BUSINESS POLITICS & ECONOMY Top Glove stretches to A China-Russia alliance is on the horizon meet global demand page 16 as nuclear arms treaties crumble page 28

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CONTENTS Reuters 8 ON THE COVER BUSINESS THROUGH THE LENS

16 Top Glove goes full-tilt to meet 26 Unusually empty VOICES FROM the world’s surging demand P PREM KUMAR Kuala Lumpur THE PANDEMIC POLITICS & ECONOMY Myanmar extends welcome to seven RURIKA IMAHASHI/ERWIDA MAULIA/ 20 DYLAN LOH/MEGHA BAHREE Asian banks to boost investment

Tokyo/Jakarta/Singapore/ A China-Russia alliance is YUICHI NITTA Yangon 28 New Delhi/Ho Chi Minh City on the horizon as nuclear arms treaties crumble Nobel laureate Yamanaka 22 DIMITRI SIMES Moscow Living in coronavirus pushes back against coronavirus misinformation lockdown, Asia adapts to Coronavirus exposes ASEAN MITSURU OBE/KIYOSHI ANDO Tokyo 32 a new abnormal divisions on rice security APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT/ 24 CLIFF VENZON Bangkok/Manila

34 Landslide win in South Korea gives Moon a huge agenda boost KIM JAEWON Seoul

Ken Kobayashi 35 Grab and Gojek burn through cash to keep gig drivers afloat KOYA JIBIKI/TAKASHI NAKANO Jakarta/Singapore Uichiro Kasai Uichiro Abe adopts a universal $930 handout as the walls close in Tokyo Cover illustration by Eric Chow NIKKEI STAFF WRITERS

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36 Apr. 27-May 3, 2020 | No. 325 Nikkei Asian Review is published by Nikkei Inc., 1-3-7 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8066, Japan (MCI (P) 104/04/2019) NORAIDA ENDUT Malaysia’s lockdown highlights

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Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 8 ON THE COVER

NEW DELHI, TOKYO, JAKARTA, SINGAPORE, HO CHI MINH CITY -- The novel coronavirus pandemic is triggering unprecedented economic, social and political disruption across the world. As governments struggled to contain its spread, they put in place sweeping restrictions on travel and business, leaving their citizens to adapt NEW to a strange new normal in lockdown. ABNORMAL

Confi rmed cases: 17,615 NEW DELHI For nearly a week after the First reported case: Jan. 30 Indian government announced a nationwide On nationwide lockdown since: March 25 lockdown in its effort to rein in the spread of the Rail and road transport, Shutdown covers: coronavirus, Chotu Kumar went hungry. A laborer businesses, factories, schools; includes strict in Ahmedabad, in Prime Minister Narendra national curfew Modi's home state of Gujarat, he wasn't alone. Exemptions: Swaths of agricultural sector (including tea and fisheries industries), banks, Kumar, and nearly 80 others from his village -- gas stations some 1,700 km on the opposite side of the country Penalty: Up to a year’s jail time -- work and live together, between fi ve and eight Confi rmed new cases: 1,334 of them occupying a single room. On March 24, Modi announced an almost total *All figures as of April 20 Source: Johns Hopkins University, WHO, government lockdown of India's 1.3 billion people with just announcements, media reports hours' notice, giving Kumar and other migrant workers little time to buy supplies. In any case, INDIA they had little money to do so. "I work all day and then I earn money," Kumar said. "If I don't work, how am I supposed to buy any food?" Food fi nally reached him and his fellow villagers when ANHAD, a nonprofi t working to help stranded migrants in the state, heard about If I don’t work, how am I their fate.

Migrant labor fuels large sections of the Indian Illustrations by Eric Chow supposed to buy any food? economy. Millions across the country work on construction sites, in agriculture and in factories big and small. In many cases, they live on the

8 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 9 ON THE COVER

same premises where they work. With the Confi rmed cases: 6,588 Under the circuit breaker rules, people can lockdown, which also banned interstate transport, First reported case: Jan. 23 exercise outside -- alone -- and some public spaces hundreds of thousands of these workers became On lockdown since: April 7 have been closed. Food outlets are only open for Schools, workplaces, jobless and homeless in the blink of an eye. They Shutdown covers: takeaways, and supermarkets are operating with entertainment venues, reduced public transport; It’s a big change because tried to make their way to their villages on foot, strict social distancing measures in place. aggressive social distancing measures and swelling into one of the largest migrations in mandatory wearing of masks I need to come up with a "I cannot do my normal vlogs outside fi lming post-independence India. the neighborhood," he told the Nikkei Asian Exemptions: Supermarkets, eateries (takeout Shamsal, who goes by one name, was one of only), hair salons new series Review. "It's a big change, because I need to come the lucky ones who made it home before the Penalty: Fine of up to SG$10,000, six months’ jail up with a new series." lockdown. A native of the eastern state of Bihar, time, or both As a self-employed foreign national, he does one of the poorest in the country, he works with Confi rmed new cases: 523 not qualify for the state's emergency income a contractor in Delhi, fi xing peoples' homes. As support. *All figures as of April 20 news of the virus spread, fear grew, work came to Source: Johns Hopkins University, WHO, government The circuit breaker, which was imposed after a standstill and he resolved to head home. "There announcements, media reports a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city-state, has were so many rumors, so many stories about the disrupted many lives and businesses, particularly virus that I got scared and left everything and for the self-employed. Essential services like came back," he said. health care and logistics are still allowed to His employer still owes him 15,000 rupees SINGAPORE The day the Singapore operate, but almost all other workplaces are ($196). That could have supported his family of government announced its "circuit breaker," a closed, meaning that people have to adapt to eight. The government has promised rations and monthlong shutdown of workplaces and a ban working remotely. medical supplies, but those are yet to materialize. on public gatherings, vlogger Ghib Ojisan went Real estate agent Gerald Leong usually spends Once the government lifts its moratorium, outside to shoot one last time. four or fi ve hours a day meeting with potential Shamsal will be heading back to Delhi. "There is In "Singapore Semi-Lockdown Diary Day 0," clients and showing them around properties. That no work here in the village, so how will I earn any posted on his YouTube channel on April 7, he has all had to be suspended during the shutdown, money, how will I look after my family?" he said. showed the long lines building at supermarkets, and he has had to switch to offering advice to "I don't have any option but to return." all the patrons waiting a meter apart from each clients through videoconference, in the hope that Kumar longs to go the other way -- back to other. Osaka-born Ghib Ojisan, who asked to be he can close some deals once the shutdown ends. his family. referred to only as "Ken," has built a following of He does not qualify for the government's income Cases of COVID-19 have been rising in around 130,000 people with a video diary of his support scheme due to the value of his property, Ahmedabad, and authorities have reduced the SINGAPORE life in Singapore, mostly fi lmed outdoors. and with no income likely, at least for the next number of available travel passes, making it harder Ken lives on the advertising revenue from month, he is having to rely on his savings. for ANHAD to move supplies around the city, said his videos, and in the months leading up to the "This is primarily a face-to-face business," Dev Desai, the nonprofi t's Gujarat coordinator. Their lockdown his earnings fell 30%-40%. he told Nikkei. "If you take away the face-to- task has been further complicated by malicious face element where I can't meet the person, misinformation spreading on social media. like physically, right? Then, it's very hard to do Kumar, a Hindu, saw a video online -- since business," Leong said. debunked by fact-checking site Boom Live -- that The circuit breaker is scheduled to end on May Muslims were spitting on food to spread the 4, but the disruption caused by the pandemic is virus, and refused to accept food supplies from likely to last for a long time. Tan Ern Ser, associate his Muslim delivery agent. professor of sociology at the National University For the past two days, Kumar and his of Singapore, told Nikkei that the indefi nite time compatriots have lived on boiled rice. He can frame of the outbreak means that these temporary cope with that, he said, but he is struggling not measures may evolve into permanent changes in knowing how his wife and children are coping. how people live and work. When they speak on the phone, Kumar lies and "Employers and employees now have to get tells them that he is eating well, even when he used to telecommute and videoconferencing," Tan has no food. They say the same, and it is tearing said, adding, "this means a further blurring of the him up. "I just want to go home and see how they boundary between work life and family life." really are," he said.

MEGHA BAHREE Contributing writer DYLAN LOH Nikkei staff writer

10 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 11 ON THE COVER

Confi rmed cases: 10,797 a night, it was affordable. 600 employees. "Everyone in the taxi industry Confi rmed cases: 6,575 First reported case: Jan. 16 Yoshikawa's plans have been thrown into chaos was talking about it," Oyama said. First reported case: March 2 State of emergency since: April 7 for Tokyo by the COVID-19 pandemic. First, he had to quit Abe envisions a V-shaped recovery after the Jakarta on partial lockdown since: April 10 and six other prefectures; extended nationwide Schools, workplaces, his job delivering for Uber Eats in Australia and pandemic, but Oyama doubts that. "It will take Restrictions cover: from April 16 mosques, businesses; reduced public transport return to Japan earlier than he expected. He found a lot more time to get back to normal. Many Restrictions cover: Schools, businesses, malls, (running at half capacity and limited hours) and cinemas, restaurants and bars; cherry blossom- a role as a teaching assistant in Tokyo; then the people are trying to make it through by spending limited ride-hailing services (motorbikes can carry viewing festivals canceled, residents urged to stay schools were shut, and he was out of work again. their savings now, so they won't consume like only goods, not passengers) in place during May’s Golden Week holiday "I expected none of these to happen. I have only they used to. People won't use cabs even if the Exemptions: Supermarkets, banks, gas stations Exemptions: Supermarkets, hairdressers, public 100,000 yen left and nowhere else to go," he said. pandemic ends," he said. Penalty: Fine of up to 100 million rupiah, up to baths, golf courses, bookshops Then, when the state of emergency was The uncertainty over how the state of emergency a year’s jail time, and/or revocation of business Penalty: None, due to legal limitations declared, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe requested will develop, and how long the pandemic will permit (applies in Jakarta and on paper only) Confi rmed new cases: 566 that many businesses shut down, including last, has disrupted many lives. Joan Quitoriano, Confi rmed new cases: 325 internet cafes, in seven prefectures, including a migrant worker from the Philippines, said that *All figures as of April 20 *All figures as of April 20 Source: Johns Hopkins University, WHO, government Tokyo. For Yoshikawa, one of thousands of both of her workplaces -- a hotel and a school -- are Source: Johns Hopkins University, WHO, government announcements, media reports people who have come to rely on these spaces for now shut, and she has had to reduce the amount of announcements, media reports accommodation, it meant losing his home. money she sends back to her family. "Next month, JAPAN "I don't know where to go. Libraries are closed I don't know how to pay my bills," she said. and even McDonald's closes at night due to the Quitoriano lost a friend in the U.K. to the virus, virus," he said. He has struggled to understand and said that she is struggling with the sense of what government support, if any, is available insecurity that comes with living in a foreign JAKARTA Tifa Asrianti, 40, began 2020 with to him. country during a crisis. The virus does not only ambitious plans. Two years ago she left her offi ce "This anxiety makes me look away from the harm the body but also "mentally and emotionally job to go freelance, and was making a decent I have only 100,000 yen left reality and robs me of the energy to crawl out of hits you," she said. "You have to embrace whatever living doing translation, media monitoring and this situation," he said. you have right now because you don't know what content writing. She was preparing to buy her and nowhere else to go The pandemic has left many people in Tokyo will happen on the next day." fi rst property, a studio apartment in Bekasi, in the struggling for money. Taxi driver Shigeo Oyama Some residents have continued to go to work suburbs of Jakarta, and to invest her extra income used to pick up white-collar workers on their despite the restrictions on movement, and worry in the stock market. She even had a holiday to way home from drinking in the upmarket Ginza that they are putting their lives at risk. One Canada booked.

district, but since the state of emergency began, teacher working at a Tokyo nursery school, who INDONESIA The COVID-19 pandemic has put all of those TOKYO On April 6, the night before the Japanese the streets have been empty. His earnings have asked to remain anonymous, said that all of her on hold. Indonesia has already been hit hard by government declared a state of emergency over fallen by more than 30%. colleagues were afraid of infection before the the virus, and some health experts fear that it Tokyo, 23-year-old Sekito Yoshikawa collected "Even though my salary is decreasing, the bills school was closed in mid-April. While many could become a new center for the outbreak. The all of his belongings and moved out of the won't wait," he said. "I have to pay my property workplaces have been shut, central and local economic damage is also likely to be severe, with internet cafe where he had lived for the past few and automobile taxes soon." governments have asked nurseries to stay open the International Monetary Fund predicting that weeks. His space was not even big enough for It could be worse. On April 8, Tokyo-based taxi to support essential workers. the economy will grow just 0.5% this year. him to stretch his legs, but at 1,298 yen ($12) company Royal Limousine fi red almost all of its "There were parents who wanted to leave their Asrianti said she no longer plans to invest, and children at the nursery just because they cannot will keep her cash in savings. The developer of concentrate on their work at home with them," the the property she was purchasing has told her that teacher said. "We stressed many times that even it will no longer be ready on time. She is trying a nursery is not safe, and fi nally all the parents agreed to close the nursery." She herself was afraid of infecting her young daughter with the virus. At the nursery, there are no surgical masks, sanitizers or thermometers. "I am doing the best I can now, but I am not sure if I can make the I’m bored. I’m just stuck right decision every time I have to, because there's much uncertainty about the virus," she said. "The in my room in the boarding government seems to put the economy fi rst over life, and I think it will be too late at the end." house all day

RURIKA IMAHASHI Nikkei staff writer

12 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 13 ON THE COVER

to get her money back, but it is proving hard. On Indonesian cities in the past few years. She is Confi rmed cases: 268 April 10, the government ordered a shutdown of stationed at a stall inside a crowded apartment First reported case: many businesses in Jakarta, and people are not complex in South Jakarta. So, despite reduced Jan. 23 responding to her requests. work from six to fi ve days a week, and slightly On city- or locality-based April 1 "I thought, given the current market condition, shorter hours -- from 12 to 10 hours a day -- the lockdown since: Shutdown covers: some good locations may become more affordable," booth has seen more customers than usual in Businesses, schools, she said. "But how would I be able to properly recent weeks. casinos; festivals, check when everybody responds very slowly?" "I guess they're apartment residents who work meetings, and religious The coronavirus situation has revived her from home," she said. gatherings of over memories of the Asian fi nancial crisis and Still, Royhan said she's feeling sad. At least 20 are banned; tens subsequent political upheaval in Indonesia in the one of her friends working for the same coffee of thousands are late 1990s, during which period millions of people chain has been laid off, and another put on quarantined in camps lost their jobs. She fears that the effects could be unpaid leave, as many booths in shopping malls Exemptions: Some "stronger" now. and offi ce buildings in Jakarta are forced to close factories and production facilities, supermarkets, "But on the other hand, communications under the partial lockdown measures. pharmacies technology these days allows many people to do "And I'm bored. I usually hang out with my Penalty: Fine; amount businesses online, to work from anywhere, from friends on weekends -- went swimming or to varies by incident home -- so that could offer more opportunities the shopping malls, or watching movies at the and location than 1998," she added hopefully. cinema. But now, I'm just stuck in my room in the Confi rmed new cases: 0 Siti Royhan also counts herself lucky. In her boarding house all day," she said. *All figures as of April 20 early 20s, Royhan works at a popular coffee-to-go Source: Johns Hopkins chain that has set up hundreds of booths in major ERWIDA MAULIA Nikkei staff writer University, WHO, government announcements, media reports VIETNAM

HO CHI MINH CITY Before ride-hailing services Uber and Grab came to Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Van Phuc, 58, could make around 300,000 dong ($12) a day as a xe om, or motorbike taxi driver. Since the platforms set up in Vietnam, he has We are surviving struggled to make half that. Most of his remaining customers are older people who have not taken through the day to the apps. and then hanging The Vietnamese government imposed a lockdown across 12 provinces on April 1, around waiting attempting to stem the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Businesses have closed, and people are to die required to stay home except to buy groceries or in emergencies. That has left Phuc without any income at all. "I came home empty-handed yesterday," he told the Nikkei Asian Review, "and I don't know with many others whose street-level jobs -- selling what is going to happen in the next few days. lottery tickets, shoe-shiners and vendors -- have Shops and restaurants are closed, people stay at almost disappeared during the lockdown. home, work from home -- but I still have to come "Today, we are in the situation of surviving and wait here, hoping someone will suddenly through the day and then hanging around need to use my service." waiting to die," he said. Phuc has had to turn to nongovernmental organizations to get food for his family, along NIKKEI STAFF WRITER

14 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 15 BUSINESS

KUALA LUMPUR Lim Wee Chai became a Top Glove the health care industry in the spotlight. grandfather on April 6. For the 62-year-old, it was World’s largest natural Before the outbreak, sales orders came mainly not the only thing to cherish in the face of the rubber glove maker from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South coronavirus pandemic. Korea -- but now they are pouring in from Europe Founded, main office Lim can also fi nd satisfaction in the way Top 1991, Shah Alam, Malaysia and the U.S. Glove -- the surgical gloves maker he founded in “Governments from various countries are also Malaysia almost three decades ago -- has taken Revenue (2019), approaching us, with a view to sourcing gloves 4,801 million ringgit on a crucial global role in helping doctors, nurses directly from us,” Lim told the Nikkei Asian (US$1.09 billion)* and other health care professionals confront the Review in an email interview. coronavirus crisis. Key executive “In order to cope with demand, we have upped And the past few weeks have not been bad for Lim Wee Chai, our utilization close to 100%, while our lead time business either. executive chairman has increased from 30 days to as much as 150 Top Glove’s 44 factories and 18,000 employees Fiscal year in August days,” Lim said. are working around the clock to try to meet a *At current rates Lim is also balancing orders with keeping massive upsurge in demand amid the spiraling his company on track -- stepping up internal health crisis, in which gloves are a vital barrier housekeeping and taking the chance to review against coronavirus transmission. stock levels, pricing and payments. Orders have more than doubled. As a result, “During this critical time, it is not only Top Glove -- already the world’s largest supplier important to look after one’s personal health, of nitrile and latex medical gloves -- is on track for but we must look after the fi nancial health of the a bumper year and a market share of between 30% company,” he said. “To ensure we are prepared to and 35%. face and overcome these pandemics, we need to Already global demand for gloves was work hard to stay healthy -- physically, mentally expanding at a rate of 10% annually. Now Lim, and fi nancially.” Top Glove employees check latex who is Top Glove’s executive chairman and largest Malaysia’s rubber industry began in 1878, gloves in the test room at a factory in Malaysia. shareholder, expects that rate to double this year, supposedly on the back of seeds brought out of

Getty Images as annual global demand surpasses an astonishing Brazil, which until then had dominated supply. 300 billion single pieces. Rubber production quickly became a pillar of COMPANY IN FOCUS COVID-19 has focused the world’s attention on the economy, and Malaysia remains one of the supply chains for everything from hand sanitizer top three producers, along with Indonesia and to masks and medical gloves -- putting Malaysia’s Thailand. STRETCHED key role in this vital but often overlooked part of The country’s 1.7 million hectares of plantations, ranging from small privately owned plots to vast estates, produce almost 20% of the world’s natural rubber. Malaysia is also the TO THE LIMIT Top Glove’s performance world’s largest exporter of natural rubber medical Revenue (In billions of ringgit) Net profit (In millions of ringgit) gloves, catheters, latex thread and condoms. 5 500 Lim, a self-made billionaire whose parents were Malaysia’s Top Glove scrambles to meet rubber plantation owners and traders, started Top 4 400 Glove in 1991 with 100 employees and a single the world’s demand for medical supplies production line at a factory in Meru, Selangor, about 40 km from Kuala Lumpur. Today, the 3 300 company has dozens of plants in its home country, as well as four factories in Thailand and one in 2 200 China. Some 700 production lines can produce P PREM KUMAR Nikkei staff writer almost 74 billion pieces annually. 1 100 Its gloves go to 195 countries, and the company has sales offi ces in Germany, the U.S. and Brazil, 0 0 selling to more than 2,000 customers including FY2014 ‘16 ‘18 H1 ‘20 FY2014 ‘16 ‘18 H1 ‘20 governments, hospital chains and retail giants. Top Fiscal year through August Source: Company Glove claims to have a 26% share of the rubber

16 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 17 BUSINESS

Far left: Top Glove Executive “Assuming the COVID-19 outbreak Chairman Lim Wee Chai. is contained within the fi nancial year 2020, we anticipate a slower sales growth Left: The company recently increased production to 2.6 billion in the fi nancial year 2021 (ending in individual gloves a week. August 2021) due to an excess supply of inventory. We forecast Top Glove’s net profi t to contract by 8% in the fi nancial Top Glove, our approach to overcoming year 2021,” the analyst said. challenges has always been to focus on One issue for Top Glove to consider internal factors which are within our is whether this increased demand will control,” he said. remain after the pandemic is contained. Top Glove listed on the Kuala Lumpur According to MIDF Investment Bank, Stock Exchange in 2001 and in Singapore there should be higher demand for gloves in 2016. Lim still owns a 27% stake, while due to increased awareness of hygiene his son Lim Jin Feng owns 1.55%. Lim’s standards -- especially in developing wife Tong Siew Bee and his brother Lim countries that the bank said only consume Hooi Sin are company directors. Other about 30% of total global supply. It shareholders include Firstway United estimated that developing regions

Takaki Kashiwabara Takaki Reuters Corp. (7.18%) and state pension funds including India and Africa use less than Employees Provident Fund (5.27%) and 10 pieces of gloves per capita per annum, Retirement Fund Incorporated (3.79%). compared with more than 100 pieces per gloves market. “We are currently also unable to hire vendors, such as packaging material able to] work with us to ensure timely Perhaps unsurprisingly, Top Glove person annually in the U.S. Since 1991, the company’s compounded any workers in view of travel restrictions suppliers, have been required to close production and delivery of gloves, which and its investors have been some of the “New users who have started using annual growth rates for revenue and profi t imposed,” Lim said. “To overcome this, during the lockdown period. are essential items, especially during this corporate winners from the coronavirus gloves during this period are also have been 21.7% and 19%, respectively. we are exploring hiring local workers, “We are working very closely with critical time,” Lim said. crisis. Its shares have rallied over 33% expected to continue usage even after Sales rose 13.75% to $1.1 billion in the especially for factories [near Kuala our suppliers to overcome the issue He noted that even before the year-to-date and are trading at around 33 the outbreak recedes, having gained last fi nancial year to the end of August. Lumpur] where there is a critical shortage, and also seeking cooperation and coronavirus outbreak, Top Glove had times its forecast 2021 earnings. an appreciation of their importance in For the fi rst half of the current fi nancial and have started working with recruitment understanding from our customers,” Lim aggressively invested in automation and AmInvestment Bank’s Nafi sah Azmi protecting lives,” Lim said. year ended Feb. 29, Top Glove posted a agents to increase the candidate pool.” said, adding that many suppliers had digitalization to try to future-proof the said she expected Top Glove’s year-on- On a more personal note, Lim has net profi t of $51.97 million, on the back of Top Glove needs at least 1,000 more received approval to operate after they business, with innovations including year revenue and net profi t to grow by been able to spend more time with his $558.09 million in revenue. workers to match the expected output, and Top Glove wrote to the Ministry of robotic arms and more automated packing. 12% and 44%, respectively, in the current family due to Malaysia’s lockdown that When the coronavirus began to be or it will face delays in production and International Trade and Industry. “Challenges such as worker shortage fi nancial year -- but said a slowdown began in March. reported in China earlier this year, Lim shipments. Lim said some of Top Glove’s “It is important for all suppliers [to be are external and not within our control. At might be in the cards in 2021. “I have dinner with my family every saw what was coming. He ramped up night now,” he said. Before, “I would production to close to 100% to fi ll the eat with them about two times a week, rising demand. Though it was business owing to dinner appointments with Top Glove shares outperform benchmark (Movements in percent) Malaysia’s rubber products exports for Top Glove, Lim did not forget (In billions of ringgit) business associates and other friends.” Malaysian needs and committed a few 60 Accounted for 2.37% of Malaysia’s total exports “I fi nd that I am now even physically 25 million complimentary gloves to the healthier than before the coronavirus Top Glove country’s medical workforce. 40 because there are now very few external But as business mushroomed, Top 20 meetings and functions, hence less Glove was also having to deal with 20 exposure to health risks. I also have more concerns about the spread of the 15 time to sleep now.” coronavirus, and with the lockdown But the company’s 44 plants, now 0 decreed by the government to try to curb 10 deemed essential services, are not transmission rates. escaping Lim’s attention as he steers Top Malaysian companies are unable to –20 5 Glove through extraordinary times. source additional foreign workers -- an FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI “I make it a point to visit them impediment for Top Glove, where foreign –40 0 regularly, at least one factory a day,” Jan. 2020 Feb. Mar. Apr. labor makes up about three-quarters of 2012 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 Lim said. “Factory visits proceed as the workforce. Source: QUICK-FactSet Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia normal.”

18 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 19 BUSINESS

and cash management.” The other banks are South Korea’s Ready to extend Industrial Bank of Korea, KB Kookmin Bank and Korea Development Bank; the welcome mat Taiwan’s Cathay United Bank and Mega International Commercial Bank; and Myanmar gives seven banks from across Asia the green light Bank of China (Hong Kong), a leading to set up operations as the country courts more investment Hong Kong lender affi liated with Chinese government-owned Bank of China. The banks’ entry was approved by the YUICHI NITTA Nikkei staff writer Central Bank of Myanmar in early April. In a statement, the central bank’s licens- ing committee said it “looks forward to all YANGON Myanmar’s efforts to open up megabanks. “and others who want to expand their applicants’ continuous involvement in the its banking sector and encourage invest- The seven incoming banks are expected trade and investment in Myanmar.” development” of Myanmar. The government led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is ment across industries received a major to start operations by early 2021, after li- Arthid Nanthawithaya, CEO and chair- Myanmar’s government, led by State promoting policies to open up the boost recently as the government gave censing procedures are completed. man of the executive committee of the Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, has been banking industry. seven Asian banks permission to set up One of the banks, Siam Commercial bank, said in a statement, “We are ready working to open up the country’s banking Reuters services in the country. Bank, a top-three bank in Thailand, said to serve clients with a full range of fi nan- sector. These moves include the relaxing of Currently, 13 foreign banks have it would initially focus on Thai corporate cial solutions like loans, foreign exchange, regulations on foreign fi nancial companies branches in Myanmar, including Japan’s clients with investments in the country trade fi nance, supply chain management in phases since 2018. targeted at corporate customers. In November 2019, it introduced a “sub- Myanmar has That year, the country shifted from a sidiary license” system in which it gives shifted from a policy to protect domestic banks from banking licenses to local subsidiaries of policy to protect international rivals to a policy of encour- foreign banks, allowing them to offer fi - aging competition. The Myanmar gov- nancial services targeting retail customers. domestic banks ernment also abolished a 35% limit on The licenses allow such subsidiaries to from international foreign banks’ ownership in local banks, offer a range of services -- from accepting rivals to a policy paving the way for their acquisition by deposits to providing loans -- similar to foreign banks. domestic banks. of encouraging Of the seven banks, Industrial Bank of Before 2019, Myanmar had a “branch competition Korea, KB Kookmin Bank and SCB were license” system for foreign banks that granted subsidiary licenses; the rest ob- limited holders to operate only services tained branch licenses. The Myanmar central bank has also approved a plan by Kasikornbank, a major Thai lender, to acquire a stake in Myanmar’s banking sector is growing Ayeyarwaddy Farmers Development People’s savings Number of depositors with Bank, a domestic player. The Myanmar (In trillions of kyat) commercial banks per 1,000 adults Times reported earlier this year that 40 300 Kasikornbank was planning to acquire a 35% stake in Ayeyarwaddy. 30 The entry of more foreign banks will 200 mean more options for depositing money among Myanmar’s emerging industrial- 20 ists and middle-income earners, whose 100 numbers are growing as the economy 10 expands. According to central bank sta- Competition in Myanmar’s tistics, cumulative savings in the country banking sector is expected to came to 37.5 trillion kyat ($26.5 billion) at intensify as more foreign banks 0 0 2009 ’11 ’13 ’15 ’18 2009 ’11 ’13 ’15 ’18 enter the country. the end of 2018, 2.5 times more than four

Getty Images Source: World Bank, Central Bank of Myanmar years earlier.

20 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 21 BUSINESS

Shinya Yamanaka, winner of the achieve with [legal] enforcement mea- 2012 Nobel Prize in physiology or sures, as other countries [have done], but medicine, is not a virologist but Japan has a different political system,” I really hope that decided to start a blog to correct public misperceptions about Yamanaka said. “We have to do what we Japan will be spared the coronavirus. can, which is explain to people patiently” what needs to be done. a major outbreak, Scientists are also called on to find treat- but the chances of One of Yamanaka’s goals is to correct ments for COVID-19, but Yamanaka said one happening are public misconceptions about the corona- fierce competition among researchers and virus. When, for example, Prime Minister the race to patent treatments can stand in actually growing Shinzo Abe said on Feb. 28 that “the next the way of breakthroughs. He urged the one-to-two weeks will be key” after re- government to put in place a system that Shinya Yamanaka questing a nationwide school closure, rewards scientists for sharing their knowl- 2012 Nobel Prize winner in many people in Japan took that to mean edge and discoveries. Without such a sys- physiology or medicine that life would return to normal after a tem, “it will not be possible to defeat the couple of weeks. People’s eagerness to put pandemic,” he warned. the outbreak behind them contributed to a While cases have continued to rise in spike in infections in late March. Japan, the number remains much smaller for the low rates of infection in countries That sudden rise in infections prompted than in many Western countries. Scientists such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Abe to put heavier restrictions in place. He have put forward various explanations But so far, none of these theories has been declared a state of emergency on April for the low infection and fatality rates in proven empirically. 7, asking people to reduce their contact Japan, including the Japanese custom of Yamanaka, who also works for the Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters Nikkei montage/Source with others by 70% to 80%. To keep the wearing masks during cold and allergy Gladstone Institute in San Francisco, does outbreak under control, epidemiologists season, a strong cultural preference for not think Japan has a unique immunity to say such restrictions will have to be main- cleanliness, the fact that Japanese tend to the disease. “It would be nice if there were Yamanaka, who won the Nobel Prize in tained until a vaccine is found. touch each other less in social settings, and reasons to believe that the novel corona- physiology or medicine in 2012, said in an So far, however, Japan’s lockdown has the country’s universal health care system. virus spreads more slowly in Japan,” he A battle against interview via Zoom. been voluntary -- there are no legal sanc- BCG vaccination in early childhood has said. “But you’d have to be a real optimist “I’m especially worried about Tokyo tions for those who refuse to go along. been put forward as another explanation to bet on such a possibility.” bad information and Osaka,” said the Kyoto University Yamanaka believes scientists have a vital professor, who also serves as director of role to play in helping citizens understand Nobel Prize winner Shinya Yamanaka worries that the university’s stem cell research insti- the need for such measures, as the country Japan risks more infections if misconceptions fester tute. He cites the rising number of cases in struggles to contain the disease without re- those cities despite limited testing. sorting to government surveillance or the Yamanaka is not a virologist but said threat of force. MITSURU OBE Nikkei staff writer, KIYOSHI ANDO Nikkei senior staff writer the more he learned about the novel coro- Yamanaka, an avid runner, compares navirus the more agitated he became. “I the fight against the coronavirus to a mar- couldn’t help doing something,” he said. athon. “I am not at all optimistic” about Yamanaka decided to share his knowledge the prospects for achieving a critical mass and experience through the new blog. of support for a voluntary lockdown in TOKYO Shinya Yamanaka could not sit Yamanaka rushed to create a website to He covers topics ranging from so- Japan, he said, but added that scientists by as he considered the possibility of a provide information to the public about the cial distancing to drug and vaccine de- must continue the educational effort be- major coronavirus outbreak in Japan. deadly virus -- what it is, how it spreads, velopment. In one post, he highlighted cause the alternative is an explosion of To the 57-year-old cellular biologist, how it can be contained, how it might be Google data to show how Tokyo and infections. Tokyo appeared to be about a month or so cured. The website, updated daily, offers Osaka are engaged in less social distanc- “Social distancing would be easier to behind New York in how the deadly respi- readers statistics, news reports and aca- ing than major Western cities. Another ratory disease was spreading. Yet people demic journal articles relevant to the virus entry deals with the efficacy of the Bacillus Leaders in Japan have asked in the Japanese capital appeared to treat that causes COVID-19. Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, vaccine, which people to stay home as much as the coronavirus pandemic as something “I really hope that Japan will be spared has been used against tuberculosis in possible to reduce the spread of with little bearing on their lives. a major outbreak, but the chances of Japan since the mid-20th century, in pre- the coronavirus, but the measures

In March, fearing a potential catastrophe, one happening are actually growing,” venting respiratory infections. cannot be enforced by law. Reuters

22 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 23 BUSINESS

Gojek drivers in Jakarta: The startups, which span ride-hailing to home startup created a $6.48 million deliveries and digital payments. relief fund for its drivers. Drivers often are the ones who convert My daily pay has cash into credit that is added to online fallen to … a third of account balances. Also, Gojek’s drivers ees, the two companies are providing as- transport masseuses and cleaners to the what I made before sistance to drivers. homes of clients. the coronavirus Grab is offering drivers in Singapore In Singapore and elsewhere, Grab rents epidemic a 30% discount on vehicle rental fees out vehicles to many of its drivers. If these through May 4. Throughout Southeast drivers ceased business, the company Asia, the company is providing cash sti- would be saddled with fleets that are non- Amir pends to drivers infected with COVID-19 performing assets. A Gojek driver in Indonesia or who are forced into quarantine. The Another factor at play is the heavy so- startup has spent nearly $40 million on cial pressure typical among Southeast such financial support. Asian startups to maintain jobs. Gojek Gojek in late March established a relief hires 2 million drivers in the region while Reuters in late March that the company fund of 100 billion rupiah, financed in Grab has a few million. can expect a recovery “in the next few part by executives donating one-quarter Both companies built their names on months.” Supporting drivers puts the of their annual pay. The fund will subsi- being job creators. Gig driving was already startup in strong position to capture the dize drivers in areas such as medical care an unstable trade before the pandemic. bounce in mobility demand. But current and supplies. The two companies would run major risks conditions render long-term projections The Indonesian company said on April to future growth if they turned their backs uncertain. 7 that it will give 1 million coupons weekly, on drivers now. Neither Grab nor Gojek discloses earn- each worth 5,000 rupiah, to drivers in Political considerations also seem to ings, but their copious investments weigh Jakarta for use at participating restaurants. be involved. Gojek co-founder Nadiem against profitability. The extra spending to Grab and Gojek are going to these lengths Makarim joined Widodo’s cabinet last fall deal with the coronavirus fallout hampers to support drivers because they form the as the minister of education and culture. earnings further.

Reuters backbone of the services offered by the two Gojek co-CEO Andre Soelistyo told The two startups are classified as “de- cacorns” -- worth more than $10 billion each. JAKARTA/SINGAPORE Grab and Gojek, orders. Last year, Grab raised $2.1 billion in the biggest on-demand mobility start- In Gojek’s home country of Indonesia, additional funding from investors such Assistance ups in Southeast Asia, face competing President Joko Widodo urged residents to as Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group, financial crosswinds as they navigate the remain indoors. The capital, Jakarta, has Singaporean news outlet DealStreetAsia rather than coronavirus outbreak, spending millions enacted even stronger social restrictions, reported. Gojek brought in $1.6 billion of dollars to support their drivers with an including a ban against ferrying riders from the likes of Google parent Alphabet. eye toward the ensuing recovery. on motorbikes. That qualifies Grab and Gojek as the top job cuts Demand for rides has spiraled down- The number of people ordering rides on two startups in Southeast Asia in terms ward at double-digit rates in Indonesia, Grab plunged 24% during the week end- of fundraising. But the pandemic has up- Grab and Gojek burn leaving drivers struggling to make a living. ing March 26 compared with Feb. 22-28, ended the venture capital landscape. After through cash to keep Amir, who drives a motorcycle for data from Indonesia’s Statqo Analytics realizing massive valuation losses for its Gojek in Indonesia, is having trouble pay- show. Gojek fell 11% for the same period. targets, SoftBank decided to put a freeze drivers on payrolls ing rent, and he is considering moving or But instead of cutting costs and employ- on new investments. skimping on food. With doubts swirling over Grab and KOYA JIBIKI and TAKASHI NAKANO “My daily pay has fallen to 30,000 rupiah Gojek’s growth prospects, opportunities to Nikkei staff writers ($1.94),” he said. “It’s a third of what I made raise funds could fade the longer the pan- A checkpoint in Jakarta: The before the coronavirus epidemic.” Indonesian capital has banned demic lasts. Rumors of a merger also have Both Singapore, where Grab is based, ferrying riders on motorbikes surfaced, though both companies have

and Malaysia have imposed stay-at-home during the pandemic. AP dismissed such talk.

24 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 25 THROUGH THE LENS Unusually empty

Members of the media walk through an otherwise deserted field of flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka, Japan, on April 16. The park normally draws tourists from all over the country around this time of year, but the park has been temporarily closed to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

26 27 POLITICS & ECONOMY

MOSCOW The U.S. Navy’s video had Estimated Russian, U.S. and Chinese nuclear warheads little drama to draw the world’s attention Deployed Reserve Retired, awaiting dismantlement away from the coronavirus pandemic. In a clip uploaded to YouTube, a small 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 missile lifts off, orange fl ames glowing against the black of the Hawaii night. It’s Total Russia 6,370 over in a mere fi ve seconds. The unremarkable March 19 footage, however, showed another step in a U.S. 5,800 rapidly accelerating arms race. What Illustration by Hiroko Oshima, Eri Sato Illustration by Hiroko looked like an ordinary missile was in fact 290 a hypersonic glide vehicle, a newfangled China weapon that fl ies fi ve times the speed of sound and changes direction midfl ight to Russia data as of March 2020, U.S. as of January 2020, China as of June 2019; China’s warhead readiness breakdown not available evade defenses. Source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reports by Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda The successful American test came as all three powers rush to upgrade their nuclear and conventional arsenals, and as the post-Cold War arms control and such a move is viewed as illegitimate “possible preparation” to use the site framework collapses. The last vestige, from the Chinese perspective,” said Tong year-round, use of explosive containment the 2010 U.S.-Russia treaty known as Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie- chambers and a “lack of transparency on New START, expires in February 2021, Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in its nuclear testing activities.” removing limits on the number of Beijing. China has not been shy about fl exing strategic nuclear weapons the countries “China believes that because the its nuclear muscle. On National Day can possess and deploy. United States clearly has a much more last October, it paraded the DF-41, an The Donald Trump administration powerful capability than China, it simply intercontinental ballistic missile that can insists any extension should include China, does not make sense for China to be part deliver 10 warheads to the continental which wants no part of the deal. Now of a trilateral arms framework.” U.S., and the DF-17, a hypersonic weapon. some experts are warning that the end of It is true that China has a much smaller No less signifi cantly, China has New START, coupled with U.S. plans to nuclear arsenal than either the U.S. assembled a formidable conventional ASIA INSIGHT place conventional intermediate-range or Russia -- fewer than 300 warheads missile force over several decades. While missiles in Asia, could mark the beginning versus around 6,000 for each of its peers, the U.S. and Russia were bound by of a true China-Russia military alliance. including reserved and retired units, their 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear FADING TREATIES, “The perception is that the United according to the latest counts from the Forces Treaty -- which prohibited them States is using this New START extension Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. from fi elding any ground-launched opportunity to impose pressure on China, But it is also true that China has sought cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges to expand and modernize that arsenal. between 500 km and 5,500 km, nuclear NEW ALLIANCES On April 15, the U.S. Department of or conventional -- China had free rein to State suggested China may be conducting develop such weapons. underground nuclear tests despite China’s missile arsenal has grown to US missile moves, crumbling nuclear pacts having signed -- but not ratifi ed -- the include “carrier killers” like the DF-21D Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. and the DF-26, which can target not only The report cited China’s “extensive” aircraft carriers and other ships over 1,000 bring a China-Russia military partnership excavation activity at a testing site, km away, but also U.S. bases as far away as Guam. closer to reality Tong said China’s conventional missile buildup has at least two broad objectives. DIMITRI SIMES Contributing writer Russian President Vladimir Putin One is to secure key national interests, and U.S. President Donald Trump do not see eye to eye on the such as reunifi cation with Taiwan. inclusion of China in a renewed Another is to assert territorial claims in Reuters New START. the South China Sea and over the

28 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 29 POLITICS & ECONOMY

place them in Japan, then that will be a Deployed strategic nuclear warheads under New START (Biannual data) threat to Russia and we will place our U.S. Russia 1,550 limit as of Feb. 5, 2018 missiles somewhere in Chukotka so that 2,000 they could reach U.S. territory.” Some Russian experts go even further, predicting that a U.S. missile deployment 1,500 in Asia would prompt Russia and China to abandon long-standing reservations 1,000 about a formal military alliance. “If the Americans will commit the 500 stupidity of deploying missiles in East Asia in a way that is threatening to both 0 Russia and China, then our relationship 2011 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 ‘19 ‘20 China displays its DF-17 hypersonic [with China] will effectively cross a Warheads on deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, plus deployed heavy bombers counted as warheads; missiles during its National Day strategic weapons designed for mass destruction, distinct from tactical weapons for use on battlefield parade in Beijing last October. certain line and become a military Source: U.S. Department of State

Reuters alliance,” said Alexey Arbatov, head of the Center for International Security at the Institute of World Economy and Japan-administered Senkaku Islands, missiles in the region would signifi cantly International Relations in Moscow. helping China develop this system is a for use on a battlefi eld. which Beijing calls Diaoyu. “ increase the number of targets China must U.S. moves have already nudged huge step forward and it shows that any The coronavirus has only further “The biggest threat to China securing Any moves by the account for. Russia and China closer together. In moves by the United States to deploy its clouded the prospects for saving New these interests comes from the U.S. U.S. to deploy its Just days after the U.S. withdrew from October, Russian President Vladimir missiles or missile defense systems [in START in the coming months. Russia’s capability and intention to militarily the INF Treaty, Defense Secretary Mark Putin revealed Moscow was helping Asia] will fuel ever-greater cooperation TASS state news agency reported that intervene in these areas,” Tong said. missiles or missile Esper announced that such missiles China to develop an early warning between Russia and China.” the pandemic has interrupted the regular “Land-based intermediate-range missiles defense systems [in would be coming to Asia “sooner system for missile attacks. Only the U.S. The looming demise of New START bilateral inspections stipulated in the deal. constitute a very effective tool for China rather than later.” The Chinese foreign and Russia possess such systems. could lead to even more drastic steps Moscow has also criticized Washington’s to secure a military advantage around Asia] will fuel ever- ministry shot back that Beijing “will not Buzhinsky, who retired from the by Moscow. call to rope China into the treaty. the fi rst island chain and deter American greater cooperation stand idly by and will be forced to take Russian Armed Forces in 2009, said Arbatov warned that if the U.S. “It’s an open provocation to insist on military intervention,” he added, referring countermeasures” if the U.S. deploys them. assisting China with this would have does not agree to renew the deal, China’s participation in the process, as to the fi rst line of major archipelagos off between Russia and Undeterred, the U.S. Indo-Pacifi c been unthinkable a decade ago. Russia could go so far as to offer China a precondition, despite Beijing’s clearly continental East Asia. China Command in late March submitted a “I remember when I was in the strategic ballistic missiles and bombers. stated and many times repeated position None of this sits well with Washington. budget to Congress that requests over Ministry of Defense, we made every “Strategic” weapons are considered on this,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Adm. Harry Harris, then the head of $20 billion in additional funding to possible effort to avoid this issue because distinct from “tactical” ones, in that they Lavrov declared at a nonproliferation the U.S. Pacifi c Command, told Congress “regain the advantage” in the region. This it is a very sensitive area for cooperation,” are designed for mass destruction as part conference in Moscow last November. Evgeny” Buzhinsky in 2017 that China “controls the largest Former Russian military arms control includes money for intermediate-range Buzhinsky said. “That we are now of a broad military strategy rather than Yet on April 17, U.S. Secretary of State and most diverse missile force in the negotiator weapons such as the Navy’s Tomahawk Mike Pompeo spoke to Lavrov by phone world,” and that 95% of it “would violate cruise missiles, which can be fi red from and “emphasized that any future arms the INF [Treaty] if China was a signatory.” land or sea. A Russian nuclear ballistic missile control talks must be based on President These concerns translated into action “Although it could be benefi cial for China would not be alone in pushing submarine arrives in St. Petersburg Trump’s vision for a trilateral arms when the U.S. withdrew from the INF the United States to have INF Treaty back if the U.S. installs INF Treaty for a parade in 2017. control agreement that includes both Treaty last August. While Washington missiles in Europe, especially some missiles in Asia, said Evgeny Buzhinsky, Russia and China,” a State Department blamed alleged violations by Moscow, shorter-range variants that cannot a retired lieutenant general who served spokesman said. the primary motive was to counter penetrate deep into Russia, it is far more as the Russian military’s top arms control If Cold War history is any guide, potential threats from Beijing, according important and necessary to have them in negotiator. Buzhinsky argued, tensions in Asia are to Elbridge Colby, a former senior the Pacifi c because of the scale of China’s He told the Nikkei Asian Review that likely to get much worse before they Pentagon offi cial who helped author military buildup and the geography of Moscow may respond by deploying get better. the Trump administration’s National the region.” its own intermediate-range land-based “The Cuban missile crisis was what Defense Strategy. Colby explained that since most missiles in the Russian Far East. brought about the modern era of arms “The Chinese aspect to this is far American assets in the western Pacifi c are “If the Americans place these missiles control,” he said. “It will probably take more important for the United States,” concentrated on a few bases and ships, in Guam or the Philippines, then fi ne, let another crisis for everyone to realize that it

Colby said. placing ground-launched conventional them do so,” Buzhinsky said. “But if they Getty Images is necessary to talk and reach a deal.”

30 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 31 POLITICS & ECONOMY Ken Kobayashi

A curfew in Thailand is driving of the staple. Indonesia imported 600,000 tons of rice consumers to hoard rice for fear of As of the end of March, the Philippines last year and is forecast to import around a prolonged stay-at-home order. had a total rice inventory equivalent to 1 million tons this year, according to the 75 days. By the end of June, that figure is U.S. Department of Agriculture. which has traditionally been a major buyer projected to shrink to 67 days. The world’s biggest rice exporter, India, of Vietnamese rice. In Indonesia, meanwhile, the govern- also faces trade hurdles as the country im- In contrast, major rice exporting coun- ment said it has 3.5 million tons of rice posed a sweeping lockdown that has com- tries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, need pletely disrupted exports. Its rice exports to keep domestic rice prices high to main- totaled 9.8 million tons last year. tain the support of poor farmers. “Rice-importing countries are struggling The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbat- to get rice at this moment, and it will get ing these long-standing tensions. Among Rice-importing worse if the outbreak lasts longer than a ASEAN nations, the Philippines has been countries are few months from now on. That could mean the hardest-hit, with 6,599 confirmed longer rice export bans in some exporting coronavirus cases and 437 deaths as of struggling to get rice countries,” said a Bangkok-based trader. April 21. Indonesia is next, with 7,135 at this moment, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed cases and 616 deaths, while it will get worse if voiced his concerns during an ASEAN Malaysia had 5,482 confirmed cases and 92 video summit on April 14. tion. Despite the requests from exporters deaths. the outbreak lasts “We are particularly concerned with Outbreak exposes and domestic industry to remove or ease This year, severe drought in Thailand longer than a few food security in this period of lockdowns,” the restrictions, Vietnam’s Ministry of and Vietnam, as well as heavy purchases months Duterte said. “Our most urgent priority Finance suggested on April 10 extending from Asian buyers, have pushed global is ensuring sufficient supply of rice for ASEAN divisions the embargo on low-grade rice until June rice prices to a 7-year-high. As a result, our people.” 15 to ensure purchases for the national re- Thai exporters have been reluctant to com- Bangkok-based trader The Philippine leader stressed that the serve, which is set to reach 190,000 tons. It mit to deals with the Philippines when bloc must remain “open for trade, crisis or on rice security came after Hanoi’s move to set a quota of Manila has approached them for rice after no crisis, as no country can stand alone. 400,000 tons of rice for export. Vietnam imposed its export ban. “Let us, therefore ensure the supply Hoarding in Thailand and an export ban in Vietnam Cambodia had followed Vietnam’s step Although Vietnam’s deputy minister stockpiled. But Jakarta said in March that chain connectivity and the smooth flow of spook importers and trigger an emergency summit for the same reason, creating anxiety among for agriculture and rural development, it was still open to imports if the corona- goods within our region.” rice-importing ASEAN countries -- particu- Le Quoc Doanh, said Hanoi will honor its virus situation drives rice prices up -- as it APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT and CLIFF VENZON Nikkei staff writers larly the Philippines. The region’s biggest export commitments to the Philippines, it has done with garlic and sugar prices -- to Additional reporting by Erwida Maulia rice importer bought 2.9 million tons last is unlikely that Vietnam can deliver rice curb inflation. in Jakarta. year and is forecast to import around 2.5 to Manila immediately, as it is also busy million this year, largely from Vietnam. meeting skyrocketing orders from China. BANGKOK/MANILA The rapid spread members to hold an urgent meeting in “At least 200,000 to 500,000 tons of rice China’s rice imports from Vietnam in- of new coronavirus cases in Southeast April to seek ways of securing food sup- are now being held up at ports in Vietnam creased 595% on the year to 66,000 tons Asia has exposed the region’s divisions on plies in the 10-nation regional bloc. and Cambodia, and these delayed ship- during the first two months of 2020. Rice food security, particularly as rice-growing “We basically agreed that ASEAN ments have caused supply tightness in imports have also been rising in such mar- nations move to lock up supplies of nations should keep their trade open to some counties,” said a Singapore-based kets as Malaysia, Taiwan, Iraq, France, the staple. allow all members access to goods, par- trader. Russia and Senegal. In Thailand, the world’s second-biggest ticularly food,” Oramon Sapthaweetham, Rice is not only a major staple in ASEAN The increased competition has forced rice exporter, a curfew imposed on April 3 director-general of Thailand’s Department countries, but also a politically and emo- Manila to seek rice from Myanmar, but is driving consumers to hoard rice for fear of Trade Negotiations, told the Nikkei tionally charged commodity, particularly Naypyitaw has also suspended rice export of a prolonged stay-at-home order. Mean- Asian Review. for importers such as the Philippines and licenses, making it more difficult for the while, Vietnam, the third-largest exporter, “However, each country should have Indonesia, where governments face pres- Philippines to secure immediate supplies imposed a rice export ban on March 24, their own right to take any action to secure sure to satisfy domestic consumption and with Cambodia following suit. their food security as Vietnam did. That’s keep inflation low. Such actions by major rice growers why we need more time to reach an agree- Philippine Agriculture Secretary Farmers harvest rice on the edge have raised concerns in importer nations ment,” she added. William Dar wrote his Vietnamese coun- of the evacuation zone as Mount and prompted senior officials from the With its export ban, Vietnam took extra terpart in late March asking assurances Agung erupts in the background

Association of Southeast Asian Nations steps to secure rice for domestic consump- on continued deliveries of rice to Manila, in Bali, Indonesia. Reuters

32 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 33 POLITICS & ECONOMY Kyodo

Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon of the Democratic Party celebrates his constituency win at his election office in Seoul’s Jongno district on April 15. Lee is considered a likely 2022 presidential candidate. We“ need a over the past several weeks, with more measure that Landslide validation people in this segment of the electorate ap- will pay benefits pearing to flow into the [Democratic Party] President Moon gets a huge policy boost as his party wins camp as the pace of new cases slackened to more people the largest majority in South Korea’s democratic history and the government received more recog- nition for its efforts,” Seaman added. The Democrats performed well in key ” KIM JAEWON Nikkei staff writer Shinzo Abe races. Kasai Uichiro Prime minister of Japan Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon beat UFP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn in a SEOUL South Korean President Moon the day of the election, South Korea re- Seoul constituency, raising his odds of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo argued that universal payments were Jae-in’s ruling Democratic Party was not ported 27 new cases, the seventh day in running for the presidency in 2022 when 100,000 yen Abe’s government has decided to necessary, the first sign of a shift in the give cash handouts of 100,000 yen just victorious in the country’s recent a row that the number was under 40. The Moon’s single five-year term expires. government’s position was a comment to every citizen, regardless of general election, it won the biggest parlia- fatality rate has been around 2%, which is Hwang resigned as party chief to take for everyone income, revising an earlier plan to on April 14 from LDP Secretary-General mentary majority by any party since the one of the lowest in the world. responsibility for the defeat. give grants only to some Toshihiro Nikai. country’s transition to democracy in 1987. The country’s public health authorities “I will put priority on overcoming Abe broadens relief plan households. “There are urgent calls for proposals It now gives the president a chance to push have tested more than half a million peo- COVID-19 and the economic setback as such as 100,000 yen payments to every- forward his agenda for the next two years. ple, and locked down cluster infections. commanded by the people,” Lee said on after earlier idea is criticized one,” Nikai said. “I strongly urge the gov- The historic victory is also seen as a The government has encouraged all citi- April 16 after winning the election. “Peo- new cash handout proposal will cost ernment to take action quickly on what vindication of the Moon administration’s zens to remain indoors and has mandated ple gave a lot of seats to the Democratic NIKKEI STAFF WRITERS three times as much as the earlier limited- it can do.” response to the coronavirus outbreak. social distancing measures, such as the Party and the Together Citizens’ Party, income plan, which would have entailed After these comments, Komeito pressed Moon’s policy plans include “inclusive” closing of parks, bars, sporting venues and putting huge responsibility on us.” proving economic hardship as a result of harder for its proposal. Party leader Natsuo income redistribution, reform of the pros- other public places. Yet it has not resorted Moon’s former spokesperson Ko Min- TOKYO Japan plans to send a cash the coronavirus outbreak. Yamaguchi held an impromptu meeting on ecution system and the Korean Peninsula to an all-out shutdown of the country. jung defeated former Seoul Mayor Oh handout of 100,000 yen ($930) to every Abe’s shift came at the urging of the matter with Abe on April 15. peace process. A Realmeter opinion poll released on Se-hoon of the UFP. resident, regardless of income, to lessen Komeito, the smaller party in the Liberal Yamaguchi warned that the situation The left-leaning Democratic Party and April 13 showed 54.5% of respondents ap- In one piece of good news for the UFP, the economic blow from the coronavirus Democratic Party-led ruling coalition, was “critical” and that “the government its satellite partner Together Citizens’ proving of Moon’s performance, up from Thae Yong-ho became the first North pandemic after an earlier income support which pointed to the poor public reception charging ahead with 300,000 yen pay- Party won 180 seats in the 300-member 48.7% in early March. Korean defector to win a seat in parlia- scheme met with resistance. of the earlier plan and even threatened to ments has badly damaged public opin- National Assembly. The opposition con- “The comparatively high degree of suc- ment through an election. The government withdrew its proposal switch its support to a competing opposi- ion of the cabinet,” according to a senior servative United Future Party and its sat- cess the government has had in contain- The Democratic Party thrived in many to give 300,000 yen to qualified households tion proposal, according to a source famil- Komeito official. ellite Future Korea Party took 103 seats. ing the outbreak has significantly boosted regions, including Seoul, Gyeonggi that had lost income, which was criticized iar with the situation. Distributing 100,000 yen to every citi- Despite the coronavirus outbreak, vot- Moon’s political standing and reduced the Province and Gwangju, while the UFP even by some in the ruling coalition as too The government had considered zen will cost over 12 trillion yen, or $111 ers lined up from early morning on April risk that disgruntled [Democratic Party] won seats in Busan, Daegu, and North and limited and complicated. doing both, sending the 300,000 yen to billion, estimates show, compared with an 15 to cast their ballots. The turnout was supporters and independents will be mo- South Gyeongsang provinces. “We need a measure that will pay bene- the hardest-hit households first and the estimated 4 trillion yen for the earlier plan. 66.2% -- the highest in a general election tivated to vote against his party’s candi- The two main parties launched their fits to more people,” Prime Minister Shinzo smaller universal payments later. But The change requires a major upward since 1992. A record 26% of eligible citizens dates in the elections,” said Scott Seaman, own satellite parties in an attempt to win Abe said in an April 16 meeting of the gov- Komeito, which had advocated for the lat- revision to the 16.8 trillion yen supple- took part in early voting. Asia director at Eurasia Group. more seats in the proportional vote. The ernment’s coronavirus task force. ter plan, urged Tokyo to focus its resources mentary budget. The government aims to Analysts say the government’s handling “The proportion of independent and left-wing Justice Party came third with The decision came as Abe extended on the broader measure. submit the new spending plan as early as of the coronavirus was a vote-winner. On unaffiliated voters ... has declined steadily six seats. emergency declarations nationwide. The While some in Abe’s LDP had also April 27.

34 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 35 OPINION

among Malaysians on how untenable it is to make a man go out to buy fish and vegetables Malaysia’s lockdown because knowledge about these things is the woman’s domain. burdens women The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development did not ask how this rule might Jokes about men shopping hide the serious harm impact single mothers going out to get their home supplies, especially if they have young caused by a worsening gender imbalance children and no other adults around to babysit. Jokes aside, Malaysia’s government does not appear to have considered the distinct implications of the MCO and working from home on Malaysian women, from work-life balance to domestic violence. It needs to rectify this, and fast. Malaysians have not experienced a situation Cap akin to a lockdown in 50 years. Few are familiar NORAIDA ENDUT with the notions of working from home or flexible work arrangements, which have been introduced or implemented as a matter of national policy hen the Malaysian government only in recent years and are not yet widespread.

imposed a Movement Control Order The MCO means that where ordinarily during Getty Images W in mid-March, requiring almost all the day parents go out to work and children are workplaces to close and employees to work sent to school or day care, all of them are now to from home due to a sharp rise in coronavirus stay in together and establish new routines. Public service announcements from the Women and the United Nation’s Sustainable cases, the last thing it expected was jokes about In his speech persuading citizens to stay in, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Despite“ there Development Goals, but visible change is still men shopping. Noraida Endut is Professor Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said: “Mothers Development further show it is fundamentally slow in coming in terms of translating these But a specific measure of the MCO, is to allow and Director of the Centre now have more time at home and they can try all unaware about how such narratives, drawing on being close to commitments at the national level. only one person, the “head of the family,” to go for Research on Women sorts of new recipes to cook for the family.” gender stereotypes, harm women. Malaysia remains trailing in gender equality and Gender, Universiti 240,000 single out to buy groceries. Despite there being close Sains Malaysia. This remark missed the point: Far from giving The public service announcements, now widely rankings in the world. The Global Gender Gap to 240,000 single mothers in Malaysia, who mothers a break, the MCO actually requires them joked about around the world, contained advice mothers in Index report for 2020 shows Malaysia ranks are likely in charge of their households, the to continue fulfilling their job obligations while to women on preventing COVID-19 and dealing Malaysia … the 104th out of 153 countries, the second lowest presumption remains strong that the head of the concurrently playing the primary caregiving role. with the lockdown. They asked women not to presumption among members of the Association of Southeast family is a man. The division of labor in Malaysian families, wear “house clothes” but to dress up and put on Asian Nations. In the same survey, it places 97th After this announcement, jokes abounded even when both husband and wife are working makeup while working from home. remains strong in economic empowerment, a fall since 2018. outside the home, is already unequal. During They also advised women to prevent that the head Its female labor force participation rate is the MCO, women’s complex burden of work and conflict with their husbands during MCO by of the family is 55% compared with 80% for men. Only 16% of family is becoming more distinctive. avoiding nagging and to humor their husbands’ Malaysia’s members of parliament and ministers In the words of a friend, a senior female ineptitude at housework by, say, using a funny a man are women. professor, scientist and faculty leader, “Working voice fashioned after the magical cartoon cat What the government should have been from home for me is one hand on the ladle and Doraemon. Predictably, the announcement ” doing, when thinking about the MCO, is the other on the phone.” received much flak and the ministry has since urgently addressing its impact on single-headed A government reminder that all family members apologized. households, the surge of domestic violence and should equally contribute toward household But even so, the government’s actions, child abuse reported during the period, and the chores would have better served to improve the words and responses in relation to the MCO unequal gender division of labor at home that lives of women working from home than half- are continuous demonstrations of deep-seated affects women’s productive work. jesting references to gendered expectations. misogyny and insufficient political will to effectively The COVID-19 crisis and the MCO could, address gender inequality and insensitivity. The public service ironically, be opportune testing grounds for the Malaysia has pledged commitments to announcements asked Ministry of Women’s new leadership to showcase women not to wear international instruments on gender equality and its readiness and aptitude to deal with women The Movement Control Order house clothes but to allows only the head of the family empowerment, such as the Convention on the dress up while working and gender issues. It must be said, however, that

Getty Images to go out to buy groceries. Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against from home. it has yet to make the grade.

36 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 37 OPINION

institutions that failed to stamp it out; and to the national culture of misogyny that enabled it. Fighting a toxic mix The original cluster of chats called “Nth room” reportedly sprang up on Telegram in 2018 or of sex, tech and crime early 2019. Now there is a whole network, each with different names like “slave room,” “female South Korea’s ‘Nth rooms’ reflect the pervasive child room” or “violate your acquaintance room.” Underage girls were degraded, forced to bark misogyny that allows online abuse to flourish like dogs or lie naked on the floor of a public men’s toilet. “Let’s rape” was a greeting almost as common as “hello.” Victims were often duped into giving perpetrators personal details, then blackmailed into obeying the Telegram users’ sexual whims. The exhausting fact is that while the Telegram HAERYUN KANG chats use a new platform, the men’s tactics and their dehumanization of women are oppressively familiar. Soranet was a website rife with spycam ou might not know if you were sitting footage of women and even real-time invitations to

next to an “Nth room” criminal on rape women. It was shut down in 2016, but similar Getty Images Y the subway in Seoul, even if he was websites sprang up before and after its closure. committing a crime at that very moment. All it In last year’s Burning Sun scandal, K-pop stars would look like is a man typing on his phone, were sharing illegally filmed videos of women reported the Ministry of Gender Equality and which law enforcement rarely does, reflecting the scrolling down, snickering, smiling. they had sex with. “You raped her, LOL,” said one Family. The creator of one of the world’s most desperation to punish alleged perpetrators, at “ Haeryun Kang is the Nth rooms are chat rooms on the Telegram of their chats. notorious child porn websites received 18 months least, through public shaming. There is creative director of messaging app where users illegally produce and This might seem abnormal but it fits into a in jail. There is palpable concern, especially among palpable videocusIN, a media trade sexually dehumanizing footage of women. broader pattern of behavior here. It is normal to Despite rising public awareness, including the women, that the perpetrators will not get what incubator in Seoul. Her concern Victims, many underage, are often coerced rate the looks of one’s acquaintances, especially historic women’s rallies in 2018 against spycams, they deserve. This concern seems valid: Recently, most recent short film is that the “Color of Rage: The Nth by Telegram users into abusing their bodies. women, even to their faces. Young female K-pop Korea’s centralized education system has to move one of the creators of the original Nth rooms was Room.” Perpetrators have reportedly turned real-life idols fulfill older men’s Lolita fantasies. Gamers further. Its sex education has received backlash for sentenced to 42 months in jail. perpetrators assaults into online content. objectify women. Men enjoy spycam as a genre being sexist, typical of a widespread lack of gender But harsher punishments alone will not be will not get With the trial in April of Cho Joo-bin, a creator of pornography. sensitivity in schools. Last year an entire school enough. Korean society must confront the of different Telegram rooms according to the Korean institutions are not catching up to administration, famous for producing K-pop stars, uncomfortable reality that sexual dehumanization what they police, South Korea is having to face up to this rectify this horrifying norm. Law enforcement is was accused of sexually exploiting its students. of women is pervasive beyond the Nth rooms: in deserve toxic mixture of tech, sex and crime; to the more reactive than preventive, often organizing Meanwhile, over 100 suspects have been schools, workplaces, politics and the seemingly task forces after a scandal has splashed across arrested in the Telegram scandal. The majority of harmless habits of daily life. the headlines. Cooperating with governments them are young men under 40. The exact scale of Conversations about feminism must go ” internationally, since many criminal activities take these alleged crimes is unknown, but according beyond “these women hate men” or “men are

Reuters place on foreign servers and platforms, is still a to the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response suffering too; feminism is just reverse gender lagging process. Center, there were 260,000 users of 56 monitored discrimination.” Schools need to actively educate Digital sex crimes in South Korea, even those chats on Telegram. students, especially young men, on why gender targeting children, are notorious for attracting Penalties for digital sex criminals need to get sensitivity is important. light sentences. Under Korean law, producers of tougher. It is not enough to look to precedents There is currently only a trickle of voices saying, child porn can receive up to a life sentence, but for sentencing guidelines. Digital sex crimes are “We need feminism at school,” especially after an in reality the average was only two years in 2017, unprecedented; they require new definitions, new elementary school teacher was severely bullied in guidelines. Improvements are coming, slowly, like 2017 for coming out as a feminist. the 2018 Supreme Court decision to expand the Without collaborative, comprehensive efforts Cho Joo-bin, leader of South Korea’s definition of a sex crime to interactions beyond from different sectors of society, the Nth room will South Korean women online sexual blackmail ring, walks out protest against sexism physical, person-to-person assaults. happen again. And digital sex offenders will slip of a police station in Seoul on March and hidden camera 25. Over 100 suspects have been Over 2 million people have signed a petition back into the crowd, their faces indistinguishable pornography in Seoul in arrested in the Telegram scandal. to disclose all the Telegram suspects’ faces, from the rest on the subway. October 2018.

38 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 39 NIKKEI EDITORIAL

S. President Donald Trump has work together for sound management of threatened to pull funding for Now is not the agency. U. the World Health Organization, True, the WHO’s handling of the accusing it of being “China-centric” and the time to crisis has been less than ideal. Director- lacking transparency. While the WHO General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus does have flaws, now is not the time to has repeatedly praised the Chinese jeopardize its efforts on the coronavirus undercut response, even though Beijing initially pandemic. We must work closely avoided disclosing epidemiological together to stop COVID-19. WHO efforts information about patients in Wuhan, The number of infections continues exacerbating the outbreak. The to rise worldwide. The WHO is organization’s failure to immediately gathering data and advising member dispatch a team of doctors to the countries based on what researchers epicenter and assess the situation is also have learned about the virus. It is also Health agency’s role thought to have delayed its declaration coordinating international collaboration crucial to ending virus of a public health emergency of on clinical trials for treatments and the pandemic international concern. development of vaccines. Moreover, the WHO has failed to make The WHO plays a key role in any progress on the long-standing issue supplying coronavirus test kits and regarding Taiwan. China has used its providing health care support to African political influence to lock out Taiwan from and other developing countries, which the WHO and its annual assembly meeting face a risk of a surge in new infections. crisis in developing countries and in turn -- a move that will hamper necessary In the past the organization has fought may lead to a second wave in countries coordination and exacerbate public health Ebola, HIV and tuberculosis, taking that have brought it under control. risks in times of disease outbreaks. action on prevention and treatment. Cutting off the money would do no good Some believe the director-general was WHO activities are supported whatsoever for the U.S. and the world. too beholden to China, a major investor financially by member states, with the Leading contributors, including in African countries, including his native U.S. the single largest contributor at European countries and Japan, should Ethiopia. Once the crisis passes, the about 15%. Losing American funding demand that Washington abandon its WHO’s governance and decision-making will undermine the agency’s efforts in the funding freeze. As contributors to the process must be investigated thoroughly pandemic, which is sure to worsen the WHO, they have a duty to step in and and any missteps corrected.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a news conference on Feb. 28. Reuters

40 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. LIFE & ARTS

help us to overcome the crisis. The state made its muscle evident in Wuhan by supporting My life under lockdown the city with financing, logistics and more than 38,000 civilian Two months in Wuhan showed me what and military medical practitioners. Wuhan was also sustained by its people. Volunteers aided marginalized communities can help us through our darkest moments and tackled important but less noticeable problems, like how the shutdown of public transport was keeping medical staff XIAOYAN HU Contributing writer from their hospitals, so the Wuhanese organized a fleet of thousands of private vehicles to ferry doctors and nurses. Despite the turbulence coronavirus had brought to the city, WUHAN, China The day before my departure from Berlin over the years I have been studying abroad. Although I was my daily life was repetitive: After disrupted sleep, I would sit on Jan. 20, I received a message from my aunt in Wuhan: born and raised in Wuhan until I was 18, there is always a in my study, open my computer, try to be productive with my “Don’t come back. The virus is spreading.” Thinking of my distance between us. I cannot master the local dialect, nor do schoolwork and occasionally look through the window at the parents and the rare chance to spend the Chinese New Year I find it mentally difficult to emigrate elsewhere. trees when my concentration sneaked away. Initially, all the

together after six years of separation, I still hopped on my However, destiny seems to have brought me back just in branches were bare. One day they were dressed in fine snow. Getty Images flight. “After all, the situation seems to be under control, time for the city’s darkest moment. The COVID-19 quarantine Then some fresh green dots climbed along them. Now the leaves right?” I replied to my aunt. taught me to recognize my city. grow bigger and the color gets darker. My family stayed healthy. Lining up for groceries at a Wuhan supermarket on Feb. 12. I was locked down in Wuhan on Jan. 23 in the city’s At the beginning, a friend asked me: “How’s the morale For more than a month between the end of January quarantine to prevent COVID-19’s spread, and my 10-day trip in town?” There was panic; the surge of COVID-19 news and and early March, Wuhan and Hubei Province were alone in was extended into an unforeseeable future. Even now, after analysis had bombarded the locals. However, it is worth noting isolation. Already in early February, through communication the lockdown was lifted on April 8, customs restrictions, flight that the Wuhanese, known for their explosive temper, largely with my friends outside Wuhan, I realized that most breaking cancellations and skyrocketing travel expenses keep me here. complied with the confinement measures. There seemed to news was local -- not beyond China, not even beyond Wuhan. Such closeness with my hometown has been rare, especially be a consensus in the air that cooperation and solidarity would The distance I used to feel from Wuhan was reversed and I felt it now between me and the outside world. Skype images My quarantine experience rebuilt of my classroom in Berlin looked foreign. Pictures of my friends my connection with my hometown in fancy crowded bars in Shanghai seemed strange. My first even as it disconnected me on many reaction when I saw a photo was: “Why aren’t those people wearing masks in public places?” fronts with the outside world Since late March, quarantine has loosened its grip little by little. I started to receive notifications that my online shopping had been dispatched to Wuhan. Restaurants were activating their delivery services. Prices fell from their double or triple markups. I could hear people chatting and dogs barking more often from my study. An autonomous vehicle films cherry blossoms for an online In the second week of April, Longjing green tea arrived, livestreaming session on the closed campus of Wuhan fresh from Hangzhou. For the first time, I drank this with my University. family in its proper season. If it were not for the virus, the warmth and the breeze would already have invited the whole city to go out for a spring walk. Some mobility restrictions are still in place but people are now returning to the parks and the restrictions can no longer flatten the city’s desires. It is like water just before it is boiled. As the virus transmission is contained, I can distract myself to deeper reflection. My quarantine experience in Wuhan rebuilt my connection with my hometown even as it disconnected me on many fronts with the outside world. I did not decide to draw a line between myself and my friends outside Wuhan, rather “disconnection” was a shift of my attention. In this crisis, individuals’ fear and happiness can be projected on to grand narratives, blame games, well-articulated pieces Empty streets in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 13. from experts with sophisticated arguments on economic Reuters Getty Images 42 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 43 LIFE & ARTS TEA LEAVES Reuters

rowing up in the U.K. in the 1950s, wound was so obvious that the I was fascinated by a livid scar ‘War tourism’ Japanese allowed him to be Gon my father’s leg. The size of a hospitalized. The doctor saved his leg, small soup bowl, it was all that was left lays old but it took five months to heal in the of a putrid jungle ulcer he suffered as a primitive prison hospital. prisoner of the Imperial Japanese Army on Should I be angry or sad? I don’t the infamous “death railway” in Thailand. battles to rest know. My father did not entirely blame He must have got it from an infected his Japanese captors for their behavior. cut when he was transported from My mother did. He recognized that they Changi prison in Singapore in 1943 to came from a culture in which surrender work as a slave laborer, breaking rocks was seen as the ultimate disgrace. He through the jungle to build the line to knew that Japan had not signed the Burma, now called Myanmar. Geneva Convention, which banned the For me, that scar was a living link to use of POWs in war efforts. Yet he was QUENTIN PEEL prospects and geopolitical battles. Those high-level sober the agony and excitement of a war I convinced that he would survive. That analyses are valuable, but I invite you to share more time had never known. For my father, it was a was a huge psychological advantage. with your “proximity”: your families, partners, close friends reminder of a horrible wound that almost Most of the British and Australian Freed from the lockdown, residents with whom you can communicate through chats or calls. go for a riverside stroll on April 12. certainly saved his life. troops on the railway project were They construct the immediate responses to your emotions. He was one of the lucky ones. More young and inexperienced; many More than two months of quarantine gave me an than 13,000 fellow prisoners of war and arrived in Singapore just before it fell to opportunity to rethink intimate relationships. I have been with at least 90,000 Tamil, Malay, Burmese, the Japanese in February 1942. Yet my parents every single day. We worked together as a unit to Chinese and Indonesian forced laborers their memory is preserved in the maintain a healthy and rather comfortable life. died of disease, exhaustion, starvation Oshima Hiroko cemeteries and museums and at Hellfire My family and I often discussed and debated COVID-19 and maltreatment while on the project. Pass. By contrast, the 90,000 to 100,000 news, and it was always their opinions that triggered most In an effort to understand my father’s Asian laborers who died on the line of my anger or delight. I used to think that the generation ordeal, I recently became what I can are Australian. Rod Beattie, a former are largely forgotten. Theirs was the gap was to be resolved with neglect; now I believe that only call a “war tourist” in Thailand. It engineer who has spent 20 years greatest sacrifice. passively avoiding your closest ones and hiding behind the was an unsettling experience, starting researching the railway, founded the This year marks the 75th anniversary architecture of knowledge and public opinions may not be the with a three-hour drive from Bangkok to museum and runs it with two fellow of the end of World War II. Normally best strategy in a time of crisis. Your proximity is not always Kanchanaburi, where the base camps Australians, both sons of POWs who there is a commemoration at Hellfire supportive, but you can make it so. for the railway were set up. This is where died when they were young. They Pass on April 25 -- Anzac Day, which COVID-19 introduced much fake news, discrimination most of the dead are buried, and where greeted me on arrival with a folder of marks the date when Australian and New and hate speech to my society and it unavoidably arrived at the bridge was built by POWs, made documents about my father. Suddenly, it Zealand troops entered World War I. But A man walks his dog on April 14. my door. If I am not ready to isolate myself completely from Reuters famous by David Lean’s 1957 film “The was far more real. this year it has been canceled because this chaotic world, why not participate in the exchange with Bridge on the River Kwai.” An hour’s drive northwest of of the global struggle to contain the my close families and friends, listen to their emotions and Only a short stretch of the infamous Kanchanaburi is Hellfire Pass, the site Covid-19 virus. experience, discuss their perceptions and world views? railway still runs, largely for tourists, and of an Australian government-financed Are such ceremonies still important, This is not to reject all information from outsiders but to the death camps have almost entirely memorial, where the prisoners hacked and will there be many memorials left in prevent a dissolution of our proximities and build the fence vanished into the encroaching jungle. out the largest rock cutting along another 75 years? I fear not. The danger of common sense and empathy. Your surroundings are like But there are two war cemeteries in the line. With audio recordings from is that we will forget the lesson we the string tied to a kite, holding you tight from drifting away, Kanchanaburi, beautifully tended, Australian POWs, the center provides a should have learned: that war is brutal alone, in the winds of the day. where British, Australian and Dutch deeply moving insight into the cruelty and stupid. The railway may have been Some people have said that COVID-19 will be the crisis soldiers are buried. inflicted and comradeship inspired as a remarkable feat of engineering but it of our generation -- that it will drive the world to a more There are also four museums, the line was built. did not prevent Japan’s ultimate defeat. fragmented landscape, a gloomier future. although only one -- the Thailand-Burma The desperately malnourished It was a futile achievement that came at Today I want to share a reflection that is not so grand; it Railway Center -- makes a decent effort prisoners died from dysentery, malaria, a terrible cost. If we learn those lessons, comes from an ordinary perspective. Greetings, small talk, to tell the story. In grim detail, it sets out beriberi and tropical ulcers, though the railway’s victims will not have short-term decisions and trifling matters: These little things can why and how the railway was built, and some were beaten to death for suffered in vain. be the inexhaustible source of micro-optimism in our lives. Reuters why so many lives were lost. attempting to escape or challenging This provides stability in an unstable time, and sometimes we Firefighters disinfect Wuhan Tianhe International Airport Those who have done most to authority. My father believed that he Quentin Peel is a former Financial Times can rely on it and march very far. on April 3, five days before the city lifted its travel restrictions. preserve the memory of the dead was saved by his ulcer: The stinking correspondent and foreign editor.

44 Nikkei Inc. No reproduction without permission. 45