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The implementation of one country, two systems is very different MAO YIN REUNITES WITH HIS MOTHER LI JINGZHI IN SHAANXI. from what HIS PARENTS LOST HIM AT A HOTEL 32 YEARS AGO. Photo: Reuters I expected in the 1980s Veteran legislator Allen Lee Peng-fei, who has died aged 80. Lee, once touted as a potential Hong Kong leader, had In 1983 lobbied for an extension to British rule

MANNEQUINS CHEER ON A SEOUL FOOTBALL CLUB. FANS LATER DISCOVERED THEY WERE SEX DOLLS. Photo: AFP

PEOPLE ON A SPORTS PITCH IN INCHEON, , WAIT TO BE TESTED FOR COVID-19. Photo: AP A FLOODED ALLEYWAY IN KOLKOTA AFTER CYCLONE AMPHAN HIT LAND. PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTERS ARE BLESSED BY BUDDHIST No, there’s no Photo: AFP MONKS AT A TEMPLE IN BANGKOK. Photo: EPA trade war Australia’s Agriculture Minister David Littleproud rules out retaliating against ’s tariff of over 80 per cent on its barley exports

BROUGHT TO YOU Read us online at: BY ASIA DESK, SCMP scmp.com/thisweekinasia Editor Facebook 12 Zuraidah Ibrahim facebook.com/twia This pandemic Deputy Editor Subscribe to our weekly Lynn Lee newsletter has forced scmp.com/newsletter Thailand’s battered Design some people to Huy Truong, Dennis Yip We would like to hear from you Email us: economy needs Chief Subeditor [email protected] be alone with Andrew Raine their thoughts Chinese tourists Subeditors Hari Raj, Thomas Sturrock, Greg Fountain, Francine Chen, for maybe the to keep it afloat Roy McKenzie 16 8 Scan the QR code Photos to download the first time in Yves Sieur SCMP mobile app their life It’s time for Beijing In the post-Covid conflicts General email: [email protected] Hong Kong-based For advertising inquiries, telephone 2565 2435. rapper Txmiyama to call off to come, Asia will have 19/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Printed and published by the wolves, writes to fend for itself, writes South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po Wang Xiangwei Michael Vatikiotis

2 THIS WEEK IN ASIA MAY 24-30, 2020 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THIS WEEK IN ASIA 3 BRIEFING BRIEFING

CPEC PROJECTS, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: THE MULTAN-SUKKUR MOTORWAY; THE ORANGE LINE METRO TRAIN IN LAHORE; GWADAR PORT. Photos: Xinhua, Reuters Chinese medicine

With the coronavirus having infected Pakistan’s economy, Islamabad looks east for a new dose of investment

BY TOM HUSSAIN

FTER A TWO-YEAR slowdown Asim Saeed Bajwa, the retired and operated port on the Arabian Sea. credit for the project, but the terms in the execution of the China- three-star general appointed as Pakistan last month granted approval have not been made public. APakistan Economic Corridor founding chairman of the CPEC for the port to handle Afghanistan It is being executed as a Pakistan (CPEC) following the 2018 election Authority, said last month he transit trade. government project, rather than of Imran Khan as prime minister, expected to soon sign an agreement Bajwa said work on building as part of the CPEC. An earlier Pakistan officials are finalising with the China Three Gorges Corp for a second motorway route through Chinese proposal to include it proposals for new infrastructure the US$2.5 billion Kohala hydropower western Pakistan, to improve in CPEC fell through because projects worth billions, ahead of project, which would generate overland transit connectivity of national security concerns a state visit by Chinese President 1,124 megawatts of electricity. between Gwadar and China’s about Beijing controlling the flow this year. Bajwa announced on May 7 that Xinjiang province, had accelerated. of the Indus River, the lifeblood According to recent statements construction work had begun for Contractors were recently invited of Pakistan’s agriculture sector. by Pakistan’s CPEC Authority, a US$230 million airport at Gwadar, to bid for the second section of An Islamabad-based expert, which was established during the site of a Chinese-developed motorway connecting the Karakorum who works closely with the Chinese Khan’s visit to Beijing last October, Highway to Quetta, the administrative and Pakistani governments to officials are close to wrapping up the capital of Balochistan province, promote cooperation between the “action plan” for the estimated US$8 where Gwadar is located. “iron brothers”, said that the CPEC billion ML-1 project to rehabilitate CHINA IS, THANKS Andrew Small, author of the would be key to reviving Pakistan’s Pakistan’s rickety railway network. China-Pakistan Axis, said in the moribund economy, which could face It would be the single largest TO TRUMP, lead-up to Xi’s visit – which earlier another one year of recession at least, project of the CPEC, the first phase of this year was said to be happening in according to forecasts by multilateral which saw a collective US$19 billion of ASSUMING GLOBAL July – there had been a push from institutions and ratings agencies. Chinese credit and investment poured China and Pakistan to put together “As the world braces itself for into energy, motorway and other LEADERSHIP “a decent new package of projects, a 2008-like or worse recession, projects, said Chinese Mustafa Hyder Sayed, and also to ensure that any elements we see a renewed importance of Pakistan-China Institute Yao Jing at a conference last year. of the phase-one plans that had been CPEC projects in Pakistan, as it stalled were pushed forward”. emerges as an island of prosperity The political stakes had been that provides hope, jobs and tangible raised since CPEC was dragged as part of efforts to counter from 5.8 per cent the year before, The government said an for infrastructure projects because foreign direct investment in a sea of into the “informational war” a payments crisis brought on, according to revised government estimated 25 million informal-sector they would revitalise associated economic uncertainty,” said Mustafa which erupted between Beijing and in part, by the inability of Pakistan’s figures issued on Monday. That is workers had already been rendered domestic industries like cement, Hyder Sayed, executive director Washington last year, said Small, narrow economy to absorb substantially less than the provisional unemployed by the closure of rerolled steel and aggregates, of the Pakistan-China Institute. a Brussels-based senior fellow a massive influx of Chinese plant estimate of 3.3 per cent GDP growth most commercial activity since and incentivise fresh investment He said there was growing at the German Marshall Fund, and machinery imports under CPEC. issued by the government last June. late March, to contain the spread in the key job-generating concern in Pakistan about the a US think tank. Khan’s government also The Planning Commission of the coronavirus. manufacturing sector. US’ reliability as an economic “Given the scrutiny that any visit switched the focus of the CPEC estimated that Pakistan’s economy Khan has prioritised the revival On May 14, Power China and partner, because of President from Xi would bring, and the need away from big-ticket infrastructure will shrink by 0.39 per cent in the of the labour-intensive construction the Frontier Works Organisation, ’s response to convey a narrative of progress and projects to dedicated manufacturing 2019-2020 financial year, which ends sector, and has introduced tax breaks a commercial arm of Pakistan’s to the coronavirus pandemic. success, there would always have zones, agriculture and social on June 30, because of the additional to encourage investment in housing, powerful military, were awarded “The contrast between the US been an effort of this sort,” he said. sector development. impact of the coronavirus pandemic. backed by a promise not to ask a US$2.75 billion contract to build and China is stark,” Sayed said. “And After taking office in August 2018, As austerity bit, Pakistan’s The plunging economy has questions about the source of the reservoir and other early China is, thanks to Trump, assuming Khan’s administration trimmed the economy skidded to a grinding prompted a rethink by Khan, who is investment – a major departure from infrastructure of the Diamer-Bhasha global leadership by standing up and overall size of CPEC to US$50 billion, halt in the 2018-19 financial year, desperate to quickly create jobs for his government’s accountability- Dam, envisaged as Pakistan’s third being counted, which in the pre-Covid from US$64 billion under his Khan’s first year in power. Pakistan’s youthful population of 208 driven political agenda. such major project. With a 70 per cent and pre-Trump period, would have predecessor Nawaz Sharif, GDP growth fell to 1.9 per cent, million, which has a median age of 22. He has launched a renewed push stake, Power China has arranged always been the role of the US.”■

4 THIS WEEK IN ASIA MAY 24-30, 2020 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THIS WEEK IN ASIA 5 BRIEFING BRIEFING

AY 31 WAS supposed to have liable for that fee if it decides A suitable financing solution – said. Also onanalysts’ minds was the Putra University, remained upbeat the old days of buses, a packed but now hygiene and social been decision day on the to go down that route. along with Malaysia’s proposal to long-term feasibility of the project, about the viability of the rail link. Causeway and so on, hold back distancing must be considered Mfuture of the high-speed rail Transport industry observers cut the costs of the original plan – is amid a rising consensus that the The original plan was for the economic progress.” in construction,” Su said. End of the line? link between Malaysia and Singapore, said this was extremely unlikely, expected to feature in talks between post-pandemic “new normal” would line to bring the door-to-door travel Others, like independent Malaysian Attention is expected to focus but as the neighbours count their given the collapse of Pakatan the two governments’ point men for include a sizeable reduction in travel. time from downtown Kuala Lumpur transport analyst SM Sabri SM Ismail, next on the final deadline that the pennies amid the coronavirus-induced Harapan in March’s political coup. the development: senior minister Experts say the use of to Singapore’s central business said a fresh feasibility study might be two countries agree to. The US$25 billion Singapore-KL high-speed rail seemed economic slowdown, all signs point The new administration led by for economic affairs Azmin Ali for videoconferencing tools, which have district to 2.5 hours, from an average needed to assess just how demand Once the project gets pricey even before Covid-19 caused economic havoc to a further delay on a final decision. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Malaysia and Transport Minister grown popular during lockdown of 4.2 hours by air. for the link would be affected the green light, attention will turn Analysts expect a lively debate relies heavily on the support of Khaw Boon Wan for Singapore. periods, is likely to linger long The actual travel time on the by factors such as the dramatic to the international tender for and put a question mark over the future of travel in the months ahead on whether Najib’s United Malays National Singapore-based transport after the health crisis has passed, 350km rail link would be 90 minutes, rise of online corporate meetings. a company to design, build, the 110 billion ringgit (US$25 Organisation (Umno), which favours economist Walter Theseira believed reducing the need for business travel. similar to a flight when take-offs, Estimates publicised soon after maintain and finance rolling billion) project – once touted the rail project. the Muhyiddin administration’s In the investment world, the landings and taxiing are taken plans for the link were first announced stock and rail assets. BY TASHNY SUKUMARAN and DEWEY SIM as a “game changer” Najib this month urged Muhyiddin immediate focus would be wholesale dumping of US airline into account. A bus ride – the by Najib and Singapore’s Prime An earlier exercise – which drew for often-testy bilateral to press on with major projects like restarting the economy as well stocks by the famed American cheapest mode of travel between Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2013 interest from major rail players ties – will remain viable the rail link, saying they would “have a as existing trade and travel links. conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway – Kuala Lumpur and Singapore – put the passenger load at 22 million from Japan, China and Germany – in the post-pandemic era. large multiplier effect and contribute “To put bandwidth on a new led byinvestment guru Warren Buffett takes an average of 6.5 hours. a year within 10 years of operation. was called off after the September This Week in Asia to the economy to a large extent”. travel link when old ones haven’t – has added to the bearishness about “If anything, demand will increase James Su, an infrastructure 2018 deal to delay the project. understands the two A study by researchers at Japan’s been restored properly would the future of travel. over time,” said Law, who specialises analyst at Fitch Solutions in Malaysia, In a sign of upbeat market countries may soon Institute of Developing Economies not make much sense,” However, Law Teik Hua, an in civil engineering. “Covid-19 will said the uniqueness of travel between expectations for the project, announce an extension had forecast the project would said Theseira, an associate associate professor with Malaysia’s be over one day, and we cannot let the two neighbours, with their the shares of Malaysian to the deadline, with both create an “annual economic benefit” professor with the Singapore intertwined economies and societies, construction firms YTL sides still keen to carry on with of US$1.59 billion for Malaysia and University of Social Sciences. was reason to remain bullish about Corporation, Gamuda Berhad and the development. Under the original US$641 million for Singapore by 2030, Lee Ju Ye, an economist with passenger loads even after taking Malaysian Resource Corp Berhad – agreement signed in 2016, when the line was supposed to Maybank Kim Eng, said financing into account the pandemic’s effects. which were previously awarded construction on the project was to have been fully operational for four the project could be a key hurdle, “Given that the KL-SG route is one a contract for civil works for part have been well under way by now. years according to the original plan. with the two governments having of the highest trafficked international of the Malaysian portion of the line – But the Pakatan Harapan alliance, Still, the analysts said the already poured billions of dollars air routes, and given the soared last week. It is not known unexpected victors of the 2018 polls extension might be needed as into their stimulus packages. interconnectedness of the Malaysian if the awards will be valid when over the long-ruling administration both governments were focused Singapore has rolled out and Singapore economies, we believe the development is restarted. of then leader Najib Razak – an ardent on keeping their economies afloat US$45 billion worth of measures, that there is still a strong business The listed arm of Iskandar supporter of the rail link – negotiated as the pandemic had hit almost while Malaysia’s stimulus so far case for the construction of the Waterfront Holdings, a real estate an extension until May 2020 to decide every sector. adds up to nearly US$60 billion – high-speed rail,” Su said. firm that co-owns the Bandar whether to go through with the project. For Malaysia, especially, including US$8 billion of direct The analysts said that given Malaysia development that will The alliance cited the huge national the government – already nearing fiscal injections. the experience of the pandemic, serve as the rail link’s Kuala debt incurred by Najib and agreed to a self-imposed 55 per cent Theseira rebuffed the notion it was likely the project would have Lumpur terminus, has also pay Singapore S$15 million (US$10 debt-to-GDP ceiling – is under that the rail link could have an “parameters” built in to accommodate gained over the last week. million) for costs incurred for the pressure to realign spending so that immediate stimulus effect. “It’s future health crises. Bandar Malaysia’s other delay. A unilateral cancellation it has adequate firepower to fund unlikely that the spending will “We never thought about things owners are the Malaysian would have triggered a far more wage subsidies and other forms of come in early enough to make any SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AND MALAYSIA’S THEN LEADER like these before because the government and China’s China hefty penalty, and Malaysia remains stimulus for workers and businesses. difference for the local economy,” he NAJIB RAZAK AT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL SIGNING CEREMONY IN 2016. Photo: EPA coronavirus was so unprecedented, Railway Engineering Corp. ■

COVID-19 WILL BE OVER ONE DAY, WE CAN’T LET IT HOLD US BACK Law Teik Hua

6 THIS WEEK IN ASIA MAY 24-30, 2020 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THIS WEEK IN ASIA 7 BRIEFING BRIEFING

vaccine it is developing, because and security are badly frayed. Asian leaders relying on video humanitarian organisations, Popular resentment towards ad hoc groups like the Bali Process it was first to fund the company’s The WHO has been politicised conferencing. and charities and health foundations A GLOBAL China has erupted in countries has been hampered by resistance vaccine-making effort. and defunded, its prescriptions decision-making at the official coming together at a regional level such as Thailand, where the economy from states which feel pressured. No cure for ill will The challenges of international and warnings go unheeded, while level have slowed down. There should to pool data, share experiences, CONSENSUS IS relied heavily on Chinese tourists By and large, Asian governments distribution, the decision over which the UN Security Council cannot even be more attention paid to actions and establish a strategy for rolling out and business before Covid-19 closed have been allergic to civil society segments of our profoundly unequal pass a resolution on a global truce. taken at the grassroots level. vaccines and preventive safeguards UNLIKELY. ASIA its borders. That this sentiment and grassroots activism. America versus China, the privileged versus the poor, a disunited societies are inoculated, and how the In the light of this, Asia needs Despite a long history of that are tailored to regional needs. WILL HAVE TO is being expressed in societies But something has to give. United Nations. As the race for a vaccine shows, conflict is more, issue of immunity is managed as it urgently to consider how to having authoritarian governments, Questions such as how to ensure in the neighbourhood should be The Covid-19 pandemic is having becomes a passport to employment collectively pool resources, learn local communities, NGOs and that the legions of migrant workers FEND FOR ITSELF a worry for Beijing and prompt an immediate and catastrophic not less, likely in the post-Covid-19 world. Does dystopia beckon? and security, are likely to become from each country’s experiences and individuals in the region have risen to are included in vaccine programmes, a more transparent and softer impact on everyone’s lives. Visions triggers for protest and even conflict. chart a regional path to the protection the challenge of helping one another. even if they are undocumented or diplomatic approach. of dystopia like that crafted by Asian- Just as the voices demanding of public health and security. While governments fumbled and illegal, or the delivery of life-saving needed to ensure that countries Removing the increasingly American writer Chang Rae-lee in sustained lockdowns and restrictions Asia is both where the first fiddled over balancing public health drugs to areas of conflict will require like Bangladesh, which hosts close toxic geopolitical rivalry between his 2014 novel On Such a Full Sea BY MICHAEL VATIKIOTIS regions, neighbouring countries and and design new frameworks on movement are mainly of those outbreak of Covid-19 emerged, and with economic security, Malaysians more effective regional cooperation to a million Rohingya refugees, the US and China from the regional imagined a wrecked world divided within societies will be exacerbated. to contain and resolve them to who can afford to work from home, also the region that has arguably the made mass petitions urging the as many of the region’s most can be sure of a seat at the table. equation might coax Beijing into a between the privileged living in New drivers of conflict will emerge. prevent more death and suffering. the privileged will demand premium most effective containment efforts. government to maintain lockdowns, vulnerable people live along The ad hoc group model deployed less reflexively defensive and at times protected communities, and the ITH THE SCALE and An analogy could be made with A global consensus is unlikely, care and attention, while the poor With better-coordinated regional while Indonesian leaders in towns contested or remote border areas. to manage people-smuggling in aggressive stance. This is not the time rest of society eking out a precarious impact of the coronavirus the end of World War II, which gave so Asia will have to fend for itself. and marginalised will be at the end of leadership and action, some of the and villages enforced local measures With the blessing of the 10 Asean the region, co-chaired by Indonesia for assertive manoeuvres in the South existence in an anarchic wilderness Wpandemic, we are told birth almost immediately to the We see this already in the global the queue. “We have some perfectly missteps taken in some countries can to protect their communities as the (Association of Southeast Asian and Australia and known as the China Sea and confrontation between bereft of life-saving technology. to expect a different kind of world Cold War struggle between race to find a Covid-19 vaccine. effective vaccines on this planet be addressed and corrected. But first, central government issued confusing Nations) member states supported by Bali Process, might be one option. the US and Chinese navies – countries Is that the future we want? when lockdown and quarantine communist states and the Western As soon as one emerges, there that we have not used effectively,” the existing modes of regional messages. In Thailand, women’s China, India, Japan and South Korea, A more inclusive regional in the region want the US and China If so, we will be condemned to regimes are eventually lifted. powers. Thirty more years of war and will be conflict over who gets it first. said a senior official of the World cooperation and decision-making groups and teams of doctors led one possible configuration could approach would give China, to work together, not against each perpetual conflict and insecurity. ■ But almost certainly, the one suffering ensued, especially in Asia. The French pharmaceutical giant Health Organisation (WHO) recently. need to be adjusted, and the barriers the way in shaping medical advice include Asean Regional Forum which has been widely criticised for other at the expense of other nations. aspect of life that will not change Therefore, there is an urgent need Sanofi was forced to back down after Sadly, the institutional framework to effective action must be lowered. and mobilising food supplies. members such as Australia, New being defensive about the coronavirus To be sure, finding the right Michael Vatikiotis is the author is a proclivity for conflict. Rather, to anticipate emerging fault lines announcing that the United States and rules designed to ensure Formal -level meetings Scale up this basic common- Zealand and even . A pandemic, an opportunity to show regional approach will be of Blood and Silk, Power and Conflict existing divides between powers, created by the Covid-19 pandemic would have priority access to the equitable protection of global health have not worked out well among sense civility and you could have broader multi-state configuration is regional leadership and responsibility. challenging. The effectiveness of in Modern Southeast Asia

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8 THIS WEEK IN ASIA MAY 24-30, 2020 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THIS WEEK IN ASIA 9 COVER STORY COVER STORY

Bring on the bubbly If the Covid-19-induced moratorium on travel has left you feeling flat, cheer up. Travel bubbles and Chinese tourists are rising to the challenge of refloating Asia’s tourism industry

BY KOK XINGHUI

NTREPRENEUR CATHERINE TOK typically Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP), 5.8 per cent Cambodia tourism minister Thong Khon said Australia’s reopening is more cautious. A travel The Pacific Asia Travel Association survey of Chinese leaves Singapore for a holiday six to eight of Malaysia’s, and more than 11 per cent of Vietnam’s he was optimistic Chinese tourists would support bubble with New Zealand is among its first measures, travellers found that 56 per cent would prefer domestic times each year, but she believes her days and Thailand’s. In Cambodia, it was a whopping the kingdom after the pandemic because Cambodian but it is also hoping to remain in the consciousness locations. This is already prevalent in Vietnam, where Eas an avid traveller are over. At least, that is, 17.8 per cent of GDP, while in regions heavily reliant prime minister Hun Sen had visited Beijing in February of travellers farther afield. Recently, it ran live virtual airlines say domestic flights are fast reaching capacity until a vaccine for Covid-19 is discovered and border on tourism – such as the Indonesian island of Bali – during the virus outbreak. travel experiences with iconic Australian personalities, and the authorities debuted a tourism-promotion restrictions, quarantine periods and flight disruptions – up to 70 per cent of the people depend on tourism. Already, Cambodia has lifted a travel ban on people such as a morning workout with actor Chris Hemsworth. campaign, “Vietnamese People Travel in Vietnam”, with like the ones that scuppered her trip to Taiwan last That was the world before the coronavirus. arriving from six countries, including the United States, hotels and resorts offering discounts to local travellers. month – become a thing of the past. The World Travel & Tourism Council projects there will as long as they meet some requirements. CHANGING MINDSETS Even for small markets like Singapore, Dynasty Travel But a vaccine remains a distant hope. Many experts be a staggering 63.4 million tourism job losses in Asia due Korea Tourism Organisation’s Beijing office Still, even with a vaccine and the pandemic over, travel is looking at growing new market segments such estimate it will be at least a year before a viable vaccine to the pandemic. Singapore’s Changi Airport, the world’s has been running online marketing campaigns for might not return to how it was before 2020. Deutsche as local tours. could be made widely available and some have warned 17th-busiest airport last year, has closed two of its four Chinese tourists, including a quiz show. An official said: Bank analyst Siobhan Lynch said history showed it took Other trends tourism experts expect include one may never be found. terminals as the number of flights dwindled. It has gone “China is one of our closest neighbours and I hope two to three years for passenger numbers to return to a fall in the popularity of long-haul flights and That’s a depressing thought for people like Tok, 31, from handling 5.63 million passengers in March last year Chinese people acknowledge South Korea’s efforts pre-crisis levels. Even then, some business travellers a shift in preferences for travel destinations. who have seen one of their favourite pastimes disappear to just 100 arrival and 700 departure passengers a day. to maintain exchanges of people between the two could choose to meet virtually instead, while leisure “People would prefer to go to destinations as if into thin air, but there is yet hope. countries despite the pandemic, although priority travellers might look for more flexible booking options that are less crowded. Cities may not be that attractive, Increasingly, countries across the world are planned linking Singapore to Canada, and Australia CHINESE TOURISTS TO THE RESCUE is now given to preventing the spread of the virus.” such as flights that allow cancellations or changes, they may look at wellness travel – yoga or meditation floating the idea of forming “travel bubbles”, in which to the Pacific Islands. One key plank of the strategy to restart tourism In Singapore, tour agency Dynasty Travel said or book holidays with a shorter lead time. holidays – adventures or retreats,” said Wong. reciprocal nations agree on guidelines that enable Nanyang Technological University tourism expert in Asia will be Chinese tourists. China was still a top market for inbound tourists Experts are also expecting a shift to domestic travel. In a market survey of its customers, Dynasty Travel their populations to move freely across their borders, Wong King Yin said: “All of them know that if they want Last year, Chinese tourists accounted for a fifth and it was looking at how to woo these visitors back. found that people were now more keen on self-driving just like in those halcyon days before the outbreak to stimulate their economy, they need to reopen their of arrivals in Singapore and more than a quarter of Japan’s destination management firm Aviareps holidays in destinations such as Taiwan, Australia of the novel coronavirus. borders. But the thing is, they are still not sure if there arrivals in Thailand. In 2018, 27 million Chinese tourists is advising clients to set a good price point for a first and New Zealand, or beach resorts in Indonesia All of a sudden, “bubble” has become the buzzword will be a second or third wave of virus so everyone visited Asean countries, up almost tenfold from 2003. wave of travellers who will hopefully post about their and Thailand. for countries hoping to boost their coronavirus-battered is trying to do it step by step.” Luckily for the region, of the 1,252 Chinese experiences online and encourage others to visit. Its marketing director, Alicia Seah, said: economies by restarting their tourism industries. Singapore, Australia, Canada, South Korea and surveyed by the Pacific Asia Travel Association in March, Aviareps general manager Ashley Harvey said he “Once borders are opened, people may travel less than South Korea and China opened one such bubble on New Zealand, for example, are working to open their 60 per cent said they intended to travel this year if the would target “Japan’s most immediate and important seven hours for holidays. Travellers will opt for more May 1 for business travellers to go between Korea and borders to each other and will start with essential pandemic was brought under control and 35 per cent markets” with a campaign specifically for health care open spaces, nature resorts, stay in the suburbs instead A PALACE IN 10 Chinese regions on a fast-track entry, provided they business trips before adding leisure travel at a later date. said they would give priority to countries that had workers and first responders from China. of in the city, and engage in more outdoor activities.” SEOUL, SOUTH test negative for Covid-19 before departure and after The countries are looking to standardise protocols supported China during the outbreak. “I think that China appreciates the support that Japan Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s senior lecturer in tourism KOREA. arrival. Among the first travellers to use the scheme was so that there will be mutual assurance of health The top five places on their destination wishlist are has extended during the crisis,” Harvey said. “In the very Michael Chiam said it was early days, but he expected FAR LEFT: Samsung Electronics vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong, who standards in terms of testing and contact tracing. Japan, Thailand, Europe, the Maldives and Singapore – early stages, before we all knew quite how bad this was a focus on “quality tourism and not quantity tourists”, LOCAL made a three-day visit to inspect Samsung Electronics’ Still, while the countries are taking a cautious good news for Thailand in particular, as Chinese made going to be, Japan provided Wuhan with face masks so as to avoid another epidemic or pandemic. TOURISTS chip plant in Xian, Shaanxi province. Korea is seeking approach, the potential of leisure travel resuming up 27 per cent of its 39.8 million tourists last year. and made other positive gestures. I think that will SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA “Some say that niche tourism will grow as it appeals to RETURN FROM to float further bubbles and is in discussions with has got the tourism industry bubbling with excitement. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s tourism-facing businesses go a long way to encourage tourists to return to Japan.” small groups of tourists rather than the masses,” he said. A CRUISE IN Vietnam, Hungary, and Kuwait. That shouldn’t be surprising. After all, tourism has and destinations are preparing packages featuring In Indonesia, the city of Yogyakarta and the HAVE ALREADY OPENED “The industry will never be the same again. We must HA LONG BAY, Meanwhile, a bubble containing Estonia, long been a huge driver of Asian economies. In 2018, health and safety measures such as social distancing on Riau islands province are hoping to reopen A TRAVEL BUBBLE do things differently, given the new normal, and find new VIETNAM. Latvia and Lithuania opened on May 15, and others are tourism receipts accounted for 5.5 per cent of buses and in restaurants to appeal to Chinese travellers. to tourists in October. areas that we can thrive in.” ■ Photos: AFP

10 THIS WEEK IN ASIA MAY 24-30, 2020 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST THIS WEEK IN ASIA 11 COVER STORY COVER STORY

Thais that bind

The post-Covid future of the tourism industry that the Thai economy rests on lies in Chinese hands, and phones

BY VINCENT VICHIT-VADAKAN

EW PEOPLE ARE as aware of the devastation the novel coronavirus has inflicted on international Ftravel as Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, a deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Tourism accounts for 12 per cent of his country’s GDP (up to 20 per cent when ancillary services are included) and provides jobs for almost one in 10 Thais, according to the International Labour Organisation. But with borders closed and planes grounded across the world, this pillar of the Thai economy faces an uncertain future. The TAT’s best-case scenariois that 14-16 million people will visit this year, more than the 8.5 million projected by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, but far fewer than last year’s record of 39.8 million, a figure that made it far and away Southeast Asia’s most popular tourism destination. Amid such unsettling figures, Kunjara Na Ayudhya knows one thing for sure: that “China will remain Thailand’s and Asia’s biggest outbound tourist market”. Chinese accounted for more than one in four of the tourists who visited Thailand last year and their importance has only been magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic. Given FISH WHERE THE FISH ARE “We are by no means saying ‘rush to market’.” travellers and smaller groups craving personalised CLOCKWISE FROM throughout the crisis. Finding the right platform to reach International flights are scheduled to resume CHINA WILL that long-haul travel is not expected Complicating matters is the fact that wholesale group Chinese may be among those most sceptical that experiences. China is “a bigger opportunity than ever”, ABOVE: AN EMPTY consumers is key, whatever the message. Vanessa Zhu, on July 1, a month later than previously announced. to rebound quickly, Thailand’s travel – previously the sector’s backbone – seems unlikely it is indeed safe to return. Even before the pandemic, said founder Simon Philipp. BEACH IN director of Delivering Asia’s Shanghai office that And even when flights do eventually resume, REMAIN ASIA’S tourism strategy is now focused to bounce back swiftly. A survey of more than 1,000 the industry was reeling from an incident in 2018 in The company plans to offer tailored cooking classes PATTAYA; EMPTY conducted the survey with C9, said there was an capacity will be a fraction of pre-Covid-19 levels. squarely on the short-haul travellers seasoned travellers in major Chinese cities co-authored which a poorly designed boat capsized in bad weather and market tours by July. Philipp has had interest from BOATS AT A unexpected benefit of the prolonged lockdown. The troubled national carrier Thai Airways, BIGGEST who are most likely to return first: by the industry consultancy C9 Hotelworks found that off Phuket, killing 47 Chinese tourists. Airbnb Experiences, the activity and events platform FLOATING China’s digitally connected population used their time now facing restructuring under Thailand’s receivership OUTBOUND visitors from China. 71 per cent of those planning foreign travel in 2020 While Thailand responded to the incident with of the short-term accommodation giant. “They have MARKET, ALSO IN online to “gain a lot of information about destinations and bankruptcy laws, had previously offered a twice- Refloating this market will would consider travelling to Thailand, and 83 per cent a series of new health and safety measures, the damage big Chinese demand but limited [Chinese language] PATTAYA; HEALTH they want to travel to, local foods they want to taste, daily service to Shanghai; from July, it will offer just two TOURIST MARKET be crucial not only to resurrecting of this group said they would want to go as to Phuket’s image had been done. The number of supply,” he said. OFFICIALS CHECK all saved in their to-do list in their phone”. rotations a week. The other Thai Airways destinations Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya Thailand’s economy, but also independent travellers. Chinese visiting the island plummeted after the incident The Peninsula Bangkok has partnered with James TOURISTS’ Even before the pandemic, the authorities were in China – Beijing and Guangzhou – will be served those of neighbouring Myanmar, The consultancy also believes older travellers will and has never fully recovered. Liang, the CEO of Trip Group, parent company of Ctrip, TEMPERATURES promoting ways to increase tourism, including schemes by one and two flights a week respectively. Laos and Cambodia. The ability be slower to return to the market, noting that more than To ease concerns over the coronavirus, hotels have by far the biggest online travel agent in China. The IN FEBRUARY, that give visitors discounts of up to 70 per cent on One solution may lie with low-cost carriers, of these countries to revive their own tourism industries 80 per cent of those who responded to its survey were embraced new protocols, from food safety to physical campaign labelled “Boss Recommends” will highlight BEFORE FLIGHTS shopping. Other measures under discussion included which have more flexibility than traditional airlines depends in part on Thailand’s successful reopening, between the ages of 20 and 40. distancing, and want people to know it. experiences outside the hotel with Liang’s personal WERE GROUNDED. the extension of opening hours of entertainment to increase capacity quickly. as the airports of Bangkok serve as a hub for the region. There was additional good news for Thailand: “Our first priority is to make all guests feel secure stamp of approval. Photos: AFP, EPA venues in destinations like Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi. Air Asia is offering one rotation a day between Doing so will be no easy task as Thailand will face half of those surveyed said they would spend about health and hygiene,” said Kris Priyajana, The Peninsula has also turned to platforms like Fliggy, To support Thai businesses, TAT has been organising Bangkok and Shanghai beginning on July 1 and two increased competition from regional competitors like 15,000 yuan (US$2,100) per trip. general manager of X2 Khao Lak Anda Mani Resort. where individual brands can sell products and packages, webinars and video clips to provide the industry with rotations with the megacity of Chongqing, among Vietnam and the Philippines, both of which had been C9 managing director Bill Barnett said targeting “Being a small property, we can provide the luxury then receive payment directly through the site’s up-to-date information and helping them to prepare other destinations in China. Low-cost carriers may in the middle of their own tourism booms before the those predisposed to travel was a good way to drum of space, privacy and distance.” integrated Alipay system. Both companies are owned by for the return of tourists in the post-Covid-19 era. also add direct flights from Phuket and Chiang Mai virus struck, attracting 8.5 million and 8.26 million up business in a short period of time. “Fish where the TAT will reinforce that message, Alibaba, which also owns the South China Morning Post. Critically, discussions are also being held about the to Chinese cities. foreign arrivals respectively last year. fish are” has become a mantra of his, repeated to travel transforming its “Amazing Thailand” brand into From the earliest days of the shutdown in Wuhan, possibility of fast-tracking travellers from key markets, For TAT’s Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the “best-case Both will be hoping to take out a chunk of the professionals around the region in a series of webinars “Amazing Trusted Thailand”. TAT posted uplifting messages of support and solidarity including China, if they can produce medical certificates scenario” would be if, come October and the visitors who would traditionally pick Thailand. It will also he co-hosts in which he urges businesses to pursue on WeChat and other platforms. On Douyin, better and proof of travel insurance. Chinese National Day holidays, the number of Chinese face competition from China itself, with the pandemic travellers likely to return to familiar territory, NEW ACTIVITIES known outside China for lip-synching and travellers had returned to 70 per cent of last year’s level. having boosted interest in travel within the country. over first-timers who will take longer to convince. Beyond addressing safety concerns, businesses are choreographed dance numbers shared on its WAITING FOR TAKE-OFF Time will tell if the combination of an industry “We cannot leave it too late to prepare for Chinese He believes that despite the economic pressures also developing new activities to appeal to experienced international version TikTok, TAT has continued to Despite these great efforts to tempt tourists back, eager to do business and a customer base arrivals,” Kunjara Na Ayudhya said. “International facing travellers, their primary concerns are in fact health travellers. Expique, known for its nighttime excursions work with influencers like Wenyiqianer and her half it is as yet uncertain when exactly travel to Thailand of travel-starved consumers will be enough competition for this market is bound to be intense.” and safety. “Open markets when they’re safe,” he said. in open-air tuk-tuks, is gearing up to cater to individual million followers to maintain an active online presence will be viable again. to make that dream come true. ■

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Conflict of interest

A near-zero interest rate for Singapore’s banks has led to a massive surge in lending to SMEs. But experts warn that if the V-shaped economy becomes a U-shape, everything will go pear-shaped

BY DEREK WONG and TAN SHAN MIN

N A CORONAVIRUS-STRICKEN world, Singapore’s The result has been business owners flocking to apply to make ends meet. He recently got married and has quarter. The government and banks are holding WHATEVER IT TAKES potential downsides went beyond mere economics, loan sharks and licensed moneylenders are feeling for the government-backed loans. About 2,500 loans to fork out more than S$2,000 a month for his mortgage out hope that the economy will bounce back and the This was why the authorities were using the market observed Singapore Management University associate Ithe pinch as struggling customers look elsewhere totalling S$1.9 billion (US$1.3 billion) were issued in and car loan. loans will be enough to tide SMEs over for this period. to mitigate risk, said Professor Bernard Yeung, law professor Eugene Tan, a former Nominated for cheaper credit. March and April – six times the credit extended in the “Taking a loan is never off the table, but I see no way But Professor Kim Sun Bae from the National University president of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Member of Parliament (NMP). Some loan sharks have been driven to desperation same period last year – with a high approval rate of 90 to pay it back,” he said. of Singapore Business School believes this may not work. Economic Research. “Should SMEs – which employ the vast majority from a lack of business. Bogus advertisements for staff to 95 per cent. With doomsday scenarios looming for such sectors, “Many governments, including Singapore’s, appear “The government goes through the local banks of Singaporeans – fold, there would be knock-on effects to enforce stay-home orders are actually requests for The government has taken on a risk share of 90 per loan defaults may take place en masse. Banks are to be making the baseline assumption that businesses which have firm-specific information. The co-sharing on employees, their families and the economy,” he said. runners. Hundreds of dollars worth of food deliveries cent of the loans, with banks taking up the remainder. already bracing themselves with billions of dollars’ are faced with a liquidity problem, not necessarily of risks is to safeguard against overextension. But if the “It’s a ripple effect and the human costs, often untold, are sent to debtors as harassment. But with many borrowers likely to close their worth of provisions, resulting in profit drops for a solvency problem,” he said. government takes on 100 per cent risk, then it is clearly are not to be trifled with – in terms of lost opportunity, ValueMax, one of Singapore’s biggest moneylending businesses as the pandemic drags on, the risk Singapore’s three local banks for the first time since “The risk of this backfiring clearly is if there is no a case of over-insurance,” he said. livelihoods, personal and family well-being.” and pawning chains with over 30 outlets, said it had of defaults looms large. 2016. DBS, OCBC and UOB posted declines in year-on- ‘V-shaped’ recovery but a ‘U-shaped’ one, pushing some The loans were a risk worth taking to prevent the For now, it may be better to err on the side of saving seen fewer clients borrowing money since the start of the year profits of between 19 and 43 per cent for the first borrowers into insolvency.” larger calamity of more businesses collapsing, said more businesses, believes economist and NMP Walter city state’s partial lockdown, termed a “circuit breaker”, TAKING THE HIT CIMB Private Banking economist Theseira, although he warned that more care may have on April 7. Some business owners do not expect to see a quick Song Seng Wun. “There is no choice to be shown in follow-on lending, or lending to sectors A ValueMax spokesman attributed this to recovery. One of them, who wanted to be known only TAKING A LOAN but for governments and central which are structurally affected by Covid-19. government assistance schemes. One such initiative, as Peter, is planning to close his 14-year-old events banks to use the ‘whatever it takes’ Nonetheless, he said Singapore’s banks were THE MONETARY the MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) Singapore company by the end of June if business does not pick IS NEVER OFF approach now, to roll out more and well-capitalised and regulated enough. “It is not AUTHORITY OF Dollar Facility, allows banks to borrow at a near-zero up soon. This does not seem possible, as events which more measures to help as many plausible that the bad loans in this programme are so SINGAPORE; interest rate. draw crowds of people are not likely to happen for the THE TABLE, businesses as possible to get back large as to threaten banking viability. Banks have made STORES AT TIONG This means banks can reduce the cost of loans to foreseeable future, even after the circuit breaker on their feet through this long, provision for far greater losses already in the context of BAHRU MARKET small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and offer measures are eased next in June. BUT I SEE NO WAY bumpy road,” he said. the Hin Leong collapse, those losses are not supported SHUT DURING an interest rate of between 2 and 4.5 per cent per annum, “Totally zero revenue since February. Two office TO PAY IT BACK “Unfortunately, there will be some by the government, and nobody thinks that the THE CIRCUIT down from up to 6 per cent previously. In contrast, spaces, six vehicles and 25 staff. We are bleeding S who bail on the loans, but this Singapore banks are unable to bear the loss,” he said, Peter BREAKER. licensed moneylenders can charge up to 4 per cent $100,000 a month and our reserves are almost dry,” is inevitable in any recession.” referring to the three local banks that had more than Photos: Bloomberg monthly interest. said Peter, who has turned to folding pizza boxes The effort was worth it as the S$871.5 million combined exposure to Hin Leong. ■

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CHINA BRIEFING WANG XIANGWEI That is the wise thing to do. Over the past few months, Beijing has ramped up its propaganda machine to push back against Washington’s narrative and its China should rein diplomats around the world have conducted so-called “wolf warrior” diplomacy by taking a robust, often in ‘wolf warrior’ confrontational approach to any criticism of China, in the name of defending the national interest. diplomats and let This style of diplomacy is named after a movie series that depicts China’s special forces undertaking overseas operations. The movies have become popular with the actions talk instead Chinese public, thanks to their patriotic tone. But the reality is that China’s propaganda is just IN THE RUN-UP to the two-day propaganda, disingenuous and ineffective. The more meeting last week of the World the Communist Party tightens the control of its media Health Assembly, the decision- for the propaganda purpose, the less convincing its making body of the World Health messages will become. Organisation (WHO), expectations For instance, China’s national television station CCTV were building in the international has aired a daily commentary during prime time over media that China faced an the past two weeks that blasts US politicians as “evil”, unprecedented backlash. like “monkeys wearing a hat” and “hated by both man Beijing reportedly was resisting growing pressure and god”. Such vitriol is unnecessary and unproductive, for an independent investigation into the origins of reminding many people of the language common in the pandemic; Taiwan was lobbying hard on its latest official media during the Cultural Revolution. attempt to join the body as an observer, and some PATRIOTIC: WU said the Chinese government would work with the United The efforts by the “wolf warrior” diplomats who expected the United States to use the forum to JING AND CELINA Nations to set up a global humanitarian depot and hub used to be trained to write dispatches behind closed ratchet up attacks on China and the WHO, all of JADE IN WOLF in China and help establish “green corridors” to move doors like their foreign counterparts have produced which threatened to mar the international body’s first WARRIOR 2. medical supplies quickly to the rest of the world. China mixed results at best. major gathering since the outbreak of the coronavirus. File photo will also allow its hospitals to “pair up” with 30 African The fiery response from the state media and the “wolf But in fact it turned out quite well for Beijing, which hospitals and accelerate the building of the African CDC warrior” diplomats may go down well with the hardliners largely came across as the good guy, as compared to headquarters to enhance Africa’s response to the and give vent to their anger towards what they see as Washington which threatened to permanently cut off pandemic. He said Beijing would work with the world’s unfair treatment of China in the international media. funding to the WHO at a time when health officials are richest countries on debt relief for the poorest nations. But fanning such nationalistic sentiment can also saying it is needed more than ever to lead the fight Regardless of China’s motives, it has offered concrete backfire. Wang Gungwu, an eminent historian and against Covid-19. and detailed measures and financial commitments sinologist, was right on point when he said in a recent Let’s hope Chinese officials will ride on the back to help fight the global pandemic. In comparison, interview that “the more nationalistic the Chinese people No money, of Beijing’s performance at the WHO to improve the Washington’s sole focus has been on blaming China. become, the less attractive their country will become”. country’s global image by scaling back the blame game Xi’s speech came shortly before China began its Over the past few months, the Chinese media has with Washington and its aggressive “wolf warrior” long-delayed annual session of the National People’s turbocharged propaganda about the wisdom and diplomacy, and allow its actions to Congress on Friday. The Chinese leadership hopes leadership of the Communist Party in taming the no food and speak louder than words. FANNING to use the hugely symbolic occasion to project an pandemic, but highlighting the ideological superiority of While US President Donald air of assuredness in the face of the pandemic. communist values is hardly a way to win friends overseas. Trump was notably absent, Chinese NATIONALISTIC Xi’s public backing of “a comprehensive review” On the contrary, such propaganda will do nothing President Xi Jinping projected China SENTIMENT of the global response to the pandemic is welcome constructive as communism and its values are as a responsible world power in his but it should have come much sooner. Until Monday, off-putting for most people in the world. 2,000km speech on Monday by appealing for CAN BACKFIRE China had been at a distinct disadvantage as the US That is not to say Chinese officials or the state international cooperation, pledging and Australia tried to build a campaign calling for an media should bite their tongues but they must be US$2 billion to the WHO in the next international investigation targeting China’s initial disciplined in responding to the backlash from the West. two years, and promising to make self-developed handling of the outbreak. Chinese officials had rightly They must choose their battles wisely and fight for what from home vaccines available to all as “a global public good”. argued that such a campaign was politically motivated really matters, instead of the current approach of More importantly, Xi said China would back to stigmatise China but Beijing’s sole focus on resisting swinging indiscriminately. “a comprehensive review of global response” such calls was counterproductive. More importantly, at a time when many overseas That is the situation facing millions of India’s to the coronavirus, to be led by the WHO after As argued in this space, China’s backing for an analysts and investors have complained about the pandemic was brought under control. international science-based investigation without “promise fatigue” – in reference to China promising migrant workers in a growing humanitarian crisis And in the end, the sensitive issue of whether prejudice and preconditions, as voiced by Xi on Monday, things then failing to deliver them promptly – Taiwan should be granted observer status failed could help Beijing break out of Washington’s it is time to allow actions to speak louder than words. to make it on to the agenda at the assembly meeting, encirclement, clear the air with the international Currently, China is a leader in the frantic race to BY KUNAL PUROHIT just like on previous occasions. community and win more friends. develop coronavirus vaccines and Xi has vowed to To be sure, Beijing’s gesture of goodwill at the Over the past few weeks, Trump and other China make the China-developed vaccines available to all in assembly was overshadowed by Washington’s efforts hawks have ratcheted up tensions by calling the virus the world as a “global public good”. This promise comes FF THE DUSTY national He has been waiting to do so for to lob accusations against China. These included “a plague from China”, hoping to make Beijing appear amid rising worries that vaccine nationalism will see highway that connects two months. At first, he was waiting Trump labelling the WHO as “a puppet of China” and solely responsible for this human tragedy. Chinese certain countries keen to supply their citizens first, OMumbai to northern India, for India’s lockdown, implemented threatening to withdraw funds permanently unless the officials and state media have reacted furiously, thus disrupting global distribution. Rambhau Prasad Yadav, 52, sits in mid-March and now scheduled body could “demonstrate independence from China”. calling certain US politicians – US Secretary of State Just imagine the goodwill China will reap if it succeeds on his haunches, waiting. It is early to last until May 31, to be lifted. And Xi’s speech might have been met with scepticism Mike Pompeo in particular – names. Such a blame in becoming among the first to develop viable and safe Thursday evening and his face mask Things had looked up, briefly, in the international media, where some interpreted it as game is not only useless, but it is dangerous too. vaccines and uses its massive production facilities to is wet from sweat, the fabric so thin when the Mumbai police asked an attempt by Beijing to distract attention from its earlier Xi’s speech on Monday offers hopes for a change. share them promptly with the world. ■ his lips are showing through. migrant workers like him to fill in missteps in handling the outbreak. Throughout, Xi appealed for international collaboration Yadav, a labourer in a gas utility forms to be repatriated, but then But it should go down well in the developing countries, and promised detailed measures and support for the Wang Xiangwei is the former editor-in-chief of the company, is looking for ways to return he heard nothing more. particularly in Africa where medical infrastructure and global battle against the pandemic, without going South China Morning Post. He is now based in Beijing to his hometown, 2,000km east in the preparedness for virus outbreaks are weak. Indeed, Xi after the US. as editorial adviser to the paper state of Bihar. Continued on p. 18

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Continued from p. 17 – perhaps a truck or bus driver – it has proven fatal. In the last week “My employer owes me over And there was no one to tell him shelters. The absence of food to frontline workers. So far, it has best quality food was used. angry calls from our volunteers played out in front of them. to give him a ride east. alone, more than 50 migrant workers a month’s salary, but he refuses to when the next bus would come. security has meant that civil sector distributed over 2.4 million meals Funded by donations, the group because they wanted to go out and “We once saw a couple with In the three days before Yadav’s story has echoes across have been killed in road accidents, take my calls and answer my texts,” So, Shaikh, like thousands organisations have had to step in at the highway since March 27, of 100 volunteers, from accounting help and weren’t able to,” said Ruben a nine-month-old baby, walking This Week in Asia spoke to him, India’s cities, where millions of while on Sunday, 26 were killed he said, his mask barely touching of others at the highway junction, to fill the void. each meal consisting of a hot snack, consultants to IT professionals, Mascarenhas, another co-founder. back home north, 2,000km away. Yadav was waiting for food. migrant workers, scarred by an when the truck they were travelling his upper lip. waited. “I just slept on the highway, One of them is Khaana Chahiye, at least two different fruits and fan out across the city each day, The project started when one We just kept thinking, how is the Out of money after his employers economic shutdown that has left in collided with another truck Shaikh used to earn 450 rupees under that flyover,” he said, which has been distributing food a bottle of water. donning gloves, masks, face shields of the co-founders stopped to talk baby going to make it in this heat?” stopped paying him due to the them jobless, hungry and penniless, in Auraliya, Uttar Pradesh. (US$6) for a day’s labour. With no pointing to the bridge in the middle packets daily at the highway and The group has teamed up with and orange reflector jackets. to some of the migrants in an For Yadav, the hot snack he got lockdown, he lived on khichdi, are struggling to return to their income for nearly two months, of the junction. On Thursday, at railway stations where migrant city restaurants to provide hot meals “Our volunteers have been the unending stream on the highways from the volunteers was his first a porridge made of rice and lentils, villages and families. FRUSTRATION AND Shaikh had just 100 rupees left when he was interviewed, workers are being sent back in to the group at cost price. backbone of our operations. When leaving the city. meal in three days. handed out by a community kitchen. Their migration has become DESPERATION when he decided to leave and started he was not any closer to leaving. limited trains each day. Such a model, said co-founder a funding crunch forced us to curtail Pathik Muni, another co-founder, As he tucked in, he went over When the kitchen closed, Yadav asked an unending humanitarian crisis Mumbai’s position as the country’s asking friends to lend him money. “I don’t know how I’ll get there, It has also been sending meals Swaraj Shetty, ensured only the operations for a few days, I would get said stories of hardship often his options, wondering aloud which neighbours if he could borrow money for the country’s poorest. economic nerve centre makes it one “But they were all as broke as I was,” but I need to get out of here,” he said. one he shouldtake – a bus for a few to buy fuel to cook the rice grains he Critics say ’s handling of the biggest destinations for India’s he said. Eventually, having borrowed ABOVE, hundred kilometres, “but then had left. They turned him down. of the pandemic, with few provisions migrant workers. Data from India’s from 20 people, he had a total of THE SLIVER OF HOPE I DON’T KNOW HOW CLOCKWISE: what?”, or a truck all the way home, “After three nights of sleeping for the millions of migrant workers last population census in 2011 shows 500 rupees and started walking Last week, the government MIGRANT “but I don’t have the money”. on an empty stomach, I could not serving India’s large unorganised that between 2001 and 2011, Mumbai out of Mumbai. His hometown announced that it would distribute I’LL GET THERE, WORKERS Eventually, he broke down. take it any more,” he says, the whites sector, broke the fragile social and its neighbouring areas absorbed is 2,100km away. free foodgrains to 80 million OUTSIDE The answers weren’t easy, he said. of his eyes yellow. contract these workers shared more than 3 million new migrants On Wednesday, when he migrant workers who have, so far, BUT I NEED TO GET MUMBAI’S Before he set out on his trek On Thursday morning, he began with the government. from across the country. These reached the city’s borders at not been eligible for such subsidies. BANDRA to the highway, Yadav saw Prime walking to the highway, taking only And as these migrants workers form the backbone of the Majiwada, a busy junction where It also announced affordable, OUT OF HERE TERMINUS Minister announce a half-filled small gunny sack. desperately try to leave cities – city’s economy, from its construction arterial roads intersect the National rental homes for these workers. Illyas Shaikh, 22, who has US$6 in his RAILWAY STATION; economic initiatives aimed at pocket and 2,100km to travel After walking more than 25km walking hundreds of kilometres, sector to its transport services to Highway 160 connecting northern But these measures will take time ILLYAS SHAIKH helping India turn the pandemic in eight hours, he stopped. pedalling on rickety bicycles with smaller manufacturing industries. India to Mumbai, Shaikh was happy to have an effect. In the meantime, (IN GREEN TOP); into an opportunity to produce “I can’t walk much in this heat,” children riding pillion, hanging onto Illyas Shaikh, 22, from West to see buses that could take him little has been done to address the VOLUNTEERS more and import less. he concluded, pointing to his slip-on overcrowded trucks, sneaking across Bengal’s Murshidabad, is among 400km north. Never mind that immediate needs of people like WITH KHAANA It has been on his mind since. shoes with a hole in them. His urine, police checkpoints in milk containers them. A labourer on construction he had to go eastward. Yadav. On the highway, for instance, CHAHIYE. “Modi said he wants India to he added, was blood red. He said he and cement mixers and even sites, his job vanished with But the long lines meant where thousands of workers gather Photos: Kunal be self-reliant. Has he left us any was hoping, and waiting, for someone swimming across rivers – for some the lockdown. he could not board the bus. each day, there are no toilets or Purohit choice, any way?”■

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