Indonesian leader Jokowi’s US visit falls short – could China stand to benefit?
The recently signed US-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership shows the lack of potential for bilateral economic ties to deepen.
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SCMP This Week in Asia
Read my latest articles here: www.scmp.com/author/amy-sood
‘We’re on our own’: Asian rice farmers brace for El Nino’s wrath as crops wither
From Thailand to the Philippines and Indonesia, El Nino is back with a vengeance and experts say it may be set to torment the paddy providing Asia with its staple food.
Singapore director Anthony Chen on The Breaking Ice, ‘lying flat’ and Hong Kong
Chen was inspired to make his latest drama while pondering life in London’s pandemic lockdown. Read on for his thoughts on China’s youth, the state of Asian cinema and what Singapore’s films are missing.
In Southeast Asia’s EV race, domestic markets face a long and winding road
Electric vehicles still only account for a fraction of Southeast Asia’s total car sales, but with a recent triple-digit surge in demand driven by consumers in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia that could be about to change.
More work ahead for India’s equality fight after ‘shock’ gay marriage ruling
India’s top court did not legalise same-sex marriages, but said the nation had a duty to acknowledge such relationships and protect LGBTQ folk from discrimination.
Rohingya problems deepen as violence surges in Bangladesh refugee camps
Escalating violence in the camps of Cox’s Bazar and increasing repression by Bangladeshi authorities have left Rohingya refugees devoid of protection or justice.
Israel-Hamas war divides Southeast Asia as trade, religion determine responses
Singapore ‘strongly’ condemned the attacks on Israel, while politicians in Malaysia and Indonesia came down firmly on the Palestinians’ side.
‘Watch your back’: Sikh diaspora fears for safety after killing of separatist
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has fuelled fears among Sikhs globally about the Khalistan movement getting ‘disproportionate’ amounts of attention.
‘Desperate’ Indonesians risk abuse in Malaysia as they turn to illegal agents
Indonesia’s migrant protection agency said nearly 2,000 Indonesian migrant workers had died as a result of abuse, accidents, or illness since 2020.
Can India keep Ukraine war from overshadowing G20 leaders’ summit?
India has refused to use its G20 presidency to discuss additional sanctions on Russia but observers say New Delhi has to play a balancing act and work towards a consensus.
‘We shouldn’t be gutless’: Indonesia doubles down on bauxite ore export ban
The ban is part of Indonesia’s ‘downstreaming policy’ to boost revenue from raw materials by requiring miners and producers to build onshore refining facilities.
US urges softer tack towards Asian nationals tricked into becoming scammers
An annual human trafficking report by the US urges governments to protect survivors of trafficking from ‘inappropriate punishment and further victimisation’.
Fears mount of marine life, island loss as Indonesia U-turns on sea-sand exports
Activists and coastal dwellers warn that restarting sea-sand exports threatens fishermen’s livelihoods and could hasten the loss of Indonesia’s many small islands.
‘Extreme weather events’: Asia set for supercharged heat as El Nino looms
Record springtime temperatures have left millions across the region sweltering from India to Indonesia and Malaysia, as the first El Nino event in three years threatens to fan the flames.
‘Gateway to India’s south’: Modi’s BJP seeks to retain grip on Karnataka
Retaining Karnataka in local elections would give BJP leader Modi a foothold in southern India, as he gears up to seek a third term as PM next year.
‘Much easier’: QR codes power rural India into a cashless economy
India, once a cash-only economy, is undergoing a digital revolution, thanks to the country’s home-grown scan-and-pay systems.
US and Philippines to boost ties amid an increasingly assertive China
While US ‘needs the Philippines’ and with US-Philippines ties at a ‘critical juncture’, the Southeast Asian nation has to position itself carefully in case US-China tensions escalate, analysts say.
More Malaysians learning Korean as K-wave continues to take world by storm
Korean is one of fastest-growing languages in world, sometimes ahead of Mandarin; ‘enjoying Korean drama, movies, K-pop might be a way people cope with stressful lives’.
Will Indonesia’s ‘rainforest city’ capital bring health risks to residents?
The rainforest from which Nusantara city will be carved out is home to several endemic diseases including mosquito-borne malaria, tuberculosis and elephantiasis.
Malaysia’s corruption rating stagnates with many accused leaders still in power
Transparency International’s index rated Malaysia 47 on a scale of one to 100, where one equals the most corrupt.
India accused of shaping ‘compliant’ online media amid ban over BBC’s Modi film
The Indian government invoked emergency powers to block clips of a BBC film on Prime Minister Narendra Modi from being shared on social media platforms – a request that Twitter and YouTube complied with.
Will New Zealand recalibrate ties with China, West after Ardern?
Incoming leader Chris Hipkins faces task of balancing ties with China and the US while tackling domestic issues such as a cost-of-living crisis.
ChatGPT could change Asian education, but is it a study aid or ‘cheat-bot?’
Students say they use the tool as a form of study aid and do not consider it as cheating, but experts suggest introducing it into the classroom to ensure responsible use.
‘Strangers in eyes of law’: same-sex marriage fight goes to Supreme Court
Four gay Indian couples have petitioned the Supreme Court saying they want same-sex marriages recognised, but experts say the government will fight further demands ‘tooth and nail’.
Fates of Rohingya boats across Asia spotlight crisis of refugees ‘left to die’
Rohingya advocates fear that interest in the group is waning, as regional authorities were slow to respond to rights groups’ multiple calls for help and information on vessels.
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SCMP Asia: Indonesian General Election 2024
Indonesia election: is Jokowi’s ‘partiality’ for Prabowo a double-edged sword?
While Prabowo tops opinion polls, his stagnating numbers and a potential alliance between his rivals could deny him an outright victory despite Widodo’s ‘partiality’.
Will Indonesia’s Anies and Ganjar team up to deny Prabowo an outright poll win?
Weeks before the February 14 election, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan have gone on the offensive to narrow Defence Minister Prabowo’s large lead.
Indonesia’s Anies Baswedan targets Jokowi’s Nusantara plan in election strategy
Analysts say Nusantara is a ‘huge drain on the public purse’ and likely to be an increasingly controversial issue in the run-up to the February polls.
He’s in the groove. But can Indonesia’s Prabowo dance his way to the presidency?
Prabowo Subianto is riding high in the polls, as his ‘adorable’ social-media campaign wins over a younger generation largely unfamiliar with his contentious strongman past.
Indonesia’s top judge to resign after Widodo’s son cleared to run as VP
Indonesia’s Chief Justice has been ordered to step down over ethical violations in a court ruling that paved the way for President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run as vice-president.
Indonesia election 2024: the biggest issues facing the 3 presidential hopefuls
Campaigning is likely to spotlight political dynasties, Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara, youth and Muslim voters, and intra party rivalry in the ruling party.
Indonesia election 2024: will Prabowo’s choice of running mate backfire on him?
The PDI-P could use Gibran’s political inexperience and call to preserve Indonesia’s democracy as a way to weaken Prabowo’s campaign, observers say.
Fears for Indonesia democracy as Jokowi’s son could run as VP after court ruling
Jokowi’s eldest son may run as VP in next year’s election after a controversial constitutional court ruling creates a “bad precedent” for Indonesian democracy.
Indonesia’s Prabowo to ensure ‘continuity’ if he becomes president, brother says
‘Continuity’ means Indonesia will remain neutral amid ‘great-power competition’, says Hashim Djojohadikusumo at the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023.
Can Indonesia’s Anies Baswedan and VP pick win with ‘total opposite’ ideals?
A ‘very conservative’ PKS, one of Anies’ supporting parties, contrasts with his VP pick’s ‘moderate’ PKB that could cause internal tension, warn analysts.
Indonesia’s Jokowi to reaffirm support for Ganjar Pranowo as election nears
President Joko Widodo has widely been called the kingmaker of the next election, but is yet to officially endorse a candidate.
Indonesia’s Prabowo casts himself as ‘Jokowi’s man’ in third bid for presidency
Ex-general Prabowo has worked to rebrand himself since losing twice to Widodo, taking a softer tact in his speeches and connecting with young voters through social media.
Exclusive: Indonesia’s Thohir talks up ‘continuity in politics’ to preserve Widodo legacy
Indonesian tycoon reasserts his support for President Joko Widodo even as he appears set to be a front runner for vice-president in the coming election.
Will tycoon-turned-minister Sandiaga Uno run for Indonesia’s top job?
If he seeks the presidency, Sandiaga faces a tough battle ahead with polls still showing him falling short of current front runners.
SCMP Asia: ASEAN and the South China Sea
Will untested Laos affect ‘unity in Asean’ over Myanmar crisis, South China Sea?
As new Asean chair, Vientiane may be ‘susceptible to Chinese pressure’ when dealing with the South China Sea issue, analysts say
Asean doesn’t want to be ‘forced to choose sides’, says Thai deputy PM
In a keynote speech at the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023, Thailand’s deputy prime minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said unity among Asean members can help ‘preserve regional peace and stability’.
Philippines will ‘stand our ground’ to South China Sea ‘bullying’: defence chief
The Philippines’ Gilberto Teodoro Jnr has compared Beijing’s recent actions in the South China Sea to that of a schoolyard bully.
South China Sea not just about US-China rivalry, Philippines says
President Marcos Jnr says misleading narratives deny the Philippines its independence and agency, and disregard its legitimate interests
Biden’s Asean summit snub reveals US gap between ‘rhetoric and reality’
The Biden administration has rebuilt some trust, goodwill across Southeast Asia, but the summit snub will be ‘two steps forward, one step back’.
South China Sea: could Philippines and Vietnam bond over assertive Beijing?
While Vietnam and China are close ideologically, the long-standing and increasingly volatile maritime dispute could bring Southeast Asia’s Manila and Hanoi closer together, say analysts.
SCMP Asia: Explainers
What to know about Japan’s plan to release Fukushima waste water into the sea
The plan to dump treated radioactive waste water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea has stirred debates in South Korea, and led to boycotts of Japanese goods in China. Japanese fishermen have also vehemently opposed the plan.
What’s next for Thailand after Move Forward Party’s shock election win?
The pro-reform party claimed more than 14 million votes in Sunday’s election, but it will have its work cut out if it wants to build a governing coalition in the face of a hostile military-backed royalist establishment.
Who is PAS, the single biggest party in Malaysia’s new parliament?
PAS, one of the parties in ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional coalition, has long unnerved Malaysia’s minority groups with its hardline Islamist stance.
Party coup, angry king, jailed Najib: Malaysia’s tortuous journey to snap vote
Umno’s last two years in power have been anything but stable – with the rise and fall of three prime ministers, an economy only just recovering from the pandemic and top party leaders mired in corruption charges and scandals. Photo: AP
Malaysia election 2022: A quick guide to what you need to know
Malaysia’s tumultuous political scene, coloured by corruption and politicking, is further complicated by racial policies, the rising cost of living, economic uncertainty and an election held during monsoon season.
A look at Singapore and Hong Kong’s property cooling measures
Recent measures in Singapore aim to slow pace of price increase for resale HDB flats, while Hong Kong has stuck to its policies despite home prices being in the midst of a five-year low.
Can crowd disasters like Indonesia’s football tragedy be prevented?
Fight-or-flight response triggered by radical change in environment, crowd density among key factors for disasters, experts say.
What does a weaker UK pound mean for Asian tourists, students and businesses?
Asian consumers are snapping up the pound in anticipation of lower-cost holidays but it is a less rosy picture for UK-based workers and for Asian firms dependent on exports to Britain.
CNN International
Jakarta residents win battle for clean air against Indonesian government
(CNN) A Jakarta court on Thursday ruled the Indonesian government had failed to uphold citizens' right to clean air, in a landmark judgment campaigners hope will force authorities to take action on the city's notorious smog.
The long-awaited decision ends a two-year legal challenge brought by 32 Jakarta citizens against Indonesian President Joko Widodo, three cabinet ministers, the Jakarta governor, and two provincial leaders. The court ruled that the defendants were guilty of "committing "unla
The long-awaited decision ends a two-year legal challenge brought by 32 Jakarta citizens against Indonesian President Joko Widodo, three cabinet ministers, the Jakarta governor, and two provincial leaders. The court ruled that the defendants were guilty of "committing "unla
Families are at war over a wedding tradition India banned decades ago
(CNN) Vismaya Nair had been married for just over one year when she was found dead in the bathroom of her husband's family's home in India's southwestern Kerala state.
Initially, police had no reason to view the 24-year-old student's death on June 21 as suspicious, until her family made a complaint under the country's "dowry death" law.
The law allows charges to be brought against people for causing the death or suicide of a woman within the first seven years of her marriage in which the famil
Initially, police had no reason to view the 24-year-old student's death on June 21 as suspicious, until her family made a complaint under the country's "dowry death" law.
The law allows charges to be brought against people for causing the death or suicide of a woman within the first seven years of her marriage in which the famil
Almost half of this capital city's population may have contracted Covid-19, survey finds
The survey, published July 10, tested for coronavirus antibodies in the blood of about 5,000 people across the city from March 15-31. The results showed 44.5% of those tested had antibodies, indicating they had been infected with Covid-19.
Jakarta has a population of about 10.6 million, government figures show. According to the researchers, as many as 4.7 million people may have been infected in the capital by March 31.
"Through this survey, we can estimate the proportion of Jakarta residents
Jakarta has a population of about 10.6 million, government figures show. According to the researchers, as many as 4.7 million people may have been infected in the capital by March 31.
"Through this survey, we can estimate the proportion of Jakarta residents
These countries used Chinese vaccines and still have Covid-19 cases
Hong Kong and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (CNN) In Mongolia, hospitals are overwhelmed. In the tiny archipelago of Seychelles, more than 100 new Covid-19 cases are being reported each day. And in Chile, a nationwide lockdown was lifted this week -- but the country is still reporting thousands of daily cases .
What links these countries is that they have each fully inoculated more than 50% of their populations, largely with Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines. And that's raised questions over the vaccin
What links these countries is that they have each fully inoculated more than 50% of their populations, largely with Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines. And that's raised questions over the vaccin
NBC News
Chinese social media bypass censors to support Chloé Zhao's Oscars wins
Social media users in China got creative Monday to celebrate Chloé Zhao's historic Oscars victory after the Chinese government censored mention of her name.
Zhao, who was born in Beijing, won the Academy Award for best director Sunday for "Nomadland," but searches for her name and for the film were few and far between on Chinese social media platforms. "Nomadland" also won the award for best picture and similarly got the silent treatment.
On China's Twitter-like Weibo, users bypassed censors b
Zhao, who was born in Beijing, won the Academy Award for best director Sunday for "Nomadland," but searches for her name and for the film were few and far between on Chinese social media platforms. "Nomadland" also won the award for best picture and similarly got the silent treatment.
On China's Twitter-like Weibo, users bypassed censors b
Oxygen trains in India are racing to save patients amid growing crisis
Oxygen supplies are being rushed by train to New Delhi amid shortages across hospitals in the nation's capital, as India's Covid-19 crisis deepens.
The country confirmed a record 3,780 deaths Wednesday, a day after it became only the second country after the United States to pass 20 million total infections.
Piyush Goyal, the minister for railways, called the trains "Oxygen Express" in a tweet and said they would “provide a continued supply of oxygen for Covid-19 patients in the capital.”
He
The country confirmed a record 3,780 deaths Wednesday, a day after it became only the second country after the United States to pass 20 million total infections.
Piyush Goyal, the minister for railways, called the trains "Oxygen Express" in a tweet and said they would “provide a continued supply of oxygen for Covid-19 patients in the capital.”
He
India surges past 200,000 Covid deaths amid record new cases
India passed 200,000 Covid-19 deaths Wednesday, becoming only the fourth country to do so, as it battles a devastating second wave of infections.
The surge in new infections has stretched hospitals across the country to a breaking point, with widespread shortages of medical oxygen and beds. Patients and their loved ones desperately search for hospitals with intensive care units that can make room for them, turning to social media to find access to vacant beds and oxygen online.
Increased infec
The surge in new infections has stretched hospitals across the country to a breaking point, with widespread shortages of medical oxygen and beds. Patients and their loved ones desperately search for hospitals with intensive care units that can make room for them, turning to social media to find access to vacant beds and oxygen online.
Increased infec
Modi's party takes electoral hit as virus cases spiral
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party lost a key state in elections over the weekend amid mounting criticism of his handling of the country’s worsening Covid-19 crisis.
On Monday, India recorded more than 300,000 new cases for the 12th straight day, bringing the country’s total infections to nearly 20 million, according to Health Ministry figures. Experts fear that the real number may be 10 times higher in the nation of over 1.35 billion people.
The country also reported over 218,000 dea
On Monday, India recorded more than 300,000 new cases for the 12th straight day, bringing the country’s total infections to nearly 20 million, according to Health Ministry figures. Experts fear that the real number may be 10 times higher in the nation of over 1.35 billion people.
The country also reported over 218,000 dea
'Black fungus' strikes fear in India as Covid deaths pass 300,000
India became only the third country to record 300,000 Covid-19 deaths on Monday amid growing fears about a potentially fatal fungal infection striking some of those who have battled the virus.
Over 8,800 total cases of the so-called black fungus, known as mucormycosis, have been recorded across India, the country's minister of chemicals and fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda, said in a tweet Saturday.
Although Gowda did not share the official number of deaths caused by mucormycosis, The Associated P
Over 8,800 total cases of the so-called black fungus, known as mucormycosis, have been recorded across India, the country's minister of chemicals and fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda, said in a tweet Saturday.
Although Gowda did not share the official number of deaths caused by mucormycosis, The Associated P
Bodies found floating in the Ganges as India battles second Covid wave
Dozens of bodies have been washing up on the banks of the Ganges river as hospitals and crematoriums across India remain overwhelmed by the country's rampant second wave of Covid-19.
Officials in the east Indian state of Bihar said in a statement Tuesday that at least 71 corpses washed up in the city of Buxar, adding that they were likely coming from India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, officials in Uttar Pradesh said Tuesday that dozens of bloated and decomposed bodies were f
Officials in the east Indian state of Bihar said in a statement Tuesday that at least 71 corpses washed up in the city of Buxar, adding that they were likely coming from India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, officials in Uttar Pradesh said Tuesday that dozens of bloated and decomposed bodies were f
India Covid rates plummet, experts struggle to find explanation
India’s Covid-19 infection rate plummeted, but experts still don’t know why. NBC News’ Janis Mackey Frayer explains the factors scientists are looking at in India’s comeback.