Asia Watch Archive

The climate crisis and the El Niño phenomenon have turned 2023 into a year of record-breaking, sky-high temperatures. And nowhere has the damage been more severe than in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.

Over the last two years, Hong Kong authorities have removed nearly 200 works from the shelves of the city’s public libraries, citing possible violations of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL).

Filipino radio journalist Cresenciano Bunduquin was shot and killed by two assailants outside his home on May 31 in the province of Oriental Mindoro. One attacker died after Bunduquin’s son pursued the duo in his car; the other fled the scene and remains at large. The assassination underscores the Philippines’s status as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of the press.

A big win for the progressive Move Forward Party in Thailand’s general election on Sunday (May 14) may mark a turning point for the role of the military and monarchy in the country’s politics. Move Forward campaigned on a platform of curbing the power of both institutions, which made it popular with voters but now puts it in the crosshairs of fellow legislators who remain staunch defenders of these institutions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded an official visit to Seoul today (May 18), the first such visit by a Canadian prime minister in nine years. During the visit, Trudeau and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on co-operation on critical minerals, clean energy transitions, and energy security.  

High-profile expulsions, allegations of foreign interference, and comments about “slave labour” have cooled Canada-China relations of late and renewed interest in China’s thick playbook of diplomatic 'countermeasures.'

Pakistan has been engulfed in turmoil since the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. Supporters of Khan, who faces corruption-related charges, have staged protests across the country, some of which turned violent. On Thursday, the country’s Supreme Court declared the arrest illegaland ordered his immediate release.

The government of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has come under attack by two former prime ministers, Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad, possibly undermining the country’s political stability just five months into Anwar’s tenure. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which wields considerable influence in the government’s 19-party coalition, has called for Najib’s release from prison, where he is serving a 12-year sentence for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal.

Weeks after its diplomatic win in helping restore ties between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, Beijing offered its services again on Tuesday, this time as a broker in the rapidly escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

On March 31, member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) concluded negotiations on the U.K.’s accession to the free trade agreement (FTA). Canada and the other 10 CPTPP members — Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam — agreed to the U.K.’s accession after almost two years of negotiations.  

The House of Commons Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship released an interim report last week advocating for expanding Canada’s engagement with Taiwan, albeit within the parameters of Canada’s ‘One China’ policy.

Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, flew to New York City on Wednesday, transiting through the city on her way to Belize and Guatemala — two countries (out of 12 worldwide, plus the Vatican) that boast official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

On March 28, Myanmar’s military junta dissolved 40 parties including the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of ousted former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. This move comes ahead of the yet-to-be-scheduled “elections” by the country's ruling military – elections that the UN and the U.S. have labelled a “sham.” The NLD won a landslide victory in 2020, but Suu Kyi was jailed three months later, following the February 2021 coup.

To resuscitate travel and boost consumption . . . 

The Japanese government is pushing forward with a travel subsidy program as part of its re-opening plans. In an attempt to revive the tourism industry, the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign covers up to half of the cost of travel and accommodation for domestic tourism trips. The campaign kicks off just as Japan heads into a four-day holiday this week for Marine and Sports Days, which were re-scheduled to boost travel at the start of the now-postponed Olympics.

Privacy concerns drive Naver out . . .

Naver is moving its back-up data storage centre out of Hong Kong due to privacy fears sparked by Hong Kong’s National Security Law. The South Korean tech giant, known as the ‘Korean Google,’ dominates web services in South Korea, and is one of the key players in its innovation sector with large stakes in artificial intelligence R&D. Naver is also the majority stakeholder of Line, a messaging app popular in Japan and various countries in Southeast Asia.

Eviction on short notice . . . 

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston today, with a deadline of this Friday. According to the U.S. State Department, the decision will “protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.” The move follows the U.S. Justice Department’s indictment of two Chinese individuals for allegedly working with the Chinese Ministry of State Security to hack into U.S. companies developing COVID-19 vaccines, testing technology, and treatments.

87 companies to shift manufacturing out of China . . .

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on July 17 a list of 87 companies selected to receive subsidies to shift production out of China to Japan or Southeast Asia. In an effort to lower its overreliance on China and diversify supply chains, Tokyo will spend C$876 million to support 57 companies coming back to Japan and 30 moving to Southeast Asia.

A sudden spike in on-base cases . . . 

Japan’s government has asked U.S. military authorities to implement mandatory COVID-19 testing for all in-coming personnel following a spike in coronavirus cases at three installations in Okinawa.

A Māori social enterprise leads the way . . .

Aotearoa / New Zealand-based social enterprise 5000 Tribes has launched what is being called the world’s first global Indigenous online marketplace.

Strong support in South, Southeast Asia . . .

Asia varies widely in how people view the role of religion. That was one of the findings of a new Pew Research survey in which respondents were asked whether religion played an important role in their lives.