This Month in Asia: March 2023
This Month in Asia: March 2023
China and its leadership featured heavily in international news this month with a significant overseas trip by Xi, an annual legislative gathering, and a diplomatic coup in the Middle East.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Meet in Moscow, Signal Unity amid International Pressure
On March 20, Xi Jinping touched down in Moscow for a three-day visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin which saw the two leaders and their delegations hold formal and informal dialogs from March 20 - 22. The trip has been seen by many as a confirmation of the “no-limits” nature of the partnership between Russia and China; a description used by the two leaders just weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022.
Central to the discussions surrounding Xi’s Moscow visit was China’s hotly debated peace plan for bringing about a conclusion, or at least a ceasefire, to the war in Ukraine. The plan, which has been met with skepticism from many Western powers, citing China’s refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a mark against China’s credibility as a would-be peace broker.
First up on the agenda for the summit was a one-on-one sit down between the two leaders to discuss the most pressing issues. Unsurprisingly, the ongoing war in Ukraine was among the topics slated for the first day, according to Yuri V. Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to Putin.
On Tuesday, Xi met with Russain Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, while Chinese and Russian delegations met for negotiations, later being joined by Xi and Putin. The two leaders later signed the aforementioned joint statements and briefly addressed the media.
Both Xi and Putin expressed satisfaction in their statements to the press, which included details regarding areas of future economic cooperation and a mutual expression of belief in China’s proposed plan for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Putin noted that the West and Kyiv have not shown “readiness” for an agreed-upon solution to the war in Ukraine. Xi was more reserved, noting that China continues to adopt “an objective and unbiased position" on the matter.
Both leaders also referenced the development of a multipolar world in their respective remarks to the press. With the period of time following the collapse of the Soviet Union often referred to as the unipolar moment - where the United States emerged as the sole superpower on the planet - many in the international affairs community have suggested that the US’ time as the sole superpower on the globe is up, with Russia and China being the two major powers that are poised to export the ideal of a world order beyond the ideals of Western-style liberalism.
President Putin had this to say in allusion to the respective worldviews of Russia and China: “I would like to emphasise that Russia and China pursue an independent and sovereign foreign policy. We jointly work to create a more just and democratic multipolar world order, which should be based on the central role of the UN, its Security Council, international law, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”
Mr Xi’s own sentiment read as follows: “We will strengthen our cooperation within multilateral structures, including the SCO, BRICS, and the Group of Twenty, and will promote genuine multipolarity in a bid to facilitate post-pandemic global economic recovery, all while stepping up our constructive efforts to shape a multipolar world and improve global governance. This includes contributing to global food security, energy security and the uninterrupted operation of supply and value chains and working together to shape a community of common destiny for humankind.”
Xi and Putin ended their visit after signing two joint statements. One on deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries and another on plans for economic cooperation up to 2030.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 21, the second day of Xi’s trip to Moscow.
North Korea Continues Weapons Testing, Responds to American and South Korean Military Exercises
North Korea continued a series of weapons tests, which began in mid-February, throughout the month of March. This includes at least 14 missile tests spanning a period from March 9 to March 27.
Aside from the missile tests that have been a regular occurrence since mid-February, the Academy of National Defense Science, based in Pyongyang and subject to US sanctions and export controls since 2016, reported the completion of a successful three-day test of an “underwater nuclear attack drone” on March 28. The Pyongyang Times - and Pyongyang- associated DPRK Today - reported that the submarine vessel traversed a 600 kilometer (373 mile) long, oval-shaped path in the Sea of Japan from March 25 to March 27; a total travel time of 41 hours and 27 minutes.
Further, the vessel is reported to have been equipped with a “test warhead” which it apparently deployed underwater without issue.
In response to joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, an article in Rodong Sinmun, the chief newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, described the US and “the south Korean puppet traitors are becoming ever more bellicose and frantic in their attempt to invade the DPRK.” Earlier in March, a spokesperson for the Korean People’s Army issued a statement in response to exercises by “the enemy” at a firing range in Paju, a South Korean city sitting near the 38th parallel.
One missile launch in question occurred just hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. The two leaders met on March 16 in a summit where they affirmed their interest in working to mend historically stressed ties between the two countries in the face of continued threats from North Korea and growing regional concern regarding China.
China Convenes Annual Legislative Meetings in Beijing, Formally Affirms Xi for Third Term
China’s annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress - dubbed the Two Sessions - ran from March 4 to March 13, with the Communist Party of China unveiling new leadership and policy directives for the coming year.
The National People's Congress is held annually and serves as a platform for the government to present its agenda to the public. During the congress, proposals are discussed, and policy priorities are signaled. The sessions rarely have dissenting votes, but they provide an opportunity for the government to present its work report, as was done by China's outgoing premier, Li Keqiang, in the most recent congress. The report emphasized economic growth, though at a comparatively conservative rate to recent years, and there was also a changing of the guard as new officials associated with President Xi Jinping were set to be sworn in, with Xi himself confirming his third presidential term after having secured continued leadership of the CPC last October. In addition to this, plans were announced for a central government reorganization that includes the formation of a national financial regulatory administration and a national data bureau, overseen by the State Council and the National Development and Reform Commission, respectively.
Taking the helm from Li Keqiang as Premier is Li Qiang - another Xi ally - who previously served as Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai, overseeing two-month long lockdown in the city that ranked among the most strict responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
All-in-all, the Two-Sessions were a success for Xi, who established a sense of continuity in terms of his tenure and managed to further surround himself with political allies. Neil Thomas of the Eurasia Group and the Asia Society Policy Institute notes that this consolidation of power may usher in a more efficient and direct flow of policy from Xi downward, though it also all but confirms that Xi is, in fact, looking to remain in power indefinitely, possibly for life.
Ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Yassin facing Corruption Charges
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been arrested and will face corruption charges related to alleged abuse and money laundering linked to government projects awarded under his rule. He is the second former Malaysian Prime Minister to be indicted after leaving office, with Najib Razak facing multiple graft charges after losing a 2018 general election. Muhyiddin denies any wrongdoing, calling the charges a “malicious political act” by the current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government to crush the opposition coalition he leads. He claims the charges are an attempt to thwart his coalition’s strong support, especially from the country’s majority ethnic Malays. Muhyiddin’s arrest comes after two senior leaders from his Bersatu party were recently charged with graft, and the party’s bank accounts were frozen amid investigations into alleged illegal proceedings.
A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the anti-graft agency building, chanting “Fight! Fight!” and “Allahu Akbar (God is great)” amid speculation that Muhyiddin would be arrested and charged. He was released on bail later the same day and will appear in court to face the charges. The investigation was independently carried out by the anti-graft agency, according to Anwar Ibrahim, who denies that the case against Muhyiddin is politically motivated.
Malaysia has made significant efforts to combat corruption in recent years, particularly under the Pakatan Harapan government that came to power in 2018. One of the key initiatives was the establishment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.
The government has also implemented a number of reforms aimed at reducing corruption, including improving transparency in public procurement, strengthening the legal framework for anti-corruption efforts, and increasing penalties for corrupt practices. Malaysia is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and has taken steps to implement its provisions.
Despite these efforts, corruption remains a significant problem in Malaysia, with the country ranking 57th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index. The government has acknowledged that more needs to be done to tackle the issue, particularly in addressing the culture of impunity that has allowed corrupt practices to flourish.
China Brokers a Thaw in Saudi-Iran Relations
The first of two diplomatic coups for China in the month of March came when the People’s Republic arranged a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who had previously suspended formal relations with one another in 2016. The three countries issued a joint statement on March 10, expressing gratitude on the parts of Saudi Arabia and Iran toward China for helping facilitate productive talks and the eventual resumption of relations.
The deal, which has varying implications for the Middle East, China, and the United States, as The Asia Cable’s own Qi Siang Ng recently examined. Many see this development as indicative of a faltering American influence in the region, and not without reason, though others don’t expect any overtly adverse consequences to arise for Washington from this deal in the near future.
Regardless of the implications for the US, the deal is at the very least a dose of positive publicity for China as the value of diplomacy in the region is not lost on the People’s Republic.
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