Asia Daily: October 16, 2023

News

Putin to visit China to deepen 'no limits' partnership with Xi. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in China this week, aiming to strengthen the bond between the two major strategic competitors of the United States. Putin's visit will include his attendance at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Oct. 17-18. This marks his first journey outside the former Soviet Union since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for him in March over the deportation of children from Ukraine. The two nations had previously announced a "no limits" partnership in February 2022. Guy Faulconbridge and Laurie Chen, Reuters, October 15

Myanmar's military seeks to keep ethnic minority allies on its side with anniversary of cease-fire. Myanmar’s military government commemorated the eighth anniversary of a multilateral cease-fire agreement by hosting representatives from ethnic rebel groups. However, three signatory groups opposing the current regime — the Karen National Union, Chin National Front, and All Burma Students’ Democratic Front — boycotted the event, accusing the military of violating the agreement's principles. Since its takeover on Feb. 1, 2021, the military has been in peace talks with ethnic minority leaders, emphasizing the importance of the cease-fire amidst nationwide armed resistance. Grant Peck, AP News, October 15

Fearing China, South Korea Targets Firms Building Taiwan Navy Submarines. South Korean authorities charge SI Innotec for its role in Taiwan's new submarine program, fearing Chinese economic retaliation. The move highlights Seoul's geopolitical considerations with its largest trading partner. Ju-min Park, Reuters, October 15

Powerful Earthquake Shakes Western Afghanistan a Week After Devastating Quakes Hit Same Region. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan, causing significant damage and casualties. This comes just over a week after a series of quakes and aftershocks devastated the same area. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter near Herat, and aid group Save the Children confirmed multiple casualties and widespread destruction. AP News, October 15

Pakistani Forces Clash with Militants and Kill 6 Fighters During a Raid in the Northwest. Pakistan's military conducted an overnight raid in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, resulting in the death of six militants and wounding eight others. One soldier also died in the operation, and weapons were recovered from the militants' hideout. The incident raises concerns about the regrouping of the local Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, in the area. AP News, October 15

Australians Decide Against Creating an Indigenous Voice to Advise Parliament on Minority Issues. In a recent referendum, Australians voted against a constitutional amendment that would have established an Indigenous advisory body to Parliament. The proposal aimed to give Indigenous people a say in policies affecting them but faced opposition over concerns it could deepen racial divisions. Rod McGuirk, AP News, October 14

New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Luxon to Get Cracking on Building Coalition Relationships. Christopher Luxon, New Zealand's Prime Minister-elect, is focusing on building relationships with ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First. His center-right National Party and ACT secured a narrow electoral win, holding 61 seats in the 121-seat Parliament. The official result is pending the count of special votes, which historically have impacted right-wing parties. The Straits Times, October 16

Long Form

Leveling Up: Tencent's Honor of Kings in the Gaming Landscape of China. Amid Beijing's crackdown on gaming, Tencent's mobile game Honor of Kings gains traction for its social aspects. Players form teams and can purchase "power-ups" and "skins" to customize characters. The game has become a social outlet for many, including those living abroad, like May Jin who started playing while in Bangkok. Lu-Hai Liang, The Wire China, October 15

China's Road to the Middle East Involves Complex Diplomacy with Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine. Amid global tensions following Hamas's attack on Israel, China's diplomatic stance in the Middle East is under scrutiny. While China has economic interests and amicable relations with various countries in the region, its public response to the crisis has been limited. The situation highlights China's challenge in balancing its economic priorities with diplomatic influence in a volatile region. Aaron McNicholas, The Wire China, October 15

The China Factor in the India-Tanzania Strategic Partnership. Tanzania's skepticism toward China has created an opportunity for India to strengthen its longstanding partnership with the East African nation. The two countries recently elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, covering various domains such as trade, defense, and maritime security. The partnership aims to contribute to regional stability and is seen as a calibrated strategy by India to fill the void left by China's diminishing influence in Tanzania. By Raghvendra Kumar for The Diplomat, October 14

Reassessing Indonesia's Nickel Downstreaming Policy. Indonesia's efforts to build an end-to-end electric vehicle (EV) supply chain face challenges as major EV manufacturers shift from nickel-based to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. Despite attracting significant Chinese investment in nickel smelters, the country must reconsider its policies due to environmental concerns, over-reliance on China, and the anticipated shift to more cost-efficient LFP batteries. Manggi Habir, East Asia Forum, October 14

Former FTX Boss's Massive Bribes to Chinese Officials Bigger Than Expected. Explosive testimony in a New York courtroom reveals that Samuel Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency exchange paid $150 million in bribes to unnamed Chinese officials. The bribes were allegedly to unfreeze $1 billion accounts involved in a Chinese money laundering investigation. If true, Bankman-Fried, a U.S. citizen, could face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). By Toh Han Shih, Asia Sentinel, October 15

Is China's Economy Doomed? Despite Western skepticism, China has a more expansive economic policy space than other major economies. Strengths include prudent monetary policy, low government debt, and vast state-owned assets. The country also has flexibility in fiscal and monetary policies, suggesting a variety of tools to stimulate the economy, including in the real estate sector. By Yuzhe HE, Li Huiyan, Jiang Jiang, Ginger River, October 14