle Charging System – Investvine Laos is stepping up efforts for the use of electric vehicles in the country and will be launching a pilot project for vehicle battery charging stations.

Malaysia to ‘take advantage’ of ECRL deal to sell more palm oil to China: Mahathir – Channel News Asia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday (Apr 15) that Malaysia intends to take advantage of the revived East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project to sell more palm oil to China, after a successful renegotiation saved it from having to fork out RM21.78 billion (US$5.3 billion) in cancellation fees.

Aung San Suu Kyi Has a New Target: Political Satire – New York Times Poets were holding court on the street this week in Myanmar’s largest city, laying down satire as thick as the tropical humidity.

Duterte reaches moment of truth over China – Nikkei Asian Review Half way into his presidency, Rodrigo Duterte is confronting a rude awakening in the South China Sea. Over the past three months, an armada of Chinese paramilitary vessels has swarmed around the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, marking a dramatic escalation in the two countries’ maritime disputes.

Philippine President Duterte signs largest national budget of $96.8b, after months of delay – Strait Times Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (April 15) signed a 3.7 trillion peso (S$96.8 billion) budget for this year, its largest ever, ending months of impasse that forced the South-east Asian country to cuts its growth target.

Singapore regulators reviewing disclosure issues, accounting practices at Hyflux for potential breaches – Channel News Asia Singapore’s regulators said on Tuesday (Apr 16) that they have commenced a review into Hyflux to see if the debt-laden water treatment firm has breached any regulations.

Thailand tilts towards Chinese-style internet controls – Bangkok Post A swathe of the world is adopting China’s vision for a tightly controlled internet over the unfettered American approach, a stunning ideological coup for Beijing that would have been unthinkable less than a decade ago.

Tourism Arrivals In Vietnam On Steady Growth Trajectory – Investvine International visitor arrivals to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2019 improved seven per cent to reach 4,500,114 visits, with China, South Korea, Japan, US, Russia and Taiwan being the largest source markets.

Vietnam Vessel Kicks off New ASEAN Maritime Mission – The Diplomat Sailing naval vessel begins trip that covers Indonesia and Singapore.

Vietnam Airlines plans new listing as Hanoi reduces stake – Nikkei Asian Review State-owned Vietnam Airlines is set to list 1.4 billion shares on the Ho Chi Minh stock exchange as early as May, marking the next step for the government in its plans to reduce ownership in the airline to 51% by 2020.

Is a Motorbike Ban in Vietnam’s Future? – Voice of America Any traveler to Vietnam knows a trip to the country is not complete until the traveler tries to cross a road. The streets are crowded with motorbikes moving at all different speeds, in both directions.

North Korea could target Southeast Asia’s vulnerable crypto sector, says defense think tank – CNBC North Korea’s cyber capabilities and financial networks pose a threat to Southeast Asia’s growing, yet vulnerable, cryptocurrency sector, according to British defense and security think tank Royal United Services Institute.

In Myanmar, Jittery Investors Threaten Long-Term Development – The Diplomat The arrival of Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian-led government to Myanmar in 2016, after decades of military rule, has quickly turned out to be a false dawn for hopeful international investors.

Villagers In Pursat Risk Losing Everything to Dam Development – Voice of America The Cambodian government last week announced an 80-megawatt hydropower dam on the Anlong Krouch river, which flows to the town of Pursat.

This week’s news digest was curated by Anvy Tran.

EXSE FOCUS

Spreading Drought Adds to Risks for Thailand’s Cooling Economy – Bloomberg A spreading drought has emerged as a new risk for Thailand’s cooling economy in addition to domestic political tension and slower exports.// As Thailand faces export slowdown and sourcing confidence after its contentious election in March, drought adds to Thailand’s economic problems illustrating how climate change and environmental issues can magnify pre-existing issues.

Cheap coal swells in Southeast Asia, foiling global green push – Nikkei Asian Review Southeast Asian countries are turning to low-cost coal to satisfy their surging electricity demand as the West shies away from the fossil fuel under pressure from green-minded investors.// Despite energy shortages throughout the region, Southeast Asian Nations continue to invest in coal rather than making the leap to renewable energy sources.  Diversification of energy sources will be key to the future of energy and environmental security in the region.

Malaysia, China to sign new deal on ECRL project as Daim arrives in Beijing: Report – Strait Times China has been accused of saddling countries with billions of dollars of debt by building rail lines, highways and other expensive projects overseas under its so-called Belt and Road Initiative.// The politically controversial project that was suspended last year is back on the table as costs are reduced by one-third.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

What Does the Pause in Singapore-Malaysia Airspace Tensions Mean? – The Diplomat On April 6, Singapore and Malaysia announced an end to tensions over airspace that have complicated ties since late last year.

New Military Facility Transfer Highlights Vietnam-Laos Defense Ties – The Diplomat The handover of a new office building spotlighted the developments underway in the capacity-building aspect of the defense relationship.

What’s in the First Vietnam Navy Vessel Visit to Myanmar? – The Diplomat Earlier this week, a Vietnamese naval vessel made what was characterized as the first such visit to Myanmar.

How Should Europe Handle Relations with China? – China File When Xi Jinping visited Europe in late March, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker portrayed the future of EU-China relations in mixed terms: “We are strategic partners, and yes, rivals,” he said, “but competition among us is a good thing.”

PM lauds Sino-Cambodian ties – Khmer Times Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday reiterated his commitment to the ‘One China’ policy and stressed the role China plays in the economic development of the Kingdom.

ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit – The Irrawaddy The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) recently announced that the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit will take place in Busan from Nov. 25-27 2019. This will mark the culmination of the New Southern Policy initiated by ROK President Moon Jae-in, which aims at furthering and deepening the ASEAN-ROK Strategic Partnership based on the three pillars of “People, Prosperity and Peace”.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Water flow in Jinghong of China to decrease, but without significant impact downstream – MRC The outflow of water at the Jinghong hydropower station in China will gradually decrease by almost half over a seven-day period in April, according to an official notification from China’s Ministry of Water Resources being copied to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat today. But no worrying trends are detected.

Huge potential for offshore wind power development in Vietnam – Nhan Dan The sea from Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City is considered one of the areas with the greatest potential for offshore wind power production in the world, with average wind speeds of 7-11 metres per second, experts have said.

Farming production adapts to climate change – Vietnam Plus The agricultural production is in dire need of the international community’s assistance in dealing with climate change, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said.

Electricity Failure Leads to New Hydropower Projects in Cambodia  – News Skill Amidst the strain on the country’s electricity grid, which has led to nationwide electricity failure over a few weeks in the past, the Cambodian government on Friday approved the hydropower dam and solar energy plant projects in the country.

Myanmar farmers banned from planting crops near Chinese pipeline – Mizzima Myanmar farmers have been barred for five years from planting crops along the route of a Chinese oil and gas line and are protesting new requests by an affiliate of the pipeline company to take control of the adjoining land once restrictions end, according to an RFA report.

Indonesia creates three marine protected areas within Coral Triangle – Mongabay The Indonesian government has established three new marine protected areas within the Coral Triangle, home to the highest diversity of corals and reef fishes anywhere on the planet.

Indonesia’s threat to exit Paris accord over palm oil seen as cynical ploy – Mongabay Environmental activists have blasted threats by a senior Indonesian minister that the country will withdraw from the Paris climate accord over a European plan to phase out palm oil from renewable biofuels.

Lao Villagers Displaced by Nam Theun 2 Dam Say They Still Need Help – Radio Free Asia Lao villagers moved by government order from their homes 10 years ago to make way for a showcase hydropower project have new houses, schools, and clinics in their resettlement areas, but are still left without access to fishing areas or adequate land to farm, sources in the country say.

Dispossessed: the human toll of Myanmar’s land crisis – Frontier A highly centralised regime for governing “wasteland” is being expanded, with devastating effects on communities trying to reclaim their land after decades of war.

CHINA

Environmental NGO Urges Closure of Chinese Hotel ‘Spewing Raw Sewage’ on Cambodian Resort Island – Radio Free Asia An environmental watchdog on Thursday called on Cambodia’s government to shut down a Chinese-owned hotel and casino for pouring raw sewage into the sea off of the coast of the popular resort town of Sihanoukville, following the closure of another on the same island last month.

Panda Nation: The Construction and Conservation of China’s Modern Icon – China Dialogue China announced ambitious plans in 2017 to establish a series of large-scale national parks, some to become the world’s largest. The expressed purpose of several of these parks, distinct from national level nature protection reserves, is to target specific high-profile animal species on a grand scale.

Myanmar Villagers Protest Chinese Plans For Land Along Pipeline Route – Radio Free Asia Burmese farmers barred for five years from planting crops along the route of a Chinese oil and gas line are protesting new requests by an affiliate of the pipeline company to take control of the adjoining land once restrictions end, sources in Myanmar say.

Myanmar Military Chief Backs BRI Projects in Talks With China’s Xi – Irrawaddy China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) includes a host of projects that could benefit Myanmar, military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, adding that Myanmar’s military was ready to cooperate on implementing them.

1,000 Filipinos protest against China ‘invasion’ – Strait Times Protesters descended on the Chinese embassy in Manila yesterday to oppose the Asian superpower’s growing sway in the Philippines and as tensions rise over Beijing’s presence in the disputed South China Sea.

Related: Philippines Slams China’s South China Sea Flotilla – The Diplomat

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Cambodia’s Opposition Chief Sam Rainsy Calls For Algeria-Style Overthrow of PM Hun Sen – Radio Free Asia Cambodia’s exiled acting opposition chief Sam Rainsy has called on the public to draw inspiration from a recent leadership change in Algeria and oust the country’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, saying he would throw his support behind a top-ranking ruling party official if he is willing to challenge the strongman.

Cambodia to Face Hardship if it Loses EU Trade Preferences, Interior Minister Says – Radio Free Asia Cambodia will face severe economic hardship if the European Union proceeds with threatened plans to suspend beneficial trade preferences, Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng said Monday, calling the expected move a matter of “regret.”

Cambodia’s Government Defends Decision to Hire US Lawmaker to Lobby Congress – Radio Free Asia Cambodia’s government on Tuesday defended its decision to hire a U.S. state lawmaker to lobby on behalf of its interests in Congress, amid a low point in relations between Washington and Phnom Penh prompted by democratic rollbacks in the Southeast Asian nation.

Cambodian, Thai railroads to be linked this month – Khmer Times The railway systems of Cambodia and Thailand will be linked later this month, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday.

Feasibility studies for monorail and metro system started – Khmer Times In a bid to reduce the city’s traffic woes, a group of Chinese experts has begun feasibility studies on a monorail project and a metro system in Phnom Penh.

Villagers told to occupy land granted to them – Khmer Times The Kratie provincial land management department yesterday warned citizens that if they do not live on land given to them by the government, their social land concession could be revoked.

Police rebuke corruption report – Khmer Times The National Police has issued a clarification letter regarding a Radio Free Asia broadcast reporting on the alleged corrupt practices of Major General Koeng Khorn, chief of Svay Rieng provincial police.

U.N. Expert: The Rich Get Richer in Lao PDR – Radio Free Asia A United Nations rights expert recently traveled to Laos, where he met with government officials of various levels, village leaders, workers, farmers and tradespeople to gather information on their daily lives.

Malaysia to pump $2b into debt-ridden agency Felda – Strait Times Malaysia announced yesterday that it would provide RM6.23 billion (S$2.1 billion) in financial aid for state-owned national land development agency Felda, as part of measures to revive the debt-ridden organisation.

Sumatran governor jailed over bribes to award infrastructure projects – Mongabay A court in Indonesia has sentenced the governor of the Sumatran province of Aceh to seven years in jail after finding him guilty of corruption in connection with infrastructure projects in his region.

Prabowo woos voters in Jokowi stronghold of Solo – Strait Times A day after President Joko Widodo returned to his hometown of Solo in Central Java, invoking his ties to the city to endear himself to voters, it was his rival Prabowo Subianto’s turn to come knocking in a final push to gain ground in the province.

In Indonesia, an earthquake leaves devastation on land and under the sea – Mongabay Few people knew about the luscious coral off Palu, in Indonesia’s Central Sulwaesi province, before an earthquake turned it into an underwater wasteland.

Indonesia preps for lithium battery production with low-grade nickel plant – Southeast Asia Globe Indonesia’s first plant to produce battery-grade nickel chemicals is on track to start operations by 2020, though the project still needs an environmental permit that could take up to eight months to be approved, the developer told Reuters

Economy, infrastructure spending among hot topics in Indonesia’s final presidential debate – Strait Times Economic growth and physical infrastructure development would likely be among the hot issues discussed in Indonesia’s final presidential debate on Saturday (April 13), four days before almost 193 million voters go to the polling stations.

U.N. Condemns Violence in Western Myanmar –  New York Times The United Nations expressed alarm on Friday about civilian deaths and other developing consequences from an escalating conflict between Myanmar’s military, which undertook a brutally violent military campaign against the Rohingya ethnic group, and an insurgent group in a western border region.

AA Kills 20 Soldiers in N. Rakhine’s Ancient Capital Mrauk-U – Irrawaddy About 20 government soldiers were killed when the Arakan Army staged attacks on two Myanmar Army artillery bases on the outskirts of Mrauk-U in northern Rakhine State on Tuesday night, the armed ethnic group’s deputy chief claimed.

Myanmar’s Rakhine Government Bans Donations to Help War Refugees, as Fighting Wears On – Radio Free Asia Myanmar’s Rakhine state government has banned state employees from collecting donations to help thousands of residents displaced by hostilities between national forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA), fearing that the funds are being diverted to the ethnic fighters, according to an internal memo issued by the state’s education department.

Collapsed Talks Lead Philippines to Seek New Approach with NPA – Asia Sentinel Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to dissolve the government-appointed peace panel charged with negotiating an end to the five-decade insurgency waged by communist rebels comes after years of fruitless political wrangling and intermittent negotiations against a backdrop of escalating violence.

Support for Duterte soars back to record high ahead of midterms – Nikkei Asian Review Public support for President Rodrigo Duterte soared back to a record high, giving him a boost ahead of key midterm elections next month even as he comes under fire over his ties with China.

Thailand’s New King Looms Large Amid Post-Election Uncertainty – The Diplomat While the country’s political future still remains unclear, the monarch will continue to exert influence in how it is shaped.

Related: Thai Election Body Orders Redo in Places Over Irregularities – The Diplomat

Thai Junta Unsettled by Unexpected Youth Movement – Asia Sentinel The preliminary results of Thailand’s March 24 general election, marred by confusion, delays, alleged irregularities and lack of transparency, have produced an inconclusive outcome and portend deeper political and social polarization and an unstable government, be it pro-junta or pro-democracy.  There are also widespread suspicions of vote manipulation to keep the junta in power.

Thailand’s Groundhog Day – Foreign Policy For seasoned observers of Thai politics, the sense of déjà vu was undeniable. The election at the end of March was nearly a scene-by-scene replay of a highly contentious election 27 years ago.

PetroVietnam shaken as scale of overseas losses comes to light – Nikkei Asian Review Pressure is mounting on Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, the country’s state-owned oil company, after a government report revealed massive losses on its overseas projects.

The Government continues to consult on high-speed rail projects – VN Express The Government Office has just announced the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at the meeting on the plan to study investment in high-speed railway on the North-South axis.

The Risk of E-Commerce Provisions in the RCEP  – The Diplomat Every day there are stories about new technologies, services, and products that present unexpected possibilities and unforeseen challenges. There is potential to harness these innovations to revolutionize development across ASEAN, especially through regional initiatives that support its small and poorer members.

Singapore vexed by water dilemma as Malaysia seeks price hike – Nikkei Asian Review Singapore is stuck in a dilemma over its water supply as neighbor Malaysia demands higher prices while local water treatment company Hyflux faces liquidation.

This week’s news digest was curated by Anvy Tran.

EXSE FOCUS

Policy gaps plague lower Mekong amidst hydropower backlash – Asian Power Countries along the famous river basin need to strengthen legislation and consider non-hydro alternatives amidst climate change threats, experts say. When the Se-Pian Se Nam Noi dam collapsed and killed dozens almost a year ago, the Lao government suspended the approval of new dams and begun carrying out impact studies for other dams that were in the pipeline.// Rapid economic development is placing pressure on Southeast Asian leaders to meet the burgeoning energy demand, and many of them are turning to hydropower for their needs. However, like Laos, many of these countries do not have enough safeguards to mitigate risks and prevent another fatal disaster.

Thailand’s Junta Targets Opposition Leader, Flexing System Rigged in Its Favor –  New York Times Thailand’s military junta is targeting a popular new pro-democracy party, accusing its leader of causing disorder that could lead to rebellion even as the seat allotments from last week’s parliamentary elections are being calculated.// Winning on a system built to favor the Junta, the Junta then targets the ‘Future Forward’ Party a popular new pro-democracy party.  Mr. Thanathorn, who has built a large following partly through social media, posted the summons on Facebook and Twitter and wrote: “When the dark power won’t leave Future Forward alone.”

Singapore Plans Law to Fight False News, but Critics Fear Repression – New York Times Singapore introduced draft legislation on Monday that it said would combat false or misleading information on the internet, but critics said the measure could be used as a cudgel against the government’s critics.// Although the law would only target falsehoods, critics are concerned it is too broad and would give government ministers too much authority to determine what is true or false. The bill is widely expected to become law in the coming weeks because it has support from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party, which has a supermajority in Parliament.

Why Hun Sen can’t keep the lights on – Asia Times Cambodia has been gripped by daily blackouts in recent weeks, leaving many parts of the capital Phnom Penh without power for most of the day. As temperatures spike during the region’s hot season, heated questions are rising about why the government can’t seem to keep the lights on.// Severe droughts have stifled the operation of hydropower dams in Cambodia exposing the major issues that can come from reliance on hydropower as a major source of energy.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Japan to bolster ASEAN trade by loaning out experts – Nikkei Asian Review By expanding its influence in Southeast Asia, Japan sees an opportunity to establish a counterweight against U.S. protectionism and Chinese expansionism.

Southeast Asian ministers seek RCEP trade pact by year-end – Nikkei Asian Review Finance ministers and central bankers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will push to finalize an Asian trade megadeal by the end of this year, according to a draft declaration for their Friday meeting here obtained by Nikkei.

Global investors ditch Japan stocks but BOJ swoops in – Nikkei Asian Review Overseas investors sold off Japanese stocks by the largest margin in 31 years in the fiscal year ended Sunday, yet the Bank of Japan’s asset purchases absorbed all the bleeding, exposing the central bank’s outsize role in the market.

EXIM enables Thai investment in Vietnam’s renewable energy – Nation Multimedia EXIM Thailand has extended US$65 million in credit to Eastern Power Group Plc and Communication & System Solution Plc to finance the construction of two solar-power plants in Phu Yen, Vietnam, with a combined generating capacity of around 100 megawatts.

Duterte’s critics target China relations ahead of midterm elections – Nikkei Asian Review Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s political opponents are zeroing in on his government’s dealings with China ahead of his visit to Beijing next month and crucial midterm elections in May.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Myanmar’s farmers fighting a losing battle – The ASEAN Post When the National League of Defence (NLD) won the general elections in 2015, paving the way for Myanmar’s first non-military president in over half a century, many farmers sensed a renewed hope for the nation. In fact, Aung San Suu Kyi’s pledge to tackle the issue of land grabbing and to protect farmers in the country was one of the reasons for her victory.

Environment Ministry and USAID launch Prey Lang project – Khmer Times The Environment Ministry and the United States Agency for International Development yesterday launched the Greening Prey Lang Project to promote sustainable livelihood and law enforcement in the Prey Lang community in four provinces.

Laos launches charging stations, paving way for electric vehicles – Nation Multimedia The Ministry of Energy and Mines is set to work with the private sector on the project as part of efforts to promote the use of EVs in Laos and support the government’s move to minimise the use of fossil fuels.

Defending Myanmar’s Remaining Environmental Treasures – The Diplomat Despite being engaged in a civil war with the central government for most of the past 70 years, today the ethnic communities of Myanmar’s Karen state are protecting some of the last full-spectrum biodiversity in Southeast Asia, through a combination of traditional land practices, global partnerships, and contemporary technology.

Vietnam’s Empty Forests – New York Times Despite long and tragic wars with the Japanese, the French, the Chinese and the United States during the last century, Vietnam is a treasure house. It is one of the world’s hot spots of biological diversity, according to the science research.

Vietnamese researchers repurpose plastic waste with world’s first PET aerogel – Vietnam News Assoc. Prof Dương Minh Hải and Prof Phan Thiện Nhân, have found a way to breathe new life into discarded plastic bottles – turning them into one of the world’s lightest material called ‘aerogel’ that has a wide range of applications, including heat insulation, sound insulation, and absorption of oil and other pollutants.

World Bank reaffirms support for Lao green growth initiative – Phnom Penh Post The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to stand with the Lao government as it implements its green growth initiative, according to a senior World Bank official.

CHINA

How green is China’s high-speed rail? – China Dialogue China’s economic planning department has recently approved a flurry of new rail projects at a scale that Green New Deal advocates in the United States would envy. A total of 800 billion yuan (US$120 billion) will be poured into rail construction in 2019 as part of a plan to stimulate the domestic economy.

Manila raps Beijing for ‘swarming’ island in disputed sea – The Strait Times The military reported last week that it spotted more than 200 Chinese boats surrounding Thitu in January and last month, blocking access to sand bars and fishing grounds there.

Philippines’ Duterte calls China a friend amid South China Sea tensions – The Strait Times “You know, Red China or Communist China just wants to be friends with us,” Mr Duterte said. He added that he wouldn’t confront China over the two countries’ competing territorial claims in the South China Sea because it would result in war.

Philippines hits out at China’s ‘swarming’ South China Sea ships – Nikkei Asian Review The foreign ministry said in a statement that the vessels “have been present in large numbers and for sustained and recurring periods” near the Philippine-controlled Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratly areas of the water. “Such actions are a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction” under international law.

Minister Defends Chinese Development in Koh Kong, Seeks Stronger US Ties – VOA Cambodia “It’s a Chinese private company that has received a land concession for tourism development. They’ve planned to invest billions of dollars for the development if the project goes well, which includes an airport and seaport.”

Electric vehicle charging: What can the US and China learn from each other? – China Dialogue Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer two main environmental benefits. First, they have no tailpipe emissions, helping clean the air in urban areas: a report last year found 45% of Beijing’s most dangerous air pollutants came from cars, bikes and trucks.

Chinese consumers ignore calls to eat less beef – China Dialogue Despite increasing prices and evidence that too much beef is bad for health and the environment, belief that eating red meat makes you strong persists in China, and consumption is accelerating.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Cambodia Reveals Economic Reform Strategy To Counter EU Threat – Investvine It sets out plans to cut the number of national holidays, introduce financial incentives for tax and customs sectors, as well as promote and implement amendments to the Law on Investment and the Law on Special Economic Zones.

Malaysia PM: EU Risking Trade War Over Palm Oil Ban – Investvine Mahathir, 93, said the EU’s increasingly hostile attitude towards palm oil, a commodity used in everything from chocolate to lipstick, was an attempt to protect alternatives that Europe produced itself, like rapeseed oil.M

Race, religion and rhetoric ramp up in ‘New Malaysia’– East Asia Forum After recouping the Semenyih state legislative assembly seat, it comes as little surprise that the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) are finally formalising their cooperation. The implication of this is that political discourse will only regress further to the right. The hardening of racial and religious divides on the back of perceived Malay-Muslim victimhood is another consequence.

Brunei’s Controversial New Shariah Laws Are Now in Effect – The Diplomat New Islamic criminal laws that took effect in Brunei on Wednesday, punishing gay sex and adultery by stoning offenders to death, have triggered an outcry from countries, rights groups, and celebrities far beyond the tiny Southeast Asian nation’s shores.

Thailand’s general election: By-elections to be held, ballots to be recounted in some areas – The Strait Times The announcement came amid numerous allegations of voting irregularities, such as reports of mismatched numbers, unqualified voters found among the list of eligible voters, and repeated delays in announcing election results.

Indonesia launches three economic zones, eyes $10.5 billion investment – The Strait Times The government aims to attract 110 trillion rupiah (S$10.5 billion) investment in the SEZs – in East Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku – and create 120,000 jobs by 2025, according to a statement from the coordinating ministry for economic affairs.

Indonesia to invest $115m in Batam port – The Strait Times News of the Pelindo I investment follows hot on the heels of Malaysia’s plan to develop a multi-million-dollar project off Johor’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas to enable ships to transfer their cargo to other vessels without having to dock at the berths, in a bid to enhance shipping flexibility and cut costs for shippers.

ADB Forecasts Myanmar’s Economy to Resume Growth This Year – The Irrawaddy The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects Myanmar’s economy to resume growth this year and continue to expand in the next thanks to more foreign investment and a positive response to the government’s economic and policy reforms.

Myanmar Media Outlets Threatened over Rakhine Coverage – The Irrawaddy An email sent to Eleven reads: “AA is not a terrorist organization but fighting for the Rakhine fatherland. Media outlets have to stop [spreading] wrong information that could lead to misunderstandings between the AA and Rakhine, and other ethnic people. If it does not, news outlets will face damage. We can’t guarantee the safety of media houses and their reporters. If there [appears] anything bad about AA despite our warnings, we will blast your organization.”

Vietnam’s gas station leader hedges bets with EV chargers – Nikkei Asian Review Vietnam’s state-controlled Petrolimex, the top distributor of gasoline to the country’s more than 40 million motorbikes, aims to diversify operations ahead of a projected long-term slowdown in demand for the fuel.

Vietnam’s economy gains as companies flee China in trade war – Nikkei Asian Review The U.S. trade war with Beijing continues to boost the Vietnamese economy as companies dodge tariffs by relocating production here from mainland China, fueling a sharp increase in exports to America.

UN finally tells the truth about Laos – Asia Times “Many interlocutors suggested to me that the UN in Lao PDR has largely failed to be a voice for the vulnerable, let alone for human rights, and that it has promoted an overtly optimistic picture of the country’s successes while sidestepping most of the many issues that it and the government deem to be ‘sensitive’,” Alston wrote in his report.

Thailand doubles down on biggest port as free trade hub – Nikkei Asian Review A local unit of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has been taking some big steps to put the Thai province of Chonburi in position to reap the benefits of at least three free trade zones.

Hundreds hold protest at ministry over land dispute – Khmer Times About 200 people from Kampong Speu province’s Thpong and Oral districts yesterday gathered to protest again at the Land Management Ministry, asking it to expedite a resolution for their land dispute with the Phnom Penh Sugar Company.

Brunei: Huawei’s Foothold in Southeast Asia – The Diplomat “Getting a foothold in any Southeast Asian country — albeit a smaller country — gives Huawei an opportunity to showcase what it can do and what is acceptable to the region,” observed Edward Tse, chief executive of the consultancy Gao Feng Advisory Company and author of China’s Disruptors: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies Are Changing the Rules of Business.

Thai CP Group nears deal on high-speed link to 3 airports – Nikkei Asian Review Thailand’s largest business group, Charoen Pokphand Group, is in late-stage talks to construct a high-speed rail line connecting three of the country’s major airports, the railway authority said Thursday.

This week’s news digest was curated by Anvy Tran

EXSE FOCUS

Thailand 2019 Elections: Conflicting Claims as Final Result Wait Continues – The Diplomat A military-backed party that based on unofficial results won the most votes in Thailand’s first election since a 2014 coup said Monday it will try to form a government, after a rival party also claimed it had the right to govern.// After several months of postponements, preliminary Thai election results show Palang Pracharath, the pro-military party allied with the ruling junta, winning 8.4 million votes. The election has been plagued with concern over voting irregularities and distrust of the election commission.

Related: Surprise, suspicion in Thailand as pro-army party leads election race – The Straits Times

The Philippines’ China Dam Controversy – The Diplomat Millions of people in Metro Manila were left without water last week, raising pressure on indigenous communities in the mountains above the Philippines capital as the government seeks to tap their terrain for supply.// Water shortages in Manila caused in part by delays to infrastructure projects like the Kaliwa Dam Project which is being financed through China’s BRI is having adverse effects on already vulnerable indigenous communities in the Philippines.

World’s Energy Transition in Doubt as Progress on Affordability, Sustainability Stalls – World Economic Forum The world’s energy systems have become less affordable and are no more environmentally sustainable than they were five years ago. While access to energy has substantially improved, with less than one billion people now living without access to electricity, concerns over affordability and equity of energy transition are increasing.// According to this new report from the World Economic Forum coal expansion in developing Asia has been partly responsible for the energy transition stall in the last five years.  In order to make progress, developing Asian countries have to make the transition to renewable energies.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

China willing to work with other LMC countries to implement cooperation projects: ambassador to Myanmar – Xinhua Net China is willing to work with the other five-member countries of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) to plan, design and implement the cooperation projects, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang said on Tuesday.

What’s in the New Philippines-Cambodia Defense Meeting? – The Diplomat Earlier this month, the Philippines and Cambodia finally held the first iteration of a new defense cooperation meeting that both sides had formally agreed to back in 2017.

Joint Patrols Highlight Vietnam-Cambodia Maritime Ties – The Diplomat Last week, Vietnam and Cambodia held another iteration of their pre-scheduled list of joint maritime patrols. The development offered a glimpse into one manifestation of the defense realm of the bilateral relationship that both sides continue to develop in 2019 amid a range of other domestic and foreign policy developments.

EU risks ‘trade war’ with Malaysia over palm oil: PM Mahathir Mohamad – The Straits Times The European Union risks opening up a trade war with Malaysia over its “grossly unfair” policies aimed at reducing the use of palm oil, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday (March 28).

Thailand-Philippines Defense Ties in Focus With Navy Goodwill Visit – The Diplomat The engagement spotlighted the ongoing development of the security realm of the relationship.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Maximising the wind revolution in energy sector – Vietnam Net The development in both wind and solar power demonstrates ­Vietnam’s efforts to meet the targets set in the ­Revised Power Development Master Plan VII to produce 10.7 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, thanks to a big push for incentives.

ASEAN’s energy transition on the right track – The ASEAN Post Yesterday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the fifth edition of their Energy Transition Index (ETI), ranking 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

Vietnam to end plastic scrap imports from 2025 – VN Express Vietnam will not import plastic scrap from 2025 and will deal with the scrap consignments stuck at ports, the government has said.

Cancerous containers ditched by ‘green’ province – The Nation During the past three years, more than 500 establishments in Songkhla have been certified as being free of disposable food foam containers. At least seven communities and 32 restaurants have also earned such a “green” certification.

Project to restore Central Highlands forests gets nod – Vietnam News More than VNĐ28.5 trillion (US$1.23 billion) has been earmarked for a project to protect, restore and sustainably develop forests in the Central Highlands until 2030. 

ENGIE targets solar mini-grids in Myanmar with Mandalay Yoma – PV Tech ENGIE has teamed up with a Myanmar-focused off-grid energy specialist to help spur rural electrification across the Southeast Asian country with mini-grids combining PV, diesel and battery storage.

Seminar discusses climate change-resilient livelihoods for Mekong Delta farmers – Vietnam Plus A consultation seminar to develop a project on switching livelihoods for farmers in the Mekong Delta was held in Dong Thap province on March 26, involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the World Bank and Dong Thap People’s Committee.

Mekong Delta facing grave drought, saltwater intrusion – Saigon Giai Phong In the past few days, various channels and lakes in the desalination areas near Tac Thu – Song Doc, located in Ca Mau Province, have displayed signals of water depletion.

Vietnamese named among world’s most influential climate activists – VN Express A Vietnamese woman has made it to the global list of 100 most influential people in climate policy for her advocacy of sustainable energy solutions.

New report lays out low-carbon development path for Indonesia – Mongabay News With every tree felled and every piece of coal burned for energy, Indonesia is inching closer to its ecological tipping point.

Asia’s Coal Addiction Puts Chokehold on Its Air-polluted Cities – Voice of America Over the past year, the number of patients treated each day in the hospital unit where cardiologist Ade Imasanti Sapardan works in Indonesia’s capital has almost doubled to about 100.

Ministry to find water for protected wildlife – Khmer Times Due to shortages of water and high temperatures in the Kingdom, the Environment Ministry has said that it will create new water sources for protected wildlife, such as elephants.

CHINA

China Increases Coal Use And Climate Concerns – Radio Free Asia Official energy data from China have confirmed what climate scientists have feared. The world’s biggest coal user has boosted consumption for the second year in a row, posting the largest increase since 2013.

Related: Push for more coal power in China imperils efforts to fight climate change, researchers say – The Straits Times

European leaders demand win-win relationship with China – Channel News Asia China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday (Mar 26) attempted to dispel concern about his country’s growing presence in Europe at a meeting with French, German and EU leaders who stressed their desire for a more balanced relationship.

Related: Growing European doubts over China loom large over President Xi Jinping’s visit to France – South China Morning Post

Is China ready to mine the deep sea? – China Dialogue China’s most famous manned deep-sea submersible, recently upgraded at great expense, is named after the legendary aquatic dragon Jiaolong.

China’s latest chemical plant explosion was avoidable – China Dialogue News and social media images of an explosion on March 21 in Xiangshui county, eastern China, call to mind the terrifying blast at a chemicals warehouse in Tianjin in 2015.

A year on, CIDCA struggles to get off the ground – DevEx Understaffing, slowness, and internal politics plague the China International Development Cooperation Agency, or CIDCA, one year after the Chinese government announced its creation in March 2018, leaving some experts asking why so little has happened.

A Need for Concerted Effort: A side forum on Belt and Road Initiative discusses challenges ahead – CGTN As the Belt and Road Initiative reaches further across the globe, it’s picking up bigger players and heavier hitters. With Italy, a G7 member on board, projects aimed at boosting infrastructure, economies, and most of all, connectivity, are gaining new life.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

New network formed to oppose Myitsone dam – Mizzima A new network to oppose the Myitsone dam project will be formed on April 1. Currently this project is being opposed not only by local people at the project site but also people across the country.

Linking BRI with Cambodia’s rectangular development – Khmer Times The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious international cooperation and connectivity project initiated by China in 2013. Cambodia is one of the staunchest supporters of the initiative with the expectation that BRI will contribute to peace and shared prosperity.

Public criticism pressures Vietnam to back down on new economic zones – China Dialogue In June 2018, public demonstrations swept through major towns in six provinces, catching the Vietnamese government off guard and pressuring it to postpone a law on Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Philippine Justice, Lawmakers Express Concern over Chinese Loan Details – Radio Free Asia Filipino lawmakers raised concerns Tuesday about financing agreements with China after a Supreme Court justice alleged that Beijing could take over Philippine maritime assets if Manila defaulted on a Chinese loan for a local irrigation project.

Driving gender reform in Vietnam’s Labour Code – East Asia Forum Globally, removing sex discrimination from regulatory texts continues to ride a positive wave. This might be a response to a new generation of free trade agreements, which call for regulatory frameworks to be socially and environmentally compliant with international standards.

Cambodia returns land taken from indigenous people in ‘unprecedented’ move – The Straits Times Cambodia has returned land taken a decade ago from indigenous communities for a Vietnamese company’s rubber plantation, a sign that foreign investors are facing greater scrutiny over rights violations, analysts said on Wednesday (March 27).

Airport rail deal talks put on hold  – Bangkok Post A consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) has asked to put off Thursday’s talks with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) over a high-speed rail project linking three major airports.

Vietnam To Get First Licensed Crypto Exchange – Invest Vine Vietnam will get its first licensed crypto exchange after Linh Thanh Group, a large industry, real estate and trading conglomerate, and Kronn Ventures AG, a blockchain company from Switzerland’s “crypto valley” in the Canton of Zug, signed a memorandum of understanding to set such an exchange up in the country.

Cambodia has repaid 8 percent of its debt: report – Khmer Times From 1993 to 2018, the government repaid $1.3 billion of its debt to development partners, roughly 8 percent of the country’s external debt, according to an official report on the country’s public debt.

Cambodia to buy 200 megawatts from Laos – Khmer Times Cambodia will buy 200 megawatts from Laos to feed rising demand for power in the Kingdom. Electricite du Cambodge has signed an agreement to purchase 200 MW from Laos from 2019 to 2021.

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.

EXSE FOCUS

Sustaining the heartbeat of the Mekong Basin – China Dialogue The Mekong River is often depicted as originating in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Maps show it flowing downstream through China’s southwest, and then forming the borders of or flowing through Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, before bisecting Cambodia and Vietnam’s Mekong Delta on its 4,500 kilometre journey from the Himalayas to the sea.//Not all renewables are created equal: Stimson’s Brian Eyler and Courtney Weatherby summarize their new report on the benefits of moving from hydropower to solar in the Mekong Basin.  They discuss how smart energy planning can conserve the Tonle Sap’s massive fish population.

Beijing saves Mekong islets  – Bangkok Post The revelation that China is backing away from its plans to blow up islands and outcroppings in the Mekong River is welcome news. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he had raised the issue last month during a visit by Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.// Environmental groups, activists, and community advocates have played a major role in successfully protecting this group of Mekong islets from being destroyed.

Energy Regulatory Commission eyes B40bn from solar power projects  – Bangkok Post The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) expects to create new investment value of 40 billion baht from its new 10,000-megawatt solar power projects for households from 2019-2028.// For countries in Southeast Asia struggling with energy shortages, diversification and inclusion of different renewable energies will be important for the future of energy security in the region.

Hun Sen denies Cambodia is Chinese ‘colony’ as work on US$2b road begins – The Straits Times Cambodia broke ground on Friday (March 22) on a US$2 billion (S$2.70 billion) Chinese-funded expressway – the country’s first – as strongman premier Hun Sen denied his country was in danger of becoming a colony of Beijing.// As China and Cambodia hold their biggest bilateral military exercises this week, Prime Minister Hun Sen continues to defend China’s investments in Cambodia.  The military exercises and construction of Cambodia’s first expressway being financed by China are manifestations of Cambodia’s growing relationship with China. 

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Can Japan contribute to equitable development in ASEAN? – East Asia Forum The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in December 2015 was a notable milestone in the economic integration of Southeast Asia. However, despite the AEC’s ambitious vision, the on-the-ground reality of Southeast Asian regionalism continues to raise some concerns.

Asean can do more in Trump-Kim talks: Experts – The Straits Times Asean, two of whose members hosted the recent summits between the leaders of the United States and North Korea, can play a more active role in bringing them together again after the failure of their second encounter in Hanoi.

US at UN takes aim at China’s Belt and Road initiative – The Straits Times The United States on Friday (March 15) clashed with China at the UN Security Council over Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative, saying the infrastructure investment scheme had “known problems” with corruption and debt distress.

Italy Wants to Sign Belt and Road Deal to Help Exports: Deputy PM – The Irrawaddy Italy wants to join China’s giant “Belt and Road” infrastructure plan to boost Italian exports, not to strengthen political ties with the Asian giant, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Sunday.

Related: China’s Xi to visit Italy, France as Rome joins ‘New Silk Road’ – CNA

Vietnam, Laos Enter Cooperation In Cyber Security, E-Government – Investvine The governments of Laos and Vietnam agreed to enter a cooperation for the development of cyber security and e-government solutions and continue their cooperation in postal services.

Government says ‘yes’ to Japan’s smart city initiative – Khmer Times The government has agreed to a Japanese initiative that seeks to drive investment in the development of smart cities in the Kingdom.

Advancing ASEAN-South Korea Relations in Moon’s New Southern Policy – The Diplomat Last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in embarked on a pre-scheduled tour of three Southeast Asian countries.

Vietnamese Workers, Streaming to Japan, Face Risks as Labor System Opens Up – The Irrawaddy When a young Vietnamese woman found out late last year that she was pregnant after arriving in Japan on a “technical trainee” visa, she was given a stark choice: “Have an abortion or go back to Vietnam.”

China and Cambodia Hold Their Biggest Military Exercise Yet – The Diplomat Last week, China and Cambodia kicked off what amounts to the biggest iteration of a bilateral military exercise seen between the two countries yet.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Dead whale in Philippines had 40 kg of plastic in stomach – The Straits Times A starving whale with 40kg of plastic trash in its stomach has died after being washed ashore in the Philippines, activists said on Monday (March 18), calling it one of the worst cases of poisoning they have seen.

Chiang Mai air pollution worst in the world – Bangkok Post Forest fires have sent air quality in nine provinces to a level considered harmful to people’s health, as cities in the North like Chiang Mai registered air quality that was among the world’s worst.

Wasting away to make energy  – Bangkok Post Many private companies in the Thai renewable energy field are pleased with the new version of the national power development plan (PDP) for 2018-37.

Hun Sen orders Sao Sokha to curb timber smuggling across the borders – The Nation Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on relevant authorities to continue curbing illegal smuggling of timer across borders and protect natural resources.

Government may withdraw environmental tax hike proposal – Vietnam Plus The Government is considering withdrawing a proposal from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to increase environmental taxes on fuel products to the maximum of 8,000 VND (0.35 USD), stating the move requires further consideration.

Locals pray for Salween River to always run free – The Nation The lives of people living along the Salween River still face the risk of being adversely impacted by developments in the river basin, environment campaigners said on the International Day of Action for Rivers yesterday. 

Cambodia has wind energy potential – study – Khmer Times France-based Blue Circle has finished a feasibility study for a project to build wind turbines in the Kingdom, with results indicating investment should ensue.

China’s ‘iron fist’ against pollution is softening – China Dialogue In 2014, China declared a war against pollution when Premier Li Keqiang pledged to crackdown on polluters and negligent officials “with an iron fist” at the opening of the annual National People’s Congress (NPC).

Forget red or yellow, forest crusader doubles down on green – Khao So An environmentalist turned politician seeking to gain a toehold in power through Sunday’s election said poachers wouldn’t get off so easy under his watch. Speaking from the campaign trail about this morning’s conviction of a powerful construction magnate, the leader of the Thai Forest Conservation Party said hunters would be punished with more jail time than the 16 months given to Premchai Karnasuta.

Vietnam aims to reduce power losses to under 6.5% by 2025 – Nhan Dan Vietnam has set a target to bring down power losses to less than 6.5% by 2025 under a recently adopted national programme on economical and efficient use of energy for the 2019-2030 period.

Researchers warn of toxic chemicals – Khmer Times Researchers from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia are appealing to farmers to reduce the use of agrochemicals on crops after it found that some farmers improperly mixed chemicals.

Dry spell causing power cuts: PM – Khmer Times Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday said the country is now facing an electricity shortage of about 400 megawatts, leading to power outages, and appealed to people, especially those in the business sector, to understand that this is because of an ongoing dry spell.

Energy analysts forecast ‘the end of coal’ in Asia as Japanese investors back renewables – The Guardian Major Japanese investors, including those most indebted to coal, are seeking to back large-scale renewables projects across Asia, marking a “monumental” shift that energy market analysts say is “the start of the end for thermal coal”.

How can Cambodian farming survive climate change? – Eco Business Rural and poor, Cambodia is one of the world’s most threatened countries by climate change. How is the country’s critical agricultural sector adapting to increasingly severe, unpredictable weather events?

Indonesian Environmentalists Seek Meeting with Chinese Bank over Sumatra Dam Project – Radio Free Asia Indonesia’s leading environmental group said Wednesday it was seeking a meeting with Bank of China representatives to discuss a Chinese-funded dam project in North Sumatra province that, activists and scientists warn, could threaten the world’s rarest orangutan species.

CHINA

China wants EEC estate land – Bangkok Post A group of Chinese investors, led by representatives of China’s government, has expressed interest in buying 10,000 rai of industrial estate land in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to create its own community and improve its supply chain in Asean.

China Revives Oil And Gas Reform Plan – Radio Free Asia After previous predictions have gone by the boards, China’s government has confirmed plans for major steps to reform the oil and gas sector this year.

Suu Kyi, China and the controversial Myitsone dam – Asia Times Amid increased pressure from China to resume construction of the controversial Myitsone hydropower dam in the far north of Myanmar, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has said the public should think about the project “from a wider perspective,” Myanmar website The Irrawaddy reported on March 14.

Foreign investors eye China’s renewables sector – China Dialogue China has been leading the world in the expansion of solar and wind power capacity in recent years. By the end of 2018, China’s solar capacity of 174 gigawatts and wind capacity of 184 gigawatts accounted for 36% and 32% of the global totals for each respective technology.

Chinese companies in Laos attach importance to environment protection – Xinhua Net Ducks are paddling around in a pool of water near Sun Paper Holdings Laos Co., Ltd (Sun Paper Laos), and moving closer, you even can see beautiful goldfish swimming in the pond. Don’t mistake it for a natural pond; it is the drainage outlet of Sun Paper Laos which is a wholly-owned company of Shandong Sun Paper Group, one of China’s top 500 enterprises.

China’s Wunonglong Dam on the Upper Mekong Filling – Planet.com Watch the 990 MW Wunonglong Dam fill between October 2018 and February 2019. This is the 11th dam to be completed on China’s portion of the Upper Mekong.

China to aid Mekong’s development  – Bangkok Post China has pledged to work closely with Thailand under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) framework to help promote the development of the Mekong Basin region.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Thailand’s oldest party fails to woo first-time voters – The Straits Times With less than two weeks to go before Thailand’s general election, the country’s oldest political party, founded in 1946, has faced up to an uncomfortable realisation: Young, first-time voters are writing it off.

Thailand delays trans-Pacific FTA application – Bangkok Post Thailand will delay its application to join a trans-Pacific free trade agreement until after next Sunday’s election, a Commerce Ministry official said Monday.

Kachin Gov’t Vows to Crack Down on China-Backed Banana Plantations – The Irrawaddy The Kachin State agriculture minister will investigate controversial Chinese tissue-culture banana plantations across Kachin State, and plans to tighten regulation of the plantations in response to local residents’ concerns about their social and environmental impacts.

Thailand Pushes Projects For Eastern Economic Corridor – Investvine The Thai government continues to promote investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), one of the largest economic initiatives geared particularly towards foreign investors. This time, innovation, electric vehicles and the railway sector are being addressed.

Elections Kick Off In Thailand With Long Lines At Voting Stations – Investvine Hundreds of thousands of voters across Thailand were heading out on March 17 to cast early ballots, a week ahead the country’s first general election since a military coup in 2014.

Bangkok students strike against climate change – The Nation Bangkok students led by an 11-year-old, among others, went on strike on Friday and abandoned their classrooms to join the global “Fridays for Future” movement calling for action on climate change and environmental protection.

Mekong Delta rope weaving families’ exodus to Saigon – VN Express Unable to earn enough in their hometown, they come to Saigon, rent some land and resume their traditional work. Many families from the Mekong Delta are now making a living by weaving plastic ropes in Binh Hung Hoa B ward in Saigon’s Tan Binh District.

Civil society groups from across Myanmar hold anti-hydropower protest – Frontier Myanmar Civil society groups from across the country convened in Mandalay on Wednesday and Thursday to protest against large-scale hydropower development on the country’s rivers, which they say is driving conflict and undermining efforts to build a democratic federal union.

Vietnam plans new northern railroad route to China – VN Express The Vietnam Railway Authority has hired a Chinese consultancy to carry out a feasibility study, Vu Quang Khoi, its chief, said Tuesday. The 392-kilometer route will start in the border province of Lao Cai and pass through Hanoi — and eight cities and provinces in total – and end in the port city of Hai Phong.

Southeast Asia’s looming drug crisis threatens regional security – The Strategist This week, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its much-anticipated report on synthetic drugs in East and Southeast Asia. For the most part, UNODC assessments tend to be rather conservative, which ought to make the revelations contained in this report of even greater concern for Australian authorities.

Cambodia Hosts a Public Consultation Meeting on Road and Railway Impact Assessment – Agence Kampuchea Presse Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have hosted a public consultation meeting on road and railway impact assessment.

Airport rail pact ‘needs fine-tuning’  – The Bangkok Post Contractual negotiations on a high-speed rail project linking three major airports between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and a CP-led consortium have become less tense after CP settled for a 50-year contract.

Laos says to continue to contribute to LMC cooperation – Xinhua Net Laos will continue to closely work with Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) countries to move LMC cooperation forwards to a higher level.

Don commends MLC members on their cooperation  – The Nation Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai marked the third anniversary of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) by saying the member states’ tireless efforts were testimony to the “cordial and warm relationship that runs deep in the fabric of our societies”.

87% of Thais more likely to vote for environmentally friendly party: poll – The Nation “Environmental” concerns among Thais was rated on top of the list of major concerns about the country, more than any other concern, including rising prices, corruption, congestion, crime and the economy, according to a Marketbuzzz poll.

Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Blames PNPC Dam Collapse on Poor Planning – Radio Free Asia Laos’ deputy prime minister has identified poor soil analysis for a fatal hydropower dam collapse, often described as the country’s worst flooding in decades.

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.

EXSE FOCUS

Women’s rights and river protection – Asia Times Usually at this time of year during the dry season in northern Thailand, the Mekong River recedes, and sand and pebble beaches appear. Covering the pebbles, through the clear and shallow water, one can see the pale green kai, a river weed of the Mekong.//This International Women’s Day (March 8) we celebrate the women convening in Nepal this week to chart a new course as part of the first-ever international Women and Rivers Congress.

A Chinatown mysteriously emerges in backwoods Myanmar – Asia Times The town is still under construction but it already has a distinct Chinese flavor. There are Chinese restaurants, beauty salons and karaoke parlors. Chinese residents live in temporary barrack-style buildings while waiting for new apartment blocks and villas to be completed.//Unclear intentions: A Chinese-sponsored mega-project has caused a stir in Shwe Kokko, a border city in Myanmar.  Details of the project and it’s intentions  have not yet been divulged.

China’s chequebook diplomacy in Cambodia a double-edged sword creating resentment – Channel News Asia Billions of dollars have been flowing from China into Cambodia, turning parts of the once war-stricken country into modern cities. The economy is booming, jobs have been created and the market values of land have gone up.//String’s attached: China is the biggest foreign investor in Cambodia and owns about two-fifths of Cambodia’s debt.  Locals worry about the impact this inequitable development could have on their livelihoods.

Are We Seeing the Mekong River’s ‘Last Days’? – The Diplomat In the introduction to his new book, Brian Eyler cautions that “the reader should not get the impression from the book’s title that the Mekong River is in its death throes.” Yet 320 pages later, he signs off with a warning: “Unless we begin today to see the river and the landscape around it as a connected system and act jointly for its conservation, the Mighty Mekong’s last days are here and now.”//Review of Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Korea approves US$15 million for Attapeu flood recovery – Vientiane Times The government of the Republic of Korea has approved US$15 million (over 128 billion kip) to implement a flood recovery programme and assist the people of Sanamxay district in Attapeu province.

Indonesia and Australia Ink Free Trade Agreement – The Diplomat Indonesia and Australia signed a free trade agreement Monday that will eliminate many tariffs, allow Australian-owned hospitals to operate in the giant Southeast Asian country, and increase work visas for young Indonesians.

Key priorities agreed for Cambodia-Lao PDR joint transboundary project – Mekong River Commission Officials from National Mekong Committees and line agencies of Cambodia and Lao PDR last week agreed on joint actions of key priorities for a joint project on cross-border water resource development and management between Cambodia (Stung Treng) and Lao PDR (Champasak).

Lim Guan Eng hopeful East Coast Rail Link talks with China will conclude next month – Channel News Asia Malaysia Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Thursday (Mar 7) expressed hope that a decision on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will be taken before Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visits China next month.

Prak Sokhonn slams EU over EBA’s review – Khmer Times Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has lashed out at the European Union for applying a double standard with Cambodia over a review of Every Thing but arms preferential status, saying that they failed to act against Laos and Myanmar.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Smog in North takes big toll on public health – The Nation Nearly A quarter of a million people in the North sought medical treatment for four different kinds of ailments that flared up amid the intense air pollution between February 17 and 23.

The hidden costs of hydro: We need to reconsider world’s dam plans – Mongabay As thousands of hydroelectric dams are planned worldwide, including 147 in the Amazon, a new study finds that the true socio-environmental and cultural costs of dams are rarely evaluated before construction. Were such factors counted into the lifetime cost of the dams, many would not be built.

Thais plan to cut sea debris by 50%  – Bangkok Post Thailand made a political commitment Tuesday to reduce marine debris by at least 50% by 2027, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Ministry promotes sustainable development – Phnom Penh Post The Ministry of Industry and Handicraft’s National Productivity Centre of Cambodia (NPCC) launched a three-day national conference on Tuesday to promote awareness of sustainable development and competitive agribusiness in Cambodia.

Chinese Banana Plantations in Lao District Leave Locals With Little Land to Farm – Radio Free Asia Concessions of land made by the government of Laos to Chinese banana farms are leaving villagers in one northern district without enough land of their own to feed their families, sources in the communist Southeast Asian country say.

Gripped By Drought, Cambodian Farmers Struggle Against Changing Climate – Voice of America Trapaing Thmar reservoir, the largest of the Khmer Rouge regime’s irrigation projects built atop the bones of the dead, is running dry amid one of the worst droughts to hit Cambodia in living memory.

Coal to dominate Vietnam’s power expansion: Analysis – Vietnam Net Fitch Solutions Marco Research, a unit of Fitch Group, has just announced an outlook for Vietnam’s power and renewables sector, claiming that the country had traditionally relied on hydropower and natural gas for its power generation. However, it could meet several obstacles to continued growth in these two sectors.

Indonesia court allows dam in orangutan habitat to proceed – AP News Environmentalists lost a court challenge Monday to a Chinese-backed dam in Indonesia that will rip through the habitat of the most critically endangered orangutan species.

Related: Activists fighting to save orangutan habitat from dam unfazed by legal setback – Mongabay News

Vietnamese provinces say “no” to coal plants–government and industry still want more – Mekong Eye Duong Thi Canh lives near the sea at Hai Phong village in Ky Loi commune, Ha Tinh province. Her home is about 500 meters from Vung Ang 1 coal power plant in central Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Energy Dilemma Is About To Become A Crisis – Oil Price Vietnam can’t seem to get a break. The country lies just beneath China, its giant neighbor to the north, and shares many of the same socialist ideals that Beijing promulgates. However, Sino-Vietnamese relations have been a source of tension for years dating back to the colonization of Vietnam by China centuries ago – a historical fact that the average Vietnamese citizen has never forgotten.

CHINA
China builds Latin America’s largest solar plant – China Dialogue In the northern Argentine province of Jujuy, at a dizzying 4,000 metres above sea level, red and blue banners inscribed with Chinese characters flap outside a temporary office perched on a barren desert. 

Demystifying Debt Along China’s New Silk Road – The Diplomat China has one of the biggest global development footprints in the world. The only country with bigger official international finance flows is the United States.

China boosts spending in cleaning up soil and water as it shifts gears in fight against pollution – The Straits Times China is shifting gears in its fight against pollution, dramatically increasing spending to clean up its soil and waters. The prevention and control of water and soil pollution will be strengthened, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as he delivered the work report at the opening of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s annual meeting of parliament on Tuesday (March 5).

China becoming more aggressive – The ASEAN Post China’s diplomats aren’t being very diplomatic. In the past few months, its envoy to Canada publicly accused his hosts of “white supremacy,” its ambassador in Sweden labelled the Swedish police “inhumane” and blasted the country’s “so-called freedom of expression,” and its chief emissary in South Africa said President Donald Trump’s policies were making the United States (US) “the enemy of the whole world.”

Chinese companies sign deal to fish in Somali waters – China Dialogue Legal experts and local fishing groups have warned that a deal between the Somali government and a consortium of Chinese companies will be difficult to regulate, may encourage piracy and could lead to the levels of overfishing seen in West Africa.
SOUTHEAST ASIA

Myanmar land ownership law could displace millions of farmers – DW News Under a land reformation act, millions of farmers across Myanmar could be forced from land they have tilled for generations. Many are unaware of the danger they face. Peter Yeung and Carlotta Dotto report from Yangon.

What ever happened to Cambodia’s Dragon City – Southeast Asia Globe Nine years ago, Cambodia’s Land Ministry proposed a new, high-tech capital called “Dragon City” on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Nearly a decade later, the $80 billion development has yet to break ground – but the visionary behind the ambitious project is hoping that changing the Kingdom’s strict foreign ownership laws may tempt Chinese investors back to the bargaining table

Related: The man behind Cambodia’s most ambitious development project – Southeast Asia Globe

Hun Sen tells diplomats to work on reducing foreign aid dependence – Khmer Times Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called on all diplomats to focus on reducing the Kingdom’s foreign aid dependency by “turning challenges into opportunities”.

The 99% election: Thais are worse off after five years of military rule – Nikkei Asian Review When business started to sag a year ago at the shoe factory where she and her husband work, Nui Kalathai began to borrow money from relatives in her village in Khon Kaen, one of the largest provinces in Thailand’s northeastern plateau.

Will Thailand’s Chinese High-Speed Railway Be Worth It? – The Diplomat Since late last year, Thailand’s military government has been quietly rushing forward on its Chinese high-speed rail project, making long-held plans on the venture increasingly, irreversibly concrete.

Thai court dissolves key Shinawatra-linked party – Southeast Asia Globe A key party linked to Thailand’s powerful Shinawatra clan was dissolved Thursday by a court, just weeks before a general election, over its ill-starred bid to front a princess as a candidate for premier.

Related: Thailand court bans party that nominated princess for PM – The Guardian

Three Lao Workers Killed in Landslide While Diverting Water to Dam – Radio Free Asia Three Lao workers trapped last week by a landslide while digging a passage to divert creek water to a nearby dam were found dead this week, with a fourth worker badly hurt, sources in the country say.

Laos Stops Chinese-backed Tourism Development Survey in 3 Villages – Radio Free Asia Surveys for a Chinese development project in Laos have been suspended indefinitely in three villages after pushback from locals scared to lose their homes, sources say.

Child Malnutrition Rates Still High in Laos Despite Best Efforts – Radio Free Asia Large numbers of children remain malnourished in Laos, especially in poorer rural parts of the country, despite efforts by the U.N. World Food Programme and other concerned organizations to provide better food, sources in Laos say.

Fast trains to Laos ‘in 4 years’  – Bangkok Post The government will push for completion of the Thai-Sino high-speed railway project linking Bangkok and Nong Khai by 2023 so it can connect to another fast rail project in Laos, said Nathporn Chatusripitak, a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Chinese corporations want to invest in the North-South highway – Vietnam Net On March 7, at the meeting with the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Nghiem Gioi Hoa, founder and Chairman of the Pacific Group from China suggested the North-South highway project in Vietnam. can invest in two forms: EPC and BTO. 

ADB, WB steps up online bidding in Vietnam – Vietnam Plus The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) have decided to use the Vietnam National E-Procurement System (VNEPS) to conduct online bidding for construction and goods supply contracts for their projects.

Governing the Ayeyarwady – Frontier Myanmar The continuing conundrum over Myitsone, concern among farmers over river bank erosion in the dry zone and the delta and reports of declining riverine resources in Sagaing Region all indicate the need for coherent and coordinated governance of the Ayeyarwady River.

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.

EXSE FOCUS

Biodiversity, people’s livelihoods at risk in Chindwin River Basin – The Myanmar Times The Chindwin River, the largest tributary of the Ayeyarwady River, is vital to the lives of thousands of communities in Myanmar. Its basin ecosystem offers ecological services and biological diversity that provide the essential needs for six million people, from drinking and irrigation water, food and fibre, to fuel.//Unchecked development projects like hydropower dams, logging, and mining have compounded the issues that climate change has already created in the Chindwin River Basin. 

Can Laos afford to be the ‘Battery of Asia’? – The Nation The Debate over Laos’ strategy to become the “Battery of Asia” continues months after the deadly disaster at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower dam, even as the Lao government keeps building more dams.//Lesson learned? Despite the deadly disaster at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower dam and a previous decision to suspend new hydropower projects the government has decided to move forward with more dam projects.

How Far Does the China Belt and Road ‘Pushback’ Really Go? – The Diplomat With just a few weeks more to go until the next Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) summit China, expected in April, it is clear that the BRI continues to suffer some serious setbacks even as Beijing continues to try to lock in additional wins.//As we await the second Belt and Road Initiative Summit coming up in April, Prashanth Parameswaran reminds us to not overestimate the pushback the BRI has received.

The Mekong is mighty no more: demise of the great river system lamented in Brian Eyler’s new book – South China Morning Post The mystique of the Mekong River has long enchanted explorers, motivated traders and beguiled travellers. Its bio­diversity – including dolphins, crocodiles and almost 1,000 species of fish – has made it one of the great rivers of the world.//Tom Fawthrop reviews Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Southern provinces debate cooperation in Triangle Development Area – Vientiane Times Officials from Saravan, Champassak, Xekong, and Attapeu provinces met in Saravan province on Wednesday to discuss cooperation with Cambodia and Vietnam in the Triangle Development Area.

China, India and Myitsone: the power game to come – Frontier Myanmar Myanmar has two major assets that interest China: access to the Indian Ocean and plentiful natural resources. During the rule of Myanmar’s military junta, 1988-2011, China won access to both by protecting the regime from the impact of sanctions and condemnation by Western countries.

ASEAN and Japan to ink revamped economic pact in March – Nikkei Asian Review Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are finalizing updates to their economic partnership agreement to resolve shelved issues on liberalizing the investment and service fields, completing a deal that took effect over a decade ago.

US and Vietnam look to improve ties, with China in sight – Nikkei Asian Review U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold summit talks with Vietnamese leaders Wednesday, a move that analysts say underscores a key initiative of his administration — countering China’s growing influence in the region.

Will the US Capitulate to China? – Project Syndicate The most important problem that a bilateral deal between the United States and China needs to resolve is Chinese theft of US firms’ technology. Unless the Chinese agree to stop stealing technology, and the two sides devise a way to enforce that agreement, the US will not have achieved anything useful from Trump’s tariffs.

Time for bolder steps from ASEAN – East Asia Forum ASEAN is now facing circumstances that are fundamentally different from anything it has dealt with before. They require a much more proactive approach on international and regional integration strategies. ASEAN is unlikely to maintain its centrality unless its leaders are prepared to take bold steps, beyond ‘business as usual’.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

New recycling plan taps energy fund – Bangkok Post The government has agreed to use the remaining cash from the Energy Conservation Fund to support a new recycling plan for discarded solar panels and vehicle batteries, in line with the goal of creating a circular economy.

Climate change may undermine Kingdom’s mango production – The Phnom Penh Post Mango production is expected to decrease this year as climate change severely impacts yields, according to a mango association in Kampong Speu province – the Kingdom’s largest regional producer of the fruit.

Will Malaysia become Southeast Asia’s clean energy leader? (commentary) – Mongabay A silver lining of global warming is that it is forcing every nation to rethink its future, to open its mind to new possibilities. The latest IPCC report gives the world only 12 years to radically cut greenhouse gas emissions or condemn future generations to climate change catastrophe. There is no choice but to act.

NGOs want environmental impact report access – Khmer Times Civil society organisations dealing with environmental issues yesterday urged the Environment Ministry to disclose environmental impact assessment reports due to a lack of public information on whether or not companies comply with their reports after development projects have been approved.

Poachers kill elephant in Cambodia wildlife sanctuary – Asia One An elephant has been found dead with its tusks and tail sliced off in a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia, where wild elephant numbers have dwindled to just a few hundred due to poaching and deforestation.

Saying no to ‘Say No’ campaigns – Tackling Thailand’s plastic bag problem – The Thaiger Some timid but long overdue steps are now being taken towards reducing Thailand’s plastic waste. Baby steps to start with but there is no doubt that the issue has now entered the Thai national psyche. In reaction, so far, Thai businesses have, for the most part, made only cursory PR efforts at tackling the bigger problem but, again, it’s a start.

MoNRE works on pollution caused by Quảng Ngãi solid waste treatment plant – Vietnam News MD Solid Waste Treatment Plant in central Quảng Ngãi Province has failed to meet emission standards, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà has said.

Toxic byproducts of Agent Orange continue to pollute Vietnam environment – Science Daily During the Vietnam War, United States aircraft sprayed more than 20 million gallons of herbicides, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, on the country’s rain forests, wetlands, and croplands. Agent Orange defoliated the thick jungle vegetation concealing Viet Cong fighters and destroyed a portion of the country’s food crops, but it was primarily the dioxin contaminant that harmed so many Vietnamese and U.S. military personnel.

CHINA

China: Internet users turn to the blockchain to fight govt censorship – Asian Correspondent Thanks to blockchain, internet users have achieved some victories in the fight against China’s strict internet censorship. A historic moment was made on April 23. Peking University‘s former student, Yue Xin, had penned a letter detailing the university’s attempts to hide sexual misconduct. The case involved a student, Gao Yan, who committed suicide in 1998 after a professor sexually assaulted and then harassed her.

China’s Entrepreneurs Are Wary of Its Future – New York Times Behind the scenes, businesspeople worry that Beijing has become more interested in solidifying its control over people’s lives than promoting economic growth.

2019 Is a Sensitive Year for China. Xi Is Nervous. – New York Times China’s leader, Xi Jinping, abruptly summoned hundreds of officials to Beijing recently, forcing some to reschedule long-planned local assemblies. The meeting seemed orchestrated to convey anxious urgency. The Communist Party, Mr. Xi told the officials, faces major risks on all fronts and must batten down the hatches.

China’s prosecutors force government action on pollution – The Third Pole On New Year’s Day, the government of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in north-west China’s Qinghai province, issued an official notice banning the release of non-native fish species in the waters of the Sanjiangyuan, the source of the Yangtze, Mekong and Yellow rivers.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Indonesia Moves to Establish Fishing Zone Near South China Sea – Radio Free Asia Indonesia is pushing ahead with plans to develop a fishing zone on the edge of the South China Sea, a senior official said Tuesday, as the country seeks to assert sovereignty amid claims of overlapping rights by China. The government plans to construct the Integrated Marine and Fisheries Center, which would include a cold storage facility that has been in development for two years on the Natuna Islands, Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said.

Unspoken challenges of Asean: Jakarta Post contributor – The Straits Times According to the alphabetic rules set for the annual rotation of the Asean chair, Thailand is to steward the grouping through 2019 in between Singapore and Vietnam. One year is short for any country to leave a mark and produce significant impacts, especially when the institution is a regional body known to be slow in taking action.

Haze lingers as farmers keep burning – Bangkok Post Despite the recent campaign against burning sugarcane and repeated reminders from police that violators will be prosecuted, local farmers continue to practice slash-and-burn farming — leaving several communities choked by black smoke.

Five things to know as Thai election race enters final month – Nikkei Asian Review The run-up to Thailand’s first general election in eight years has already been full of drama and surprises — and there is still a month to go. Here are answers to five burning questions about the country’s rocky return to democracy after five years of military rule.

Laos needs regional cooperation to realise its land-bridge dream – Asia News Network A UN official in charge of helping landlocked nations around the world to fulfil their development potential has asked Thailand to play a greater role in assisting Laos to become a regional land link. 

After Decades of Conflict, Land Deadline Looms for Myanmar Villagers – Voice of America Naw Pa Eh was just a child when fighting broke out between ethnic Karen and the Myanmar army in her village of Kye Zu Daw in the country’s south. Her father was among those killed as she and other villagers fled in 1992. Villagers were able to return only after a cease-fire was signed in 2012. By then, their village was gone, the land taken for the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve and a palm oil plantation that sprawled across about 610 acres (250 hectares).

Gen. Aung San’s Ill-fated Economic Plan for Myanmar – The Irrawaddy Seventy-two years ago today, at the request of the British Chamber of Commerce looking to know the future economic policies of Burma which was about to be granted independence, Gen. Aung San announced his economic plans for the future government. He planned to nationalize important industries, and revealed that plans had been drawn to revamp the damaged economy. 

NGOs Seek Slow Down on EEC Due to Impact on Local People – The Nation The Assembly of NGOs for the Protection and Conservation of the Environment and Natural Resources yesterday submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, urging him to revoke all special laws aimed at promoting the EEC, amend the EEC Act and suspend harmful investment projects. The petition also called for a study strategic environmental assessment(SEA) and a review of the city plan and land usage in EEC provinces.

Censorship and silence: south-east Asia suffers under press crackdown – The Guardian Standing on the court steps earlier this month after spending a night in detention, Philippine journalist Maria Ressa spoke defiantly to the dozens of gathered cameras. This was, she pointed out, the sixth time she had posted bail in the space of two months. “I will pay more bail than convicted criminals,” said Ressa. “I will pay more bail than Imelda Marcos.”

If the price is right then ECRL may go ahead, says Malaysian PM Mahathir – The Straits Times The cost of building the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is too much for Malaysia under the current circumstances. Given this, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said, there were two options for the country, which was either to bring down the cost and proceed when the price is right or to postpone the implementation of the project.

The Mekong: troubled waters in autocratic lands – AEC News For the Mekong countries, including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, 2018 was a big year both domestically and regionally. Key developments from last year will inevitably continue to shape the politics of the region in 2019. In terms of domestic affairs, the most worrying trend is the consolidation of autocratic power in almost all countries.

WB Ready to Help Vietnam Meet Growing Infrastructure Demands – Modern Diplomacy With a 7.1 percent growth rate in 2018, Vietnam’s fast-paced economic development is boosting demand for infrastructure, the World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure Makhtar Diop said today, during his first visit to the country. According to World Bank estimates, Vietnam’s sustainable infrastructure needs will require investments of up to US$25 billion per year.

Vietnam Activists Regret No Apparent Mention of Rights in Trump-Trong Talks – Radio Free Asia A brief meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi Wednesday yielded some $21 billion in airline orders and service contracts for American companies, but no apparent mention of human rights, disappointing some activists suffering from Vietnam’s latest crackdown.

Vietnam’s high-speed rail project revived – The ASEAN Post Vietnam’s proposed North-South High-Speed Railway (HSR) is expected to improve transport quality for nearly half of the country’s population.  The country’s Ministry of Transportation presented a pre-feasibility study for the project to Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier this month, and the report created with the support of a foreign consultancy team found that north-south transport routes currently benefit 49 percent of the nation and serve a population which accounts for 61 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Vietnam’s Foreign Policy in the US-North Korea Summit Spotlight – The Diplomat The holding of the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi will highlight the extent to which progress is being made on continued engagement between Washington and Pyongyang. That will dominate much of the attention. But much like the Singapore Summit held last year, the meeting will also spotlight aspects of a Southeast Asian state’s foreign relations more generally, including, in this case, Vietnam’s involvement in summit diplomacy and regional issues as well as its relationships with the United States and the two Koreas.

Related: Vietnam relishes role as peace maker in Trump-Kim summit as it seeks to balance ties – The Straits Times

This week’s news digest was curated by Kathryn Hundley.