Asia Daily: October 3, 2023

News

Philippines, allies kick off naval drills amid Asia-Pacific tension. Manila, along with forces from Britain, Canada, Japan, and the U.S., initiated two-week joint naval exercises in Philippine waters following Beijing's move to block Philippine fishermen from the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The "Sama Sama" drills, with over 1,800 participants, are being held in southern Luzon, focusing on areas like anti-submarine warfare and air defense. By Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores for Reuters, October 2

Early voting begins in Australia’s Indigenous Voice referendum. Australia has initiated early voting for a pivotal referendum on the "Voice to Parliament," a proposed Indigenous advisory body to counsel Parliament on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters. Supporters view this as a significant step towards embedding Indigenous recognition in the constitution, while detractors argue it might not effectively address the deep-rooted inequalities faced by Indigenous communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is rallying for a "yes" vote, but recent polls indicate a divided public opinion. Al Jazeera, October 2

Tokayev Discusses Prospects of Economic Cooperation Between Central Asia and Germany. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in a Berlin roundtable with the Eastern Committee of the German economy and Central Asian leaders, emphasizing potential economic collaborations. Tokayev highlighted Central Asia's strategic position for trade and its vast resources, suggesting strengthened ties with Germany and the EU. He also discussed industrial projects, sustainable development goals, and collaborations with major companies. By Saniya Sakenova for The Astana Times, October 2

Japan's top talent agency to dissolve after sex abuse scandal; over 300 seek damages. Japan's leading talent agency, Johnny & Associates, announced its decision to split into two separate entities on Monday. One of these entities will be dedicated to compensating the 325 victims who have come forward seeking damages for sexual abuse by the agency's late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The agency, which exclusively represents male entertainers, acknowledged last month that Kitagawa had abused numerous boys and young men since the 1970s. By Francis Tang and Satoshi Sugiyama for Reuters, October 2

US warned China to expect updated export curbs in October-US official. The Biden administration has informed Beijing about its intentions to update regulations that limit shipments of AI chips and chipmaking tools to China in early October, according to a U.S. official. This move is part of an effort to stabilize the relationship between the two nations. The original restrictions, released in October 2022, were designed to prevent U.S. technology from bolstering the Chinese military by restricting its access to advanced AI chips and the most advanced chipmaking tools from the U.S. By Karen Freifeld and Alexandra Alper for Reuters, October 2

North Korea accuses US of concealing role in bombing of Russia’s Nord Stream. North Korea has accused the United States of concealing its alleged involvement in the bombing of Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipelines a year ago. Pyongyang claims that Washington and its allies are attempting to “cover up the traces of their involvement” by rejecting Moscow’s appeals for a joint investigation under the observation of the U.N. This accusation comes roughly a year after the Nord Stream pipelines, connecting Russia’s and Germany’s gas infrastructures under the Baltic Sea, were targeted by several explosions. By Anton Sokolin for NK News, October 2

Flights from China to Thailand almost full amid visa waivers, Thai Airways says. Flights from China to Thailand are over 90% full, according to Thai Airways International Pcl, following Thailand's decision to temporarily ease visa regulations for Chinese visitors. Despite the positive trend, arrivals from China in 2023 are still only about half of what they were before the pandemic. The visa-free entry for Chinese tourists will last from September 25 to February 29, aiming to boost the dwindling tourist numbers from China. By Bloomberg via South China Morning Post, October 2

Bain Capital invests $200 mln in Vietnam conglomerate Masan. U.S. private equity firm, Bain Capital, has invested a minimum of $200 million in the Vietnamese conglomerate, Masan Group. This marks Bain Capital's inaugural investment in Vietnam. The firms announced on Monday that the investment could potentially attract additional investors, raising the total to $500 million. This move is anticipated to intensify competition in Vietnam's burgeoning retail sector, attracting both domestic and international investors. By Phuong Nguyen for Reuters, October 2

Cambodian court bars environmental activists from traveling to Sweden to receive 'Alternative Nobel'. A Cambodian court has prohibited three environmental activists from Mother Nature Cambodia, who are currently serving suspended prison sentences, from traveling to Sweden to accept the esteemed Right Livelihood Award. The activists were previously convicted in June 2021 for their efforts from 2017-2020 to conserve Cambodia's natural resources. Their prison sentences were suspended, but they were restricted from international travel without court approval for three years. AP News, October 2

US calls on China to encourage N. Korea's return to diplomacy. The United States has urged China to leverage its influence to prompt North Korea towards de-escalation and a return to diplomatic discussions, according to a statement from the State Department on Monday. This call comes amidst speculations that the forthcoming summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing might bolster cooperation between the two nations and North Korea. This development coincides with the U.S. enhancing its trilateral security collaboration with key Asian allies, South Korea and Japan. By Song Sang-ho for Yonhap News Agency, October 3

Long Form

Japan Can Do More for Ukraine, Even Without a Change of Policy. Japan has the capacity to offer more support to Ukraine without altering its current policy stance. While Tokyo has been cautious in its approach, there are avenues for increased humanitarian aid and diplomatic engagement that can make a meaningful difference. By James Brown for Nikkei Asia, October 2

Can Sri Lanka Afford to Go Green? Sri Lanka faces a dilemma in its transition to renewable energy, as the country grapples with economic challenges and a lack of infrastructure. The question remains whether the island nation can afford the costs associated with going green while balancing its economic constraints. By Michael Iveson for The Diplomat, October 2

U.S. aims to end reliance on China for minerals, but environmentalists block mining on American soil. The U.S. Senate is exploring ways to counter China's control over critical minerals like lithium, essential for green technologies. However, environmentalists oppose domestic mining, citing ecological concerns. By Eduardo Jaramillo for The China Project, October 2

Allied Perspectives on Semiconductor Export Controls. As the one-year anniversary of the October 7 semiconductor export controls approaches, CSIS gathers experts from U.S. allies to discuss the global implications of these controls, particularly on China's access to military AI capabilities. The event aims to shed light on how the U.S. and its allies, including Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany, can collaborate to ensure the long-term success of these export controls. CSIS, October 2