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.

EXSE FOCUS

Waste-to-energy: A renewable opportunity for Southeast Asia? – China Dialogue Southeast Asia’s urban population is projected to rise to nearly 400 million by 2030, requiring significant investment in waste management to cope with the increase in garbage. The growth in electricity demand is also prompting countries to more than double generation capacity by 2040.// Courtney Weatherby explores the possibilities of waste-to-energy waste management in Southeast Asia and explains that the region should explore different technologies with fewer environmental impacts than incineration.

Review: The river rebels of the Mekong – Third Pole The Mekong is the world’s 12^th-longest river, second only to the Amazon in terms of biodiversity importance, and the world’s most productive inland fishery. It is also a transboundary river – rising from the glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau, in China, before tumbling down through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia and emptying into the South China Sea, in Vietnam. The Mekong is therefore a critical point of contestation, or cooperation, between the six states that share its resources.// Review of Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

China’s Growing Role in Southeast Asia Reopens Old Wounds – RADII I’ve traveled quite a bit through Southeast Asia this winter. It is evident views of China are changing — and not always for the better.  At a temple in Luang Phabang, the cultural heart of Laos and a former imperial capital, I eavesdropped as a local guide herded two American tourists through the courtyard and into the large hall. “There used to be a large, gold Buddha here,” the guide solemnly intoned. “But now it’s gone. The Chinese came, sacked our city, and stole all of our treasures.”// This narrative journey through Southeast Asia illustrates how impacts from Belt and Road projects and divergent views of history have caused China’s reputation to take a hit in the region.

China’s BRI negatively impacting the environment – ASEAN Post While its economic benefits and geopolitical implications are often splashed across the front pages of national newspapers worldwide, the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the environment receives much less attention.// Side effects of the BRI: Loss of livelihood, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and water and air pollution have been cited as the unintended consequences of the BRI in Southeast Asia.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Vietnamese Intellectuals Call On Trump For Support in South China Sea Dispute – Radio Free Asia A group of 100 Vietnamese intellectuals and activists penned a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump urging him to help thwart China’s gradual takeover of the South China Sea, where Hanoi and Beijing are embroiled in maritime territorial disputes.

US, Cambodia in War of Words Over Detained Opposition Leader – Radio Free Asia Cambodia and the United States sparred this weekend over comments appearing on a U.S. embassy Facebook page criticizing the Cambodian government’s continued detention of the leader of a now-banned opposition party.

Hungarian expertise tapped for managing Mekong – The Nation Hungary, which has had success in resolving water-management issues with its neighbours in eastern and central Europe that share the Danube River, has been asked to help Thailand work out a plan for the Mekong.

Trade war hits SE Asia, growth down for first time in 3 years – Nikkei Asian Review Southeast Asia’s growth rate declined in 2018, falling for the first time in three years, as some countries were hit by external and domestic headwinds that could continue to weigh on the region this year.

China-Australia relations ‘will not be helped’ by foreign influence register – News Feed Australia’s new foreign influence register – which comes into force on March 1 – will have a negative effect on its relations with China, analysts have said, after a former Australian trade minister walked away from his Chinese consultancy role a week before the deadline.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The race to save Myanmar’s Inle Lake – Southeast Asia Globe Myanmar’s famed Inle Lake has enchanted tourists for decades with its floating gardens and the graceful leg-rowing style of its fisherman, but experts warn the lake is drying up and urgent action is needed to avoid disaster.

How green technology is fuelling Cambodia’s eco-friendly flying – Southeast Asia Globe Southeast Asia Globe speaks with Emirates’ commercial manager in Cambodia, Abdulla Adnan, about what the world’s airlines can do to reduce their carbon footprint

The teak kingpin and corruption in the timber trade – Frontier Myanmar A Hong Kong man who became a shadowy teak kingpin and made millions of dollars from corrupt trade in the coveted timber paid for the overseas education of top officials in Myanmar’s ruling junta, an investigation by an environmental watchdog has alleged in a sensational exposé.

Activists up in arms over new factory law – The Nation The pollution crisis will only worsen if the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) pushes through the revised Factory Act, environmentalists warned yesterday. Several environment protection groups called on the NLA to reject the bill and avoid taking the country down a path of environmental and health dystopia. 

A new method to help track the Mekong’s rare wildlife – Southeast Asia Globe Scientists are rapidly developing new DNA-methods to identify what kind of life is present in rivers, lakes and the ocean. Advocates of the method claim that it has the potential to revolutionise the way environmental monitoring is done.

Thailand advances Asean energy partnership  – Bangkok Post As Asean chair for 2019, Thailand is expected to excel in leading the grouping to collectively address regional issues. Announced by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha last year, the current chairmanship theme of “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” carries a significant message for the regional cooperation. 

Thailand in need of ‘Energy 4.0’ – Asian Development Blog The transformative potential enabled by the intersection of clean energy technologies and the interconnected digital economy offers an ideal platform for powering “Thailand 4.0.” Adopted by the Thai government in 2016, “Thailand 4.0” is a model for growth that aims to transition Thailand into a high-income country through an economy centered around knowledge, innovation, and value addition.

New Species of orangutan threatened from moment of its discovery – Mongabay News For months, rumors had been flying around in the communities of conservationists and biologists. Something big was coming. Then, in November 2017, the bombshell officially dropped: Researchers had confirmed the identification of a new great ape, the eighth such species alive today known to science.

Latest survey finds 72 dolphins in Ayeyarwady – Myanmar Times A survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Myanmar (WCS Myanmar) has counted 72 Irrawaddy dolphins inhabiting the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Bhamaw in Kachin State. The Department of Fisheries and WCS Myanmar conducted the survey of Irrawaddy dolphins from February 6 to 16, said WCS Myanmar spokesperson U Kyaw Hla Thein.

CHINA

China’s capital Beijing vows air quality improvement but gives no target – The Straits Times China’s capital city Beijing has pledged to improve air quality this year but did not commit to a specific target, suggesting the country’s air-pollution campaign is stalling as the easily attainable measures have already been taken.

‘China’s World Bank’ is making it easier to complain – China Dialogue In a riverside village near the Shwe Taung cement plant in Myanmar, a white suggestion box is nailed to the wall of the company’s office. Villagers can slip paper into the box to lodge complaints about problems they attribute to the plant, such as the diminishing water or air quality. But company staff and locals are unclear about how or if their queries would be addressed.

Global ambitions fuel China’s nuclear power strategy – East Asia Forum Over the past several years, there has been a monumental shift in China’s energy policy towards nuclear power. And Beijing’s nuclear ambitions aren’t limited to its own borders. Its ‘Made in China 2025’ blueprint envisages vastly expanding China’s role in nuclear power generation in developing economies worldwide.

Explained: Belt and Road Initiative – News Feed The “Belt and Road Initiative” is a vast China-centred strategy to grow global trade that involves dozens of countries and more than US$1 trillion in investment. It spans Asia, Europe and Africa, although projects in other regions have also been named under its banner.

Consumers in China are getting more cautious about data privacy – Asian Correspondent CHINA is an interesting country in the digital ecosystem of Asia. Bigger than its neighbours, China is a digital behemoth in itself — unique in every way — with its own regulatory challenges. Residents are subjected to strict censorship laws, their actions (and every move) monitored by CCTV cameras, and their behavior scrutinised by artificial intelligence (AI), but new laws also promise a great deal of data privacy and information security.

Investors upbeat but scepticism over BRI growing – ASEAN Post The ongoing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that’s taking place all over the world has got investors excited. A survey by London-based international tax and law firm, CMS, reveals that there is a growing sense of confidence among Chinese and international investors about the future of the BRI.

China’s prosecutors are litigating government agencies for being soft on pollution – China Dialogue 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

Thaksin-linked Thai opposition Pheu Thai party undeterred after ally’s failed princess bid – The Straits Times Leaders of Thailand’s biggest opposition party campaigning on Monday (Feb 18) never mentioned ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose policies they espouse, nor the princess whose shock candidacy could see its ally banned from the March 24 election.

Summit throws spotlight on Vietnam as strategic player – The Straits Times With days to go before the highly anticipated second meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes place in Hanoi, the summit venue has sparked a fervent guessing game.

ASEAN Subregionalism in Focus with BIMP-EAGA Anniversary – The Diplomat A recent development reinforced the ongoing work to advance one of Southeast Asia’s under noticed subregional institutions.

List of Approved Candidates for Yangon Election Released – The Irrawaddy The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) on Monday released a list of the 274 candidates for the March 31 municipal election.  They include candidates for the ruling National League for Democracy, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party and some independents.

A new paradigm for a changing world order  – Bangkok Post The latest air pollution crisis has been a wake-up call to the way we in this country think about the need for a more environmentally friendly development strategy.  Yet one aspect overlooked was that this problem is a common challenge for all countries in the region and has a transnational dimension.

Laos villagers rebuild their lives after shocking dam collapse – IFRC A little over six months ago the world watched in horror as a massive dam wall collapsed in Laos. It was late July 2018 when powerful flash floods caused by the collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam hit more than 13,000 people in the southern province of Attapeu, Lao PDR. The floodwaters swept away the homes of more than 6,000 people and left behind mud and rocks on farmlands which had been the source of livelihoods and income for many families in the region.

ERC speeds operation of Laos hydropower project  – Bangkok Post The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is planning to accelerate power distribution from the Xayaburi hydroelectric power project in Laos ahead of schedule as the regulator wants to curb the overall power tariff.

Provincial Lawmakers in Laos Call for More Scrutiny of Foreign Firms – Radio Free Asia Lawmakers in Laos are urging the government to be stricter on foreign business entities in the country in an effort to protect the environment and protect the livelihood of the people.

Malaysia’s Mahathir Overpowers Coalition Partners – Asia Sentinel There is growing uneasiness in Malaysia that the ethnic chauvinism of the United Malays National Organization under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during his first 22 years in power is rising to overpower the platform of multiracialism and ending political corruption that defeated the country’s founding coalition last May 9.

5 countries leading Southeast Asia’s fintech revolution – Southeast Asia Globe Southeast Asia’s fintech market is among the fastest-growing in the world, with estimates placing expected market growth to reach between $70 billion and $100 billion by 2020. Fintech investments in Southeast Asia shot up by more than 30% over the course of 2018 to reach nearly $6 billion, while some estimates state that the overall Internet economy across the region increased by 44% last year compared to 2017.

Few Takers as Cambodia Tries to Lure Back Banned Opposition Politicians – Radio Free Asia Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior on Thursday issued detailed instructions for the political rehabilitation of lawmakers from the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), but a party official said it had no interest in returning while leader Kem Sokha remained in jail.

Delayed dam project awaits resolution in Myanmar – Global Times Though Myanmar officials have expressed their appreciation for the benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese analysts noted that more practical outcomes should be delivered apart from optimistic plans, as some BRI projects still face uncertainty in the Southeast Asian country.

WB pledges to support Vietnam in infrastructure development – Vietnam Plus The World Bank (WB) is willing to cooperate and support Vietnam in infrastructure development, and wants to share Vietnam’s experience with other countries in this sphere, said WB Vice President for Infrastructure Makhtar Diop.

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

EXSE FOCUS

Thai King’s Sister Is Formally Barred From Running for Prime Minister – New York Times Thailand’s election commission on Monday disqualified the king’s sister from running for prime minister, formally putting an end to a candidacy that had briefly upended the nation’s political landscape.  King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, 66, had publicly opposed the candidacy of his elder sister, Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Varnavadi, 67, effectively preordaining the election commission’s decision.//With the long-awaited election coming up on March 24^th, Thai Princess Ubolratana’s bid for Prime Minister reminds Thais that the divisions that have corroded Thai politics for more than a decade are more than likely to continue.

Tough policing is restoring Indonesia’s fisheries – China Dialogue Five years ago the world’s most populous archipelago nation started taking action against the decimation of its fish stocks. Indonesia’s waters were being plundered by vessels from nearby countries, particularly China and Thailand, but also Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia.//Indonesia’s aggressive strategy to curbing IUU fishing practices has been effective. However, it is apparent that more active cooperation from China is necessary if long-lasting impacts are to be made on IUU fishing issues in the region. 

Troubled waters: World rivers under threat – The Financial Times We are going to hear more about rivers in the years ahead. Almost all the waterways on which our civilisations were built — and on which they still depend — are under threat in the Anthropocene era, from the Nile and the Euphrates to the Ganges, the Yangtze and the Murray-Darling.//Review of Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Navigating ASEAN’s economic priorities – East Asia Forum Southeast Asian economies may face major economic headwinds this year amid US–China trade tensions and US Federal Reserve interest rate increases. To help weather the impact, ASEAN member states should prioritise progress on regional economic initiatives.

Brexit and EU sanctions threaten to push Cambodia into economic crisis – Nikkei Asian Review Cambodia is teetering on the verge of economic crisis, as it faces higher export tariffs into Britain due to Brexit at a time when the European Union is considering suspending duty-free access to punish Prime Minister Hun Sen for political suppression.  The first wave of economic damage is expected to become evident by the spring if Phnom Penh loses preferential tariff treatment from the U.K.

Related: Cambodia PM Hun Sen blasts ‘interference’ as EU trade deal threatens country’s garment industry – The Straits Times

Trump’s foreign policy wreckage in Asia – Asian Correspondent If the past year is any indication of the year ahead, US policy in Asia will be erratic and self-serving. The beginnings of an Indo-Pacific strategy notwithstanding, the Trump administration continues to work out its issues with countries in the region bilaterally and sporadically.

US-Asean Partnership Forum: Common values or shared interests? Experts weigh in – The Straits Times Two differing views emerged from discussions at an international relations forum yesterday on what kind of concept the new regional Indo-Pacific initiative should adopt: Should it stress common values, such as democracy and human rights, or should it go bold on shared interests like economic benefits?

Related: Young leaders see challenges in US-Asean ties – The Straits Times

US commander pushes for more funding to counter China’s influence in Indo-Pacific – South China Morning Post The US Indo-Pacific commander has urged America’s strategic decision-making body to increase financial investment in the region to counter China’s expanding economic and military influence.  “Through fear and coercion, Beijing is working to expand its form of ideology in order to bend, break and replace the existing rules-based international order,” Admiral Phil Davidson told a panel at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Myanmar: A New Pattern of China-Japan Interactions? – The Diplomat If Japan and China focus on different rail systems in Myanmar, can their division of labor create a new pattern for cooperation?

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Agri-tourism attracts more visitors to Mekong Delta – Vietnam Net The Mekong Delta, which is the country’s largest agricultural production area, has great potential to develop ecotourism. It has been listed among the best destinations to visit in 2019 by the US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. The delta attracts millions of visitors each year thanks to its cultural diversity, natural beauty and a large range of tourism products.

10th Meeting of Advisory Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Held at ADB – Asian Development Bank The Advisory Group’s discussions focused on the results and implications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C for developing member countries (DMCs) and ADB’s work in the Asia and Pacific region. The group also considered approaches for effectively tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability.

The potential of floating solar power – The ASEAN Post Thailand is the latest country in Southeast Asia to recognise the untapped potential of floating solar technology after the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) announced five pilot projects last month.

Việt Nam takes action to reduce plastic waste – Vietnam News Việt Nam is one of Asia’s five worst polluters of ocean plastic waste, according to international organisations. With 13 million tonnes of waste released to the ocean every year, the country ranks 17^th in the world for ocean plastic waste pollution.

Laos endorses national green growth strategy – Xinhua News Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith signed a decree on the strategy last week, marking a significant milestone in the national development approach, which seeks to deliver environmentally friendly, sustainable and socially inclusive growth.

Vietnam mulls multi-layered FIT scheme as it kicks energy transition into gear – PV Magazine The shape of Vietnam’s solar policy after its FIT regime expires in June will be one of the most hotly anticipated PV developments in Southeast Asia.  According to a draft decision released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the 20-year FIT of $0.0935/kWh introduced in April 2017, and valid for projects that achieve commercial operation before June 30, could be replaced with a two-year solar tariff, which would take into consideration various irradiation levels.

CHINA

China’s Energy Efficiency Claims Questioned – Radio Free Asia After a year of concern over increased carbon emissions, China has claimed another gain in energy efficiency, raising questions about how it achieved the results. On Jan. 21, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product fell 3.1 percent in 2018, exceeding the government’s target of 3 percent for the year.

The impact of polluted air on life expectancy – China Dialogue How much longer could you expect to live if you breathed clean air? If you’re in north-east China then it could be three or more years, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which was launched last month in Beijing by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

China’s Trade Practices Spawn Tough Questions But No Easy Solutions – The Diplomat China’s problematic policies are clear enough – but how to respond is a much trickier question. Three recent reports help illuminate the complexity of the problems currently facing the global trade system, and the elusiveness of tidy solutions.

China’s ‘ham-handed’ PR moves hurt its global image – Nikkei Asian Review Over the past 20 years, China has leveraged its economic growth and practiced deft diplomacy to craft an image as a responsible member of the global community. More recently, the political chaos of the Donald Trump presidency and Brexit have made China appear to be a steadying presence in a changing world.

China’s environmental crime arrests soar in 2018 – South China Morning Post China arrested 15,095 people for environmental crimes in 2018, up 51.5 per cent from a year earlier, the country’s top prosecuting body said on Thursday, as it worked to improve compliance among local governments and enterprises.

Melting glaciers spell more disaster for China and South Asia – China Dialogue Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region could lose over a third of their volume by 2100 even if the world manages to keep global warming below 1.5C, according to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).  If the global average temperature hits 2C then 49% of the volume of these glaciers will be lost.

Will China let Belt and Road die quietly? – Nikkei Asian Review Xi’s global investment program faces domestic criticism amid economic and fiscal worries.  The news for China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been unrelentingly bad.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia’s Battle Against Disinformation – The Diplomat Disinformation campaigns have entered the agenda of many states around the globe. As countries continue to introduce solutions, there may emerge a gap among various countries in terms of their capacities to respond to disinformation campaigns. As disinformation campaigns enter the agenda of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) as a security concern, inequalities in member countries’ approach to, apprehensions about, and competence to counter disinformation campaigns may impede regional collaboration on the issue.

Smog in Thailand set to ease, but summer brings water shortage fears – The Straits Times Winter in Thailand will be over next week, the Meteorological Department announced on Monday (Feb 11). Even though the smog problem is expected to improve nationwide once winter ends, the arrival of summer brings along a new problem – water shortage.

Survivors of Laos’ PNPC Dam Disaster Still Struggling – Radio Free Asia Survivors of a July 2018 dam disaster described as Laos’ worst flooding in decades are still dealing with physical and mental hardship, according to an official of a South Korean-led relief effort.

How Southeast Asia ranks in cybersecurity – Southeast Asia Globe A recent report of 60 countries worldwide, released by UK-based tech research company Comparitech, has ranked six of Southeast Asia’s countries among both the worst and best in terms of cybersecurity. We break down how ready Southeast Asia is to stare down cyber attacks.

What the Turmoil in Thailand Reveals About the Thai Monarchy – Council on Foreign Relations Thai politics continues to be drawn along the monarchy’s fault lines, following the recent dramatic events, which exposed deep conflicts between opposing monarchical factions. The newly established party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai Raksa Chart, tested the waters by proposing a candidate for the premiership. This candidate happened to be the eldest daughter of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Princess Ubolratana.

Reversing Cambodia’s democratic drift – East Asia Forum Cambodia is drifting towards autocracy with a clear trend. An unprecedented crackdown on independent media, civil society and the country’s major opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), hardly suggest otherwise. Whether Hun Sen’s government likes it or not, similar observations about Cambodia will continue to emerge.

Trump-Kim 2: Why Hanoi? – The Diplomat What can we tell from the decision to select Hanoi as the venue for the second Trump-Kim meeting? 

Long-suffering residents call for completion of road works – Vientiane Times People living alongside a 9.4-km road that is in the process of being upgraded have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the perpetual clouds of dust that engulf them while the road remains unsurfaced.  The road in question runs from the Tanmixay crossroads in Xaythany district to the Sikeuth junction in Naxaithong district, Vientiane.

China signs off on special funds projects – The Khmer Times The Chinese government has provided more than $7.66 million to Cambodia through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund 2018. Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn and Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian yesterday signed agreement for the funds. Most of the money will cover activities related to capacity building, education, research and exchange programs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Tanintharyi to ‘Discipline’ Local Officials – The Irrawaddy State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi warned that her government would take “decisive action” against officials who harm the public interest during a trip Wednesday to Tanintharyi Region, where a crowd urged her to sack the local chief minister.

Displaced Families in Vietnam’s Loc Hung Community Accept Compensation – Radio Free Asia A majority of the families displaced by the January demolitions in Ho Chi Minh City’s Loc Hung Vegetable Garden settlement are accepting compensation from Vietnamese authorities, officials said on Thursday.  In a two-day operation at the beginning of last month, authorities demolished at least 112 houses in the settlement in Tanh Binh district claimed by the Catholic Church, where sources say political dissidents and veterans of the former Army of South Vietnam had made their homes.

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

EXSE FOCUS

A river’s end – Mekong Review In River Road to China, I wrote of the French colonial explorer Francis Garnier, second in command of the great Mekong River Expedition of the 1860s, confessing to having a monomanie du Mékong, an obsession with the great river. He had initially hoped that the Mekong might be a trade route into China from Vietnam.// Milton Osborne reviews Stimson’s Brian Eyler’s book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.

The Mekong region is caught in a tug-of-war – East Asia Forum 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.// The consolidation of autocratic power in almost all countries in the Mekong region paired with the unstable relationship between the United States and China has the potential to have a large impact on the region both economically and politically.

‘The world trusts us’: Vietnamese proud to host Trump-Kim summit – The Straits Times Vietnamese young and old expressed their delight on Wednesday (Feb 6) after hearing their country had been chosen for the second face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.// The second Trump-Kim summit, which is set to be held in Vietnam, is being met with much anticipation and wariness.  The summit will be decisive for the future of the Korean Peninsula and many hope it will be more constructive than the first meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

China-Cambodia Military Fears in the Headlines with New US Intelligence Report – The Diplomat Last week, the suggestion that Cambodia could move towards changing its constitution to facilitate growing Chinese military presence in the country led to another series of headlines about Beijing’s rising influence in the Southeast Asian state. While such worries are far from new, their continued articulation by U.S. officials reinforces the extent of the concern around such developments as well as the wider trends that they represent within the Indo-Pacific.

US-China Relations in Flux: The Road to a Showdown – The Diplomat Two great powers stand toe-to-toe. America calls China a cheat, taking advantage of the U.S.-supported international system to grow wealthy and strong while trampling its rules. China counters that the Trump administration is bullying China through “unilateralism, protectionism, and economic hegemonism,” hearkening back to Beijing’s accusations that the United States is attempting to contain China as it did the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Chinese hunger for durians blamed for deforestation in Malaysia – The Straits Times Soaring demand for durians in China is being blamed for a new wave of deforestation in Malaysia with environmentalists warning vast amounts of jungle is being cleared to make way for massive plantations of the spiky, pungent fruit.

EU ban on Chinese technology in 5G revolution would hit trade, investment and cooperation, analysts say – South China Morning Post Trade, investment and scientific cooperation between Europe and China are at risk of taking a “big step back” as the European Union considers banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei, analysts said. Beijing has hinted at retaliation should the European Union go ahead with the ban. The 28-member bloc is planning ways to ban Chinese firms from work to develop its 5G networks, and that might spell trouble for joint efforts to test 5G in China and Europe.Top of Form

Rebuilding ASEAN’s financial safety net – East Asia Forum Singapore and Indonesia signed a US$10 billion bilateral swap agreement (BSA) in October 2018, allowing the two countries to assist each other through US dollar loans during financial stress. The move signals a willingness by ASEAN countries to play a bigger and more direct role in strengthening the region’s financial stability — but there is still much more to do.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

‘Water from Air’ Aims to Turn Back Thailand’s Tide of Plastic – The Irrawaddy Staying at a hotel on the Thai island of Koh Samui in 2015, Meghan Kerrigan noticed the four bottles of water she was given every day were clogging her bin with plastic.Outside her door, Chaweng beach was smothered in rubbish. It was then that she and Kohler brothers, Ryan and Matthew, had a “light-bulb moment”. “Instead of trying to solve the problem by cleaning the beaches every day, let’s go to what the source of the problem is, and take the plastic bottle away,” said Kerrigan, now 31.

One Year On, No Response on Myitsone Impact Assessment – The Irrawaddy The commission tasked with evaluating hydropower projects on Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River—including the Myitsone Dam in Kachin State—submitted its assessment to the President’s Office more than one year ago. 

Related: Say No to Myitsone – The Irrawaddy

Chinese plantation poisoning fish and disrupting appropriate agriculture in Lao community – The people of Kua village in Sangthong district depend on the Ton River for their livelihoods. It is a prime source of food for the community and provides fishermen an income. It is a source of drinking water for the many diverse animals that live in the area. Locals use the water from the river on a daily basis for drinking, bathing and washing.  Villagers say the number of fish and aquatic life in the Ton River is on the decline ever since the Chinese-owned Yongzhen Import-Export Production Promotion Company started planting bananas there in 2014. 

Are Cambodia’s hydropower plans risky? – The ASEAN Post Along with most Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia’s electricity consumption over the past decade has skyrocketed. In a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), electricity consumption in Cambodia has been growing rapidly, averaging 20 percent growth per annum since 2010. This rate continues to accelerate as average incomes in the nation rise on the whole.

Forest crime ‘rife’ at Prey Lang, Cambodia – Eleven Myanmar A Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) member in Thmea commune, in Preah Vihear province’s Chey Sen district, on Sunday claimed that authorities are unable to stamp out forest crime in the nature reserve, instances of which have been occurring for months. Chan Sarin, a PLCN member in the commune’s Thmea village, told The Post on Sunday that currently at least 10 loggers were engaged in illegal logging in Prey Lang across the commune.

Fix lax rules on factories  – The Bangkok Post This week, the government seemed to get tough on another source of toxic haze: industrial activities. But what it is doing will not tackle the root cause of the problem which is the country’s lax regulation.

Indonesia’s struggle with renewable energy – Asian Correspondent Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the 75-megawatt Sidrap Wind Farm in South Sulawesi in July 2018. Built by the foreign firm UPC Renewables at a cost of US$150 million, Sidrap is the first grid-connected wind farm of any meaningful scale in Indonesia and is expected to generate power for up to 70,000 households. This was welcome news for those wondering how Indonesia was going to achieve its ambitious goal of sourcing 23 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. But does this mean Indonesia is on the cusp of a clean energy revolution?

Are banks in Asia funding deforestation in Southeast Asia? – Asian Correspondent Industries that cause the loss of rainforest and peatlands in Southeast Asia were bankrolled to the tune of US$62 billion between 2013 and 2018, according to new data released by the Forests and Finance campaign of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN).  Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian and Malaysian banks were the biggest funders of so-called forest risk activities and were least likely to have internal policies that restricted damage to the environment from the activities they funded, RAN concludes.

CHINA

China runs into Belt and Road barriers in South Asia – Nikkei Asian Review For about three months, confidants of Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih have been holed up in an oceanfront building in Male, sifting through mountains of documents to answer an urgent question: How much money, exactly, does the region’s smallest country owe China?

Is China Undermining Its Own Success in Africa? – The Diplomat Chinese influence, money, and people blanket Africa. Mega-infrastructure projects such as Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the light railway in Ethiopia’s capital, and Tanzania’s ports, are all pointed to as evidence that Africa has become China’s backyard. Countries like Japan, France, or even the United States simply cannot compete against China for trade and influence in Africa. This is the story that one reads in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Africa itself. But it is important to understand that this is only part of the story.

China’s Creeping South China Sea Challenge in the Spotlight With New Facility –  The Diplomat In late January, Chinese state media announced the establishment of yet another new facility in a South China Sea feature. Though the unveiling was just another manifestation of an old aspect of Beijing’s broader strategy in advancing its position in the South China Sea, the initially muted response from the Philippines has once again exacerbated concerns about the regional response to such actions taken by China.

China’s Belt and Road could lead to ‘alien invasion’ – study – Asian Correspondent China’s ambitious, multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative could introduce alien invasive species into several countries, threatening their native biodiversity, warns a new study.  Announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as “One Belt One Road” and “21st-century Maritime Silk Road,” proposes to connect China to countries in Asia, Africa and Europe via a network of land- and sea-based routes, making trade between the countries easier.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Duterte’s ailing presidency – East Asia Forum It would be premature to claim that Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency in the Philippines is in trouble. Despite a temporary drop in his approval ratings last year, three-fourths of Philippine citizens still approve of his performance in office, with his violent drug crackdown considered his ‘top achievement’.

Chinese New Year: Polluted Bangkok’s Year of the Pig curbs on incense go up in smoke – The Straits Times Thais of Chinese descent largely ignored Bangkok’s call for restraint in burning of incense and “spirit money” to mark the Chinese New Year as the city fights choking pollution.

Related: Bangkok running out of air purifiers as toxic smog grips Thailand – The Straits Times

Southeast Asia bucks trend of sinking global foreign investment – Nikkei Asian Review Southeast Asia is bucking the global trend of falling direct foreign investment, as the low-cost fast-growing region solidifies its position as an attractive location for multinationals.  James Dyson’s recent decision to relocate the headquarters of his eponymous technology business to Singapore is not about Brexit, the company said. Rather, the British tycoon said he is looking to a region that continues to exhibit solid growth — “future proofing” as his chief executive termed it.

Darkness Gathers in Myanmar – The Diplomat On January 11, the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail was rejected, a decision with far reaching consequences for Myanmar’s reputation and freedom of expression. The ruling conveyed a determination to bury the truth about the ethnic clearance operations that drove 730,000 of the Rohingya minority group into refugee camps in Bangladesh in 2017.

BSR still in running for fast rail project – The Bangkok Post BSR Joint Venture, one of two contenders in the bidding for the high-speed railway project connecting three major airports, still has a chance to enter negotiations with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) over the results of the bid, the SRT said on Thursday.

Vietnam cracks open new oil field in South China Sea with Russia – Nikkei Asian Review A Vietnamese-Russian joint venture has begun crude oil production at a new site in the South China Sea, a project expected to contribute more than $1 billion to Hanoi’s coffers by 2032.

A princess makes a surprising run to become Thailand’s next prime minister – CNBC In a historic first for Thailand, a senior member of the royal family is running in a general election — a move that some suspect could increase the monarchy’s overall power in the country.

EXSE FOCUS

Southeast Asians See China Replacing US as Regional Power, Survey Finds – Radio Free Asia Three-quarters of educated professionals surveyed across the ASEAN bloc say China is the country most likely to fill a vacuum created by a perceived growing lack of American interest in the region, according to a report published by a Singaporean think-tank Tuesday.//While the ISEAS survey illustrated Southeast Asia’s tilt towards China, only nine-percent of respondents see China as “a benign and benevolent power,” and 45.4 percent viewed China as becoming “a revisionist power with an intent to turn Southeast Asia into its sphere of influence.”.

Can ASEAN Play a Greater Role in the Mekong Subregion? – The Diplomat Despite the Mekong subregion’s huge potential, ASEAN has given relatively less attention to the issues concerning this subregion. This is reflected by the slow progress of the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC) platform, which was established in 1996. This grouping involves the 10 ASEAN member states and China and it is aimed at enhancing economic and social cooperation in the region.//Untapped potential: Shawn Ho and Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit provide two reasons for ASEAN to pay more attention to the Mekong Subregion that shows that ASEAN has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Bangkok Is Choking on Air Pollution. The Response? Water Cannons. – New York Times The monsoons are no longer lashing Bangkok, in that soggy season when my sons sometimes have to wade through waist-high floods to get to soccer practice.  So why did I get soaked last week, as I walked along a major avenue in the Thai capital?The liquid, which soon flooded one of Bangkok’s busiest intersections, came from water cannons aimed at alleviating the smog that has shrouded Bangkok for weeks.//School’s out: Toxic smog has blanketed Bangkok for weeks forcing government officials to close hundreds of schools and use water cannons to alleviate the smog.  The haze has created far-reaching economic repercussions illustrating how environmental degradation can be costly not only to human health but also to the economy.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Malaysia threatens to freeze out EU over palm oil ban – Nikkei Review The Malaysian government said that a recent regional agreement to upgrade relations with the European Union should be deferred due to an ongoing trade dispute over palm oil, where the EU has been moving to ban the use of palm oil in biofuels, citing deforestation as a reason.

Defense Minister Visit Puts Vietnam-Thailand Military Ties into Focus – The Diplomat Last week, Thailand’s defense minister was in Vietnam for a visit. The visit, which represented the first publicized high-level defense interaction between the two sides in 2019, spotlighted some of the ongoing activity within this aspect of the relationship between the two Southeast Asian states.

Myanmar official suggests downsizing or relocating dam that frayed China ties – The Straits Times A top Myanmar investment official on Tuesday (Jan 29) suggested alternatives such as scaling back or relocating a stalled Chinese-backed dam project that has strained ties between the neighbours.

‘We just can’t pay’: Mahathir soothes China’s ego over Malaysia’s cancelled East Coast Rail Link – South China Morning Post Malaysia would be “impoverished” if it went ahead with the US$20 billion East Coast Rail Link, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday as he urged Chinese parties behind the financing and building of the project to understand his country’s predicament.

US, China launch high-level trade talks amid deep differences – CNA The United States and China were set to try again on Wednesday to dig out from a damaging trade war with a new round of high-level talks aimed at bridging deep differences over China’s intellectual property and technology transfer policies.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Fish-bombing killing east Sabah’s marine life: WWF – The Straits Times The town of Semporna on the east side of the Malaysian state of Sabah is known for being the gateway to some of the world’s best diving sites, including Mabul Island. However, conservationists warn that fish-bombing is threatening the marine ecosystem there. 

Binh Duong has first wastewater-to-clean water treatment plant – Vietnam News Agency A plant processing industrial wastewater into clean water for daily use and production, the first of its kind in Vietnam, was inaugurated at Song Than 2 industrial park in Di An town, the southern province of Binh Duong on January 26.

Community-based forest management the way forward – Vietnam Plus Forestry experts are optimistic about the future in Vietnam, largely thanks to community-based forest management.  The model is developing extensively in the country, and experts have lauded its ability to increase forest recover, limit deforestation and create income from forests for local people.

Happy eco-campers: protecting wildlife in Cambodia – The Guardian A new eco-tourism camp keeps a remote forest safe from poaching, and offers a laid-back stay with creature comforts

EGAT to float solar panels at dams  – Bangkok Post The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) will start installation of floating solar panels in April at five hydropower plants in five provinces.

The miracle method for sustainable rice – and bigger harvests – The Guardian A technique developed by a Jesuit priest is producing bumper crops – and reducing emissions of a grain responsible for 1.5% of greenhouse gases.

Environmental degradation exacerbates Indonesia flooding, landslides – Conservation News Days of torrential rain in an eastern Indonesian province last week unleashed flash floods and landslides that killed dozens of people. In the wake of the emergency, local authorities and environmental activists identified land degradation as a result of farming and mining as a key factor intensifying the impact of the disaster.

Cambodia, looking to the horizon, prepares for drought – UNDP In an effort to reduce the impact of drought on two of Cambodia’s most at-risk provinces, Kampot and Takeo, UNDP Cambodia and DanChurchAid have joined together to establish two new provincial drought information hubs and to train farmers and local communities in climate-resilient agriculture. The initiative marks another in a series of partnerships forged by UNDP under a project strengthening climate information and early warning systems in Cambodia.

CHINA

China’s renewable energy output leaps – The Straits Times By the end of 2018, China’s installed capacity for renewable energy reached 728,000 megawatts (MW), up 12 per cent on a year-on-year basis. It took up 38.3 per cent of the total installed capacity, growing 1.7 percentage points year on year, demonstrating that the alternative role of renewable energy has become increasingly important.

Debt trap could derail China’s high-speed train network – Asia Times They are a symbol of China’s technological prowess and the envy of the world. But the amazing web of high-speed trains is glued together by debt.

China eyes a strategic port in the Philippines – Asia Times A sudden and unexpected bankruptcy has provided China with a unique opportunity to win control of a Philippine port facility at Subic, the former site of US military bases that were closed in 1991 amid a surge of anti-American nationalism at the end of the Cold War.

Reports of Belt and Road’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated – Foreign Affairs With the vast, ambitious investment project known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China meant to pull the world closer, making itself the political and economic center of gravity for more than 60 countries within the project’s sweep. But domestic and international opposition to the initiative has mounted in the five years since President Xi Jinping announced its start.

China’s Coal Plants Haven’t Cut Methane Emissions as Required, Study Finds – New York Times China, the world’s coal juggernaut, has continued to produce more methane emissions from its coal mines despite its pledge to curb the planet-warming pollutant, according to new research.  In a paper published Tuesday in Nature Communications, researchers concluded that China had failed to meet its own government regulations requiring coal mines to rapidly reduce methane emissions, at least in the five years after 2010, when the regulations were passed.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Thailand’s elections in 2019 will test Prayuth’s political strategy – East Asia Forum The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) continues to extend its term as Thailand’s longest coup regime since the 1960s. Whether junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha will succeed in perpetuating his power will be determined through elections expected in March 2019. 

Corruption rises in Thailand, global watchdog says – The Bangkok Post Thailand dropped to 36 points, one lower than the year before, in Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index for 2018 released on Tuesday. The index ranges from 100 (very clean) to 0 (very corrupt).

Pheu Thai chooses three as PM candidates – The Bangkok Post  Pheu Thai has chosen three as its prime ministerial candidates while pro-regime Palang Pracharath will officially ask Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to be its PM candidate on Friday. The three Pheu Thai PM candidates are former agriculture minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, ex-transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt and former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri. 

Myitsone Dam ‘Must Be Stopped’: Cardinal Bo – The Irrawaddy The Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo, said the controversial Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam slated for construction at the source of the Irrawaddy River, known as Myanmar’s lifeline, “must be stopped” to ensure a peaceful future for the country, adding that the construction of the dam would be a “death sentence for the people of Myanmar”.

Cambodia Seeks Opposition Leader’s Arrest Amid EU Sanctions Threat – Voice of America Cambodia renewed calls on Monday for the arrest of veteran opposition chief Sam Rainsy as it faces the threat of sanctions from the European Union, its biggest garment export market worth billions of euros a year, over human rights concerns.

Related: Sar Kheng: Only ‘fifty-fifty’ chance of Rainsy returning – Cambodia Daily

Gag order issued as East Coast Rail Link talks continue – The Straits Times The Malaysian Cabinet has issued a gag order while negotiations with the Chinese contractor of the multi-billion-dollar East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project are ongoing, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday.

Malaysia enthrones new king after historic abdication – Southeast Asia Globe Malaysia on Thursday installed a new king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, after the last monarch abdicated in a historic first following his reported marriage to a Russian ex-beauty queen

How are Southeast Asians today faring differently to their parents? – Asian Correspondent Southeast Asia has changed dramatically over the last 40 years.  On the doorstep of some of the biggest export markets in the world and on the frontline of tech development, Southeast Asia, with a population of more than 640 million people and an average annual growth rate of 5.2 percent, is now considered the place to do business.

Chinese company consults locals over Mekong blasting – China Dialogue The red-robed monk sat impatiently at the front of the consultation meeting in Chiang Saen, northern Thailand. Once the representatives from China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) had finished their presentation he stood up and scolded them for taking too long.

Related: Chinese firm fails to convince locals over Mekong blasting – The Third Pole

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

EXSE FOCUS

Thais threaten protest on Jan 19 as government cancels February poll – The Straits Times Hundreds of protesters are expected to gather in Bangkok on Saturday (Jan 19) to demand general elections, after Thailand’s military government postponed a poll scheduled for Feb 24. “If an announcement on the March election is not made by tomorrow (Friday), we will be there on Saturday to demand it,” protest leader Nuttha Mahattana told [Straits Times] on Thursday (Jan 17). The election needs to be held by May 9, according to a law that lays out steps – and timelines – Thailand needs to take to return the country from military rule to democracy.//Spring cleaning: Thailand will want to ensure that elections are completed as early as possible this year. With each delay of the elections, Thailand runs the risk of another international debacle taking place on its soil, as the country is set to host the first of two ASEAN summits in June. Last time, in 2009, pro-democracy protesters broke through the gates into the summit venue in Pattaya and leaders had to be evacuated by helicopters and boats.

Related: Thai coronation expected to temper unrest caused by election delay – The Straits Times

How blockchain could undermine censorship – forever – Southeast Asia Globe Blockchain technology, which supports cryptocurrencies, can disrupt and drastically change the way transactions are made and records kept. Cases of blockchain being used in innovative ways to circumvent traditional information sharing and for political participation have already been achieved in parts of the world, notably Thailand.// ZCoin and blockchain have not just been used for anti-government activism, but have also been used by the Thai government to help store votes for a primary election in Thailand.  The Thai Democrat Party voted for the party leadership using an e-voting system that is considered the world’s first large-scale elections to use blockchain technology.  The use of ZCoin blockchain allowed the party to protect against voter fraud because blocks in a blockchain are unchangeable and open to the public.  As blockchain technology continues to become more mainstream it could have lasting positive impacts on government transparency around the world.

Why Is China In a Hurry to Revive the Myitsone Dam Projects? – The Irrawaddy A statement from the Chinese government on Sunday has renewed concerns among ethnic Kachin over the stalled Myitsone dam project. In the statement, the Chinese Embassy in Yangon claimed that Kachin political leaders and social organizations had a “positive attitude” toward the dam. It added that “local people of Kachin State do not oppose the Myitsone hydropower project; it is some individuals and social organizations from outside that oppose the project.” Three Kachin political parties and community leader Rev. Hkalam Samson immediately issued a statement of their own to insist that China’s claims were false and misleading. //Aung San Suu Kyi has not commented on either claim, but the fact that Myanmar is becoming increasingly reliant upon Chinese foreign investment, as Western sanctions are coming into effect, is a troubling sign for those opposing the dam. So is the fact that in December 2018 Suu Kyi was appointed chairperson of a Myanmar government steering committee tasked with implementing the establishment of the MCEC.

Kong Korm and son return to politics after royal pardon – The Khmer Times King Norodom Sihamoni has lifted the political ban on former opposition party top adviser Kong Korm and his son Kong Bora after the duo submitted requests to the Interior Ministry last week.  According to two separate royal decrees signed by the King on Tuesday, Mr Korm and Mr Bora were among 118 CNRP politicians banned from politics by the Supreme Court in November 2017.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Why Southeast Asia still bothers with ASEAN – The Diplomat ASEAN leaders came together for the 33rd time between 11 and 15 November 2018. They made statements and agreements and they released declarations. They met with their various dialogue partners and hosted the East Asia Summit, drawing in leaders from the wider Indo-Pacific. They waved for the cameras, the photos of which were dutifully relayed around the region online and in print. Yet, despite the pageantry, nothing much appears to have changed.

How Brexit Is Helping Vietnam in the South China Sea – The Diplomat China offered to bail out Malaysia’s controversial 1MDB fund, according to an investigation made by the Wall Street Journal. The report has Vietnam worried, since it reveals that in 2016, China tried to pour money into Malaysia through infrastructure deals after a discussion on September 22, 2016. In return, that explains why Malaysia’s then-Prime Minister Najib Razak supported Beijing’s stance on the South China Sea during the 28th and 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Laos the same year. This kind of offer reflects exactly what many fears about Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative – that China is buying the world. And Vietnam is concerned that it is surrounded by leaders willing to sell. 

How the U.S. Can Step Up in the South China Sea – Foreign Affairs Over the course of his two years in office, U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his disdain for most forms of multilateralism. Yet when it comes to two pressing maritime issues in East Asia, his administration sees the value of friends. First is the problem of stopping illegal transfers of fuel to North Korean tankers in the East China Sea, a tactic that Pyongyang uses to skirt U.S. and UN sanctions. To crack down on the smuggling, the United States and Japan have brought together a coalition of states to identify and report vessels engaged in these illicit ship-to-ship transfers. Then there is the South China Sea, where Beijing continues its military buildup and has doubled down on maritime claims that fly in the face of international law. 

Six-Nation Safe Mekong Operation Project Extended Till 2022 – Chiang Rai Times Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Prajin Juntong has told a press briefing the six-nation Safe Mekong Operation Project will continue anti-drug operations for at least the next four years. The campaign, which began in 2012, has pulled Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam together to tackle drug trafficking in the sub-region. Thai authorities will supply a patrol boat to their Lao counterparts with control and maintenance training provided for Lao officials, he said. “There are still various types of narcotics coming out of the Golden Triangle,” ACM Prajin said, referring to the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. “Accordingly, there is a need to seek ways to reduce supply and demand for drugs.”

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Plastic polluters launch US$1.5bn waste collection and recycling fund – Eco-Business A coalition of the world’s biggest plastic producers and users has set up a new US$1.5 billion fund to improve waste collection and recycling in developing countries. The fund will focus its spending in Southeast Asia, where waste collection systems are lacking and leakage of plastic into waterways is the most severe. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is made up of 30 companies including Shell, ExxonMobil, Dow, and Procter & Gamble, along with investment management firm Circulate Capital and New York consultancy SecondMuse. The alliance will invest the fund on waste collection and recycling projects over the next five years.

Riding the Durian Belt and Road: Risky times for Thai agriculture – Mekong Eye Chinese traders are increasingly prevalent in Thailand’s durian producing East, where farmers are abandoning other crops to cash in on the durian bonanza. This dynamic, however, is exposing huge risks fueled by pour foresight in Thailand’s agricultural policy, that in the end may put farmers deeper in debt, and further weaken the country’s agricultural potential as it ebbs and flows with the Chinese market.

Ministry guides oil spill response – Vietnam News More than 200 litres of oil spewed into the world-famous Hạ Long Bay in northern Việt Nam in August, 2017 when a pipe used to transfer the fuel between two tankers ruptured.

Capital fish farms to relocate – The Phnom Penh Post Owners of fish farms in Boeung Samrong lake located in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district have been ordered to leave by the municipal authority. The Phnom Penh authority on Monday issued a notice ordering the owners of fish farms in the lake to move within “10 days from the date of letter issuance”. The district authority said: “In the past, the lake was disrupted by a dam which made it drier and smaller. It could no longer be able to serve its functions.

Bangkok Smog To Cause Economic Damage Of Over $200 Million – Investvine The current severe air pollution crisis in Thailand’s capital Bangkok is expected to cost the country up to 6.6 billion baht ($207.8 million) in additional healthcare costs and losses from tourism as visitors prefer to stay away and go to healthier destinations.

Related: PM searching for haze solution – Bangkok Post

With its $3.85b mine takeover, Indonesia inherits a $13b pollution problem – Conservation News The Indonesian government has acquired a majority stake in the operator of the Grasberg mine, one of the world’s biggest copper and gold mines. The $3.85 billion deal has been lauded as a move toward resource sovereignty, but there’s been little mention of who inherits the massive pollution legacy left from decades of mining waste being dumped in rivers and forests.// The Grasberg Mine sits in one of the most impoverished communities in Indonesia.  Papua Province is home to a large indigenous population that had hoped to see economic gains from the mine that has been operating since 1973.  Instead, very little of the wealth from the mine has trickled down to the indigenous community and the people living in the province have faced conflict with the mine operator and security forces.  With the government of Papua province taking a 10 percent stake in the mine takeover it will be interesting to see if the indigenous communities surrounding the mine will begin to see more economic gains from the operation of the mine. 

Government actively looking into electric vehicles, minister says – The Myanmar Times The Ministry of Industry will encourage the manufacturing of electric vehicles in spite of the difficulties involved, said Minister of Industry U Khin Maung Cho.

CHINA

The Belt and Road Initiative Is a Corruption Bonanza – Foreign Policy Many countries that receive BRI investments suffer from high levels of corruption. On the TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix, most rank in the lower 50 percent, and 10 are among the riskiest 25 countries in the world. They often have opaque legislative processes, weak accountability mechanisms, compliant media organizations, and authoritarian governments that don’t permit dissent. For politicians in these countries, the BRI offers an array of tools for enabling corruption: injections of easily diverted cash, dazzling infrastructure to placate the citizenry, and the imprimatur of a cozy relationship with one of the world’s most powerful nations—all of it wrapped up in a virtual guarantee that their wealthy benefactor will, at the very least, look the other way if any improprieties should surface, so long as the project in question gets built.

Related: China’s Belt And Road Initiative Faces Obstacles in 2019 – Radio Free Asia

8 Ways China Is Encouraging Zero-Subsidy Renewables – Green Tech Media China is aiming to get renewables off of subsidies after capacity additions in 2017 left the administration facing a 110 billion yuan (USD $16.3 billion) payment backlog. The cash shortfall, reported by the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission’s Energy Research Institute, forced the government to suspend all new subsidized solar capacity approvals from May 2018. This month, amid speculation that subsidies will be phased out from the end of 2020, the Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA) released a package of enticements for developers willing to bet on subsidy-free solar and wind projects over the next two years.

China’s Shift to a More Assertive Foreign Policy – ChinaFile To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the China in the World podcast, Paul Haenle is interviewing five of the most respected Chinese international affairs scholars to discuss this important inflection point in U.S.-China relations. For the fourth episode in this series, Haenle spoke with Shi Yinhong, Director of the American Studies Institute at Renmin University and the Academic Committee of the School of International Relations. Shi points to two important turning points in China’s shift to a more assertive foreign policy: the 2008 global financial crisis, which made it clear that China’s economic development was an important engine for global growth; and Xi Jinping’s rise to power, which signaled China’s more ambitious international approach.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Vietnam prepares for Kim Jong Un visit amid talk of second summit with Trump – The Straits Times Hanoi is preparing to receive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a state visit, two sources told Reuters, while officials and diplomats said Vietnam is keen to host a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump. A source familiar with the matter said Kim will travel to Vietnam for an official state visit after the Feb 4-8 lunar new year. A separate source confirmed Kim’s visit but did not give any dates. The United States and North Korea are holding high-level talks in Washington this week to discuss a second meeting between Trump and Kim to seek an “interim” deal to revitalize nuclear talks, US and South Korean media have said.

Related: Why Vietnam Should Host the Second Trump-Kim Summit – The Diplomat

VN eyes private investment in infrastructure projects – Vietnam News Việt Nam will focus on attracting private investment in infrastructure to accelerate economic growth, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vũ Đại Thắng said at the Việt Nam Economic Forum (VEF), which opened Wednesday in Hà Nội. Speaking at a workshop on infrastructure development, financing and governance in Asia, Thắng said the Vietnamese Government had paid special attention to promoting private investment, especially via the public-private partnership (PPP) model, in recent years.

EU imposes tariff on rice from Cambodia, Myanmar – The Khmer Times The European Commission has imposed tariff on rice coming from Cambodia and Myanmar by implementing the safeguard measures. The EC said in a press release on Wednesday that a significant increase of imports of Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar into the European Union caused economic damage to the EU producers. “Therefore, the EU commission has decided to re-introduce import duties that will be steadily reduced over a period of three years,” it said.

US warned not to interfere despite successful meeting – The Phnom Penh Post A senior Ministry of National Defence official said the Tuesday meeting between the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Joseph H Felter and General Neang Phat had helped strengthen relations between the two countries’ militaries. However, a senior Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) official hit back at the US’ requests for the release of former opposition leader Kem Sohka and greater democracy in the Kingdom as a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and independence.

Chinese Firm Proposes $1.5-bn Elevated Railway for Yangon – The Irrawaddy China is looking to make further inroads into Myanmar’s economy by funding a US$1.5-billion elevated railway project in the country’s commercial capital, Yangon. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co., Ltd (CREEC) made a presentation about its planned project to develop an elevated railway to lawmakers in a media room in the regional parliament on Monday. Under the proposed project, CREEC will build the 37.9 kilometer-long elevated railroad with 24 stations in two to three years. The company said it will fund the project, which is estimated to cost $1.5 billion, but asked for a 50-year contract to operate the service, according to MPs who were at the presentation meeting.

A China Bailout in Malaysia’s 1MDB Scandal? – The Diplomat Earlier this month, new evidence surfaced regarding China’s efforts to strike a deal with the former Malaysian government back in 2016 to bail out the struggling 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund at the center of a billion-dollar scandal allegedly implicating former premier Najib Razak in exchange for deals tied to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The details have once again put the spotlight on the management of Malaysia-China relations under the previous government as well as how such dynamics are dealt with by Beijing and smaller states in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

EXSE FOCUS

Chinese warships dock in Cambodia amid rumours Beijing is building a new naval base there – South China Morning Post Three hulking Chinese warships docked in Cambodia on Wednesday for a four-day visit, as Beijing parades its naval prowess alongside its staunch Southeast Asian ally. China is the largest investor in Cambodia and has pumped billions into the economy while asking few questions about its abysmal rights record. While doling out cash China has also sought high-profile military exchanges, fuelling speculation that it is building a naval base off the Cambodian coast, claims vehemently denied by Prime Minister Hun Sen.//Given China’s substantial economic investment and military engagement in Cambodia in recent years, it is easy to forget that Cambodia has interests of its own that are aided by drawing on Chinese support, including building up its own maritime capacities to secure offshore energy fields as well as to project strength toward Thailand in a possible border skirmish.

US-China Trade War Divides Southeast Asia, Belt and Road Fears Unite it: Survey – South China Morning Post Most Southeast Asian experts are upbeat about the direction of the region’s economy, but many are wary of global trade agreements and divided on the consequences of the US-China trade war, a new survey has found. A poll of more than 1,000 experts, analysts and business leaders found that more than 55 per cent believed Southeast Asia would experience moderate or strong growth in 2019. The first State of Southeast Asia: 2019 Report – by the Singapore-based Asean Studies Centre at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute – found only about 20 per cent of respondents anticipated an economic downturn, with the pessimism most pronounced in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.//BRI skepticism: Also in the survey were questions about how to deal with China’s BRI. To date, every ASEAN country but Singapore has a BRI project or is in negotiations for one, but only 8.4% of respondents said the benefits of the BRI outweigh the potential political and economic fallouts.

Election Committee: Feb 24 now impossible – The Bangkok Post Voters who still cherished the hope of casting their ballots on Feb 24 saw the likelihood fade as the Thursday deadline for publication of the royal decree on the general election slipped away. Thursday, Jan 10, was the last day the decree could be published if the election is to be held on Feb 24. As of 6.15pm, there was no sign of it.//A never-ending saga: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu said that the current election date is no longer possible as the post-election process would collide with the royal coronation ceremony in April and May. He said that the elections will be held no later than March this year, but at this point, who knows anymore.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

US-China trade war is good for Indonesia: Indonesian V-P – The Straits Times The US-China trade war is beneficial to Indonesia as it could lead to a shift in production to other countries in the region, according to Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla. “Ongoing trade war is quite good,” Mr Kalla said at a discussion on economic outlook in Jakarta on Tuesday (Jan 8). His comments are in contrast to those from other Indonesian officials, who have warned of the negative spillover effects from higher US tariffs on China, including the possibility of China dumping cheap products, like steel, in neighbouring markets.

China promotes use of yuan among Southeast Asian nations – The Economic Times China published a five-year blueprint on Friday seeking economic and financial integration between southern Guangxi province and Southeast Asia, representing Beijing’s latest effort to promote international use of the yuan currency. China’s state council, or cabinet, has agreed to build Guangxi, which borders Vietnam, into a financial gateway between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, the world’s second biggest economy, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement on its website. 

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Vietnam faces challenges in ensuring water security – Vietnam.net Now is the time for the country to speed up studies on water security and environmental security to develop a legal framework and solutions to tackle the challenges, said director of the National Centre for Water Resources Planning and Investigation Trieu Duc Huy. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Vietnam now has about 830-840 billion cubic metres of surface water, some 63 per cent of which originates in neighbouring countries upstream. This means Vietnam’s water security heavily depends on actions taken on international rivers like Hong (Red) River or Mekong River, said deputy minister of MONRE Le Cong Thanh.

Ministry insists iron mine should not be reopened – Vietnam News The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has raised concerns over the controversial Thạch Khê Iron Ore Mine in central Hà Tĩnh Province, saying the mine should not restart operations due to environmental risks. Hoàng Văn Thức, deputy head of the ministry’s Việt Nam Environment Administration said the ministry shared the concerns of the provincial authority. Last month, Hà Tĩnh Province proposed shutting down the mine to protect the environment instead of temporarily halting operations.

Waste-to-electricity projects in big cities appeal to investors – Vietnam.net In November 2018, the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and the Environment joined forces with Tasco JSC to start construction of Tasco Cu Chi, a 500 ton per day solid recycling plant. In Hanoi, the municipal authorities approved the Soc Son waste-to-electricity (WTE) plant project with capacity of 4,000 tons per day. With huge volume of domestic waste of up to 9,300 tons per day, HCM City has released a set of criteria for investments in waste-to-electricity projects. The city will accept projects with the daily capacity of 1,000 tons and treatment costs of no more than $21 per ton.  The technology in the projects need to be capable of treating unclassified waste, and all the equipment must be new.

Government designates Lumkod lake as protected – The Khmer Times The government has decided to set up a protected area of more than 100 hectares in Ratanakkiri province to protect the environment, biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources. A sub-decree, dated December 25 and published by the Environment Ministry yesterday, said the government decided to designate Lumkod lake as a landscape protected area covering 110.91 hectares in Lumphat district’s Seda commune.

Smart city development on Lao government agenda for 2019 – The Phnom Penh Post The government has added smart city development to its agenda for this year as landlocked Laos seeks ways to strengthen its economic competitiveness in the coming years. The government told the National Assembly last month it is hopeful that work towards this initiative will start this year. The smart city initiative is one of the mega development projects the government plans to undertake this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Somdy Duangdy told the Assembly last month.

Turning Temple Town green through ‘upcycling’ – Southeast Asia Globe Siem Reap is Cambodia’s tourism cash cow. Over a million visitors fly directly to the city every year, and the city and nearby temples attracted more than 5.6 million people in 2017, a number that has been rising over the past 20 years. Such an influx of tourists presents environmental challenges. Cambodia already has a variety of environmental issues like illegal logging and a lack of recycling facilities, let alone the waste of millions of tourists. Tim Waterfield wants to help as the founder of Naga Earth, a social enterprise that’s trying to make tourism greener in Siem Reap. Cooking oils are often emptied down drains by street food vendors, which can lead to environmental issues down the line. Naga Earth collects used cooking oil and turns it into biodiesel fuel.

CHINA

Air quality worsens in China’s Henan province, improves elsewhere – Channel News Asia Air pollution in China’s heavy-industrial province of Henan worsened in December even as other regions improved, official data showed, with its cities hit by unfavourable weather and a struggle to find cleaner sources of economic growth. China is restricting industrial output, traffic and coal consumption in the smog-prone north for a second year in a bid to cut pollution during the winter heating period, when thousands of mainly coal-burning boilers are switched on.

The costs of containing China – East Asia Forum Washington’s policymakers at last understand that China is a serious strategic rival. For the first time since the Soviet collapse, they recognise that a major country is trying to expand its power and influence at the expense of US global leadership. Now they must decide what, if anything, to do about it. Vice President Mike Pence spoke for many in October 2018 when he struck a defiant tone, committing the United States to resist China’s ambitions and contain its challenge. Inevitably people started to talk of a new Cold War with China. But containing China is not going to be easy, and no one has yet explained how this new Cold War is going to be prosecuted, what it will cost and why the United States must do it.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Internet Companies Hit By Vietnam’s New Cybersecurity Law – InvestVine A law requiring Internet companies in Vietnam to remove content the country’s authorities deem to be against the state came into effect January 1, in a move critics called “a totalitarian model of information control,” AFP reported. The law requires Internet companies to remove content the government regards as “toxic”. Tech giants such as Facebook and Google will also have to hand over user data if asked by the government, and open representative offices in Vietnam.

Vietnamese authorities forcibly bulldoze Catholic homes – Asia Times Government officials in southern Vietnam have reportedly demolished more than 100 homes in a predominantly Catholic area. According to UCA News, the people of Loc Hu’ng in Tay Ninh province are mostly Catholic and were given minimal warnings about the demolitions. Apart from houses, a church-run home for disabled war veterans was also destroyed.

Vietnam among top ten hot destinations for US tourists – Vietnam.net In an article titled ‘Where will US travelers explore in 2019? Top trends, destinations and anniversaries’ published on USA Today, USTOA mentioned Italy as the most popular destination for travelers in 2019. “The top 10 hot destinations for the coming year also included Iceland, which ranked second. It was followed by Japan, Vietnam, Australia, France, Spain, Colombia, Cambodia and Portugal,” it said. The ranking was based on a recent survey conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers of tour operator members of the USTOA.

Two Cambodia Opposition Officials Barred From Politics to Seek ‘Pardon’ After Amendment Approval – Radio Free Asia  At least two senior officials from Cambodia’s opposition who were barred from politics said they will seek a “pardon” to have their rights reinstated after King Norodom Sihamoni approved an amendment to the country’s law on political parties on Tuesday. Kong Koam, the former president of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), and his son Kong Bora, a former senior official with the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said they will ask for individual “pardons” on Wednesday to resume political activities, according to a condition Prime Minister Hun Sen has said must be met before they can take advantage of the new amendment to overturn their ban.

Cambodia Becomes Gambling Heaven, Adds 52 New Casino Licenses In 2018 – InvestVine Cambodia granted 52 licenses for new casinos in 2018; pushing the number of gambling facilities up by 53 per cent over the previous year, the Ministry of Economy and Finance reported. Overall, about 150 casinos are now in operation in the country, up from 98 in 2017, with the largest one being NagaWorld in Phnom Penh. In the resort town of Sihanoukville alone, there are now 88 casinos, said Ros Phirun, deputy director-general of the ministry’s General Department of Financial Industry – the gambling business regulator in the country.

Cambodia Spokesman Denies Country Gave Passport to Exiled Former Thai PM Yingluck – Radio Free Asia A spokesman for the Hun Sen government on Thursday denied reports that fugitive former Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra had been given a Cambodian passport, but a critic of the Cambodian strongman said it couldn’t be ruled out in view of his ties to Yingluck’s billionaire brother. Media in Hong Kong, citing business records, have reported that Yingluck had used a Cambodian passport to register a company in the former British colony, now an autonomous Chinese city. The AFP news agency said the document lent weight to reports that Yingluck, deposed in a coup in 2014, went through Cambodia when she fled Thailand in August, 2017, after a graft conviction of running a rice subsidy scheme that cost Thailand billions of dollars.

Shipments delayed as exporters wait for EU tariff decision – The Irrawaddy In less than a week, the European Union will decide on whether or not to impose tariffs on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar, with local exporters saying the uncertainty is already costing them business. On Jan 15 the European Commission will make a decision on the activation of a safeguard clause that will tax Cambodian rice exports $199.5 per ton during the first year. In March, the EC launched an investigation to see if imports of semi-milled and milled Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar resulted in serious difficulties to EU producers of similar or competing products.

Report: Illegal Logging Still Rampant in Cambodia’s Prey Lang Forest – Radio Free Asia Deforestation in Prey Lang forest in the central plains of Cambodia continues to be a major problem that threatens the local economy, food security and biodiversity, and has the potential to accelerate climate change, according to a recent report by the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN). The local grassroots movement to preserve the forest found that the major culprit in deforestation is illegal logging, which has increased in recent years. The group’s 7^th Monitoring Report, published Monday, also says that the government is making the situation worse by requiring permits to patrol the forest. In addition, roads are causing habitat loss within the forest.

Chinese Railway Project in Laos Leaves Farmers in the Lurch –  Radio Free Asia The railway project that would link landlocked Laos with China has been touted as a benefit to the Lao economy because it will lower the cost of exports and consumer goods while boosting socioeconomic development in the impoverished nation of nearly 7 million people. But the railway project, expected to be completed in 2021, has displaced more than 4,400 families from their land. Under Lao Decree 84 issued in April 2016, Lao citizens losing land to development projects must be compensated for lost income, property, crops, and plants. However, many of these families have still not been compensated.

Court Rejects Appeal by Jailed Reuters Reporters – The Irrawaddy The Yangon High Court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, saying the defense had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent. Ko Wa Lone, 32, and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted by a lower court in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmar’s progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. “It was a suitable punishment,” said Judge Aung Naing, referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court.

What Does China’s Belt And Road Have To Do With Myanmar’s Meth Problem? – South China Morning Post If Myanmar is to break an addiction to methamphetamine production that has seen it become one of the world’s largest suppliers there is one country above all others that must act: China. That’s according to a report released on Tuesday that highlighted how complexities in the relationship between the two countries are being exploited by armed separatists who are producing thousands of tons of the drug in the “Golden Triangle” of Myanmar’s Shan state, an area that is already the world’s second-largest heroin-producing region.

How tech can help Southeast Asia keep up with surging tourist arrivals – Tech in Asia In 2017, the Asia-Pacific region logged a 6 percent increase in inbound tourism, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Southeast Asia saw tremendous growth, welcoming over 120 million international visitors and US$130.7 billion worth of tourism receipts. That uptick continued in 2018, with tourist numbers in the region going up by 10 percent in the first quarter, exceeding the international average of 6 percent. Hotels are turning to technology to deal with struggles like managing the influx of guests. One player in hotel tech is Japan-based TradFit. Using artificial intelligence, internet of things, and voice recognition, TradFit supplies hotels with screen-equipped smart speakers and a chatbot that acts as a digital concierge.

New Malaysia King can assume duties immediately after swearing-in on Jan 31 – The Straits Times The new King will take his oath of office on Jan 31, allowing him to carry out the duties of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong soon after, says the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal. Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said on Tuesday (Jan 8) taking the oath of office would mean that the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong would be able to take on his responsibilities immediately, even before being installed as King ceremonially. Though a constitutional monarch, the King, or Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is seen as a symbol of Malay power and protector of Islam, the state religion.

Indonesia to double disaster relief budget in 2019 after year of tragedies – Reuters Indonesia will more than double its disaster response budget to 15 trillion rupiah (S$1.41 billion) in 2019, officials said on Tuesday (Jan 8), after a series of major natural disasters devastated three regions of the vast archipelago last year. The South-east Asian country suffered its deadliest year in over a decade in 2018, when over 3,000 people died in tsunamis and earthquakes in Sulawesi, Lombok, and West Java and Sumatra islands.

REVIEWS

Book release: Urban Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia – United Nations University Springer just launched a new book on Urban Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia that was co-edited by Dr. Amrita Daniere (University of Toronto) and UNU-EHS expert Dr. Matthias Garschagen. It explores how the impacts of climate change interact with poverty and vulnerability in Southeast Asian cities and thereby increase risks for their residents. The book features both academic literature and action research from experts that are involved with the research project Building Urban Climate Change Resilience in Southeast Asian Cities (UCRSEA).

An ASEAN Giant Mulls the Region’s Future – The Diplomat Indonesia’s former foreign minister Marty Natalegawa’s new book on the regional grouping’s relevance grapples with its manifold challenges. In his previous roles including as foreign minister, Natalegawa dealt with a number of formidable challenges that the grouping faced, from border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia to the management of the South China Sea disputes. Even after ending his tenure as foreign minister, he has continued to remain active in speaking and writing about regional developments, being candid about the issues ASEAN faces but also still hopeful that the region will be able to address them if the right steps are taken. Natalegawa has now captured the essence of those years in his book Does ASEAN Matter?

EXSE FOCUS

Lower Sesan II plant set to launch – The Phnom Penh Post The Hydropower Lower Sesan II power plant, which will be launched next week, is set to add another 20 per cent to the Kingdom’s current total electricity production, said a senior official of the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The plant has a total electricity generating capacity of 400 megawatts, which will bring the total amount of hydropower produced by Cambodia to 1,328 megawatts. The project is a joint investment by Chinese firm Hydrolancang International Energy Co Ltd, which holds 51 per cent of its shares, Royal Group (39 percent), while the rest is held by a Vietnamese-owned company, EVN, with a total investment of more than $800 million.//Construction of the dam has carried with it a string of controversies, the latest being the complaints by hundreds of Cambodian families who say that the dam has left them without access to clean water as the water in the dam’s reservoir is not clean enough for consumption. Also, farmers have complained that they can no longer make ends meet as the dam has taken over much of their farmland. 

How Asia fell out of love with China’s Belt and Road Initiative – The Straits Times After an unprecedented run of funding large-scale investments in projects from railways to highways in poorer countries across Asia, governments are adopting a far more cautious approach to China’s grand plans for what it regards as its backyard. “The first phase of the Belt and Road is effectively over,” said Andrew Small, a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Asia programme. “A new model has not yet emerged, but it is clear that the old one, almost entirely focused on speed and scale, is no longer sustainable.”//Serious concern or just teething troubles? It is true that implementation of the BRI has not gone according to plan in countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, and Pakistan. However, the biblical-sized BRI is an unprecedented endeavor in global trade and infrastructure, and it has the potential to raise the living standards of more than half of the world’s population. To a large extent, China is “learning by doing” and while we are witnessing push-back against the BRI, we are also seeing cooperation between recipient countries and China to adjust and downscale projects when necessary, so that they are a better fit with local needs and economies.

Related: Is the BRI debt trap real? – The ASEAN Post

Prayut hints again at return as premier – The Bangkok Post Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has hinted once again he may be ready to return as premier after the Feb 24 poll, a day after the ban on political activities was lifted. During his visit with cabinet ministers to the northeastern province of Bung Kan on Wednesday, Gen Prayut admitted he is now a full-time politician. “I am here today. If I tell you that I am not a full-time politician, that’s not true because I have been running the country.//A true politician: Officially a full-time politician, Prayut wasted no time acting like one last week, when a billboard was put up showing him and British PM Theresa May shaking hands with a message supporting his premiership due to his honesty and anti-corruption campaigns. The only problem is that election campaigning was not yet allowed. The move underscores how “fluid” election laws are in Thailand.

Related: Dictator’s new clothes a very ill fit  – The Bangkok Post

Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen Calls For Lift of Ban on Opposition Political Activities based on ‘Individual Merit’ – Radio Free Asia Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that he will ask for a royal decree to grant permission for more than 100 senior members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to reenter politics based on “individual merit,” following a ban last year. The prime minister and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) overwhelmingly won a July 29 election widely criticized as unfree and unfair following the Supreme Court’s November 2017 dissolution of the CNRP and a five-year ban on the political activities of 118 of its senior officials for the party’s role in an alleged plot to topple the government.//Earlier this week on Human Rights Day, Hun Sen announced that the rights of Cambodian citizens have been “fully restored” since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. The national elections earlier this year, coupled with the political exile of senior opposition leaders, paint a different picture.

Related: Cambodia Now ‘More Free’ Than Under Khmer Rouge: Hun Sen – Radio Free Asia

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Favourable currents for ASEAN–China relations in the South China Sea – East Asia Forum Despite increased friction between the United States and China, on balance, positive developments in the South China Sea outweighed negative ones this year. The Single Draft South China Sea Code of Conduct Negotiating Text (SDNT) was adopted in August by the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China. The SDNT includes proposals for areas of cooperation and for dispute prevention, management and settlement mechanisms in the South China Sea among the parties. While the SDNT is a major step forward, several points of contention remain, including the geographic scope of the eventual Code of Conduct (COC), preferred dispute settlement mechanisms, and details of resource exploration and development.

Cambodia’s key role in regional security – The Bangkok Post Last month, Asia Times, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, reported that China has lobbied Cambodia for a naval base in Koh Kong province on the Gulf of Thailand, prompting the Cambodian government to deny the news. A Chinese naval base in Koh Kong or in any coastal area inside Cambodia would greatly damage the current state of excellent Asean-China ties and jeopardise China’s many regional and global schemes, including its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

What’s Next for the Cambodia-Laos Border Dispute? – The Diplomat Last week, there was a flurry of activity in Cambodia-Laos relations tied to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s anticipated visit to Laos. While both sides discussed a range of issues within their bilateral relationship, the interaction also once again put the focus on the outstanding border dispute between the two sides.

The Geopolitics of Oil and Gas in the South China Sea – The Diplomat Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Eufracia Taylor and Hugo Brennan –  Senior Asia Analysts at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft – explores the motives of China’s push for joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, and the broader consequences for geopolitics.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Protests and demonstrations a key concern for extractive companies – Myanmar Times Protests and demonstrations pose a serious security threat to the oil and gas industry as well as mining sector in Myanmar, a recent poll among industry players showed. Yangon-based Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) organised workshops aiming to raise awareness of the relevance of Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) for Myanmar’s extractive companies, and identify the most serious security issues for the industries. The workshops were held in the capital city and Yangon in late November, attended by stakeholders from public and private sectors.

Related: Renewed calls to stop dam construction in Shan – Myanmar Times

Towards an energy efficient ASEAN – The ASEAN Post In tandem with a renewable energy policy, energy efficiency will be key to building a reliable and sustainable energy system for the future of Southeast Asia. Energy efficiency refers to the reduced rate of energy consumption in order to produce the same amount of output. Less energy resources are needed to fuel the same level of economic production, leading to higher gains over the long term. While most Southeast Asian countries have their own energy-efficiency targets, ASEAN as a bloc aims to increase energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2025.

Asian cities stand to lure climate investments worth US$20 trillion – ASEAN Today A new International Finance Corporation (IFC) report indicates Asian cities will pull in more than US$20 trillion in climate investments in six important sectors by 2030. Those sectors earmarked for significant investment are sustainable construction, renewable energy, electric vehicles, public transportation, and waste and water management. In the East Asia Pacific region, green buildings have the potential to lure investments worth US$16 trillion. Nearly 81% of this capital flow will be absorbed by China but, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are set to reap investment opportunities worth US$345 billion in the green building space.

Low carbon electricity generation, carbon pricing could reduce emissions in Asean: MIT report – The Straits Times The ongoing United Nations (UN) climate change talks in Poland have emphasised the need for the world to drastically reduce its emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, with many nations arguing that both developing and developed countries should bear the responsibility of doing so. But how can rapidly developing nations, such as those in South-east Asia, strike a balance between mitigating climate change and providing ample electricity to its people and growing economies?

How to build resilient cities without wrecking the environment – Asian Correspondent “What happens if the water temperature rises by a few degrees?” is the 2018 International Year of the Reef leading question. While the ocean is the focus, urbanisation is the main reason for the rising temperatures and water pollution. Yet it receives little attention in this discussion. In turn, rising temperatures increase downpours and urban floods, adding to the pressures on urban infrastructure.

Strengthening forest governance is vital for growth of Southeast Asia’s forests – Forest News The Greater Mekong Region (GMS) in the transnational region of the Mekong River Basin in Southeast Asia experienced a 5.1 percent decline in total forest cover from 1990 to 2015, according to a recent study conducted by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Based on current data, this trend is predicted to get worse.

CHINA

China Backtracks on Local Coal Ban – Radio Free Asia China’s government has restored heat to hundreds of frigid households after an “improper” ban on burning coal highlighted problems with anti-smog policies for the second year in a row. In early November, an inspection team from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment was sent to the capital of northern China’s Shanxi province following complaints that residents were burning furniture to keep warm, according to state media and independent reports. The problem for households in the Kangle district of Taiyuan city followed a local ban on coal-fired heating, an order that the official English-language China Daily called “improper” in a report on Nov. 23.

China issues white paper on human rights progress over 40 years of reform, opening up – The Straits Times China on Wednesday (Dec 12) issued a white paper on progress in human rights since its reform and opening up drive. The white paper, titled “Progress in Human Rights over the 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up in China”, said reform and opening up has helped liberate and develop social productive forces, opened up a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ushered in a new chapter in the development of human rights.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Thailand sets election date, lifts ban on political campaigning – Southeast Asia Globe Voting will take place on 24 February, marking the country’s first national election in eight years. According to a statement published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, the military government has also lifted its ban on political campaigning, which has been in place since the junta took power in 2014. “The people and political parties will be able to take part in political activities during this period up to the election in accordance with the constitution,” the statement read. Effective immediately, political parties can begin campaigning for the election in Thailand’s lower house, which will likely see Thailand’s populist party pitted against the military establishment

However Thailand Votes, the Military Is Set to Retain Influence – The Diplomat More than four years after the May 2014 coup, the Thai junta has set a new date for elections: February 2019. Although the military government has frequently postponed elections in the past, it looks likely that the planned ballot will go ahead as all political parties have launched their campaigns, even the pro-junta factions. Will the transitional period bring Thailand on the democratic track? The short answer is “unlikely.”

Weighing up political developments in Vietnam – East Asia Forum This year marked the mid-point between Vietnam’s five yearly National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The eighth plenum of the CPV Central Committee met in October to initiate planning for the 13th Congress in 2021, appointing five sub-committees charged with drawing up Vietnam’s next socio-economic plan, amending party statutes, and vetting possible candidates for the next Central Committee and Politburo. A number of major domestic political and economic developments in 2018 will weigh heavily on these preparations.

Vietnam an FDI magnet in Southeast Asia: experts – The Nation Vietnam is among the few Asean member countries to consistently improve its attractiveness to foreign investors due to its growing economy and improving business climate, according to experts. The fact that it hosted the 2017 APEC meetings highlights its regional economic integration and steadily improving business climate, he added. Vietnam has been attracting investment in infrastructure, including power projects, road and rail construction and renewable energy.

Returned to persecution: The Vietnamese deportees caught in Trump’s immigration war – Southeast Asia Globe As the Trump administration ramps up deportation numbers, people who fled the Vietnam War are finding themselves caught between two former foes. This is the story of a deportee who has found himself a stranger in a strange land where he is a target for discrimination because of his father’s wartime legacy and his minority ethnicity

Vietnam Seeks Arrest of Activist Over Facebook Posts – The Irrawaddy Police in Vietnam have issued an arrest warrant for an activist accused of trying to overthrow the state by posting pro-democracy materials on Facebook. Nguyen Van Trang, a member of the banned group Brotherhood for Democracy, posted articles, photos and videos on his Facebook account that distorted the policies of the Communist Party and state, and incited people to protest, the Ministry of Public Security said on its website. Several Brotherhood members have been jailed this year since the group was formed in 2013 to “build multi-party democracy” in the Southeast Asian country.

Cambodia’s Opposition Begins to Crack – The Diplomat Cambodia’s merged opposition party teeters on the edge of a damaging split after its self-exiled former leader Sam Rainsy said that he had seized back the party leadership from his successor, Kem Sokha, until his onetime rival-cum-ally is released from house arrest. The decision was announced at a December 1-2 meeting in the U.S. city of Atlanta attended only by the faction of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) with roots in the former leader’s Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), with those linked with Sokha’s Human Rights Party (HRP) boycotting.

Cambodia Seeks To Double Tourism Arrivals By 2025 – Investvine Cambodian has ambitious plans to increase the number of tourism arrivals from six million in 2018 to 12 million by 2025 as it builds two new airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and renews, enlarges and modernises the one in Sihanoukville. According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, a new airport for Phnom Penh in Takhmao city, Kandal province, some 30 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh, funded partly by Chinese loans would create 18,000 jobs.

Myanmar Speeds up Progress on China’s Belt and Road – The Diplomat In late November, Ning Jizhe, deputy head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), visited Myanmar and met with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the minister of planning and finance along with other ministers. A week later, on December 6, the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) implementation steering committee, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, met. Years after the launch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Myanmar is finally moving rapidly to embrace President Xi Jinping’s project.

Related: China-Myanmar Economic Corridor a ‘Win-Win’ – The Irrawaddy 

‘Dirty List’ Names 49 Firms Doing Business with Military – The Irrawaddy A total of 49 companies worldwide are named and shamed in Burma Campaign UK’s latest “Dirty List” of firms that do business with the Myanmar Military. The list released on Tuesday comprises companies whose operations have been linked to human rights violations or environmental destruction in Myanmar. The companies work in sectors including energy, telecommunications, Internet services, and arms and military equipment, and come from countries including China, Russia, India, Japan, the U.K., France, Norway, Ukraine, the U.S., Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore.

World Bank: East Asian countries must adapt to match most developed nations – Southeast Asia Globe If countries across East Asia intend to sustain the growth of their economies, policy makers are going to need to accommodate a changing global and economic environment, according to a recent World Bank report. At a conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, World Bank representatives explained that East Asia’s continued development is not guaranteed in the future. “Despite this progress, countries in the region still have significant gaps in labour productivity, human capital, and living standards compared to high-income countries,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank vice president for East Asia and the Pacific, speaking in Kuala Lumpur.

Philippine Congress extends Mindanao martial law until end-2019 – The Straits Times The Philippine Congress approved a 12-month extension of martial law in the restive Mindanao region on Wednesday (Dec 12), after President Rodrigo Duterte argued for maintaining tough security measures to stop Muslim extremists from regrouping. A joint legislative session voted 235-28 in favour of retaining military rule in Mindanao until the end of next year, prolonging what was already the country’s longest period of martial law since the brutal 1970s era of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Indonesia, Singapore, Burma among world’s ‘most generous’ countries – Asian Correspondent A new survey found that Indonesia, Singapore and Burma (Myanmar) are placed among the top 10 most generous countries in the world based on their likeliness to donate money or volunteer for a humane cause. Washington-based management consulting company Gallup, which recently released it World’s Most Generous Countries Report 2018 found that Indonesia topped the list alongside the more affluent Australia with both having the Highest Civic Engagement Index Score of 59. The Southeast Asian country was even placed higher than “better positioned” New Zealand and the United States which both scored 58 on the index with Ireland and the United Kingdom trailing behind with a score of 56 and 55 respectively.

EXSE FOCUS

Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Challenge – The Diplomat December 12 marks the third anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a compact intended to catalyze a global reduction in carbon emissions. Yet all the statistics suggest the problem is getting worse: the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests 2018 is likely to set a new record for carbon emissions. This stat is all the more surprising, and alarming, since 2017 saw record levels of renewable energy installation.

Related: Major Cities Can Fight Climate Change and Make Billions: Researchers – The Irrawaddy

Report: Thailand most unequal country in 2018 – The Bangkok Post Thailand has overtaken Russia and India as the most unequal country in the latest survey by a Swiss bank. Banyong Pongpanich, chairman of Phatra Securities, posted on Facebook on Wednesday the findings of the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook 2018 conducted on 40 countries. He expressed concern about the trend. Two years ago, Thailand ranked third in the report, after Russia and India. He expressed concern about the trend. Two years ago, Thailand ranked third in the report, after Russia and India.

Cambodia may ease grip on opposition as EU threats loom – The Bangkok Post Cambodia said Monday that banned opposition members may be allowed back into political life and shuttered media outlets could reopen as the EU considers pulling a trade deal the country is loath to lose. Numerous activists, journalists and government critics were released from jail in the months after strongman Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won all parliamentary seats in July elections held without the main opposition party.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Watch out for Asean’s new Indo-Pacific – The Bangkok Post If everything goes as planned, members of the United Nations Security Council will have a rendezvous in Bangkok at the end of 2019. Asean leaders will use the occasion to display to the world’s most powerful players their collective leadership on the new vision of an Asia-wide region stretching from South Asia to Northeast Asia. Even though it is still nearly a year away, preparations for the first meeting between Asean leaders and the Big 5 (the council’s five permanent members) have already started in earnest.

Related: Asean ‘must bolster maritime strength’ – The Bangkok Post

The meager truth of China’s aid to the Philippines – Asia Times When Chinese President Xi Jinping made a landmark visit to the Philippines last month, many expected the leader to make good on a previous reported pledge to deliver as much as US$24 billion in aid and investment on his host. Despite a slew of new signed agreements, Xi’s visit failed to clarify China’s commitment to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s expansionary economic agenda, including his much ballyhooed “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure-building scheme.

Laos, Cambodia pledge to enhance cooperation – Vietnam Plus Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed their commitments to strengthening bilateral friendship, solidarity, and cooperation during their talks in Vientiane on December 5. Speaking highly of the bilateral friendship and collaboration over the past years, both sides discussed joint work across national defence-security, consular work, public administration-transportation, culture-tourism, trade-investment, border issues, and the economic cooperation in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam development triangle, as well as regional and global issues of shared concern.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Vietnam’s wind power tariffs attractive, but grid capacity a major concern – VN Express Vietnam’s new feed-in tariffs are attracting great interest in wind power, but investors are concerned about grid connection and purchase agreements. The new feed-in tariffs (FIT) are expected to be attractive to domestic and foreign investors, Tommaso Rovatti Studihard, South East Asia sales director for wind power developer Vestas Asia Pacific, told VnExpress International. The government recently approved tariff revisions under Decision 39 on support mechanisms for the development of wind power.

Kien Giang pilots to place artificial reefs around Phu Quoc – Vietnam Plus The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has coordinated with Thailand to place artificial reefs in waters around Phu Quoc island to restore, preserve, and develop local fisheries resources. The pilot project, which was approved by the Kien Giang People’s Committee in October 2017, received the consultation of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography. Quang Trong Thao, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Kien Giang has sent officials to Thailand to learn their experience in placing artificial reefs.

Related: Vietnam hosts roundtable on climate, security in Netherlands – Vietnam Plus

Water firms told to expand network or lose license – Khmer Times The government yesterday threatened to withdraw the licenses of private water operators that fail to expand their operations in rural areas and are not contributing to enhancing access to clean water in the country. Cham Prasidh, the Minister of Industry and Handicraft, said water companies that are not expanding their networks into rural areas are failing to fulfill the responsibilities they acquired when they earn their licenses, and stand in the way of the government’s goal to provide access to clean water for everyone.

Thailand’s Biggest Wind Power Generator Plans Solar, Hydro Expansion – Jakarta Globe Thailand’s biggest wind power generator, Wind Energy Holdings, or WEH, plans to invest into other sources of electricity including solar, hydro and biomass to back up its capacity, its chief executive told Reuters in an interview. Thailand has emerged as Southeast Asia’s leading developer of renewable electricity, with providers obliged to guarantee minimum levels of supply. “The problem with wind in this region is it tends to be night-time wind, so we do need something to balance that mix,” said chief executive Emma Collins. She added that five onshore wind farms with a capacity of 90 megawatts (MW) each would be operational this year, boosting WEH’s total capacity in Thailand to 720 MW.

Laos looks to increase electricity export – Vietnam Plus Lao media on November 30 quoted a report by the country’s Minister of Energy and Mines Khammani Inthilath as saying that it is looking to increase electricity export in the time to come. The country can ensure supply of electricity for domestic consumption and the export of this form of energy creates a stable source of income for Laos. The minister’s report further said currently Laos is continuing to develop 36 hydropower projects which will be completed in 2020 with a combined capacity of 4,184.10 MW, adding 20,892.99 Kwh to the national grid.

Chinese-Owned Cement Factories Pollute Lao Villages – Radio Free Asia Two Chinese-owned cement factories in the Vang Vieng district of Laos’ Vientiane Province are covering approximately 900 local families in at least four villages with dust and smog, threatening their health, local sources say. The affected villages of the northwestern province include Khanmark, Houa Ngam, Phonesoung and Markkham. Villagers say that trucks hauling stones to the factories throughout the day are kicking up dust, which has a negative effect on the air quality in and around houses along the roads. This is compounded by other kinds of dust created during the cement production process. Pollution from the factories themselves is also a serious problem. 

Myanmar coal mining ‘causing environmental disasters’ – Aljazeera Farmers in Myanmar’s Shan State say coal mining operations are causing widespread environmental damage. Bordering China and Laos, Shan State is home to several ethnic groups and is only partly under the control of Myanmar’s government. Activists warn that pollution levels are increasing as mining operations across the state continue to grow.

Is Asia’s media reporting the real causes of air pollution? – Eco-Business It is a little odd that a problem that kills 4.7 million Asians a year doesn’t make many headlines. Particularly since the culprit—air pollution—is more severe in Asia than anywhere in the world. Air pollution kills more Vietnamese than motorbike accidents, more Indonesians than malnutrition, and more Filipinos than guns. In fact, Asia accounts for 60 per cent of the world’s population, but two-thirds of all air pollution deaths. So why don’t air pollution stories excite editors much here? It is a question that puzzled delegates at the Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference in Kuching in November.

Will China’s waste ban force a global clean up? – East Asia Forum China’s announcement in July 2017 of a ban on waste imports sent shockwaves through the global recycling industry. Until 2017, China and Hong Kong had imported an estimated 70 per cent of the world’s plastic and electronic waste, and 37 per cent of the world’s paper waste. Now they were pledging to raise import standards to a level where virtually all waste imports would be banned. Under a new ban on solid waste imports that will take effect on 31 December 2018, standards have become even stricter, but the same question remains: can the government effectively enforce the waste ban in the long-term?

CHINA

Xi unusually omitted China’s BRI from his G20 remarks – Asia Times The talking point of the recent summit of the Group of Twenty leading economies in Buenos Aires was that, on its sidelines, US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping reached an agreement to pause the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. Such a trade truce was struck only because the two leaders, notably Xi, significantly tempered their stance and rhetoric. The Chinese president’s softened stand was evidenced by his long list of concessions. It was also somewhat manifested in his decision to exclude the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from his remarks at the G20 summit.

Related: From growth opportunity to threat: how the world has changed its mind on China’s belt and road – South China Morning Post

China, UK publish guidelines to make Belt & Road construction greener – China Daily The Green Finance Committee (GFC) of the China Society for Finance and Banking and the City of London’s Green Finance Initiative (GFI) on Friday jointly published a set of green finance guidelines for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Green Investment Principles were published here at the third meeting of the UK-China Green Finance Taskforce, chaired by Dr Ma Jun, chairman of the GFC of the China Society for Finance and Banking, who also sits on the People’s Bank of China Monetary Policy Committee, and Sir Roger Gifford, chairman of the GFI.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Prayut warms to PPRP as poll looms – The Bangkok Post Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has hinted that the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) may be his preferred choice if he decides to become a prime ministerial candidate on the ticket of any party. Gen Prayut also said he will give a clear answer about whether he will enter the political fray after the ban on political activities is lifted. “If I am approached, I’ll consider any party which works in sync with what we’re doing now,” Gen Prayut said.

Vietnam’s new power monopoly – East Asia Forum Vietnam’s top leadership positions, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the president, are traditionally held by two different people. This separation ceased to exist on 23 October 2018, when the National Assembly elected General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as president, filling the vacancy created by the sudden death of former president Tran Dai Quang on 21 September. While unusual, this is not the first time that a leader has worn the dual hat. From 1951–69, and during the latter half of 1986, Ho Chi Minh and Truong Chinh were respectively party chief-cum-head of state. What is unprecedented, though, is that Trong is the first to be the chair of both the Central Military Commission and the Central Party Commission for Public Security.

Behold the rise of Cambodia’s political princelings – Asia Times The Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), an organization with tight ties to the country’s long-ruling party, had plenty to be pleased about after its recently concluded annual congress. First, it earned a place in the Guinness World Records for the fifth time for building the world’s longest dragon boat, which was rowed along Phnom Penh’s stretch of the Mekong at the annual Water Festival in November. The UYFC also arguably set a local record for dynastic promotions inside the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Prime Minister Hun Sen’s vehicle for his recent consolidation of a one-party state and eventual handover of power to one of his offspring.

‘We Can’t Go Anywhere’: Myanmar Closes Rohingya Camps but ‘Entrenches Segregation’ – The Irrawaddy As the world was focused on abortive efforts to begin repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar last month, hundreds of their fellow Muslims still in Myanmar were boarding boats seeking to escape the country. Their attempted flight cast the spotlight back on 128,000 Rohingya and other displaced Muslims still living in crowded camps in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine, six years after Buddhist mobs razed most of their homes. The government of Aung San Suu Kyi, under international pressure to address their plight, says it is now closing the camps on the grounds that doing so will help development and put the labor of camp residents to good use.

Tatmadaw, Arakan Army Clash in Buthidaung Township – The Irrawaddy The Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army (AA) have engaged in a series of clashes over the past six days or so along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, according to the ethnic armed group. “The two sides engaged in a fierce clash from 6.30 a.m. till 2 p.m. [Wednesday], and the fighting continued sporadically [till evening],” AA information officer U Khaing Thu Kha told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. The clashes occurred in Rakhine State’s Buthidaung Township, he said.

The X Factors in Indonesia’s Presidential Race – The Diplomat With a GDP of more than $1 trillion, a population of 264 million, and diverse natural resources, Indonesia is one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. It is also one of the region’s most robust democracies. The 2019 elections will see a rematch of the 2014 vote. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the nation’s first leader from outside the political and military elite, is once again facing Prabowo Subianto, a former lieutenant general and establishment figure who chairs the Gerindra Party.

Indonesia woos China investors with BRI projects – The Straits Times Indonesia is offering new projects worth up to US$60 billion (S$82 billion) to Chinese investors in a bid to capitalise on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a senior official has said, despite growing concern over the strings attached to some of the loans. Despite Indonesia’s strategic location, South-east Asia’s largest economy has not been among the biggest beneficiaries of China’s trillion-dollar push to create a modern-day Silk Road. Its best-known BRI project is a US$6 billion railway linking the capital city of Jakarta to the textile hub of Bandung, which has faced land procurement problems.

EXSE FOCUS

Cambodia’s Hun Sen ‘Sorry’ He Hadn’t Killed Protest Leaders – Radio Free Asia Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen voiced regret on Thursday that he hadn’t had leaders of protests against his ruling Cambodian People’s Party in 2013 and 2014 killed, saying only that he hadn’t wanted to do this “at the time.” Speaking to a gathering of hundreds of workers, Hun Sen said that protest leaders had been lucky to escape Cambodia after the protests, which saw opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party members attacked and dispersed by security forces, with at least one shot dead and several others wounded by gunfire in 2013. “I want to let you know that if you hadn’t fled Cambodia, you would already have had your funeral,” Hun Sen said in remarks apparently addressed to former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, now living in exile in France after fleeing a string of convictions in Cambodian courts widely seen as politically motivated.//That’s the ticket: Speaking at an event earlier this week, Hun Sen said that his opponents only criticize him because they want to live abroad: “They must strongly insult us and allege that [the] regime attempted to kill and arrest them, so they will receive asylum in other countries” he said. Recently, exiled political analyst Kim Sok and his family were granted political asylum in Finland.

Thaksin’s son tipped to help lead Pheu Thai campaign – The Bangkok Post Panthongtae Shinawatra, who joined Pheu Thai on Sunday, will join senior members in leading the party’s political campaign, a party source said on Monday. The source said Mr Panthongtae will join Khunying Suradat Keyurphan and Chalerm Yubamrung as lead campaigners for the party in the lead up to the general election, tentatively planned for Feb 24. His presence would boost the morale of party members after seeing key figures defect to other parties, mainly Palang Pracharath, the source said.//The 38-year-old, better known by his nickname “Oak”, announced his membership on Facebook in front of an image of Martin Luther King Jr. and the latter’s famous quote, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Oak explained that if he did not act now his only option was to stay quiet and wait to be hunted down by his adversaries. His membership underscores that his father, even in exile, still has a strong influence in Thai politics.

Suu Kyi’s Electoral Blow in Myanmar Must Spark Real Change – The Diplomat Earlier this month, Myanmar by-elections confirmed a reality most had already internalized: that Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD), once the champions of democracy as the opposition in a military-ruled country, are now struggling to bring about expected change while in power. At the by-elections, the NLD won just six of the 13 seats contested for state, provincial and national parliaments, a poor performance by their own expectations and an unwanted portent ahead of a national ballot due in 2020.//Fall from grace: On top of the mounting domestic pressure on Suu Kyi, her international reputation continues to suffer as well. Just this week, Canada stripped Suu Kyi of her honorary citizenship, and the Malaysian prime minister stated that he no longer supports her. Her poor handling of the Rohingya crisis has been the major reason for the scrutiny against her, but Burmese law does not allow her government to hold the military accountable for its actions against the Rohingya. Her reluctance to speak out against the military may also be explained by the fact the her father, independence hero Aung San, is widely considered the founder of the Burmese army.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

What’s Next for Vietnam-Thailand Defense Cooperation? The Diplomat This week, Vietnam’s deputy defense minister paid a visit to Thailand in yet another official exchange between the two Southeast Asian states. The interaction highlighted the ongoing activity on the defense side of the strategic partnership that both sides have forged over the years. Though their relationship had been characterized by animosity for much of the Cold War, it has gradually warmed since, including in the defense domain.

What Asean must do to navigate these perilous times – The Straits Times Last year to a backdrop of resounding backlash worldwide against free trade and multinational institutions, Asean celebrated 50 years as a proponent of these ever-more endangered ideals. The prevailing spirit of protectionism and isolationism, and no less a looming trade war and the simmering tensions in the South China Sea, all put no small damper on the occasion. In truth, the milestone was worth celebrating, especially in today’s political climate.

Asean chairmanship chance to ‘boost US ties’ – The Bangkok Post The United States supports Thailand’s role as Asean chair, specifically as it relates to Thailand’s ability to draw multilateral effort from Asean members to deal with maritime and cybersecurity, says the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Randall G Schriver. “The US will be a supportive partner in Thailand’s chairmanship year,” he said. “We’ll take Thailand’s lead on what issues Thailand wants to promote during its chairmanship.”

Related: Thailand’s ASEAN Chair Challenge in 2019 – The Diplomat

Preventing Chinese influence in the Pacific has concerning historical parallels – Asian Correspondent One of the more notable outcomes from the recent APEC summit in Port Moresby was the announcement of a joint American-Australian-Papua New Guinean upgrade of the Lombrum naval base on Manus Island – by all accounts to contain China’s influence in the region. Although the announcement of this proposed facility emphasised it will be an American, Australian and Papua New Guinean joint enterprise, in reality, it will be the level of American commitment that will determine whether this base will be an operational facility.

China finds a friend in the Philippines – The ASEAN Post Xi Jinping’s visit to the Philippines marks the first visit by a Chinese president to the country in 13 years, highlighting the shift in relationship between the two countries. Before Duterte was elected, the Philippines was one of the strongest allies of the United States (US) in the region and had maintained a rocky relationship with China.

South Korea turns to ASEAN – The ASEAN Post If anything is clear from the recently concluded ASEAN Summit and the East Asian Summit held in Singapore is that Southeast Asia is now hot property. The heads of state that attended the summit says it all, from Russia’s Vladimir Putin to Japan’s Shinzo Abe – everyone is realising the geostrategic importance of the region. The opportunity presented in Southeast Asia is clear, the region’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world and it has a market with over 600 million consumers. Another reason why many countries are vying for the region’s attentions is its geopolitical importance. One prime example of this is South Korea’s New Southern Policy.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

More promising offshore energy – Vietnam Investment Review Vietnam’s huge potential in the offshore wind industry has caught the eye of overseas investors, but further work is required to kick-start the fledgling market, according to energy experts. Edgare Kerkwijk, board member of the Asia Wind Energy Association, told VIR last week at the Vietnam Offshore Wind Roundtable in Ho Chi Minh City that more offshore wind developers will come to the country as the government begins to map out offshore wind policies for the future.

Offshore waste disposal laws need improving: experts – Vietnam Plus Vietnam’s laws on waste disposal at sea put the marine ecosystem, aquatic resources and people’s livelihoods under severe threat, according to experts. The country currently allows offshore disposal of dredged material and waste from three to six nautical miles from land. Vietnam, therefore, needs complete mechanisms on dredging and waste dumping activities to protect the environment, experts recommend.

Noose or life ring: Ho Chi Minh City’s proposed super dyke – Mekong Eye After years of collecting dust, Vietnamese authorities are resurrecting a plan to construct a 25m-wide sea wall that they hope can fend off tidal floods and impede saltwater intrusion and water-logging for a 10,000 square kilometer area anchored by HCMC. Operationally, the proposed Vung Tau – Go Cong Sea Dyke will also help to create a freshwater reservoir spanning 430 square kilometers  and impounding up to 3 billion cubic meters of fresh water 40 kilometers southeast of HCMC. Containing this water will require constructing a dam and another 60 kilometers of barriers that will bisect the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio biosphere reserve.

Germany willing to support Vietnam in wind power development – Vietnam Construction German businesses are ready to cooperate with and support Vietnam in developing wind power as the country boasts huge potential for renewable energy, including wind energy. The statement was made by German Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Andreas Siegel at a seminar on wind energy in Vietnam hosted by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam on November 6. Speakers at the event held that in the context of increasingly severe climate change and gas emissions that cause environmental pollution and threaten lives of people on the globe, the development of renewable energy – a source of clean energy – is extremely important, contributing to sustainable socio-economic growth.

Cambodian Villagers Protest Sand-Dredging Operation in Protected Zone – Radio Free Asia At least 10 ethnic Phnorng villagers protested on Monday in Cambodia’s Mondulkiri  province to demand an end to a sand-dredging operation carried out in a wildlife sanctuary in the Bou Sra commune of the province’s Pech Chreada district, local sources said. Speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service on Nov. 26, Sraing Soeun—a resident of Bou Sra’s Pou Toeut village—said that villagers had earlier seized dredging machines used in the operation, which they said had been launched in secret and was still unlicensed. The project’s owner had already blocked the upper end of the stream being dredged, reducing the village’s daily fish supply and interfering with local religious practice in the forest, Sraing Soeun said.

Cambodia’s solar regulation – The Phnom Penh Post On January 26, the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC) enacted for the first time a solar generation regulation. The regulation is a new driver for the country’s solar photovoltaic (PV) system development. The solar generation regulation has elevated the regulatory framework in Cambodia with a foreseeable positive impact to its future solar PV development. Having six to nine hours of daylight on a daily basis, the solar irradiation in Cambodia is recorded at 5kWh/m2/day. Despite having such potential, Cambodia is still dependent on imported electricity which accounts for 36 per cent of its power generation last year, which is an increase from 2015 and 2016 (26 per cent and 23 per cent respectively).

Thailand eyes 1GW of floating PV for hydro dams and pilots large-scale battery storage – Energy Storage State-run utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is planning to facilitate 1GW of hybrid floating solar-hydro projects across eight dams throughout the country. Thepparat Theppitak, deputy governor, power plant development and renewable energy, EGAT, announced the plans at the ASEAN Solar + Storage Congress & Expo in Manila, the Philippines, organised by Leader Associates. The first two projects, located in the Northeast, are already in the development phase, including 45MW(AC) of contracted capacity at Sirindhorn Dam, with a commercial operation date expected in 2020. A second 24MW(AC) project at Ubol Ratana Dam is due to come into commercial operation in 2023.

Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong Residents Fear China Will Proceed with Blasting Rapid on Mekong River – Chiang Rai Times Residents living along the Mekong River in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district have expressed strong opposition to a “new” public hearing on China’s plans to blast away a stretch of rapids, saying there was no need for more talk about the proposal, which they would not tolerate. China wants to eliminate the rapids in the river to accommodate boat movement from Jinghing to Luang Prabang in Laos. Some blasting has been done in the past, and in 2016 the Thai government approved a feasibility study and design for more such work.

GMS biodiversity conservation corridors to operate from 2019 – Saigon Online The Greater Mekong Subregion biodiversity conservation corridors and project management plans will be put into operation from 2019, said Vice Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Environment Nguyen The Dong. The project aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation and the management of the forest ecosystems among countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion. It is significant to not only Vietnam but the world too as it will offer valuable experience in building biodiversity corridors.

Mega-dam costs outweigh benefits, global building spree should end: experts – Mongabay Large hydroelectric dams are not worth the environmental and societal costs, and their benefits will continue to dwindle further as the climate changes, analysts argue. After proliferating in North America and Europe in the mid-20^th Century, hydroelectric fell out of favor there in the 1970s and more dams are being removed than constructed nowadays. But hydroelectric development didn’t stop, it moved location – thousands of dams have been built in developing nations since the 1970s, with many more planned.

Feeding Singapore’s hunger for sand – The ASEAN Post Sand mining for reclamation of coastal areas is both, a geopolitical and conservation issue for the Southeast Asian region, with many of the more developed countries in the bloc playing culprits. Leading the regional pack for reclaiming land from its coasts is Singapore, with Malaysia close behind. In Singapore, the total land area has literally grown more than 25 percent since the nation first came into being. The island city-state has so far increased its total land area from 578 square kilometres (km²) in 1819 to 719 km² today.

CHINA

China’s Belt & Road needs to listen more – The Bangkok Post In the aftermath of a tense Asean-led summit season, it is clear now that the United States and China are engaged in a great-power competition not seen since the Cold War. The US-China trade war, irrespective of negotiated talks in Buenos Aires between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, is set to deteriorate over the next two years and probably longer. The two superpowers may have fundamental and structural differences that cannot be resolved without a sweeping deal that realigns their geopolitical status and geo-economic interests in a way that is acceptable to both, an unlikely prospect. So the confrontation will likely intensify.

Beijing has ‘stern’ words with Washington over US ship in South China Sea – The Straits Times China said on Friday (Nov 30) it had lodged “stern representations” with the United States after the US Navy sailed a ship through the contested South China Sea, passing near islands claimed by China. Tension between the two powers in disputed Asian waters comes as their relationship has been strained by a trade row involving increasingly severe rounds of tariffs on billions of dollars worth of each other’s imports. The US guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville sailed near the Paracel Islands on Monday to challenge China’s “excessive maritime claims”, the US Pacific fleet said in a statement.

Related: China envoy warns of dire consequences if US hardliners hold sway – The Straits Times

China ‘Buying’ Positive News Coverage From Foreign Journalists: Report – Radio Free Asia The Chinese government is inviting foreign journalists to Beijing on international relations fellowships, on the understanding that they write “positive stories” about China, an online newspaper in India reported. The Chinese foreign ministry has been running the 10-month programs for journalists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more than a dozen countries from Southeast Asia and Africa since 2016, The Print news website reported. “They have been given the red-carpet treatment: Apartments in one of Beijing’s plush residences … and free tours twice every month to different Chinese provinces,” the article said.The initiative follows a call from Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 for journalists to “tell China’s story better” to the rest of the world, it said.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Cambodia achieving 2030 economic target ‘almost impossible’, says World Bank – Southeast Asia Globe At the launch of the World Bank’s annual economic update on Cambodia, held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday this week, regional economists explained that sustaining the considerable growth the country has seen over the past two decades will be a challenge for Cambodia.And even if Cambodia does manage to maintain its consistent growth, the government’s short-term goal of becoming an upper-middle income country by 2030 is a “very tall order indeed”, World Bank lead economist Norman Loayza said.

Will Cambodia’s Bun Rany be the next ‘first lady’ to fall from grace? – Asia Times The recent ignoble falls from grace of two of Asia’s former “first ladies” – the Philippines’ Imelda Marcos and Malaysia’s Rosmah Mansor – raise some relevant questions for Cambodia and the international community: Could Cambodia’s Bun Rany, the wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen, be next on the list? The answer lies in addressing further questions: Will the wife of Cambodia’s longtime prime minister ever be investigated for allegations regarding the 1999 murder of actress Piseth Pilika? Will Bun Rany be investigated for using the Red Cross emblem to bolster her husband’s leadership?

The shifting landscape of Myanmar’s politics – The ASEAN Post Ever since the military-backed government of Myanmar embarked on a series of political reforms back in 2011, the country’s political landscape has never been the same. The political reforms carried out by Myanmar’s then government included the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, general amnesties for more than 200 political prisoners and many others. The culmination of such reforms was seen in 2015 when the country held its first openly contested elections since 1990.

Analysis : National Leaders Send a Chilling Message over Media’s Role – The Irrawaddy Myanmar’s senior leaders offered a revealing glimpse of their perceptions of the media last week—and their view of the country’s Fourth Estate appears to be one of deep skepticism that some media professionals fear could have a chilling effect. Last Friday, newly elected members of the Myanmar Press Council gathered at the Presidential Residence in Naypyitaw to take their oath in front of President U Win Myint, who delivered a speech. Following the ceremony, at a dinner in honor of the council, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi chatted briefly with several MPC members on the topics of social media, mainstream media and access to information.

The change to come to Indonesian democracy – Asia Times In a country where political parties are already held in low regard, Indonesia’s democratic landscape may be about to undergo a significant transformation because of the unforeseen consequences of holding the legislative and presidential elections on the same day next April. Ten political parties are represented in the current 560-seat House of Representatives, now in the final stretch of its five-year term. Come October 2019, when the newly-expanded 575-seat Parliament is convened, opinion polls show that the number of parties could fall from ten to six.

South-east Asia grapples with stunting and anaemia: Global report – The Straits Times Most South-east Asian countries are grappling with stunting and anaemia, a report on global nutrition has warned. According to the Global Nutrition Report released on Thursday (Nov 29), countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar have significant cases of stunted children and anaemic women. Malaysia, meanwhile, is grappling with those problems as well as that of increasing weights. At least 35 per cent of Malaysian women were overweight, according to its data. The report is the latest in recent studies warning against global malnutrition even as rising incomes put more balanced and nutrient-rich diets within closer reach.