ENVIRONMENT SCAN: 16-30 APR 2020

CHINA (Geo-Strat, Geo-Politics & Geo-Economics) Brig RK Bhutani (Retd)

Beijing's Aggressive South Sea Push Amid Pandemic Worries India, US

Under cover of the coronavirus pandemic, China has ramped up its aggressive expansionism both in the South China Sea as well as the Indian Ocean Region, raising concern not only among its smaller neighbours but India and US as well.

On 19 April, China renamed 80 geographical features in the South China Sea — standard names for 25 islands and reefs and 55 undersea geographic entities in a move that has worried the region, signalling that China was establishing sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea covered by a 9-dash line that is deemed illegal according to international law. The listed islands included Sanzhizai, an islet north of Yongxing Island in city, South China's Province.

The pandemic has not stopped China from pursuing its longer-term strategic goals in the region. This comes after Chinese ships rammed and sank a Vietnamese ship three days after Vietnam protested to the UN against China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. The Chinese action triggered protests from the Philippines to the US.

Manila, going against Beijing, issued a statement saying, “our own similar experience revealed how much trust in a friendship is lost by it and how much trust was created by Vietnam’s humanitarian act of directly saving the lives of our Filipino fishermen.” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised, “Chinese “bullying” activities in the South China Sea that distract from current efforts to deal with the pandemic.”

The Philippines, unusually, lodged two protests against China over violations of international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Last week, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi lodged a protest against China for sending its ships into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Japan contends that Chinese ships have intruded into Japanese waters, including on one occasion filing through the area for about 90 minutes.

In response, a US warship has sailed through the Taiwan Straits for the second time in a month. Last week, US warships even sailed through disputed waters off Malaysia, to deter Chinese ships, which have been intimidating a Malaysian oil vessel for weeks. This was in response to Chinese aircraft carrier moving near Taiwan.

Comments. Implications for India are as follows:-

 Chinese operations have focused on the region’s western end close to the Indian Ocean Region, targeting countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, with whom; India has close political and military relationship.

 China’s expanding designs in littoral coincides with a rise in Chinese activity in the eastern Indian Ocean, particularly the presence of Chinese research and survey vessels in India’s EEZs.

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 Growing operations by China’s deep-sea mining vessels, fishing fleets and intelligence ships in the Indian Ocean, an indication of Beijing’s expanding economic and strategic footprint in India’s natural sphere of influence.

 Once China firms its grip over the South China Sea, it will use island outposts to extend greater military power in the eastern Indian Ocean.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/beijings-aggressive-south-china-sea-push-amid-pandemic-worries- india-us/articleshow/75393720.cms

China Cancels Annual Boao Forum Due to Coronavirus

China has cancelled the 2020 Boao Forum for Asia, which Beijing is trying to promote as the region's answer to Davos, due to the coronavirus epidemic, the official China News agency reported on 30 April.

The annual conference, initially scheduled for March 24-27, was postponed in early March due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which first emerged late last year in China. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/04/29/world/asia/29reuters-health-coronavirus-china-boao.html

US, Chinese Experts Probing Origins of Coronavirus: Report

American scientists are working with their Chinese counterparts to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, a prime demand of US President Donald Trump and several other countries like Britain, Australia and Germany have called for more transparency from Beijing on COVID-19 origins.

While there is no official announcement but the state-run CGTN television reported on 29 April that the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is facilitating the cooperation between Dr. Ian Lipikin, Director for Centre for Infection and Immunity of Columbia University, and Prof Lu Jinhai of Sun-Yat-Sen University of Guangzhou to conduct the probe.“The two are working together to determine whether the virus emerged elsewhere in China before Wuhan in December last year”, the report said. It is also not yet clear whether the investigation has the official consent of the US government.

China said such a probe has no precedence or legal basis besides investigations into such pandemics in the past had not provided any conclusive results.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang played down the calls for enquiry saying that the investigations in the past on such viruses achieved little. He said, “The origin of the virus is a matter of science and should be studied by scientists and professionals… It is a very complicated issue often it takes a lot of time and there is a degree of uncertainty. Throughout human history, tracing the origins of many diseases took a dozen years or decades. Some progress was made but a conclusive answer has not been reached.” He further added, “Studies in the world have not clearly identified the origin and transmission routes of the virus. So there is no science basis to draw a clear conclusion about the origin of the (past) viruses.”

Geng said the aim should be to find out how it occurs and prevent future damages to mankind. It is not about retribution and or accountability. There is no precedence in the world for this and there is no legal basis.

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“Politicising the issue of the origin of the virus goes against the spirit of science. It disrupts international cooperation and the mutual trust and will not help with global cooperation to fight the virus,” Geng said.

Comments. Since the probe has no official recognition, it is only a delaying tactics by China to linger on with the investigation; as they have already conveyed that tracing the origins of many diseases took a dozen years or decades and even then they had remained inconclusive. https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/us-chinese-experts-probing-origins-of-coronavirus- report/1943692/

China to hold Annual Parliament Session from May 22

China will hold its annual Parliament session from May 22 which was earlier scheduled to be held from March 5 and got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in the country, the state media reported on 29 April.

The decision was made at a regular session of the National People's Congress' (NPC) Standing Committee, the country's top legislature.

The third session of the 13th NPC will now open in Beijing on May 22. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/china-to-hold-annual-parliament-session-from-may-22-1672311-2020- 04-29

IOR, ANC AND INDO-PACIFIC Capt (IN) KK Agnihotri

Pakistan Navy Carries Out Anti-Ship Missile Firings

Pakistan Navy released a statement regarding successful test-firing of a series of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea on 25 Apr 2020. The missiles were reportedly fired from warships, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The Pak Navy did not divulge more details about the firing exercise. Pakistan’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed the missile firing. The Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Javed boasted that the successful demonstration of missile firing was a testament to the Pakistan Navy's operational capability and military readiness. Admiral Abbasi said that the "Pakistan Navy was fully capable of responding to enemy's aggression befittingly".

Comments. This missile firing exercise has taken place amidst continued tensions in the India-Pak relations. Pakistan had earlier carried out the test of its latest Ra’ad-II air- launched cruise missile, with a claimed range of 600 km, in Feb 2020. According to the Pak military’s ISPR, the homegrown Ra’ad-II “significantly enhances air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea." The earlier developed Ra’ad-I missile had a stated range of 350 km. Other indigenous ASCM in Pak Navy’s arsenal includes the’ Babur’ missile with a claimed range of 350 km.

Source:https://nation.com.pk/25-Apr-2020/pakistan-navy-demonstrates-anti-ship-missile-firing-in-arabian- sea;https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-navy-successfully-test-fires-anti-ship-missiles-1671056- 2020-04-25

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China and Malaysia Engaged in Months-Long South China Sea Standoff

Malaysia on 23 Apr 2020 called for disputes over the South China Sea to be resolved by peaceful means, amid a standoff between Chinese and Malaysian vessels that has been going on silently for months. A Chinese government survey vessel, Haiyang Dizhi 8, has been operating close to ‘West Capella’ drill-ship, which is under contract to Malaysian state oil company Petronas. Chief of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Admiral Zubil Mat Som, confirmed on 16 Apr 2020 that Haiyang Dizhi 8 accompanied by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, entered Malaysia's EEZ in mid-Apr 2020, and began survey in vicinity of Luconia shoals, close to where the Malaysian chartered drill-ship was operating. Haiyang Dizhi 8 was still within Malaysia's EEZ on 23 Apr 2020, about 337 km off Borneo. Three US warships and an Australian frigate also conducted a joint exercise near the site of West Capella's operations in the South China Sea, during the same week.

Chinese Geological Survey Ship Haiyang Dizhi 8

Comments. The standoff was the latest development in a series of targeted harassments by Chinese vessels of drilling operations in five oil blocks off the Malaysian coast since the past year (2019). The area in current focus is claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia and China. China has though, denied reports of a standoff, saying that Haiyang Dizhi 8 was carrying out normal activities. Malaysia on its part, said it remained committed to safeguarding its interests in the South China Sea. There are speculations that Petronas may pull out of the area eventually due to the Chinese presence. Spanish energy firm Repsol had similarly stopped work on two Vietnamese drilling projects in 2017 and 2018 following pressure tactics from China.

Source:https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/south-china-sea-malaysia-disputes-resolved-peaceful- means-12670036

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US Expeditionary Group in South China Sea: Proceeds to China-Malaysia Standoff Site

USS America (LHA-6), along with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), proceeded towards waters off Luconia Shoals in the South China Sea on 20 Apr 2020, where a Chinese survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its China Coast Guard escorts are in a low-key maritime stand-off with Malaysia. USS America and Bunker Hill are operating in concert, with the cruiser serving as an air defense escort for the amphibious warship. Bunker Hill is part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, but temporarily attached to America as part of an ad-hoc expeditionary strike group. Guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) is also operating in the region. USS America amphibious warship was operating with an air combat element of at least five Marine F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft as well as MV-22Bs tilt-rotors and CH-53 helicopters. With the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) temporarily sidelined in Guam to manage a COVID-19 outbreak, America is currently the most significant operational naval asset of the US Navy in the region, as China flexes its maritime muscle. Balance of carrier‘s strike group is still operating in the Pacific.

Comments. The Chinese are operating in disputed waters within 200 nautical miles off the coast of East Malaysia. The region has been an active area of contention since the drill-ship West Capella, under contract to Malaysia’s state oil company, Petronas, began exploration activities in Oct 2019. The Malaysian exploration triggered a flurry of patrols and presence operations by Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia ships, Vietnamese maritime militia ships, Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The 45-ship Royal Malaysian Navy is though hard-pressed to maintain presence because of its patrolling commitments in the Malacca Straits also.

Malaysia and China, on the other hand, also have a strong economic relationship, and Malaysia has ordered four Keris-class Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) from China. First ship of the class ‘KD Keris’ arrived in Malaysia in Jan 2020, but the second ship, ‘Sundang’, with delivery scheduled in Apr 2020, was delayed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The US has accused Beijing of pushing its presence in the disputed waters while other claimants are pre-occupied with the corona virus; and called on China to stop "bullying tactics" in the South China Sea. Two US Littoral Combat Ships based at Singapore, USS Montgomery (LCS-8) and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), are also operating in the South China Sea. However, despite heightened activity, no at-sea incidents have as yet been reported, and all three governments are keeping matters out of the public eye.

Source:https://news.usni.org/2020/04/20/uss-america-now-steaming-near-south-china-sea-standoff;https:/ /news.usni.org/2020/04/21/china-issues-muted-response-to-u-s-warships-near-south-china-sea-standoff

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NORTH KOREA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN Gp Capt Rajesh Bhandari

US Military Dismisses Threat from Latest North Korean Missile Test1. The highest- ranking military officer in the United States is downplaying the latest missile launch by North Korea, even though it could be a few more days before military analysts are done with their assessments. Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon on 14 April 2020 (Tuesday) that he don’t think it is particularly provocative or threatening to USA and these are not any particularly big missiles. The missile launches earlier came on the eve of a holiday marking the birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder and the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. The U.S., under President Donald Trump, has been trying to engage with Pyongyang to get the North to give up its nuclear weapons program, something U.S. intelligence officials have repeatedly said is unlikely. Those talks stalled last year, but Trump and Kim have continued to correspond. North Korea’s state-run news agency said Trump sent a letter to Kim recently, offering to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic. But in the face of the latest missile test, U.S. officials found themselves using familiar language that they are aware of media reports and are currently assessing the situation a senior US administration official said when asked about the North Korean test launch. He also stated that USA isgoing continue to call on North Korea to avoid provocations, abide by obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolutions and return to sustained and substantive negotiations to do its part to achieve complete denuclearization.

Comments. As the world confronts the novel coronavirus, North Korea has been steadily moving towards strengthen its national defence. Looking back on recent reporting on Chairman Kim Jong-un by North Korean media, much of it has been about “firepower strike drills,” “bombardment drills,” and other military inspections. The missiles testing in last few months has designed to divert the attention and show that their leader Kim Jong Un in control in the face of US-led sanctions and the global pandemic COVID -19. The U.S. and North Korea have not spoken with each other since last fall, but there have been intermittent exchanges of personal letters between the two heads of state. Recently, U.S.– North Korean relations underwent a rapid rapprochement and cooling due to the Trump factor, but now there is a new factor in the form of the COVID-19 coronavirus. What effect it will have on diplomacy with North Korea is as yet unknown.

South Korea completes deliveries of KM-SAM Block-1 system to RoKAF2. South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 28 April that deliveries of the Cheongung Korean medium-range surface-to-air missile (KM-SAM or M- SAM) Block-1 system to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) have been completed. In a statement DAPA said the final units of the self-propelled system, which has a stated maximum range of 40 km and - along with the Block-2 variant - is intended to replace the RoKAF's MIM-23 HAWK (locally known as Cheolmae) SAM systems, were handed over in April.The Cheongung Block-1, which was first was deployed with the RoKAF's Air Defense Missile Command in 2015 in an anti-aircraft role, is armed with eight SAMs per launcher.The 4.6 m-long, cold-launched missiles - each of which costs an estimated KRW1.5 billion (USD1.2 million) - are capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 4.5 and an altitude of between 15 and 20 km. A Cheongung SAM battery typically consists of a command-and-control center, multifunction radar, and four transporter-erector-launchers - all of which are mounted on separate 8×8 trucks. Development of the system was

1https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/us-military-dismisses-threat-latest-north-korean-missile-test 2https://www.janes.com/article/95802/south-korea-completes-deliveries-of-km-sam-block-1-system-to-rokaf 7 completed in 2011, with production of the Block-1 missiles beginning in 2013. The Block- 2, deliveries of which are ongoing, is a hit-to-kill (HTK) missile interceptor designed to engage incoming ballistic missile targets at an altitude of about 20 km. It was rated fit for combat operations after meeting all the requirements at a test conducted in early June 2017. The move marked the completion of the development of the improved HTK missile, which was led by the country's Agency for Defense Development in co-operation with South Korean companies such as LIG Nex1.

Comments. The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), also known as the ROK Air Force, is the aerial warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. The ROKAF Air Defence Artillery Command transferred from the Republic of Korea Army's air defense artillery and was established as a basic branch on 1 July 1991. Following the establishment of the ROKAF Air Defence Artillery Command as a separate service in 1991, the army began to develop further its own air defense artillery assets (short range SAM, SPAAG and man-portable air-defense systems) in support of ground operations. South Korea had announced the beginning of mass-production of the new version missiles variant to better counter North Korea's growing missile threats and now the South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has confirmed the deliveries of the Cheongung Korean medium- range surface-to-air missile (KM-SAM or M-SAM) Block-1 system to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).

Japan Intercepted Chinese Military Aircraft 675 Times in Fiscal Year 20193. Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) fighter jets scrambled fighter jets 675 times to intercept Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) aircraft between April 1, 2019 and March 31 2020, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo announced on second week of April 2020. The 675 scrambles conducted by the JASDF against PLAAF/PLANAF planes constitute a 5.8 percent increase compared to the prior year. It marks the second highest number of scrambles in response to Chinese military aircraft for a one-year period since 1958. In total, the JASDF scrambled fighter jets 947 times in fiscal year 2019 to respond to foreign military aircraft approaching Japan’s airspace. In 2019, Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft have violated Japanese airspace on three occasions between April and December 2019. The JASDF deploys Mitsubishi F-15J/Kai all-weather air superiority fighters, F-2 multirole fighter jets, a Mitsubishi license-produced variant of Lockheed Martin’s F-16, and F-4EJ/RF-4 Phantom II fighter aircraft for interception missions.Scrambles against Chinese and Russian military aircraft are conducted by the JASDF’s Northern Air Defense Force, the Western Air Defense Force, the Central Air Defense Force, and the Southwestern Composite Air Division. Notably, the MoD has reported an uptick in surveillance missions of Y-9 aircraft through international airspace between the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako in the East China Sea for the past two years. The strait is a principal entryway for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) into the Pacific Ocean.

Comments. Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) fighter jets scrambled fighter jets 675 times to intercept Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) aircraft between April 1, 2019 and March 31 2020. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) scrambled in response to Chinese military aircraft approaching the country's airspace: a 5.8% increase compared with the same period in FY 2018. The figure, which is the second-highest registered in response to Chinese aircraft during a one-year period since 1958. Japanese fighters also responded 268 times to movements by Russian military aircraft, down from 343 times during the

3https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/japan-intercepted-chinese-military-aircraft-675-times-in-fiscal-year-2019/ 8 same period in FY 2018. Japanese fighters also responded to other Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft and the Shaanxi Y-8 airborne early warning and control platform crossing the Tsushima Strait, which connects the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the Yellow Sea (West Sea), and the East China Sea. To counter and intercept the future attacks, the Japanese are building up their Air Defence capabilities.

NUCLEAR Gp Capt GD Sharma, VSM (Retd)

Russia Threatens United Sates of America if it Deployed Submarine Based Low Yield Nuclear Weapons.4

United States has in recent past expressed apprehension on both Russia and China developing low yield nuclear weapons. In fact, US state department has claimed that China recently may have secretly conducted a low-yield underground nuclear test, though no such proof has been offered.5 All P-5 nations have signed the nuclear test ban treaty but, it has not been ratified by United States and China. China, which is estimated to have about 300 nuclear weapons, has repeatedly rejected Trump’s proposal for a tri-partite treaty with Russia and China, arguing that its nuclear force is defensive and poses no threat. US had levelled similar charges against Russia but, once again no proof has been offered. The reality is that all three are engaged in modernising their existing nuclear arsenal.

For the first time, In US 2018 nuclear posture review, US expressed its fears about Russia and China developing low yield nuclear weapons and declared that to defend itself United States does not rule out the possibility of using nonnuclear strategic attacks. Now in Feb.2020, US declared that in response to Russian and Chinese threat it would field low yield device on the SLBM to give proportionate response to Russian/ Chinese low yield threats. US already holds low yield nuclear weapons which are deliverable through the strategic bombers but, believes that Ballistic missile has capacity to penetrate defences better than an aircraft air craft therefore, considers that low yield nuclear weapon will supplement the nuclear stability between them. 6

US has been criticized for its move for use of low yield nuclear weapon could lead to escalation as the adversary has no means to find out whether the weapon is a low yield or of high yield hence, it is potentially escalatory.

The 2010 New START is expiring next year. Russia wants to extend the treaty for limiting the number of deployed nuclear missiles, warheads, and bombers along with strict inspection regimes. Trump too wants to a new arms control agreement but, now wants to include china too in the negotiation. Russia calls it impractical mainly because China would not join it.

The scepticism will prevail until countries engage in dialogue to limit the nuclear weapons. In that, apart from the high yield the low yield weapons should also be includes in agreement. Secondly, which China hitherto does not wish to join any such dialogue should also be part of this treaty. This is not rational if China aims to become the super

4https://www.globalsecurity.org 5https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/china-may-have-conducted-low-level-nuclear-test-us-report- claims 6https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/T-Paper-Series-4-W76.pdf 9 power status but, shirks from international obligations. Unless there is a tripartite agreement such a dialogue will not hold good.

UNITED STATES

China Enhances Assertiveness when World is Busy in Fighting with COVID19 Pandemic.

A recent global times report claims that PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and aerial forces to follow the US guided missile destroyer USS Barry when it trespassed into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands( ) on Tuesday (21 Apr 20 ), expelled it from the area and admonished US to save itself from COVID19.

In fact, China has increased upped its pressure on many claimants of South China Sea natural features. Its survey ship sailed close to the Malaysian coast while shadowing a Malaysian ship which was exploring oil for Petron as in waters that is claimed by both Malaysia and Vietnam. It had formally established two new districts in the South China Sea that include dozens of contested islets and reefs. Every day from 4thMarch to 4thApril this year, China dispatched coastguard ships around Japan’s Senkaku Island. On 16thMarch, China Coast Guard ships fired a shot, and rammed a Taiwanese coastguard ship near Little Kinmen. On April 4, a China Coast Guard Ship hit Vietnamese fishing boat, sinking it near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The China Coast Guard also detained two Vietnamese ships trying to rescue eight crew members of the sunken ship. Even in the Indian Ocean, China has deployed twelve underwater drones called “Sea Wing.” in Feb 20, four Chinese Navy warships, including a destroyer and a refueling ship, traveled 300 km from Hawaii’s shores. The destroyer’s location was particularly threatening because its YJ-18 cruise missile, with a range of 500 km, could reach US Indo-Pacific Command headquarters. This destroyer also laser-targeted a US naval patrol plane in international waters off the coast of Guam. These activities illustrate that while the rest of the world is concentrating their efforts on combating COVID-19, China’s aggressive behavior toward its neighbors remains unchanged.7

US has countered it Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs). The Navy conducted nine FONOPs in the South China Sea last year, these are designed to challenge China’s claim to maritime rights and dominion over several island chains in the region, which have put the U.S. and its allies at loggerheads with China.8

Patrols by U.S. warships come within 12 miles of features claimed by China, including features that China has occupied. The patrols are meant to signal that the U.S. considers the claims excessive. In February 20, the US conducted live-fire missile drills near the South China Sea. Later, in late-February for the first time US F-35 fighters participated in international exercises in Thailand. In March 20, a US aircraft carrier called at a port in Vietnam. Later that month, President Donald Trump signed the TAIPEI Act, which is aimed at strengthening the US’s relationship with Taiwan.

China is worried with President Trump signing a law supporting the anti-govt protests in Hong Kong, In Taiwan the reunification seems distant with Tsai Ing-wen’s re-election. Of

7https://www.hudson.org/research/15936-china-s-assertive-actions-continue-despite-the-spread-of-covid-19 8https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/02/05/in-challenging-chinas-claims-in-the-south-china-sea-the-us-navy- is-getting-more-assertive/ 10 late the situation is escalating, with Vietnam complaining about China’s repeated intrusions into Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

FONOPs hasn’t caused China to back down on its South China Sea claims, it has in fact- built fortification on the islands. US stays lowkey in response to this. It sees COVID-19 as a “pearl harbour.” US needs to counter both the pandemic and the Chinese assertiveness, as these could have impact on President Trump’s re-election. Chinese became more assertive due to the muted action in past by the then Obama administration. In elections, Joe Biden the challenger to Trump, is from the Obama team. The public is generally anti China due to spread and consequences of COVID-19. This may benefit Trump to win in election. However, it another matter as China will not back down from assertiveness as it sees COVID-19 an opportunity to press home its claim in South China sea.

IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, MALDIVES, PAKISTAN & SRI LANKA Brig Rajat Upreti

IRAN

Iranians should be cautious but not afraid of the coronavirus, President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday as the country eases restrictions in an attempt to return to normal life. Iran is one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Iranians have returned to shops, bazaars and parks over the past week as the country eases coronavirus restrictions, with the daily increase in the death toll below 100 since April 14. The death toll in Iran from the coronavirus pandemic rose by 71 in the past 24 hours to 5,877, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV on Tuesday. The total number of diagnosed cases of the new coronavirus in Iran has reached 92,584, he said. Health officials have warned that the easing of restrictions could lead to a new wave of infections and state TV in recent days has featured interviews where people on the street are questioned why they are not using masks and gloves.

Comments. Seeking a balance between protecting public health and shielding an economy already battered by sanctions, the government has refrained from imposing the kind of wholesale lockdowns on cities seen in many other countries. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran/iranians-should-be-cautious-but-not- afraid-of-the-coronavirus-rouhani-idUSKCN22A1CL

A new batch of nuclear fuel has been delivered to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced. According to AEOI, the new batch was delivered based on the schedule of the Iranian and Russian side for the power plant’s annual refueling. On April 12, a deputy head of Iran’s atomic agency, Mahmoud Jafari, announced that Bushehr’s Unit 1 will be temporarily shut down for refueling and technical maintenance in the run-up to the peak season in summer. The Bushehr facility sits 17 kilometers southeast of the city of Bushehr along the Persian Gulf coast in southwestern Iran. The power plant started operating in 2011 and reached its full capacity the following year. In 2014, Russia signed a cooperation contract with Iran to help build the second and third Bushehr reactors, which are scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

Comments. Iran has repeatedly enunciated its nuclear program as exclusively civilian, subject to the most intensive UN supervisions ever. Tehran signed a nuclear deal in 2015 with six world countries, which forged close cooperation between Iran and the Agency. 11

The IAEA has been tasked with supervising the technical aspects of the agreement’s implementation. The US, however, severely undermined the pact by abandoning it in May 2018 despite numerous IAEA reports on Tehran’s full compliance with the deal. https://irannewsdaily.com/2020/04/bushehr-nuclear-plant-gets-batch-of-nuclear-fuel/

Iran said on Wednesday it successfully launched the country’s first military satellite into orbit, triggering protests from the United States and stoking already high tensions over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said the satellite “Noor”, or “Light”, was orbiting 425 km (264 miles) above the earth’s surface. Putting a satellite in space would be a major advance for Iran’s military following repeated failed launch attempts in recent months. Pompeo says Iran military satellite launch might defy U.N. resolution. Iran’s Guards Corps said it used the Qased, or “Messenger”, carrier to launch Noor. “The three-stage Qased satellite launcher uses a combination of solid and liquid fuels,” it said. The U.S. military says the same long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also allow Tehran to launch longer-range weapons, perhaps someday including nuclear warheads. Tehran denies U.S. assertions that such activity is a cover for ballistic missile development and says it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on Iranian ships if harassed, a week after the United States said 11 vessels from the Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to U.S. vessels in the Gulf. Iran responded immediately, saying that the United States should focus on saving its military from the coronavirus outbreak “instead of bullying others”.

Comments. A U.N. resolution in 2015 “called upon” Iran to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons following an agreement with six world powers. Some states said the language did not make it obligatory. President Donald Trump’s administration in May 2018 withdrew from the 2015 accord and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Trump said the deal, designed to put curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for Tehran halting its sensitive nuclear work, did not include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile programme and support for its proxies in the Middle East. Regional tensions have been high since the start of the year, when the United States killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad. Iran retaliated on Jan. 9 by firing missiles at bases in Iraq, causing brain injuries among U.S. troops at one of them. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-satellite/iran-says-it-puts-first-military-satellite-into-orbit- triggers-u-s-condemnation-idUSKCN2240LO

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban have rejected an Afghan government call for a ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and to let authorities focus on tackling the coronavirus, raising new concern about prospects for a fragile peace process. President Ashraf Ghani called on Thursday for the ceasefire for Ramadan, which began in Afghanistan on Friday, and to allow the country to focus on what he said was a critical novel coronavirus outbreak spreading all over the country. Afghanistan has detected more than 1,300 cases of the virus but health experts say the number could be higher as testing is limited and Afghanistan’s weak health system would struggle with a widespread outbreak. The Taliban, fighting for years to expel foreign forces, agreed in February to a week-long “reduction in violence” to secure the agreement with the United States, which was signed on Feb. 29. But they resumed attacking government forces soon after. The U.S.-led NATO alliance called on Friday for the Taliban to cut violence levels and join peace talks. This 12 week alone, dozens of members of the Afghan security forces, civilians and Taliban fighters have been killed in clashes.

Comments. Hopes for an end to Afghanistan’s decades of war were raised in late February when the Taliban and the United States struck a deal on the withdrawal of U.S.- led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees. But the deal did not include a ceasefire, which has been left to the U.S.-backed government to negotiate with the insurgents https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-taliban-ceasefire/afghanistans-taliban-reject- call-for-ramadan-ceasefire-idUSKCN2261A8

MALDIVES

Health Minister Abdulla Ameen has warned that the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths could increase in the Maldives over the next few days, and urged the public to take necessary precautions. The total number of positive cases identified in the Maldives is now 280. The minister acknowledged several challenges in controlling the pandemic in the archipelago, noting the biggest obstacle to be the living conditions of expatriate workers in the capital. The housing issues in Male' which forces residents to live in cramped and congested conditions adds further challenges, said the minister. Minister Ameen noted that the government took adequate steps when the pandemic started spreading in the Maldives, and said the positive results of the lockdown imposed on Male' city is becoming more evident. However, the ultimate benefits of the move will only become clear, and the number of infections can only be decreased if every person obeys the instructions of the authorities, said the minister. Maldives identified its first virus case on March 7, and on March 12; declared a 30-day state of public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, and on April 10, extended the order to the end of April. Ameen has now extended it for a second time, declaring that the state of public health emergency will remain in effect until end of May 30.

Comments. The government's highest priority at this time is to collect and test as many samples as possible, and obtain results at the earliest in order to isolate and treat those infected with the virus. The days ahead will be difficult and harrowing, and that the situation may force authorities to opt for home quarantine instead of transferring positive patients to designated quarantine facilities. https://avas.mv/en/82090

PAKISTAN

The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said its executive board had approved $1.386 billion in emergency financing to Pakistan to meet balance of payments needed stemming from the novel coronavirus pandemic. IMF First Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Okamoto said “expeditious donor support was needed to close the remaining balance of payments gap and ease the adjustment burden.” The World Bank is also providing emergency funds to developing and low-income countries across the world to strengthen their efforts to battle the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Pakistan has been allotted $200 million.

Comments. The funds, to come from the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument, will help Pakistan deal with a decline in international reserves and allow it to fund targeted and temporary spending increases aimed at containing the pandemic and mitigating its economic impact 13

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-imf-world-bank-pakistan/imf-approves-1-39-billion-in- emergency-pandemic-aid-for-pakistan-idUSKBN21Y3BZ

Pakistan is preparing to loosen coronavirus lockdown restrictions as the number of infections and deaths are well below previous projections, officials said on Wednesday. The South Asian nation, which has registered more than 15,000 cases of COVID-19 including 335 deaths, has already granted exemptions to dozens of sectors to open up over the last few days. “The mortality numbers are nowhere near the same as we see in other countries,” Minister Asad Umar, who oversees the response to the virus, told journalists. He said infections and deaths in Pakistan were lower 30-35% lower than projections and, if things remained this way, the country could open up further in coming days. On Tuesday, the country registered 800 positive cases and 26 deaths - the highest number of deaths in a single day. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that the government would further ease lockdown by reopening more businesses and industries as the intensity of the coronavirus in Pakistan was much lower than that in Europe and the United States. Pakistan has also removed restrictions on congregations at mosques for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leading doctors to raise the alarm on the risk of mass infections. But Mirza said safety procedures for mosque gatherings had been worked out between the government and clerics.

Comments. Experts say Pakistan’s low numbers are due to limited testing. Currently Pakistan, a country of more than 207 million people, conducts about 8,000 tests a day. The IMF has projected that Pakistan’s economy will contract 1.5% this financial year. Pakistan a few days ago launched a new “Test, Trace and Quarantine” system, which officials say will allow it to steadily open up commercial and industrial activities over the next few weeks without risking further infections. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pakistan/pakistan-prepares-to-ease- coronavirus-curbs-with-infections-below-projections-idUSKBN22B25U

Following in the footsteps of Pakistan, many high-risk countries who are part of the ambitious Belt and Road Initia•tive (BRI) have approached China for debt relief, the Financial Times reported. Last month, Pakistan requested China for ease in payment obligations of over $30 billion of about 12,000-megawatt power projects under the China- Pakistan Economic Corri•dor (CPEC) to minimise its financial and economic difficulties, the newspaper reported. This was part of government efforts to sec•ure discounts and savings on power purchases from independent power producers (IPPs) as circular debt liabilities cross Rs2 trillion. Early this week, the Eco•nomic Coordination Commi•ttee (ECC) of the cabinet authorised the Economic Affairs Ministry to negotiate debt relief with 11 bilateral lenders, including China, under a G20 initiative to suspend for about a year the payment of debt and its interest. Pakistan has to pay about $615 million to China between May 2020 and June 2021 under bilateral debt.

Comments. Pakistan had formally taken up its difficulties with China for relief in purchase prices at the highest level during the recent visit of President Arif Alvi to Beijing, as Pakistan’s capacity payments alone were estimated to be closer to Rs600bn this year, and estimated to go beyond Rs1.5 trillion in a few years. Pakistan has requested two basic relaxations in the existing agreements given the emerging challenges amid economic meltdown across the world in the wake of Covid-19. First, Pakistan desires to bring down mark-up on debt to London Interbank Offer Rate plus two (Libor+2) per cent from the existing average of about Libor+4.5pc. Second, Pakistan has sought an extension in debt repayment period in the tariff to 20 years from the existing repayment period of 10 years. Almost all the power sector projects in the country have upfront 10-year debt repayment in 14 their tariff structure. The two discounts are estimated to save about $500-550m (more than Rs85bn) annual cash outflows. https://www.dawn.com/news/1553610/high-risk-countries-approach-china-for-debt-relief

SRI LANKA

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the spread of COVID-19 is under control in general, and that immediate remedial steps have been taken following the sudden spike in recent positive cases. While explaining the reasons for the sudden spike in infections during the last few days, he said remedial steps had been taken immediately. An Islandwide Curfew will be imposed from 8.00 pm tomorrow (30) until 5.00 am next Monday (May 04), President's Media Division said. Fifteen more Covid-19 infected patients have fully recovered and discharged from the hospital, increasing the total number of recovered persons to 154, the health ministry said. Meanwhile, the tally of total coronavirus cases now stands at 663. A total of 502 patients are currently under medical care at hospitals in the country.

Comments. The pandemic has been handled well by the Govt and seems to be under control. The economic impact will have to be factored in the tmes to come. http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front_page/COVID-19-now-under-control-in-general-President/238-187555 http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Fifteen-more-recovered-total-infected-cases-now-at-663/108- 187532

The Acting Ambassador and Chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei conveyed that when we faced COVID- 19 disaster recently, Sri Lanka stood with the country. "China is willing to return that goodwill in the form of fullest cooperation to revive Sri Lanka’s economy in the post-COVID-19 period," he said. The sharp drop in foreign exchange earnings has posed an enormous challenge before the country, President added. "Due to the nosedive plunge of global economy we have lost the income generated by apparel industry and tourism. It might take a considerable amount of time for the global economy to recover. As such, Sri Lanka has planned to adopt a new development model to create a production economy," said the President while adding that he hopes to receive the positive responses and goodwill of friendly nations to make it a success. “Our expectation is not just limited to receiving loans and financial grants. One of our prime objectives is to attract foreign investments which can positively contribute to the increase in production. There are ample opportunities for foreign investments in various sectors including agriculture based production and in the construction field. I invite China and other countries to make use of those opportunities," the President said.

Comments. Sri Lanka will receive help not only from the Central Government of China but also from the country’s leading companies and banks to rebuild its economy in the post- COVID -19 period to revive the economy which has suffered during this period. http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/China-assures-support-for-SLs-post-COVID-19-economic- revival/108-187484

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CENTRAL ASIA Air Cmde T Chand (Retd)

CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS: EMERGING RESPONSE TO U.S. TALIBAN PEACE AGREEMENT 2020

After prolonged negotiations, the U.S. and the Taliban signed their bilateral landmark peace agreement in Doha on 29 February 20, in the presence of representatives from more than 30 nations. Afghanistan’s northern neighbours; Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, traditionally affected by the security situation in Afghanistan continue to be concerned about Afghanistan’s post-ceasefire instability which would subsequently spill across the borders after foreign military missions withdraw. If Afghanistan erupts into open military confrontation following the departure of foreign military forces, the question is whether the three nations alone can mount an acceptable response, particularly Turkmenistan whose international neutrality stance is recognized by the United Nations9. While prognostications about Afghanistan’s future are largely impossible, there are troubling signs that its instability will continue, not necessarily confined within the country’s borders.

The reality that the Taliban currently control or contest more territory, roughly half of the country, than at any other time since 2001 adds to concerns about the country’s political stability in the aftermath of the withdrawal of foreign forces. Further heightening skepticism about the durability of the agreement, successive U.S. administrations have sidelined the Afghan government for years, first by refusing to allow it to be involved with the negotiations and most recently by signing the deal without Afghan President Ghani’s government as a partner. Despite the accord, violence between the Taliban and Afghan government forces continues, albeit at a reduced rate10.

Central Asian Republics (CARs) have started responding to this looming crisis in different ways. On 12 March 20, representatives of the border agencies of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as the Coordination Service of the Council of Commanders of the Border Troops (SKPV) met in Samarkand to discuss the situation on the Commonwealth of Independent States’ (CIS) southern borders and formulate measures to prevent infiltration by terrorists and extremists into CIS territory. Both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are members of the CIS, while Turkmenistan has associate member status. Tajikistan is also a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), while Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Coordination of national antiterrorist policies by these organizations has already begun. Major Central Asian groupings including SCO and CSTO have been monitoring the situation regularly with concern. SCO counterterrorist activities date back to 2004, when members established the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) at an SCO summit in Tashkent, followed by recurring counterterrorist military training exercises. In October 2007, the SCO signed an agreement with the CSTO in Dushanbe to broaden cooperation on regional issues, including transnational security, crime and drug trafficking. A CSTO initiative with the potential to provide a unified response to regional instability is the 2009 agreement to create the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR) acceded to by five of the alliance’s seven members. On 11 March20, large-scale Tajik-Uzbek anti-terror exercises, extending over four days, began at Tajikistan’s Fakhrobod training range. The exercises involved aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery and small arms in a joint training

9 John C. K. Daly; https://www.timesca.com/index.php/news/26-opinion-head/22341-central-asia-nervously-awaits- withdrawal-of-foreign-militaries-from-afghanistan 10 ibid 16 exercise to repel the infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan. The inclusion of aircraft is significant; as neither the Taliban, nor any of the terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan have elements of air power, control of the sky has provided the decisive edge in Western military operations there. Furthermore, while Turkmen, Uzbek and Tajik military assets are relatively modest, those of its fellow CIS, CSTO and SCO member Russia are not and can potentially provide significant military backup in worst-case scenarios.

The U.S. agreement with the Taliban is believed to be a face-saving tactical maneuver allowing the U.S. and its NATO allies to exit their 19-year-old Afghan campaign. In the ensuing security vacuum, Central Asian frontline states would grapple with various estimates that the ranks of the Taliban contain 10,000-15,000 foreign citizens, at least half of which are from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan11. As U.S further downsizes its presence in “the graveyard of empires,” whatever occurs in Afghanistan’s post-Western military environment, Kabul’s northern neighbors are discreetly and assiduously erecting a “cordon sanitaire” behind the wall of possible Russian and Chinese military support to ensure the chaos remains on Afghanistan’s side of their shared frontier12.

SOUTHEAST ASIA Shri R Chandrashekhar

Total Deaths Additional measures taken cases (since last update) Brunei 138 1 Citizens and foreign residents in the country barred from leaving Brunei. Cambodia 122 0 Indonesia 9771 784 Temporary ban on domestic air and sea travel until early June to stop non-essential travel during the month of Ramadan. Health protocols at key borders being ramped up to deal with its returning migrant workforce as thousands of Indonesian workers are on their way home.(As many as 68,614 Indonesians have arrived from Malaysia alone, by sea, land and air, between March 18 and April 29. In addition to these, 1,381 other Indonesian migrant workers of various professions from many parts of the world have also returned.) Laos 19 0 Malaysia 5945 100 Myanmar 150 6 Release of 25,000 prisoners Philippines 8212 558 Manila lockdown extended to 15 May Singapore 15641 14 Lockdown extended to 01 June Thailand 2947 54 Thailand will start reopening on Sunday (May 3) some businesses, such as outdoor markets, barber shops and pet groomers, after the numbers of new coronavirus infections dropped into single digits. Vietnam 270 0 Ho Chi Minh City authorities removed sports centres and indoor sports businesses from the list of suspended businesses due to COVID-19, thereby allowing gyms to reopen.

Public gathering limit has been raised to 30 people from the previous 20.

11 ibid 12 ibid 17

Chinese Laser-Gun Incident in South China Sea

The Philippine ship BRP Conrado Yap was on its way to the Rizal Reef Detachment in the South China Sea when it reported that it had detected "a radar contact of a gray-colored vessel."The incident was the latest accusation that Chinese forces had used lasers to harass other nations' naval personnel. China’s position is that its warship was patrolling in relevant waters of China's Nansha Islands (Chinese name for the contested ) and that "Its operation was professional and standard, which accords with international law and relevant security rules. China also lodged representations with the Philippine side, asking certain individuals on the Philippine side to respect facts and refrain from issuing groundless remarks."

In a move seen as a climbdown, The Philippines' Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued a statement stating that it appeared that Chinese sailors had no real intention of hurting Filipinos when they pointed a laser gun at a Philippine navy ship.Although the Chinese move was seen as aggressive, it likely was meant to enforce their presence in the disputed sea region, which is claimed by China, the Philippines and other countries”. According to him, "Maybe they are testing what our reaction will be” adding that a protest has already been filed with the Chinese government”. Source: Benarnews Laos @ https://www.laosnews.net/news/264859695/manila-downplays-chinese-laser-gun-incident- in-south-china-sea

Philippines Rejects China’s Creation of Two Districts in the SCS

Philippines has strongly protested China’s self-declared Sansha City "and the extent of its administrative jurisdiction" a controversy that has been ongoing since 2012 as strongly protested the recent Chinese designation of Kagitingan Reef within the administrative centre for the so-called "Nansha ." The Kagitingan Reef is within the Kalayaan Island Group which Philippine officials said, is an integral part of Philippine territory. The Philippine Government Statement said that it "does not recognize Sansha, nor its constituent units, nor any subsequent acts emanating from them” and that "The Philippines also objects to and does not recognize the Chinese names given to some features in the Kalayaan Island Group”, adding that "The establishment and supposed extent of jurisdiction of 'Sansha City' of which the new two districts are part, violate Philippine territorial sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, and infringes on Philippine sovereign rights over the waters and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea”. Earlier this month, the State Council, China's top administrative body, approved the creation of two new municipal districts - Nansha District, which is based at , an artificial island built by China that it said will oversee all of the Spratly Islands and their surrounding waters; and Xisha District, based on Woody Island, which will oversee the Paracel Islands. Source: Vietnamnews.net@https://www.vietnamnews.net/news/264895618/manila-rejects-chinas-designation-of-two- new-sea-districts

COVID-19 Impact on Thailand’s Tourist Industry

Thailand’s Tourism Industry is facing a stark outlook. Reports from the UN’s International Labour Organisation, in collaboration with the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, have made stark predictions about the problems that lay ahead for the Thai government, and the people working in the immediate and peripheral parts of the tourism industry. Up to 6 million people are expected to lose their jobs in the tourism sector alone as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 10% of the country’s entire population. Locations like Phuket and Pattaya, which are almost entirely tourist-dollar driven, will be particularly hard hit without any other local industries to keep the economic wheels 18 turning. You can read more about that report at the thaiger.com Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is proposing long-stay packages for foreign tourists seeking “disease-free destinations” with the Tourism Authority of Thailand planning to set up a model which will attract a specific group of travellers to visit chosen areas. TAT offices abroad are now courting the long-stay market, which normally spends more than average tourists, while 4- and 5-star hotels are promoting packages to their regular guests.“The outbreak allows Thai tourism to shift its focus to quality tourists rather than quantity.” Source: The Thaiger @ https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-thursday-april-30

Malaysian Media wants Google, Facebook to Pay for News Content

Malaysian media organisations are standing together and have reached out to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) to compel tech giants such as Google and Facebook to pay for their news content. A letter was sent by the Malaysian Newspaper Publishers Association (MNPA) to MyCC said they were only asking for a fair share of the advertising revenue the tech giants had generated using content from media organisations in the country. "For more than 15 years now, both Facebook and Google have been reusing our content that we have invested a lot of our resources to produce for their financial gains. This loss of potential revenue has resulted in us having to retrench staff, which has unfortunately affected the livelihood of many Malaysians.

On April 21, Bloomberg reported that the Australian government, in the world's first mandatory code of conduct, will force Google and Facebook to pay media companies in Australia for publishing their news.The report said the move by the Australian government was to tackle the imbalance of power between tech giants and traditional media outlets.Star Media Group chief executive Andreas Vogiatzakis said in an era where intellectual property mattered the most, it was only fair that media sources were compensated accordingly and appropriately when the news and information generated by them were used for profit by third parties. He added that the initiative to compel the tech giants to compensate media outlets in Malaysia needed government intervention as well as proper legislation. Source: The Straits Times @https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-media-wants-google-facebook-to- pay-for-news-content

Philippines – Taiwan Controversy on Filipina Worker’s ‘Cyber-Libel’

The Philippines has backed down from its demand for Taiwan to deport a Filipina worker it accused of "cyber-libel" against President Rodrigo Duterte. The issue became a controversy in Taiwan due to President Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, commenting that China should have a say in the deportation, because the island "is part of China". Taiwan's foreign ministry said the woman had not violated any law and would not be sent back to the Philippines. Stressing that it was a democratic country, Taiwan said all foreign workers were treated the same as Taiwan citizens and that "their rights are protected, including freedom of speech".Philippine media also reported that labour representatives had met the worker, her employer and broker to "enlighten" her, claiming her actions "amounted to a crime". Under a new emergency law in the Philippines, the dissemination of "fake news" during the national health emergency has been classified as criminal. But critics say that the government is using the law to silence legitimate criticism of the Duterte administration and his response to the crisis. Taiwan's foreign ministry spokesman Joanne Ou said the Philippines should follow "legal procedures" through bilateral judicial assistance channels if it believed the worker in question had violated Philippine law. Source: Aljazeera News @ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/philippines-backs-demand-taiwan-deport-worker- 200430034037892.html