southeastasiantimes.com

GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.

Thai senate seeks
referendum on new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From News Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The Senate is seeking a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the Referendum Act after the House of Representatives voted for an opposition-sponsored motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions to form a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum that would pave the way for a rewrite of the constitution that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum on whether a new constitution should be drawn up by a charter drafting assembly made up of elected representatives, saying "the referendum should be arranged on the same day as the next general election that has tentatively been set for May 7 by the Election Commission (EC).
Senators were critical of voting for the formation of a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum, saying "It is a tactic to stall the referendum"
Sen Kittisak Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he disagreed with organising the referendum on the same day as the general election,
"This could confuse voters," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

China calls emergency COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From News Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An emergency meeting of foreign ministers from China and the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is to be held in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday and Friday to discuss the COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected 73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN member states.
The meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly intended to share information and to improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN member states in order to combat the COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with focus on strengthening joint prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of establishing a long term and effective collaboration mechanism on public health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying " China and Asean countries have been in close communication since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting, said that the meeting will be an opportunity for the foreign ministers to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"The meeting will help strengthen cooperation between ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency meeting that was proposed by China will demonstrate Cambodia’s support of China and confidence in the measures taken by the China government to address the coronavirus outbreak.
The Southeast Asian Times

Vietnam opens consulate in Macau
From News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at the launching ceremony that the office aims to better ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to recieve support from local organisations including the Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers, in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The Southeast Asian Times

US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation of the United States State Department in a "landmark" visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official saying that the meeting between the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the President of the United States "would skirt protocol" because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official saying that "there was a broad agreement that it made sense to treat General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the state department official as saying.
The Southeast Asian Times

France agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia during the first official visit by a French head of state to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister said that a joint expert committee is to be established to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement that the identification process would respect the sensitivities and values of the two countries and consider the requests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan, to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan river.
The Southeast Asian Times

"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed of including our religion on our national identity card," he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The Souheast Asian Times

The Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge" performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013, reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script, a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August, have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court to enter pleas on December 29.
The Southeast Asian Times

World including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents and State representatives including US Secretary of State, John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member nations have also been invited to attend the swearing in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also be invited,” said the speaker.
The Southeast Asian Times

Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian Times

Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign right to exploit their natural resources in accordance with their policies they also have a responsibility to ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government a mandate to establish a task force including police to monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The Southeast Asian Times

Papua Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The Southeast Asian Times

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Former Philippine President Duterte arrested on International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war on drugs killings

Former President Rodrigo Duterte at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City after his arrest at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila on Tues 11 March 2025

From News Reports:
Manila, 13 March: Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on Tuesday on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's ''war on drugs'' that killed thousands of Filipinos, with lawyer for former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte saying ''the arrest was unlawful,' reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on his return from Hong Kong by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), with the Philippine National Police (PNP) assisting Interpol in serving the arrest warrant issued by International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Lawyer, Salvador Panelo said the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in Manila on an arrest warrant issued by International Criminal Court (ICC) was unlawful, saying ''the Philippines withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) while former President Rodrigo Duterte was in office.''
''The International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines'' he said.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew Philippine membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 17, 2019, a year after International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced the opening of a preliminary examination of the Philippines that would look into alleged crimes against humanity committed during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" campaign.
In March 2018 International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said that she has determined that there is reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed in the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019, saying "a preliminary examination suggests that vigilante-style killings were perpetrated by Philippine National Police (PNP) officers themselves, or other private individuals hired by authorities, leading to a death toll of between 12,000 to 30,000 civilians," she said.
She said that extrajudicial killings perpetrated across the Philippines appear to have been committed pursuant to an official State policy of the Philippine government, saying " police and other government officials planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings."
On November 24, 2023 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said after the House of Representatives Resolution reinforced the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction to investigate crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the former President Rodrigo Duterte ''war on drugs'', saying ''the Philippines was considering proposals to resume membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC),''
He said that the Philippines considered the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague jurisdiction over the Philippines to be interference, saying "problems in terms of jurisdiction and sovereignty remained," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US doubts willingness to defend NATO allies: NATO proposes to open NATO office in Japan

Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, and US President Donald Trump, right, reaffirmed that ''the U.S.-Japan Alliance of Mutual Cooperation and Security remains the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,'' at the White House, Washington on Friday February 7, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, March 12: United States President, Donald Trump, doubts willingness to defend North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, saying he would not do so if they are not paying enough for their own defence, saying "If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them,'' after the 2023 NATO proposal to open a NATO office in Japan in the Indo-Pacific, reports Reuters.
United States, Donald Trump, said he has been of the view that NATO allies were not paying for their own defence for years, saying he had shared this view with NATO allies during his 2017-2021 presidential term. Those efforts prompted more spending from other members of the 75-year-old transatlantic alliance, he said, but "even now, it's not enough."
"They should be paying more."
The United States and Japan reaffirmed the United States-Japan Alliance of Mutual Cooperation and Security at an official meeting in Washington last month committing to Japan's defence under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty of 1960, with United States President Donald Trump saying, ''We have an interesting deal with Japan.''
''We have to protect Japan but they don't have to protect us.'' said President Donald Trump.
United States President Donald Trump and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru affirmed their shared bilateral security and defense cooperation under the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, saying ''the U.S.-Japan Alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.''
In May 2023 then Japan Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, claimed that the opening of the first NATO office in Tokyo for the Indo Pacific in 2024 "would enable consultations with Japan and partners, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand" with China saying then "the planned NATO office in Japan for the Indo-Pacific is a dangerous sign.''
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said then ''a NATO office in Tokyo is a dangerous sign," saying "the violent multilateral organisation NATO will take its first aggressive step in the Indo-Pacific, actively pushed by Japan."
"NATO's continued eastward expansion into the Indo-Pacific and interference in regional affairs and push for bloc confrontation will undermine regional peace and stability " she said
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that ''a military alliance including the US, European countries and Japan could be formed to target China.''
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi ,Yoshimasa Hayashi, said then that Tokyo welcomes the increased involvement of NATO member states in the Indo-Pacific region, saying "China has become increasingly assertive militarily."
The Southeast Asian Times

Myanmar Muslim Rohingya refugees in Indonesia without USAID since Wednesday

Rohingya refugees in, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia, on Monday January 6 2025

From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 11: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) migration agency has stopped aid to thousands of Muslim Rohingya refugees in Aceh Province and Riau Province in Sumatra, Indonesia after US Agency for International Development (USAID) was stopped worldwide for 90 days on January 20, with International Organization for Migration (IOM) saying '' IOM would be unable to provide assistance to Rohingya refugees in Indonesia from March 5,'' reports Antara.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) that is a recipient of funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for humanitarian assistance to refugees and other vulnerable populations, including migrants, said in a statement on February 28 that ''IOM was complying with all legal orders.''
International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it would be unable to provide healthcare and cash assistance to Rohingya refugees in Aceh Province and Riau Province from March 5.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that about 28,000 Muslim Rohingya have arrived by boat to Aceh Province and Riau Province in Sumatra from January 2023 to October 2024, saying ''about the same number had arrived in Indonesia over the previous eight years combined.''
Rohingya refugee in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, Abdu Rahman, said that Rohingya refugees in Riau Province are dependant on cash assistance, saying ''the Rohingya refugees don't have daily cash assistance for their survival.''
''The Rohingya can't eat,'' he said.
''The Rohingya are not allowed to work,'' he said.
The National Refugee Task Force administrator, Hadi Sanjoyo, said that officials planned to talk to local non-profit organisations about how to handle the situation, saying he was concerned about the potential for unrest between Rohingya refugees and locals.
"They're our brothers and sisters too," he said.
In September 2017 Indonesia proposed that the Riau Islands accommodate Rohingya Muslim refugees after the exudus of thousands of Rohingya Muslims across the Myanmar border to Bangladesh following Myanmar's retaliation to the assualt by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Myanmar police outposts and military bases in northern Rakhine state on August 25, 2017.
The Myanmar government then led by National League for Democracy (NLD), State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw, called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) ''extremist terrorists'.
Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) had aimed to "undermine the efforts of the government to find a lasting solution.
The United Nations the urged the National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and the ASEAN community to take action against the alleged ongoing abusive military action against the "Rohingyas" or "Bengalis".
Party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won about 97 per cent of Yangon Region seats in the November 2015 General elections, was subject to the conditions of the Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) military-drafted Myanmar constitution.
The Myanmar constitution allows for the allocation of 25 percent of Parliamentary seats in both houses to unelected military officers.
The Southeast Asian Times

USAID freeze opens opportunity for Indonesia to be donor nation

Director General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Ministry of Forestry Prof. Dr. Satyawan Pudyatmoko, S.Hut., M.Sc., left, Mission Director USAID Indonesia Jeff Cohen, centre, and Lecturer of Biology and Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources FMIPA Universitas Indonesia Prof. Jatna Supriatna, Ph.D. right, at the opening of Orangutan Symposium and Workshop: Incentivizing Orangutan Conservation Efforts in Indonesia on Thursday December 12, 2024

From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 10: Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the freeze on US Agency for International Development (USAID) ''opens up an opportunity for Indonesia to transition from being an aid recipient to becoming a donor nation,'' , reports Antara.
U.S. President Donald Trump paused US Agency for International Development (USAID) worldwide for 90 days in 'Reevaluating and realigning United States foreign aid' in an Executive Order on January 20, saying ''It is the policy of United States that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.''
Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Rolliansyah Soemirat, said on Thursday that the transition from being an aid recipient to becoming a donor nation ''is in line with Indonesia’s aspiration.''
''Indonesia is currently in a transitional phase from being a country that has often been in the 'corridor' as a recipient country to becoming a donor country," he said.
He said that Indonesia is a G20 member country, saying ''Indonesia boasts a rapidly growing economy expected to strengthen further over the coming years.''
''Indonesia will continue to strive to align this potential with its foreign economic policy stance,'' he said.
''The Indonesian government always places foreign aid from any country as a complement and not the main source for funding of the program,'' he said.
''The main source of funding for priority programs in Indonesia comes from the state budget,'' he said.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated US $153 million in 2023 to support projects across various sectors.
In May 2022 the then U.S. President Joe Biden administration committed $150 million in funding to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that includes Indonesia, under the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) trade pact for infrastructure development and security with the Deputy Assistant to the Unite States President Joe Biden and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the United States National Security Council, Kurt Campbell saying "Washington remains focused on the Indo-Pacific and the long-term challenge of China," saying "We need to step up our game in Southeast Asia."
"The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) commits the United States to work with partners on key economic priorities including ensuring smooth supply chains, fighting corruption and promoting green energy," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US Senate condemns China for destruction of democracy and rule
of law in Hong Kong

Pro-Beijing groups protest at the US consulate in Hong Kong over the US State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs officials meeting with Hong Kong political activists about the imprisonment of Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai, and Frances Hui in Hong Kong Saturday February 8, 2025

From News Reports:
Hong Kong, March 9: The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations introduced a resolution 'Condemning Beijing’s destruction of Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law,' with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) condemning the U.S. resolution for making baseless allegations against Hong Kong, urging the U.S. ''to stop undermining Hong Kong's international reputation, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, that are purely China's internal affairs,'
reports Reuters.
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chair, Jim Risch and committee member New Hampshire Senator, Jeanne Shaheen, introduced the resolution ''Condemning Beijing’s destruction of Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law'' in the U.S. Senate on February 26, condemning the People's Republic of China (PRC) for its destruction of Hong Kong's autonomy.
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations condemned the People's Republic of China (PRC) for its destruction of Hong Kong's autonomy that the committee claims was destroyed in the 2020 Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the 2024 Article 23 Ordinance on the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
''The 2020 Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the 2024 Article 23 Ordinance on the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) give the People's Republic of China (PRC) sweeping powers to criminalize the activities of individuals and businesses and have ultimately stripped away the basic rights of the people in Hong Kong,'' claims the resolution.
The new law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), that was adopted by the National People's Congress in May 22, 2020 in Beijing was passed into legislature in June 30, 2020 with the director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Shen Chunyao, saying ''the new law will only target the very few criminals in Hong Kong that severely endanger national security."
The new law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was enforced on the day it was passed into legislature with thousands of Hong Kong protesters against China rule taking to the streets on July 1, 2020 against the new rule,
The new rule on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) allowed the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) to exercise their new powers under the new legislation on grounds of national security on the first day, with arrests and detentions of protesters for taking part in an illegal assembly disorderly conduct and possession of offensive weapons.
In March 19, 2024 the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed laws to prohibit treason, secession, sedition and subversion against the Central People's Government, in Article 23 of the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in a unanimous vote on the 26th anniversay of the British handover of Hong Kong to China, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu, 66, saying ''the passing of the bill is overdues by 26 years, eight months and nine days.''
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu, 66, was sworn in as the 6th Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by the President of China, Xi Jinping, in Hong Kong in July 2022.
Article 23 of the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stipulates that ''Hong Kong shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government (CPG), or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the HKSAR, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the HKSAR from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.''
The Southeast Asian Times

US increases tariffs on goods from China and Hong Kong: China to fight trade war to bitter end

China Foreign Minister spokesman, Lin Jian, said ''the fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.'' at a Press Conference in Beijing on Tuesday March 4, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, March 8: The U.S additional tariffs on China imports of ten percent came into effect on Tuesday after tariffs were imposed on China imports on February 1 ''To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China,'' with China Foreign Minister spokesperson, saying from Beijing ''China will fight any trade war to the bitter end ,'' reports Reuters.
United States President Donald Trump amended the ''Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of the People's Republic of China Pursuant to the President's February 1, 2025 Executive Order Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China, imposing additional 10 percent tariffs on China imports effective on Tuesday, bringing the tariff rate for China imports to 20 percent.
China Foreign Minister spokesman, Lin Jian, announced an additional ten percent tariff on agricultural imports from the U.S. in retaliation to the U.S. increase in tariffs of China imports, saying ''we advise the US to put away its bullying face and return to the right track of dialogue and co-operation before it is too late," he said.
He said that China is one of the biggest importers of U.S. chicken, beef, pork and soybeans, saying in retaliation to the U.S. increase of tariffs on China imports, ''United States faces 10 to 15 percent increase in tariffs.''
On Tuesday China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) released a white paper titled 'Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances – China's Contribution' that states, ''the sale of fentanyl-related medications is limited to certain enterprises and approved channels. Currently, three national wholesalers – China National Medicines Corporation Ltd., Shanghai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Chongqing Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. – as well as 626 regional wholesalers in 2023 are accredited to engage in the sale of fentanyl-related medications in China.''
''To date, no cases of fentanyl-related medications disappearing in manufacturing or circulation have been detected in China.'' the white paper states.
China Foreign Minister spokesman, Lin Jian, said in response to U.S. additional tariffs on China imports and the U.S. announcement on February 1 'To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China,'' ''the fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.''
''The U.S., not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl?crisis inside the U.S.'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

China orders A1 entrepreneurs to report travel to USA to China External Security Affairs

China AI startup DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, left, and China President, Xi Jinping, right, in Beijing Monday March 3, 2025

From News Reports:
Beijing, March 7: China has instructed the country's top artificial intelligence AI entrepreneurs and researchers to avoid travel to the United States, with Chinese President, Xi Jinping urging China's artificial intelligence AI entrepreneurs and researchers to ''show their talent and be confident in the power of China’s model and market,'' reports Reuters.
China President Xi Jinping instructed the Department of External Security Affairs to improve China's overall security including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, instructing artificial intelligence AI entrepreneurs and researchers to report their travel plans to the Department of External Security Affairs before leaving China.
''AI entrepreneurs and researchers are to brief authorities on what they did and whom they met on their return to China,'' he said.
China AI startup DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng declined an invitation to attend an AI summit in Paris on February 6 to 11, 2025 after launching A1 models that he claims surpass United States industry leaders OpenAI and Alphabet Inc's Google.
China Department of External Security Affairs claim that artificial intelligence AI entrepreneurs and researchers could be detained and used as a bargaining chip in United States- China negotiations drawing parallels to the detention of Meng Wanzhou, Chief Financial Officer of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), in Canada on USA fraud charges.
Meng Wanzhou was held in Canada on USA fraud charges on December 1, 2018 during the first presidency of President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump revoked the 'AI Diffusion Rule', that was effected by former President Joe Biden in an executive order signed in 2023, that mandated safety disclosure from AI companies to the federal government, reportedly ''marking a significant shift in the US government's approach to AI oversight.''
'The 'AI Diffusion Rule', required companies developing AI systems that could affect national security, the economy, public health or safety to submit safety testing data to federal authorities before public release.
These requirements, implemented under the Defense Production Act, reportedly ''marked a departure from the traditionally light-touch US approach to technology regulation.''
Former President Joe Biden's 'AI Diffusion Rule' directed federal agencies to establish safety standards and address risks related to cybersecurity, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The decision to revoke the final 'AI Diffusion Rule' under President Donald Trump aligns with the 2024 Republican Party platform that pledged to repeal it, arguing that it hindered AI innovation.
Microsoft, USA multination technology conglomerate president and vice chair, Brad Smith, claims that the final AI Diffusion Rule drafted during the former Joe Biden presidency undermine Donald Trump priorities, saying ''Trump's administration priorities to strengthen US A1 leadership and to reduce the USA near trillion-dollar trade deficit are undermined by
the AI Diffusion Rule.''
He said that the final AI Diffusion Rule caps the export of essential American AI components to many fast-growing and strategically vital markets, saying ''If left unchanged, the A1 Diffusion Rule will become a gift to China's rapidly expanding AI sector.''
Bloomberg, Amazon chief Andy Jassy is also against the final AI Diffusion Rule saying ''I would say that we share the concern that the AI Diffusion Rule has limitation on countries that are allies of the US,'' saying ''those countries are going to need more chips.''
''I think if we don't provide the chips, we're going to basically give up that business and those relationships to other countries, who can provide those chips," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Thailand shippers call for public-private strategy to negotiate tariffs with US

The Thailand National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) chairman, Chaichan Charoensuk, urged a joint public-private strategy to negotiate tariff policy with the US and called for action on the trade deficit with China on Tuesday March 4, 2025

From News Reports:
Bangkok, March 6: The Thailand National Shippers Council (TNSC) warn that the Thailand government has ignored calls for private sector involvement in strategic planning in response to U.S President Donald Trump's imposition of trade tariffs on Thailand's exports to the U.S. with the TNSC calling for a public-private strategy to negotiate with the U.S. and to take action on trade deficit with China, reports the Bangkok Post.
The Thailand National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) chairman Chaichan Charoensuk said the Thailand government is too slow in formulating measures to address potential trade penalties from U.S. President Trump.
''I am yet to see any progress from the Thai government in responding to the so-called Trump 2.0 policies,'' he said.
He said that the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) and other private organisations want the government to establish a joint public-private committee to handle trade measures imposed by the U.S.
''The private sector, including exporters, possesses detailed information essential for formulating strategies to negotiate with the U.S.,'' he said
He warned that the Thailand government's slow response could seriously affect exports to the US and lead to a decline in export value, saying ''export value stood at nearly US$55 billion last year.''
He also called on the Thailand government to address Thailand's trade deficit with China, saying ''Thailand faced a deficit of 1.6.trillion baht last year due to an influx of cheap Chinese products flooding Thai markets.
The Thailand National Shippers Council (TNSC) chairman, Chaichan Charoensuk, also called on the Thailand government ''to carefully consider its plan to increase agricultural imports from the U.S.'' saying that ''such a move could negatively impact Thai farmers in the long run.''
He said that Thailand had a trade surplus of 35 billion US dollars with the US last year, saying ''the strategy of increasing imports from the U.S. is potentially impractical.
Thailand's Intelligent Research Consultant (IRC) economic advisor, Ath Pisalvanich, warned ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump signature on executive orders on February 1, designed to increase tariffs and relocate production to the U.S., saying ''two centuries of diplomatic friendship with the U.S. will not protect Thailand from the U.S. increased trade tariffs,'' saying ''Thailand should aim for partnerships that attract US investment and integrate Thailand into the U.S. supply chain.''
Thailand should position itself as a supply hub for agricultural product as the U.S. reduces agricultural imports from China,'' he said.
The Southeast Asia Times

USS Minnesota submarine voyage in West Australian waters coincides with voyage of Chinese warships in Australian waters

The Chinese naval presence off the West Australian southern coast coincides with the docking of the VirginiaV-class USS Minnesota fast-attack submarine at the HMAS Stirling, Fleet Base West, on Garden Island on the southern West Australian coast

From News Reports:
Canberra, March 5: The USS Minnesota fast-attack submarine arrival in Western Australia coincides with a flotilla of Chinese naval war ships in waters off the West Australian southern coast and the South Australian coast with Australia's Office of National Intelligence saying at a parliamentary committee on Monday ''the Chinese naval flotilla appears designed to be provocative,'' reports Reuters.
Australia's Office of National Intelligence director-general, Andrew Shearer, said ''the flotilla that conducted live-fire drills last week in the Tasman sea between Australia and New Zealand appears designed to be provocative.''
He said that ''the National Intelligence Community has been providing 24/7 support to government and to the Australian Defence Force's robust response to the passage of a Chinese People's Liberation Army naval task group through waters proximate to Australia.''
''The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have made clear publicly that the vessels are operating in accordance with international law, albeit short of the best practice the Australian Defence Force (ADF) consistently employs in such circumstances,'' he said.
The Chinese naval presence in waters off the West Australian southern coast coincides with the docking of the VirginiaV-class USS Minnesota nuclear submarine armed with cruise missiles and torpedoes at the HMAS Stirling, Fleet Base West, on Garden Island on the southern West Australian coast.
The Australian Defense Force has reportedly deployed warships and aircraft to track China's three-ship flotilla, destroyer CNS Zunyi, frigate CNS Hengyang, and replenishment ship CNS Weishanhu, that are operating 305 nautical miles southeast of the capital city of Perth on the state of Western Australia.
China's three ship flotilla was located within Australia's 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Australia's southwest coast but have remained outside Australia's territorial waters that extend 12 nautical miles from the Australian shore.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) states that all countries enjoy the freedom of navigation in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with Western Australia Premier, Roger Cook, saying ''Obviously we are watching the developments of the Chinese naval presence with interest.''
He said that the western most state of Australia hosts some of our most important and strategic industries, saying ''Western Australia has demanded more warships to be stationed on Australia's west coast.''
China Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, said ''it is normal for China to flex naval muscle near the Australian coast,'' saying ''Australia is a major power in the region.''
The Southeast Asian Times

US Executive Order designates English as official language of USA

President Donald Trump signs Executive Order designating English as the official language of the United States of America (USA) on Saturday March 1, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, March 4: U.S. President Donald Trump designated English as the official language of the United States of America (USA) in an Executive Order on Saturday, reports Reuters.
United States President Donald Trump said in the Executive Order that ''the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,''
''Our Nation’s historic governing documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have all been written in English,'' said the Executive Order.
''A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,'' said the Executive Order.
The Executive Order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on March 1, 2025 that designates English as the official language of the United States of America revokes the Executive Order signed by former President Bill Clinton in August 11, 2000 "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency."
Former President Bill Clinton's Executive Order affirmed the federal governments commitment ''to improve the accessibility of English language services and to help ensure full participation by individuals with limited English proficiency.''
The Executive Order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump states that ''nothing in the Executive Order, requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency,'' saying ''agency heads are not required to amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or other services prepared or offered in languages other than English.''
''To promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement, it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language,'' states the Executive Order.
''Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States, says United States President Donald Trump in the Executive Order.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) stated that ''The working language of ASEAN shall be English,'' in the ASEAN Constitution in 1967.
On August 8, 1967, the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Charter that serves as a foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community that now includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, Vietnam and Timor Leste by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN including Article 34 ''Working Language of ASEAN'' saying ''The working language of ASEAN shall be English.''
The Southeast Asian Times

US Bangkok embassy issues security alert after deportation of Uyghur assylum seekers to China

Thailand's Investigation Division Immigration Bureau vans with covered windows leaving the Soi Suan Phlu dentention centre in Bangkok on Thursday February 27, 2025

From News Reports:
Bangkok, Monday 3: The United States Embassy in Bangkok issued a security alert for United States citizens in Thailand after the deportation of 45 Uyghurs assylum seekers to China on Thursday after detention in Thailand for two decades, with the United States embassy saying in a statement ''Similar deportations have prompted violent retaliatory attacks in Thailand in the past, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning Thailand's return of the Uyghurs to China, saying ''member of the Muslim group have faced genocide,'' reports the Bangkok Post.
The United States Embassy in Bangkok stated that ''violent retaliatory attacks occurred in Thailand in July 2015 in the wake of the deportation of 109 Uyghurs from Thailand to China,'' saying that explosive devices were detonated at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok.''
''Improvised devices were detonated at the Erawan Shrine that is heavily visited by tourists from China killing 20 and injuring 125,'' said the United States Embassy in Bangkok.
The Uyghurs assylum seekers deported from Thailand to China on Thursday, held in detention in Thailand for two decades, were among 300 Uyghurs apprehended in Thailand on 13 March 2014 after having fled China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) condemned Thailand for the deportation of 45 Uyghurs assylum seekers to China, saying ''Thailand's deportation of the Uyghurs is a serious violation of international law and the fundamental principle of non-refoulement.''
OHCHR, High Commissioner, Volker Turk, said the forced return of the Uyghurs from Thailand to China ''is completely prohibited in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment or other irreparable harm on their return.''
''The right to seek asylum and of non-refoulement are enshrined in Article 13 of Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, and Article 16 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration,'' he said.
UNHCR, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, said that the UNHCR had repeatedly sought access to the detained Uyghurs in Thailand, saying ''the UNHCR had also sought assurances from Thailand that the detained Uyghurs would not be forcibly returned to China.''
''UNHCR calls on the Royal Thai Government to put an end to the forced return of asylum seekers from Thailand,'' she said.
The 45 Uyghurs assylum seekers who were deported on Thursday are among 300 Uyghurs who were apprehended by Thailand authorities on 13 March 2014 after the Uyghurs fled China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Thailand Defence Minister and Deputy Premier, Phumtham Wechayachai, said that Thailand had endured a torrent of international condemnation over its deportation of Uyghurs to China, saying Bangkok embassies have sent out security alerts.
"Thailand should be commended for managing this problem," he said.
He said that the deportation of the remainder of the Uyghurs held in detention in Thailand ''is done out of the goodwill of the
Thailand government and not ill intent,'' saying ''it is a good thing to get them out of detention so they can return to their normal lives with relatives, husbands, wives and children."
He said that the Uyghurs returned to China voluntarily, saying ''Thailand had been assured by China they would be cared for and not mistreated.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Hong Kong condemns US for disregard of Hong Kong as separate tariff territory from China

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Chi Tai, at the White House in Washington, U.S., Tuesday May 14, 2024

From News Reports:
Hong Kong, March 2: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) condemned the United States for the United States disregard of Hong Kong's status as a separate tariff territory under the Basic Law of the People's Republic of China after the United States imposition additional tariffs on all imports from China and Hong Kong, with Hong Kong threatening to complain to the World Trade Organization (WTO), reports Reuters.
United States President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February1 imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on all imports from China and Hong including low-value packages from Hong Kong that previously entered the United States tariff-free, with Hong Kong saying, "we will file a complaint to the WTO regarding this unreasonable arrangement.''
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) chief secretary and Committee for Safeguarding National Security, secretary general, Eric Chan Kwok Ki, said that the United States disregard for Hong Kong's status as a separate tariff territory from China ''is absolutely inconsistent with the WTO rules.''
''The United States has totally disregarded that Hong Kong is a separate tariff territory," he said.
On July 1, 2020 Hong Kong protesters stormed the Hong Kong Legislative Council raising a banner saying ''Hong Kong is not China" in protest of the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that states that the former British colony that was returned to China rule in 1997 is an inalienable part of China.
Deputy Judge Li Chi-ho said then in sentenced protesters to prison ''aside from the actual damage to the building, the storming of the Hong Kong Legislative Council challenges the Basic Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that upholds the Beijing policy ''one country two systems.''
The United States stipulated that goods made in Hong Kong for export to the United States should to be labelled as made in China, after the new Basic Law on the Safeguarding of National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was imposed on Hong Kong by the National Peoples Congress of the People's Republic of China in Bejing on June 30, 2020.
On January 20, 2025 the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai warned that mainland China ''continues to represent the biggest challenge to the international trading system'' saying ''China still embraces a state?directed, non?market approach to the economy and trade.''
''China's approach to the economy and trade runs counter to the norms and principles embodied in the WTO.'' she said.
The Southeast Asian Times

China wants Philippines to remove
US Typhon missile system stationed
in Philippines

Philippines Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., centre, at the 5th Asian Defense and Security Exhibition in Manila from 25 to 27 September 2024

From News Reports:
Manila, March 1: China called on the Philippines to remove the United States Typhon mid-range missile system stationed in the Philippines, with the Philippines saying ''the Philippines would consider returning the Typhon missile to the United States if China withdraws its claim of sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and ceases harassment of Filipino vessels and fishers, report the Philippine Inquirer.
''The Philippines never promised China that we would withdraw the United States Typhon missile system,'' said Philippine National Security Council (NSC) spokesman, Jonathan Malaya.
China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, claims that the Philippines has breached its commitment that the deployment of the United States Typhon mid-range missile system was temporary, saying ''the Philippines pledged that the United States Typhon missiles system would be shipped out of the Philippines after military exercises.''
Philippine National Security Council (NSC) spokesman, Jonathan Malaya, said ''the Philippines never made any commitment to China to return the Typhon mid-range missile to the United States.''
''We never made any commitment to China in this regard,'' he said.
He said that the Typhon missile system is stationed in the Philippines for readiness and interoperability, saying ''the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty with the United States.''
''The Philippine troops have to be familiar with the weapon systems of our partners and allies,'' he said.
China Defence Ministry spokesman, Zhang Xiaogang, accused the Philippines of introducing the risk of geopolitical confrontation and arms race in the region with the deployment of the United States Typhon mid-range missile in the Philippines, saying ''the United States Typhon system is a strategic offensive weapon.''
''The Philippines is siding with the United States by allowing the deployment of the Typhon mid-range missile system,'' he said.
The United States Typhon mid-range missile system includes Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking targets in China and Russia from the Philippines and the SM-6 missiles that can engage air or sea targets more than 200 kilometers away was installed in the Philippines for annual military exercises with the United States military on April 11, 2024.
In July 2016 Judges of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines against China's claim of "historic rights" over the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague decision followed the Philippine complaint in 2013 that called on the court to intervene in the Philippine dispute with China over the right to exploit natural resources including fish in the West Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in 2016 that China had violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking "historic rights" in its claim over the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruling with China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang saying then that "the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague has no jurisdiction on this matter."
"The dispute was not covered by U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty not exploitation rights.
The Southeast Asian Times

ASEAN reviews ASEAN core principles and challenges in new geopolitical shift

Delegates at the ASEAN Future Forum 2025, ''Building a United, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformations'' in Hanoi on Tuesday and Wednesday February 25 and 26, 2025

From News Reports:
Hanoi, February 28: A review of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) core principles and challenges in the new geopolitical shift with reference to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) were addressed at the ASEAN Future Forum, ''Building a United, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformations'' in Hanoi on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports Reuters.
The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) of Malaysia chairman and coordinator of the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum, Prof., Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, promoted the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms including the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum that supports the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSEP), saying the ASEAN-led mechanisms promotes cooperation, stability and peace in the region, with Cambodia stressing the importance of adhering to the ASEAN Charter and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, said ''ASEAN’s advantage lies in its ability to navigate an unstable environment while maintaining peaceful coexistence and neutrality,' ' he said.
Vietnam Ambassador, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) said that ''ASEAN needs to revitalise cooperation in a more proactive approach,'' saying ''ASEAN should increase dialogue with external partners and expand cooperation in areas of climate change response, geopolitical competition, science - technology and green development.''
''Expanding ASEANS partnership is important to the region,'' he said.
Timor-Leste President H.E J. Ramos-Horta, said that the ASEAN Charter principal of non-interference should be a golden rule observed by all, saying ''but non-interference cannot mean indifference and inaction in the face of situations of extreme violence and systematic violation of human rights in a member state or in the world at large.''
''Challenges like the South China Sea overlapping claims and the ongoing war in Myanmar have tested these principles,'' he said.
The US-ASEAN Business Council an advocacy group that fosters economic growth and trade ties between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ten member countries that is the only U.S.-based organization enshrined in the ASEAN charter, cancelled attendance of US-ASEAN Business Council delegates at the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum.
Director of the British Foreign Policy Group, Evie Aspinall, said the US-ASEAN Business Council cancelled attendance at the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on Tuesday and Wednesday, saying ''overriding feeling here is that the US has abandoned the multilateral system, and therefore multilateralism is dead.''
''The West is increasingly not seen as credible here and instead they are prioritising regional strength to protect themselves,'' she said.
In May 2022 former United States President Joe Biden launched the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for prosperity with ASEAN member countries Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and non ASEAN members Australia, Fiji, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand with an investment of US$150 million on infrastructure, security, pandemic preparedness and other efforts, with the U.S. State Department saying that the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) trade pact is aimed at countering the influence of rival China in the Indo-Pacific."
The Southeast Asian Times

Philippines calls for more funds from the U.S. for modernisation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

U.S. President Donald Trump in his first term in office January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021, left, accepts credentials presented by Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, left, at the White House on Wednesday November 29. 2017 U.S.
President Donald Trump was inaugurated for the second term of his presidency on Monday, January 20, 2025

From News Reports:
Manila, February 26: The Philippines called for additional military assistance for the modernisation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from the United States, with Philippine Ambassador to the United States, saying ''the Philippines expects to receive more assistance from the United States to modernise our Armed Forces of the Philippines as quickly as possible,'' reports Philippine Inquirer.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, said the pause on USAID would not affect the Philippines, saying ''there will be no major changes for the Philippines.''
He said the Philippines expects to modernise the Armed Forces of the Philippines, saying ''if our Armed Forces are strong we can truly be a partner of the United States.''
The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the United States has exempted the Philippines from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) 90 day pause, with spokesperson, Teresita Daza, saying ''the Philippine government has been informed of the waiver issued to a portion of the U.S. for the Philippines.''
''The Philippines and the United States remain committed to their treaty alliance and to efforts to further strengthen defence cooperation and interoperability,'' she said.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that ''Washington was eager to build on the invested and enduring relationship in the US-Philippine Alliance,'' at a meeting with Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary, Enrique A. Manalo, after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) 90 pause was issued by U.S. President Donald Trump in an executive order last month.
''Maritime security tensions with China undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), '' he said.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary, Enrique A. Manalo, said ''both the Philippines and the US were committed to working together to further strengthen economic and security ties.''
''A strong and committed Philippine-US partnership in various areas will contribute to a more robust alliance," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US resumes funding for removal of Unexloded Ordinance in Cambodia after USAID funds suspended

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team in Cambodia found and safely disposes of a US-made MK-82 aerial bomb in southwest Kampong Speu provinceon Thursday February 20, 2025

From News Reports;
Phnom Penh, February 26: The U.S. has resumed funding for the removal of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in Cambodia with funds from the US Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PMWRA) after suspension of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds were paused for 90 days by U.S. President Donald Trump in an Execution Order last month, with Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), saying ''this decision has restored demining efforts for 210 personnel,'' reports Phnom Penh Post.
''The resumption of funding has allowed continuation of cooperation in mine and unexploded ordinance clearance under existing agreements,'' said Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) director-general, Heng Ratana.
He said that at least one Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team requested that Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) disband after U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) paused funding for the removal of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) on January 20.
He said that two children were killed in an Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) explosion of a 66 mm (B-63) shell in Krahhong village, Ta Siem commune Svay Leu district, Siem Reap province on Thursday February 22 saying ''there was an accident involving a 66mm (B-63) shell,''
''An unexplodeded ordinance remnant from the war resulted in the deaths of two 2-year-old children, one died at the scene and the other in hospital,'' he said.
He said the children Mo Lisa, female, and Thom Yen, male, both resided at Kranhong village, Ta Siem commune, Svay Leu district, Siem Reap province.
''This tragic landmine accident occurred during the pause in funding for the removal of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO),'' said Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) director-general, Heng Ratana.
Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAC) Vice President Ly Thuch said ''the resumption of US Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PMWRA) funding for the removal of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) provides much-needed support for Cambodia’s ongoing demining efforts.
''Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAC) plays a crucial role in clearing explosive remnants of war (ERW),'' he said.
''The US Department of State has informed the Cambodian Embassy in the U.S. that 'the U.S. will continue to support
demining in Cambodia without any halt in the future,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Philippines launch comic book to counter China's territorial claim over South China Sea

Philippines launch 40-page comic book titled ''The Stories of Teacher Jun" to counter China's territorial claim over the South China Sea in Manila Friday January 24, 2025

From News Reports:
Manila, February 25: The Philippines launched ''The Stories of Teacher Jun", a comic book ''to counter China's deceptive campaign that furthers China's territorial claim over the South China Sea'', with the China's Embassy in Manila criticising the launch of the comic book, saying ''the comic book is political manipulation,'' reports the Reuters.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila claims the comic book has stirred anti-China sentiment in the Philippines, saying ''the comic book targets young students through a manipulative brainwashing approach.''
Philippine Coast Guard, education and national security officials attended the launch of the comic book, ''The Stories of Teacher Jun,'' that depicts high school teacher Jun, who resembles Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. teaching his students about China's territorial claim of the contested Philippines Sea and the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that dismissed China's claim to the sea.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant, Ronnie Gavan, said he ''hoped the book would inspire young Filipinos to protect what is rightfully ours".
Education Secretary Sonny Angara was also present at the Friday book release event, media reported.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said ''the comic book complemented government efforts to expose China's aggression in the South China Sea, saying ''the comic book served as a tool to educate Filipinos about complex maritime conflicts and their sovereign rights under international law.''
''Chinese officials, along with state-sponsored media and individuals, continue to spread distorted and twisted narratives to malign our efforts and justify their unilateral claims,'' he said.
''The Philippines will do everything to fight misinformation, disinformation and false narratives to put forward the truth,'' he said.
In July 2016 the Arbitration Court in the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines against China's claim of historic rights over the South China Sea that includes the West Philippine Sea.
China claimed that the Arbitration tribunal made an illegal and invalid final verdict on the South China Sea dispute, with China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang saying then that the dispute was not covered by U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty not exploitation rights.
The China Foreign Ministry spokesman said then that "China's position of neither accepting nor participating in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines remains unchanged".
The Southeast Asian Times

China's warships sail 150 nautical miles off Sydney in Australia's EEZ

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sailors watch China's war ships, naval frigate Hengyang, destroyer, Zunyi and fuel replenishment vessel Weishanhu off the east coast of Australia 150 nautical miles east of Sydney on Tuesday February 11, 2025

From News Reports:
Sydney, February 24: Australia Defense Minister, Richard Marles, said Thursday that ''China's war ships, the naval frigate Hengyang, destroyer, Zunyi and fuel replenishment vessel Weishanhu were off the east coast of Australia 150 nautical miles east of Sydney,'' with a former Australian naval officer, saying ''Chinese warships rarely travelled so far south along the Australia's east coast,'' reports Reuters.
China's war ships sailed through the Torres Straits between Papua New Guinea and Australia, south along Australia's east coast within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Coral Sea, with Australia Defense Minister, Richard Marles, saying ''they’re entitled to be where they are.''
''Australia is also entitled to be prudent, and we are monitoring very closely what the activities of the Chinese ships are,'' he said.
He said that Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are monitoring China's naval frigate Hengyang, destroyer, Zunyi and fuel replenishment vessel Weishanhu movements in Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), saying ''that's very much our right,''
''We'll do that in a manner that is safe and professional,'' he said.
Australia Defense Minister, Richard Marles, said Australia had engaged with its nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, over its response to the ships sailing through the Torres Straits, saying ''the ships sailed around the Papual New Guinea coast on its course to Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone.''
He said Australia is working very closely with New Zealand, saying ''New Zealand is separated from the Australian east coast by the Tasman Sea.''
New Zealand Defense Minister, Judith Collins, said ''New Zealand's military was monitoring the Chinese ships by sea and air in coordination with Australia.''
''We have not been informed by the Chinese government why war ships have been deployed into our region and we have not been informed what its future plans are,''
''We will continue to monitor the ships,'' she said.
Australia’s National Security College, former Australian naval officer, Jennifer Parker, said ''Chinese warships rarely travelled so far south along Australia's east coast.''
''This is part of a broader power projection from China's Peoples Liberation Army- Navy (PLA-Navy) and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean,'' she said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Hong Kong Democratic Party disbands due to political environment

Hong Kong’s Democratic Party chairperson Lo Kin-hei announced that the pro-democracy party will set up a task force to discuss procedures for disbanding in Hong Kong Thursday February 20, 2025

From News Reports:
Hong Kong, February 23: Hong Kong's Democratic Party (DP) announced on Thursday that the party founded in 1994 is disbanding saying that the pro-democracy party will set up a task force to discuss the procedures for disbanding, with chairman Lo Kin-hei saying ''the Democratic Party (ID) has considered the overall political environment in making its decision,'' reports the Hong Kong Free Press.
Democratic Party (DP) chairman Lo Kin-hei said that developing democracy in Hong Kong is always difficult, especially in the past few years, saying ''we see a lot of civil society groups or political parties disbanding or dissolving,'' he said.
He said that over the past few years the Democratic Party (DP) has seen a lot of different political parties and civil societies groups dissolving, saying ''whenever those kinds of groups disband or discontinue we have a discussion about disbanding the Democratic Party.''
Democratic Party member for Southern District Council Lei Tung I, Au Nok-hin, 36, who was among 47 charged on February 28, 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion ahead of the 2020 elections in the Hong Kong 70-seat Legislative Council pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Democratic Party member for Southern District Council Lei Tung I, Au Nok-hin, 36, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit subversion under the new law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that was passed into legislature in Beijing in June 30, 2020.
The pro-Bejing, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), candidate Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, in the November 24, 2019 District Council elections, who held positions in the District Council, the Legislative Council and the Executive Council, lost his seat in the Sai Wan constituency of Central and Western District Council to Democratic Party (DP) candidate that included party member
Au Nok-hin, 36.
Almost three million voted for Democratic Party (DP) candidates on November 25, 2019 with pro-democracy candidates securing almost 406 of the 452 Sai Wan constituency of Central and Western District Council seats, an overwhelming increase over the 2015 District Council elections in which the pro-democracy camp secured only 100 of the 452 seats.
More than 150 pro-democracy Hong Kong district councillors of the about 390 pro-democracy Hong Kong district councillors who secured seats in the November 24, 2019 elections resigned on July 15, 2021 ahead of the oath-taking ceremony that required councillors to pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that adheres to new laws passed into legislature in Beijing in June 30, 2020 and to the ruling on patriots in the Hong Kong legislature on May 27, 2021.
Hong Kong candidates are subject to the new law adopted by National Peoples Congress of the People's Republic of China on the Safeguarding of National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) that upholds the institutional system of one country two systems and a further ruling that allows only candidates deemed patriots to stand for election.
A further 230 district councillors who were involved in pro-democracy mass protests against China rule over Hong Kong and who displayed banned protest slogans in their electoral offices are reportedly expected to be disqualified from standing for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for December 19, 2021 under the new ruling in May that allows only candidates deemed patriots to stand for election.
The Southeast Asian Times

Australia and Papua New Guinea draft new Bilateral Security Treaty

Australia's Defense Minister, Richard Marles, left, and Papua New Guinea Defense Minister, Billy Joseph, at the Australia-Papua New Guinea Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brisbane in Australia's state of Queensland on Thursday February 20, 2025

From News Reports:
Brisbane, February 22: Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, and Papua New Guinea Defence Minister, Billy Joseph, reaffirmed that a new Bilateral Security Treaty (BST) is integral to the Australia and Papua New Guinea, Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP) at the Australia-Papua New Guinea Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, on Thursday, with Australia's Defence Minister saying ''I look forward to strengthening our defence relationship through a new defence treaty,'' reports Reuters.
Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, and Papua New Guinea Defence Minister, Billy Joseph, agreed that a new Bilateral Security Treaty (BST), would build on the Bilateral Security Treaty (BST), that was proposed on June 10, 2023, saying that the new Bilateral Security Treaty (BST) would enhance strategic cooperation between Papua New Guinea and Australia in accordance with the August 5, 2020 Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP) agreement.
The proposed Bilateral Security Treaty (BST) was rejected by Papua New Guineas over sovereignity concerns in the wording of the proposed treaty, with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape saying ''Papua New Guinea did not agree on certain words used in the Bilateral Security Treaty (BST).
"Papua New Guinea felt that the wording encroach on our sovereign rights," he said.
"Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, acknowledged that both Papua New Guinea and Australia had to agree on the wording in the Bilateral Security Treaty (BST)," saying ''there was no timeframe set for the signing of the Bilateral Security Treaty (BST).''
On June 3, 2022 the then Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs and International trade of Papua New Guinea, Soroi Eoe, said at a meeting with China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby that Papua New Guinea will continue to adhere to the One China policy that includes Taiwan and Hong Kong, saying "the One China Policy is the foundation of bilateral relations and Papua New Guinea's unswerving support for China's position."
"Papua New Guinea is willing to enhance pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields." he said.
China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said then that sound relations between China and Papua New Guinea will boost regional peace and development, saying "such relations are conducive to upgrading China's overall ties with Pacific island countries."
The Southeast Asia Times

US Ambassador to Vietnam calls on Vietnamese not to trust false promises of migration to US

Panama's Security Minister, Frank Ábrego, said that Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala agreed to accept illegal immigrants deported from Texas in the U.S. on a C-17 transport plane on Thursday January 23, 2025

From News Reports:
Hanoi, February 20: The U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam called on Vietnamese on Friday not to trust the false promises of migrant smugglers or visa fixers to reach the U.S. after a boat carrying 17 illegal immigrants including 3 Vietnamese sank, drowning five, with U.S. Ambassador, Marc Knapper, saying ''I’m sad to report that the boat sank less than 200 meters from shore,'' reports Vietnam News.
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said that the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba and Nicaragua reported on Monday that three young Vietnamese were rescued from the small boat that sank off the Colombia coast as it made its way towards Nicaragua in an effort to reach the U.S.''
''I'm sad to report that the boat sank less than 200 meters from shore. Five people died, including two children, and four are still missing. Three young Vietnamese were rescued,'' he said.
''As Vietnam’s friends and partners, we implore you not to let yourself, your families, your friends, your neighbors take this illegal and possibly dangerous journey, he said.
He said that the journey was supposed to lead the Vietnamese to a better life, saying ''but instead found suffering, regret, and even death.''
''Such illegal attempts by land, air or sea come at great cost, draining savings, risking health and in may cases costing lives,'' he said.
''When U.S. immigration authorities find illegal immigrants, they detain them and send them back to their countries of origin, including Vietnam, '' he said.
Panama's Security Minister, Frank Ábrego, said that Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala have agreed to accept the illegal immigrants deported from the U.S. saying ''more than 170 of the 300 illegal migrants have agreed to be deported to their country of origin.''
He said that illegal migrants who have not agreed to be deported were relocated from the Decapolis Hotel in Panama to camp San Vicente saying ''the migrants would remain at the camp until they were offered asylum in a third country.''
U.S. President Donald Trump issued the Executive Order to deports illegal migrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Constitution of the United States, authorising and directing the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State to take all necessary action to immediately repel, repatriate, and remove illegal aliens across the southern border of the United States.
The Southeast Asian Times

France and Europe don't want ASEAN partners to choose between the US and China

French ambassador, Stephen Marchisio, left, presents his credentials to Singapore President, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in Singapore on Monday February 17, 2025

From News Reports:
Singapore, February 20: Singapore's new French ambassador, Stephen Marchisio, took office in Singapore on Monday saying
France and Europe do not want their Association of South East Nation (ASEAN) partners to have to choose between the United States and China, reports Reuters.
French ambassador to Singapore, Stephen Marchisio, said ''France sees increasing pressure, maybe more on the US side.''
''We don't want anyone to choose,'' he said.
He said ahead of the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore in May 2025, ''It’s very important to say we can talk to everybody.''
He said that French President Emmanuel Macron will insist in his address that each country in the Association of South East Nation (ASEAN) partners can defend its own interests, saying "you can do that even if you disagree with the Chinese political model.''
''And you can do that even if you don't want a military base from the U.S. on your soil," he said.
He said that some countries saw defence-related purchases as a way to gain favour with the US government during the first Donald Trump administration, saying ''but that views had changed now.''
''Now European countries might not buy American military hardware because there is no guarantee that doing so would ease US pressure or antagonistic rhetoric,'' he said.
''We don’t like to say that, but we will retaliate to tariffs and other US pressure if we have to,'' he said.
French ambassador to Singapore, Stephen Marchisio said ''the best-case scenario is that Europe does not need to retaliate, saying ''the United States and European countries have many shared interests and industries.''
The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey conducted by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore found that Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) member countries ''have continued to prioritise bolstering ASEAN's resilience and unity to counter pressure from the US-China rivalry barring Myanmar, with Thailand and Vietnam strongly advocating ASEAN unity.''
The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey found that ''China has experienced a surge in popularity among Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) member countries, to become the preferred alignment choice in the region.''
''This trend is particularly evident among respondents from Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, with Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia benefitting significantly from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and robust trade and investment relations.''
The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey found an increase of 20 percent from 2023 for ASEAN member countries preference for China.
The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey found that ''the EU and Japan remain the primary options for the region in navigating
the uncertainties stemming from the US-China strategic rivalry,'' with the EU followed by Japan, India, Australia, the UK and
South Korea as options for ASEAN support.
The Southeast Asian Times

Australian Muslim nurses boast killing Israeli patients in Sydney hospital

Australian Muslim nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir, left, Sarah Abu Lebdeh, right, on video boasting about killing patients on video at Bankstown Hospital Sydney on Tuesday February 11, 2025

From News Reports:
Sydney, February 19: Two Australian Muslim nurses, boasting killing Israeli patients on video at the Bankstown Hospital in Sydney, have been barred from working at all hospitals in Austtralia after the New South Wales Nursing and Midwifery Board suspended their registrations and the New South Wales Police took possession of CCTV footage and the video taken by Israeli, Max Veifer, reports Bangkok Post.
Israeli, Max Viefer said that he published the full, unedited version of the video that shows two registered New South Wales Health nurses, former Pakistani, Sarah Abu Lebdeh and former Afghanistani, Ahmad Rashad Nadir, bragging about killing Israeli patients at the Bankstown Hospital in Sydney on Tuesday 11th.
''I won't treat them,'' said nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh, seen in the video wearing a medical uniform and a hijab.
''I'll kill them,'' she said.
Nurse, Ahmad Rashad Nadir, seen in the video also wearing a medical uniform, ominously runs a finger across his neck.
The video taken by Israeli, Max Veifer showing the two Bangkstown registered nurses boasting killing Israeli patients that was posted on TikTok at 3am AEDT on Wednesday February 12 was viewed by more than 100,000 followers on the social media platform.
The TikTok social media platform that states the platform is an eSafety website claims that the platform pairs people randomly for a video chat, with a country and gender specified by the user, saying ''no names, friend lists or conversation histories are stored, so finding people again is purely left to chance."
New South Wales Police are in possession of Bangstown Hospital CCTV footage showing registered nurses, Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, wearing medical uniform at work at the Bankstown Hospital on Tuesday 11th.
New South Wales Police have interview workers at the Bankstown Hospital at the time the video was recorded by Israeli, Max Veifer that showed the two Bankstown nurses boasting about killing Israeli patients, with News South Wales Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, saying ''neither Ahmad Rashad Nadir or Sarah Abu Lebdeh have been charged with any criminal offences.''
''The decision on whether to charge the nurses would depend on the evidence gathered,'' she said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US federal court judge orders President Trump to allow funding
to USAID over Executive Orders

US President Donald Trump issued Executive Orders that paused funds to USAID and revoked the USAID lease on USAID Washington headquarters on Monday January 20, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, February 18: A federal court judge has ordered President Donald Trump's administration to temporarily allow funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that was paused worldwide for 90 days last month in an Executive Order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, reports Reuters.
The federal court order to allow funds to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that was issued by Judge Amir Ali on Thursday applies to contracts that were in place before President Donald Trump issued the January 20 Executive Order declaring a freeze on U.S. foreign assistance.
Judge Amir Ali issued the temporary order to allow funds to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Thursday
in a lawsuit brought by two organisations, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council, representing health organisations receiving US funds for work abroad.
Judge Amir Ali said that the Donald Trump administration argued it had to shut down funding for the thousands of US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs worldwide to conduct a thorough review of each program and determine whether US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs should be shut down,
He said that the Donald Trump administration officials had not offered any explanation for blanket suspension of all congressionally appropriated foreign aid, saying ''the blanket suspension set off a shockwave and up-ended contracts with thousands of non-profit groups.''
''Lawyers for the administration failed to show they had a rational reason for disregarding the countless small and large businesses that would have to shutter programs or shutter their businesses altogether," he said.
Federal Court judge Amir Ali rejected the Donald Trump administration that the administration was buffering the impact of the funding freeze, offering waivers to allow funding to keep flowing to USAID partners including HIV treatment services under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.
He cited testimony saying ''no such waiver system on USAID funding yet existed and that the online payment system at US Agency for International Development (USAID) no longer functioned.''
Federal Court Judge Amir Ali rejected a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to challenge President Donald Trump's Executive Order itself, limiting his ruling to temporarily blocking Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and other administration officials from enforcing the funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
U.S. State Department director of foreign assistance, Pete Marocco, who was appointed by U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
to close the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on executive orders issued by U.S. President Trump argued that
''insubordination made it impossible for the new administration to undertake a close review of aid programs without first ordering almost all USAID employees off the job and halt aid and development work.''
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID employees have denied being insubordinate, saying they were doing their best to carry out what they describe as vague and confusing orders that came from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
U.S. President Trump acted on the advice of executive of SpaceX and Tesla, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executive, Elon Musk, who called USAID ''a criminal organisation, saying ''it's time for the organization to die."
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID employer groups, Democratic lawyers and Democratic Senators argue that the closure of USAID and other administrative actions including revoking the USAID lease on its Washington headquarters ''was really about eradicating USAID before lawmakers or the courts could stop it.''
''Without congressional approval President Donald Trump lacks the power to shut USAID or end its programs.'' they said.
U.S. State Department director of foreign assistance, Pete Marocco, said that ''the power of the courts or lawmakers to stand in the way of U.S. President Donald Trump Executive Order to close USAID missions is limited at best.
''The President’s powers in the realm of foreign affairs are generally vast and unreviewable,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US and Philippines to build on
US-Philippine Alliance to address maritime security tensions with China

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo, left, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany on Friday February 14, 2025

From News Reports:
Manila, February 17: U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that ''Washington was eager to build on the invested and enduring relationship in the US-Philippine Alliance at a meeting with Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary, Enrique A. Manalo, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday, reports Philippine Inquirer.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary, Enrique A. Manalo discussed ongoing cooperation in response to China's destabilizing actions in the South China Sea, with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. saying ''We discussed how we can strengthen the US-Philippine Alliance.''
The US-Philippine Alliance binds the Philippines and the United States to come to each other's military aid in the event of an attack by an external power under the 1951 US Mutual Defense Treaty.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that maritime security tensions with China undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
''The U.S. reaffirms commitment to increasing cooperation on infrastructure, critical minerals, information technology, energy and nuclear cooperation,'' said U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary, Enrique A. Manalo, said ''both the Philippines and the US were committed to working together to further strengthen economic and security ties.''
''A strong and committed Philippine-US partnership in various areas will contribute to a more robust alliance," said said.
In August 2024 then U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin and Filipino counterparts, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo, and Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., discussed their shared commitment to upholding the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the Philippines under the 1951 US Mutual Defense Treaty that binds the Philippines and the United States to come to each other's military aid in the event of an attack by an external power.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed advances in U.S.- Philippines economic relations including the entry into force of the U.S.-Philippines Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123 Agreement).
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed advances of over $1 billion in investment pledges from the U.S. Presidential Trade and Investment Mission in March 2024, the launch of the Luzon Economic Corridor under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework PGI-IPEF Investment Accelerator with Japan.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recounted the first United States-Philippines Cyber-Digital Dialogue, and the successful co-hosting of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Manila.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States commitment to advance shared economic priorities on semiconductors, clean energy, cybersecurity and the digital economy, and high-quality infrastructure.''
The Southeast Asian Times

US Executive Order pauses US$150 million in USAID to Vietnam

Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokeperson, Pham Thu Hang said ''Vietnam and the U.S. have engaged in effective collaboration in numerous fields'' at press conference at Hanoi Thursday February 13, 2025

From News Reports:
Hanoi, February 16: Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the suspension of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of US$150 million annually by U.S. President Trump in an Executive Order last month ''will significantly impact human safety, the environment, and the livelihoods of people in areas supported by USAID,'' reports the Vietnam News Agency.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered all overseas humanitarian aid and development missions to shut down last month with all employees recalled including from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Vietnam.
U.S.Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam says that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) operates in Vietnam with an annual budget of US$150 million to support projects ranging from demining and dioxin decontamination, education, healthcare, to climate change and the digital economy.
Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokeswoman, Pham Thu Hang, said on Thursday at a press conference in Hanoi,
"Over the past years, through various means and mechanisms of cooperation, including USAID, Vietnam and the U.S. have engaged in effective collaboration in numerous fields.''
''These include healthcare, environment, climate change, disaster relief and post-war legacy issues," said the spokeswoman.
Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said that foreign aid provided by the U.S. has been effectively utilised across provinces and cities in Vietnam, saying ''USAID has served to bring about a better life for those who directly benefit from foreign aid projects.''
''Suspension of USAID-supported projects, especially those related to bomb and mine clearance or dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa air base, will significantly impact human safety, the environment, and the livelihoods of people in the project areas,'' she said.
In May 2022 then Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, called on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator, Samantha Power to increase support to overcome the consequuences of the American war in Vietnam, focusing on Post-war Unexploded Ordinance and defoilent Agent Orange Toxic Chemical consequences in seven provinces including Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) military airfield, Bien Hoa Air Base, outside Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam.
He also called on the USAID administrator to continue to provide health care, medical treatment and physical rehabilitation to Vietnamese affected by the defoilant Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin that was supplied by multinational chemical companies to US military forces during the American war in Vietnam.
Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, also called for continued support from USAID in the search for the remains of Vietnamese including support of Vietnamese scientists in DNA assessment with the construction of a technical centre.
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power, reaffirmed the USAID commitment to work with Vietnam in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that formalises the USAID partnership with the Vietnamese Government on combating climate change and environmental pollution with ocean plastics as a key area of collaboration.
"USAID would continue to focus on supporting Vietnam in Post-war Unexploded Ordinance clearance and defoilent Agent Orange Toxic Chemical consequences," she said.
The Southeast Asian Times

NASA and Kennedy Space Center terminates Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility program

Hans Guttman Executive Director of ADPC, Robert F. Godec U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Pakorn Apaphant Executive Director of GISTDA, Dr. Karen M. St. Germain Director NASA Earth Sciences Division at the SERVIR-Southeast Asia at the SERVIR-Southeast Asia Launch Ceremony in Bangkok Tuesday January 24, 2023

From News Reports:
Washington, February 14: US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) acting administrator said the agency is implementing the Executive Order issued by U.S. president Donald Trump on January 20 to terminate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) program at NASA and the Kennedy Space Center, reports Reuters.
US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) acting administrator, Janet Petro, said the Executive Order ordered the closure of offices related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) at the agency.
The Executive order ordered the US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to cancel all contracts relevant to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) program, saying ''the contracts are discriminatory and an immense public waste.''
''These programs divide Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and result in shameful discrimination,” said NASA acting administrator, Janet Petro.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) acting administrator, Janet Petro, has previously praised the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) program, saying at the beginning of her tenure as director of the Kennedy Space Centre in 2021, ''diversity efforts were important to NASA and to her personally.''
She said in 2021 in an interview with Engineering News-Record that NASA and the Kennedy Space Center was committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) saying ''the NASA leadership team stands behind this commitment.''
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) acting director, Charles Ezell, sent a memo directing US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to remove reference to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) programs including the terms ''environmental justice,'' ''Indigenous people,'' and ''anything specifically targeting women in leadership.''
On January 24, 2023 the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec and Dr. Karen M. St. Germain, Earth Science Division Director at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), launched the SERVIR-Southeast Asia program, an $11.2 million Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (APDC) - United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiative to help communities across Southeast Asia adapt to regional and transboundary climate issues and mitigate the impacts of climate change and disasters.
''This new program expands the geographic focus of SERVIR in Southeast Asia and deepens our engagement with regional institutions to accelerate climate resilience,” said Ambassador Godec.
''SERVIR-Southeast Asia will go a long way to ensure that communities and businesses throughout Thailand and across ASEAN are not only resilient to the impacts of climate change, but prosper in spite of these challenges,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

U.S. wants remedial measures for multinational companies charged under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

U.S. President Donald Trump and Pamela Jo Bondi sworn in as U.S. Attorney General at White House on Wednesday February 5, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, February 14: U.S. President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order to pause the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) on Monday, instructing the Attorney General to include remedial measures in past inappropriate FCPA investigations and enforcement actions in multinational companies, states the Executive Order, reports Reuters.
The Executive Order to pause the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in multinational companies for 180 days will allow the Attorney General, Pamela Jo Bondi, to review the guidelines and policies governing investigations and enforcement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), includes measures to inappropriate past FCPA investigations and enforcement actions.
The Executive Order states that U.S. President Donald Trump has paused the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) under the Constitution and laws of the United States of America in order to ''Further American Economic and National Security.''
''Since its enactment in 1977, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has been systematically, and to a steadily increasing degree, stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States,'' states the Executive Order.
''Current FCPA enforcement impedes the United States’ foreign policy objectives and therefore implicates the President’s Article II authority over foreign affairs,'' states the Executive Order.
''The President’s foreign policy authority is inextricably linked with the global economic competitiveness of American companies,'' states the Excutive Order.
''American national security depends in substantial part on the United States and its companies gaining strategic business advantages whether in critical minerals, deep-water ports, or other key infrastructure or assets,'' states the Executive Order.
The Executive Order to pause the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for 180 days directs the Attorney General to ''review in detail all existing FCPA investigations or enforcement actions and take appropriate action with respect to such matters to restore proper bounds on FCPA enforcement and preserve Presidential foreign policy prerogatives.''
U.S. Attorney General is to ''issue updated guidelines or policies, as appropriate, to adequately promote the President’s Article II authority to conduct foreign affairs and prioritize American interests, American economic competitiveness with respect to other nations, and the efficient use of Federal law enforcement resources,'' states the Executive Order.
In 2009 U.S. film producers Gerald Green, 77, and his wife Patricia, 54, who were found guilty after standing trial in a Los Angeles Federal Court for making a series of payments totalling about US$1.8 million over five years to the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) were the first in the entertainment industry to be charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for corruption.
In 2006 the US Federal Bureau of Investigation found that American film producers Gerald Green and his wife Patricia had paid US$1.8 million in bribes to the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) between 2003 and 2007 in return for a $10 million-contract to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival.
Los Angeles Federal Court judge, George Wu, sentenced Gerald Green and his wife Patricia Green to six months in jail and six months home detention and ordered payment of $250,000 in restitution for bribes paid to Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) governor, Juthamas Siriwan, in exchange for contracts to stage the Bangkok International Film Festival.
U.S. prosecutors charged former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Juthamas Siriwan, in 2009 with violations of the US Money Laundering Control Act, alleging that she violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The Southeast Asian Times

US imposes tariffs on Australia saying Australia is killing the US steal and aluminium market

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talks to US President Donald Trump in Washington on the phone about tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports in Canberra on Tuesday February 11, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, February 13: The U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium imports to the U.S. on Tuesday declaring there were no exceptions or exemptions, with counselor for trade and manufacturing for the U.S. President Donald Trump, saying ''Australia is killing the U.S. steel and aluminium market,'' reports Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders to impose steel and aluminium tariffs on Australian imports within hours of a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declaring there were no exceptions, saying ''It’s 25 per cent without exceptions or exemptions,'' he said.
''That's all countries no matter where the steel and aluminium comes from,'' said U.S. President Donald Trump from the Washington on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has a surplus with Australia, saying Australia is one of the few with a surplus and the reason is Australia buys a lot or airplanes.''
U.S. President Donald Trump's senior counsellor on trade and manufacturing, Peter Navarro, said ''Australia is killing the U.S.
steel and aluminium market.''
"He said that companies in Australia are the same companies that operate in Canada, saying ''the companies in Australia are hitting the American markets".
"Australia has disregarded its verbal commitment to voluntarily restrain its aluminium exports to a reasonable level," he said.
He said that tariffs would put an end to foreign dumping boost domestic production and secure our steel and aluminium industries, saying ''this isn’t just about trade, it’s about ensuring that America never has to rely on foreign nations for critical industries like steel and aluminium,'' he said.
The Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) was established on 1 January 2005 with 97 percent of Australia's non-agricultural exports to the United States, excluding textiles and clothing, tariff free and two-thirds of agricultural exports tariff free, making 96.1 percent of all Australian exports to the U.S tariff free.
The Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) provides for a Joint Committee to meet annually or as otherwise agreed to supervise the implementation of AUSFTA and review trade relationship betw
Australia Prime Minister Albert Albanese said that he would meet with senior U.S. representatives and Australia's ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd, in Washington on February 24 and 26th.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed executive orders imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on all exports from China to the U.S. 25 percent on Canadian exports and Mexican exports effective February 4, with China Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, He Yongqian, warning the U.S. that Beijing would file a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization, saying "the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States seriously violates WTO rules".
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately ordered retaliatory tariffs, saying she has instructed her economy secretary to implement a response including retaliatory tariffs and other measures in defence of Mexico’s interests.
''We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory,'' she said.
Canada Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said that Canadian duties on $30 billion in trade in US alcohol and fruit would take effect on Tuesday, saying '' the tariffs will have real consequences for you, the American people.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Australia and China replace USAID funding for demining operations in Cambodia

Australia Ambassador to Cambodia Derek Yip, left, and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Cambodia, Alissar Chaker, sign Contribution Agreement for Cambodia's demining operations, ''Clearing for Results Project'' in Phnom Penh on Thursday January 30, 2025

From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, February 12: Australia is to allocate an additional US$2 million for Cambodia's demining operations, ''Clearing for Results Project'' in a new Contribution Agreement following the United States closure of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for USAID-sponsored demining operations, with China's continued support to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and with Co-Founder of the Khmer Democracy Organisation saying, ''Chinese funds supporting (CMAC) operations are not surprising,'' reports Khmer Times.
Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) director-general, Heng Ratana, said that a US$4.4 million grant from China in March 2024 was the second of three yearly grants to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), saying ''the grants from China from March 2023 to February 2026 totalling US13.2 million support of the Cambodia Landmine Elimination Project.''
He said that China's support of the Cambodia Landmine Elimination Project will support over 400 CMAC technical experts, saying 'The China Cambodia Landmine Elimination Project aimed to clear 3,400 hectares of land contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from March 2024 to February 2025.
He said that the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), has halted USAID-sponsored demining operations in eight provinces after an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all US foreign assistance provided through the State Department and USAID, saying ''the suspension of USAID has stopped demining operations in eight provinces.''
The Australian government has allocated an additional US$2 million to the ''Clearing for Results Project'' in a new Contribution Agreement to be implemented by Cambodian Mine Acton and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) with Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and first Vice President of (CMAA) saying ''Australia and UNDP have been key partners in Cambodia’s mine action efforts, with Australia contributing over AUD$100 million since the 1990s, including more than USD$35 million USD to the Clearing for Results project.''
Southeast Asia Geopolitical Analyst and Co-Founder of the Khmer Democracy Organisation (KDO, Seng Vanly said that ''Chinese funds supporting Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) operations are not surprising''
''Cambodia already has strong and extensive ties with China across various sectors, including economics, politics, security and the military,'' he said.
He said that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) withdrawal from humanitarian aid efforts and from international organisations that play a key role in promoting human rights provide China with an opportunity to gain more decision-making power.
''Especially in Cambodia, becasue China already has influence in almost all sectors,'' he said.
He said that United States closure of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has drawn Cambodia closer to China, saying that China's increasing involvement in Cambodia maked it seem that China is becoming the only viable option.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Indonesia Health Ministry seeks
other donor countries after USAID withdraws funding

Elon Musk, executive of SpaceX and Tesla, Starlink, and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executive launches SpaceX's Starlink internet service at a health center in Denpasar, Bali, on Sunday May 19, 2025

From News Reports:
Jakarta, February 11: Indonesia's Ministry of Health plans to seek other donor countries following the United States closure of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) last week, with the Ministry of Health saying ''We have secured AU$130 million commitment from Australia,'' reports Antara.
"We have secured an AU$130 million commitment from Australia,'' said Indonesian Health Ministry, Gunadi Sadikin.
''Later, I will try to find other donors too,'' he said.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, appointed U.S. State Department director of foreign assistance, Pete Marocco to close the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on executive orders issued by U.S. President Trump.
U.S. President Trump acted on the advice of executive of SpaceX and Tesla, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executive, Elon Musk, who called USAID ''a criminal organisation, saying ''it's time for the organization to die."
Indonesian Health Ministry, Gunadi Sadikin, said that Indonesia received US$100 million in USAID each year, saying ''USAID was then handed over to a third party.''
''The shortfall in USAID funding will have an impact,'' he said.
On March 19 2024 SpaceX and Tesla executive, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executive, Elon Musk, and Indonesia Health Minister, Gunadi Sadikin, launched SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink, for the Indonesia's health sector to improve access in remote parts of the Indonesian archipelago.
SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink, was launched at three Indonesian health centers including two in Bali and one on the remote island of Aru in Maluku.
"If you have access to the internet you can learn anything,'' he said.
In September 2023 Australia Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, released the Invested: Australia Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta, announcing a $95 million package for business to invest in Southeast Asia.
He said that Australia would advance economic growth under the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4 ASEAN Futures Initiative) committing AUS$470 million in development funding to support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative that would enable support for three ASEAN Community councils.
The Australian support for the implementation of the Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative would enable support for the ASEAN Political- Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
The Southeast Asian Times

Indonesia rejects U.S. President Trump's proposal to resettle two million Palestinians from Gaza

Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Rolliansyah Soemirat, says "Indonesia strongly rejects any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians,'' on Wednesday February 5, 2025

From News Reports:
Jakarta. February 10: Indonesia said Wednesday that it would strongly reject any attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza following U.S. President Donal Trump's proposal to resettle two million Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries, with Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry saying "Indonesia strongly rejects any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians,'' reports Jakarta Globe.
"Indonesia strongly rejects any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians or alter the demographic composition of the occupied Palestinian territory," said Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Rolliansyah Soemirat.
''Such action obstructs the realization of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine as envisioned by the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, " he said.
''Particularly the right to self-determination of the Palestinians as well as their inalienable right to return to their homeland,'' he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy had reportedly initiated the Palestine relocation plan during post-war reconstruction efforts last month, with Middles East envoy, Steve Witkoff, saying ''although U.S. President Donald Trump did no propose a U.S. takeover.''
'Particularly the right to self-determination of the Palestinians as well as their inalienable right to return to their homeland,'' he said.
In January 2025 Indonesia called for support for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 19th Summit of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), titled "Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence." held in Kampala, Uganda on Saturday, with Indonesia's Deputy Foreign Minister saying "Indonesia has consistently supported the People of Palestine's struggle for independence."
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, called on the 121 Non-aligned Movement (NAM) member states that comprise of more than half of the world's population " to support full membership of Palestine in the United Nations Security Council, " saying "currently five NAM members are serving as Non-Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, and it is anticipated that they can articulate a joint NAM position on Palestine."
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala Nugraha Mansury met with the Foreign Ministers of Palestine and South Africa saying "Indonesia supports the Palestinian peoples struggle to achieve a long-term solution and independence."
"Indonesia also supports South Africa's legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

US President Trump bans transgender athletes from women's sports effective immediately

U S President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sport in Washington on Wednesday February 5, 2025

From News Reports:
Washington, February 9: U S President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Wednesday banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports effective immediately, saying "with this executive order the war on women's sports is over," reports Reuters.
"We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls," said President Donald Trump.
The Executive Order allows US government agencies to deny funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women's teams.
"If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated and risk your federal funding," said U.S. President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump issued a warning to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, saying he has empowered Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to make it clear to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that "America categorically rejects transgender lunacy.''
He said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has essentially passed the buck on transgender participation to the International Sports Federations (ISF) for each sport.
''That could change when a new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president comes on to replace the retiring Thomas Bach president who was elected in 2013,'' he said.
He said that former track star Sebastian Coe, leader of World Athletics, the governing body for international track and field,
is among the candidates up for election in March, saying ''Sebastian Coe has been a strong proponent of banning transgender women participation in female sports.''
President Donald Trump said that he has also directed Homeland Security chief, Kristi Noem, to deny visa applications to men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while idendifying themselves as women athletes to try to get into the Los Angeles games,''
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President, Charlie Baker, that had previously allowed transgender women to compete, banned transgender women from competing in women's sports after President Donald Trump signed the Executve Order on Wednesday.
"We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions," he said.
"To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard,'' he said.
LGBTQ rights organizations condemned President Donald Trump's executive order as unconstitutional and based on misstatements and distortions about transgender people, with Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) condemning the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) move to comply with President Donald Trump Executive Order that banned transgender athletes from womens sports.
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) described the Executive Order as a ''blatantly discriminatory and unconstitutional policy."
The Southeast Asian Times

Malaysia ASEAN chair 2025 rejects US proposal to resettle two million Palestinians from Gaza

Malaysia Foreign Minister, Mat Hasan, says ASEAN counterparts disagree with the U.S. proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza

From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, February 8: Malaysia chair for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2025 said that Malaysia disagrees with the proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza following U.S president Donald Trump's proposal to resettle two million Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries, with Malaysia saying “We will issue a joint statement after receiving consensus from all ASEAN members, reports the Star.
Malaysia Foreign Minister, Mat Hasan, said that ''Malaysia strongly disagrees with the proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, saying ''the suggestion is not of sane mind.''
''We’re against the recommendation as it is not of sane mind and against all international conventions, charters and treaties,'' he said in Parliament during question time on Thursday.
He said that he had discussed the proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza with ASEAN counterparts, saying ''ASEAN counterparts also disagree with the proposal.''
''Malaysian ASEAN chair 2025 will issue a joint statement after receiving consensus from all members,'' he said.
''Malaysia strongly opposed any suggestion to resettle Palestinians from their homeland,'' he said.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said ''U.S President Donald Trump's proposal to help with the reconstruction of the enclave after 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas is a very generous offer.''
''In the interim, obviously people are going to have to live somewhere else,'' he said.
He said that the U.S. has the ability to help with debris removal, help with munitions removal, help with reconstruction, the rebuilding of homes and businesses so that people can move back.
On December 21, 2017 the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that includes the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, approved a nonbinding resolution in a 128-9 vote that rejects the United States decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Eight of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were included in the 128 countries that rejected the United States decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Laos is not a member of the United Nations Security Council.
The Philippines, an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member country, was one of nine countries including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshal Islands, Togo, Micronesia and Nauru that opposed the United Nations Security Council draft resolution.
China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and France were among the 128 member countries that approved the United Nations Security Council draft resolution.
Canada, Mexico and Australia were among the 35 registered absentions.
On May 14, 2018 United States President Donald Trump recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv during the first term of his presidency January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021
United States President acted under the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that accepts Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and requires the United States to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the United States decision to relocate the embassy
On October 18, 2022 the Australia's Labor Party foreign minister, Penny Wong, reversed the previous Liberal government recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, with foreign minister Penny Wong, saying "the government regrets the decision made by the previous administration and reiterates committment to a two-state solution,"
Australia's foreign Minister Penny Wong said that "Australia will no longer recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," reversing a decision taken by the Liberal government of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018.
"Australia’s embassy would remain in Tel Aviv," she said.
The Southeast Asian Times

The Southeast Asian Times wishes its readers a happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year with a special thankyou to its treasured letter writers

What they're saying open page here

MEDIA CHECK

Cambodia-China Journalist Association (CCJA) launched in Phnom Penh ...open here

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Darwin reporter John Loizou asks a survivor of the 1965 killings in Bali "why didn't you try to stop them" in "Remembering the slaughter in Paradise"
........open page here

Kang-Fu the Red Kangaroo is relentless in his fight to protect Australia's sovereignity...Open page here

Bombed by the Americans for Christmas in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital is still a war zone...Christina Pas reports...Open page here

Indigenous Australians in the northern Queensland town of East Trinity aim for economic independence from eco-cultural tourism, reports Christine Howes in "Australian indigenous eco-cultural tourism venture wins best small project national award " ...open here

Kavi Chongkittavorn talks about the UK application to become an ASEAN dialogue partner in "New dynamics of Aseans external ties," with consensus yet to be reached on admitting a former colonial master of four ASEAN member countries into the Southeast Asian bloc....open

Esther Samboh talks about the choise between thousands dying of Covid-19 or from hunger in densely populated Jakarta in the new normal in "Medics dying, infections soaring - it's still the economy" ...open page here

Australian reporter, Chris Ray, investigates why Australia dropped five spots in the World Press Freedom Index...open

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Read what Son Nguyen has to say about the impact of China's virus on Vietnam's economy in "When the economy gets sick" open here

Has the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra suffered a fatal blow, or will it rise again? asks Australian reporter Chris Ray... Open page here

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Darwin reporter John Loizou asks a survivor of the 1965 killings in Bali "why didn't you try to stop them" in "Remembering the slaughter in Paradise"
........open page here

"Goodbye America" says B.A. Hamzah as he calls for Asians to determine their own political destiny in "Time for Asia to set it's own course, minus the U.S."...open here

Is prescribed burning of grasslands in northern Australia out of control? ......Chris Ray reports ... open page here

"Rockefeller and the Demise of Ibu Pertiwi" by Kerry B. Collison "is undoubtedly fictional but by no means improbable, " says Johannes Nugroho ....open page here

Viet Nam is planning to go nuclear by the year 2020.reports
John Loizou in "Calculating the costs of nuclear energy in Vietnam" ...open page here

The founder of the Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (Fretilin), Mari Alkatiri, the now former Prime Minister of Timor Leste, after losing the May 12, 2018 election to the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party, led by Xanana Gusmao, has accused the opposition of a coup attempt.
Twelve years ago Mari Alkatiri also accused the opposition of a coup attemp claiming then that the crises that led to his resignation was the result of a conspiracy. "I have no doubt about that" he told Darwin reporter John Loizou in an interview in Dili on 6 November 2006
......open page here

Cuba's 302 physicians in East Timor work at five hospitals and remote villages throughout the republic...writes Darwin reporter John Loizou ...open page here

Indonesia ready for big 'brother' role in ASEAN
By Prashanth Parameswaran .......open page here

Benedict Anderson, a man without a country, dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer reports.....open page here

Thousands of Northern Australia's indigenous rock art sites are under threat from buffalo, fire and feral animals. Tim Lee reports ........open page here

Copy of letter 29 May 2012 from Vietnam Womens Union to International Olympic Committee...open here

The Southeast Asian Times wishes its readers a happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year with a special thankyou to its treasured letter writers

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Published by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com

The Southeast Asian Times cannot be bought

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Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The Southeast Asian Times

China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times

Penang health department shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also closed by the state health department
The Southeast Asian Times

Fuel smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The Southeast Asian Times

Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first month after the establishment of marshal law and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by 25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record a gain, of 6.2 percent
The Southeast Asian Times

US Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by 2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The Southeast Asian Times

Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the establishment of the construction courts was first put to the Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The Southeast Asian Times

Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The Southeast Asian Times

Riau forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times

Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun, said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods", he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the Jakarta Post.
The Southeast Asian Times