Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

ASEAN summit is a coup for Turnbull’s diplomatic effort
One of the most important elements in constructing a good China policy is to have a good Asia policy — that is to say, a policy for all those nations in Asia that are not China. In the unfolding great power competition between Beijing and Washington, no region will be more important than Southeast Asia.
— The Australian 

Donald Trump reportedly praised Singapore, China and Philippines for executing drug dealers. Here’s a few possible reasons why
US President Donald Trump considers drug traffickers to be as bad as serial killers and would love to have a law that executes dealers in the US
— South China Morning Post 

Year of the Dog: Will Southeast Asia see regime changes?
With multiple countries in Southeast Asia conducting or likely to conduct elections this year, AsianInvestor asks whether there could be any major shifts in political power.
— AsianInvest (paywall)

Southeast Asia Getting Killed by Logging and Mining
When an airplane is approaching Singapore Changi Airport, it makes the final approach either from the direction of Peninsular Malaysia, or from the Indonesian island of Batam.
— Dissident Voice 

Maybank, CIMB see regional boost to loans growth in 2018
Maybank and CIMB, Malaysia’s top two banks, expect stronger demand for corporate and consumer loans in the Southeast Asian region, driven by improving economies, to support their overall loans growth in 2018.
— Bangkok Post

Asian export rebound to fuel faster economic growth in 2018
Against a backdrop of growing optimism, fueled by rising exports, China’s economy will grow by an inflation-adjusted 6.4% and four big Southeast Asian economies will log combined growth of 5.2% this year, according to a forecast by the Japan Center for Economic Research.
— Nikkei Asian Review

C-ASEAN Hub for ASEAN entrepreneurs in Bangkok
With a population of more than 600 million, ASEAN is an important economic force in ASIA. In order to promote ASEAN business leadership and strengthen its competitiveness, a social enterprise called “C-ASEAN”, aimed at being a hub of ASEAN entrepreneurs, has been founded. Today, we find out more in this report.
— News Today (video)

Growing concerns for Internet freedom in Southeast Asia
University of Oxford published a study last year titled “Troops, Trolls and
Troublemakers: A Global Inventory of Organised Social Media Manipulation” which highlighted “cyber troops” that governments or political parties would use to manipulate public opinion over social media.
— The Asean Post

Guangxi Dedicates Cold Storage Trains to Deliver ASEAN Seafood to Beijing, Shenyang
On Feb. 13, a train equipped with cold chain storage system left Guangxi, China, and headed toward Beijing and Shenyang. It carried eight containers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seafood products such as white shrimp, which weighed 206 tons.
— Seafood News

China, ASEAN to hold joint meeting on DOC implementation in Vietnam
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold the 23rd Joint Working Group meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) from March 1-2 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
— Xinhua

Bangkok plays host to ASEAN City Council Meeting 2018
City council members from across the ASEAN region have gathered in Bangkok to participate in the ASEAN City Council Meeting 2018.
— News Today (video)

Growing concerns for Internet freedom in Southeast Asia
University of Oxford published a study last year titled “Troops, Trolls and Troublemakers: A Global Inventory of Organised Social Media Manipulation” which highlighted “cyber troops” that governments or political parties would use to manipulate public opinion over social media.
— The Asean Post

ASEAN could face a crisis over its appetite for coal
ASEAN’s member states are ramping up coal energy infrastructure to meet the region’s energy needs, with help from Asia’s largest economies.
— Global Risk Insights

ASEAN firms upbeat on Industry 4.0
Southeast Asian countries are generally optimistic about the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced analytics in manufacturing industries, but the positive sentiment has not led to action.
— Computer Weekly

Asian export rebound to fuel faster economic growth in 2018
Against a backdrop of growing optimism, fueled by rising exports, China’s economy will grow by an inflation-adjusted 6.4% and four big Southeast Asian economies will log combined growth of 5.2% this year, according to a forecast by the Japan Center for Economic Research.
— Nikkei Asian Review

ASEAN and the IMF: Working together to foster inclusive growth
Indonesia and its ASEAN partners have been successful in creating vibrant middle classes, opening the doors to higher living standards for millions of people.
— The Jakarta Post

Strengthening Australian-ASEAN ties
Next month, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be welcoming the 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Sydney for a special summit.
— The Asean Post

Why is Asean afraid of China?
Four claimants to parts of the disputed South China Sea are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean): the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam.
— Inquirer.net

Ex-envoy says OFWs should consider ASEAN for jobs
Former envoy to the ASEAN Orlando Mercado says that member-states within the region have vibrant arrangements with the Philippines in terms of workers’ protection
— Rappler

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Cambodia Calls US Aid Cutoff, EU Sanctions Threats an ‘Insult’
The Cambodian government on Wednesday called a cutoff of aid, including military support, by the United States and a threat of sanctions by the European Union “an insult,” while Prime Minister Hun Sen said the country is importing thousands of tons of military weapons from an unnamed nation.
— Radio Free Asia

‘He will not come to our country and behave like that’: Cambodian PM facing backlash over threat to Australian protesters
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen says Australia will not let Cambodia’s Prime Minister intimidate or harass protesters when the authoritarian leader visits this month.
— ABC

MoFA: Cambodia Exports Goods to the EU Worth of Approx. $3B
In just the first nine months of 2017, Cambodia had exported goods to the European Union worth of approximately $3 billion, stated Ouch Borith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFA) at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Annual Congress.
— Fresh News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

 

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

Indonesia seizes luxury yacht linked to 1MDB investigation
Indonesia on Wednesday seized a luxury yacht on the island of Bali sought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a multi-billion dollar corruption investigation linked to Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
— The Star Online

Gov’t Allows Work on 34 Elevated Infrastructure Projects to Proceed After Safety Audit
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing has allowed work on 34 elevated
infrastructure construction projects to resume after the National Construction Safety Committee finalized a series of safety audits.
— Jakarta Globe

Government to relax forest moratorium for military installations
The government is planning to revise a 2017 presidential regulation on forest moratorium to make way for the construction of military installations.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

 

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

 

Thai Police, NGO Rescue Lao and Cambodian Workers Trafficked For Labor
Thai police working together with labor rights advocates freed 19 migrant workers, some still in their teens, from an ice factory early this month after one of the migrants escaped and described to police the conditions in which they were being held.
— RFA 

PM, Lao ambassador discuss bilateral cooperation
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha held a discussion with Lao Ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong upon his courtesy call at Government House.
— NNT 

New guidelines to improve reproductive health services for young people
The difficulties encountered by young people in accessing information about reproductive health is one of the reasons for the high number of unwanted pregnancies in Laos.
— Vientiane Times 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

 

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Tunnel case: MACC freezes RM3.6 mil in bank accounts
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen four company bank accounts with about RM3.6 million in connection with its probe into the Penang undersea tunnel-roads project.
— Free Malaysia Today

RHB Bank’s five-year roadmap to strengthen presence in Malaysia
RHB Bank Bhd, which registered a 16% net profit growth to RM1.95bil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017 (FY17), has outlined its strategies in a new five-year plan, FIT22.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s biggest lender Maybank posts 11% drop in Q4 net profit
Malaysia’s largest bank by assets, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), posted on Wednesday an 11 percent decline in fourth-quarter net profit, despite a slight rise in net interest income.
— Business Insider

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

 

Rohingya flee no man’s land after Myanmar threat
Hundreds of Rohingya living in no man’s land have left their makeshift camp and crossed into Bangladesh after soldiers from Myanmar used loudhailers to threaten them, community leaders said on Wednesday (Feb 28).
— Channel NewsAsia

Myanmar: Asia’s Final Frontier Car Market
Earlier this month I spent four days in Myanmar, the proud and reclusive nation of 52 million sandwiched between India, China and Thailand.
— Forbes 

‘Forgetful’ Myanmar witness in Reuters reporters’ case writes key detail on his hand
A witness in the case of two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar told a courtroom on Wednesday that he wrote notes on his hand about where the pair were arrested to jog his memory while giving testimony.
— Reuters 

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Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

Omidyar donates $1.5-M investment to 14 Rappler managers
An American investor, which owned a controversial $1.5-million investment in Rappler, announced on Wednesday that it had donated its interests to 14 Filipino managers of the online news site.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte: No fishing in PH Rise or there will be war
PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday warned that war could break out if any group, especially foreigners, would conduct research explorations and fishing activities within the Philippine Rise without the Philippine government’s permission.
— Malaya

PH secures P4.25-B Japan loan to fund Bulacan road project
The Philippines has secured a 9.399-billion yen loan (PHP4.25 billion) from the Japanese government to fund the construction of the third phase of the arterial road project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in Bulacan province and Metro Manila.
— Philippine News Agency

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

 

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

 

International Air Transport Association ‘disappointed’ with new Changi Airport passenger levy
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that it is “disappointed” with the decision to charge travellers flying out of Changi Airport with a new levy to fund the development of Changi East and Terminal 5.
— Channel NewsAsia 

Singapore’s Chairmanship: Prospects for ASEAN in 2018
The Philippines had chaired the ASEAN four times since its inception with 2017 being its latest assumption, while Singapore had chaired three times before this year.
— Asean Briefing 

Singapore draft law aims to censor reporting on terror attacks
Draft anti-terrorism legislation under consideration in Singapore would imperil press freedom by banning journalists from covering terror attacks, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
— Committee to Protect Journalists

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

 

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

 

Thailand again ‘thinking’ about joining TPP
Thailand is considering applying to join the 11-nation trade deal that was initiated by ex-president Obama but abandoned by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand sets up technological center for B&R Initiative
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) together with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced Tuesday the establishment of an international center for the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) project.
— The Nation

PM calls for action if corruption allegations confirmed
The Prime Minister has insisted that action be taken against any officials found to be engaging in graft after receiving a briefing from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), which has established a fact-finding committee given 90 days to complete its work.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

 

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam needs to invest US$7 billion yearly in power for sustainable growth
The power industry will need to rise by 1.2-2 percent per year to help Vietnam’s GDP grow by 1 percent, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam’s Industrial Zones Focusing on SMEs for Investment
Industrial zones (IZs) and Export processing zones (EPZs) in Vietnam have played an important role in attracting foreign investments and the development of the local economy.
— Vietnam Briefing

Real estate sector expects record FDI in 2018
FDI flows into real estate have been very high so far this year, and a new record is expected to be set this year.
— VietnamNet Bridge

See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News

 

Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.