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December
South Korea promises policy support as Nov data clouds growth outlook
Written by Nur Yasmin
South Korea's retail sales fell for a third straight month in November, data showed on Thursday, clouding economic growth in the current quarter as demand from China and other major markets loses momentum.
The retail sales index fell 1.8% in November, on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, after declines of 0.2% and 2.0% in October and September, the Statistics Korea data showed. The index rose 1.2% in the third quarter.
The finance ministry said in a statement soon after the data release that uncertainty was increasing over the economic growth path. The ministry reaffirmed its pledge to expedite spending in the early part of next year.
"The government will execute a record 65% of the next year's budget spending during the first half," it said in the statement, while promising flexible financial and economic policies to respond the increasing risks to growth.
A broader index measuring the whole service sector also decreased for a third straight month by 0.6% after falling 1.1% and 0.1% in October and September, respectively.
In the manufacturing sector, the output edged up by 0.4%, after four straight months of losses, although it posted the worst drop in 2-1/2 years of 3.7% on a year-on-year basis. (Reuters)
December
South Korea's Yoon orders revamp of response to violations of country's air space
Written by Nur Yasmin
South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered a revamp of the military's response to objects violating its airspace, his office said on Thursday, after an intrusion by North Korean drones exposed its difficulty in shooting down small aircraft.
Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting South Korea's military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters, though it failed to bring down the drones, which flew over South Korea for hours.
Amid criticism over South Korea's air defences at a time of North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats, Yoon visited the state-run Agency for Defence Development to check the country's reconnaissance and interception capabilities and called for an overhaul of the response system against "all flying objects".
"North Korean drones' intrusion of our airspace is an intolerable incident," Yoon said. "We should let them learn that provocations are always met by harsh consequences."
Yoon has slammed the military's handling of Monday's incursion, the first since 2017, urging it to hasten the reinforcement of drone units.
The military apologised for its response, and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.
"To secure peace, we need to prepare for a war with overwhelming capabilities," the president said, adding that the South's defence procurement strategy should also be reviewed in line with the North's weapons advances.
On Thursday, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the country's military would hold drone-focused exercises.
"Our military will conduct joint air defence drills ... simulating response to enemy's small-sized unmanned aircraft," a JCS spokesperson told a regular briefing. (Reuters)
December
U.N. halts some programs in Afghanistan after ban on women aid workers
Written by Nur Yasmin
The United Nations said on Wednesday that some "time-critical" programs in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely need to be paused because of a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women aid workers.
U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, the heads of U.N. agencies and several aid groups said in a joint statement that women's "participation in aid delivery is not negotiable and must continue," calling on the authorities to reverse the decision.
"Banning women from humanitarian work has immediate life-threatening consequences for all Afghans. Already, some time-critical programmes have had to stop temporarily due to lack of female staff," read the statement.
"We cannot ignore the operational constraints now facing us as a humanitarian community," it said. "We will endeavour to continue lifesaving, time-critical activities ... But we foresee that many activities will need to be paused as we cannot deliver principled humanitarian assistance without female aid workers."
The ban on female aid workers was announced by the Islamist Taliban-led administration on Saturday. It follows a ban imposed last week on women attending universities. Girls were stopped from attending high school in March.
"No country can afford to exclude half of its population from contributing to society," said the statement, which was also signed by the heads of UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the U.N. Development Programme, and the U.N. high commissioners for refugees and human rights.
Separately, 12 countries and the EU jointly called on the Taliban to reverse the ban on female aid workers and allow women and girls to return to school.
The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Britain, the United States and the EU.
The ban on female aid workers "puts at risk millions of Afghans who depend on humanitarian assistance for their survival," the statement said.
Four major global groups, whose humanitarian aid has reached millions of Afghans, said on Sunday that they were suspending operations because they were unable to run their programs without female staff.
The U.N. statement said the ban on female aid workers "comes at a time when more than 28 million people in Afghanistan ... require assistance to survive as the country grapples with the risk of famine conditions, economic decline, entrenched poverty and a brutal winter."
The U.N. agencies and aid groups - which included World Vision International, CARE International, Save the Children U.S., Mercy Corps and InterAction - pledged to "remain resolute in our commitment to deliver independent, principled, lifesaving assistance to all the women, men and children who need it."
The Taliban seized power in August last year. They largely banned education of girls when last in power two decades ago but had said their policies had changed. The Taliban-led administration has not been recognised internationally. (Reuters)
December
U.N. Security Council denounces Taliban bans on women in Afghanistan
Written by Nur Yasmin
The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday called for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan, denouncing a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups.
In a statement agreed by consensus, the 15-member council said the ban on women and girls attending high school and universities in Afghanistan "represents an increasing erosion for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter on Tuesday that the restrictions were "unjustifiable human rights violations and must be revoked." He added: "Actions to exclude and silence women and girls continue to cause immense suffering and major setbacks to the potential of the Afghan people."
The university ban on women was announced as the Security Council in New York met on Afghanistan last week. Girls have been banned from high school since March.
The council said a ban on female humanitarian workers, announced on Saturday, "would have a significant and immediate impact for humanitarian operations in country," including those of the United Nations.
"These restrictions contradict the commitments made by the Taliban to the Afghan people as well as the expectations of the international community," said the Security Council, which also expressed its full support for the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA.
Four major global aid groups, whose humanitarian efforts have reached millions of Afghans, said on Sunday that they were suspending operations because they were unable to run their programmes without female staff.
U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council last week that 97% of Afghans live in poverty, two-thirds of the population need aid to survive, 20 million people face acute hunger and 1.1 million teenage girls were banned from school.
The Islamist Taliban seized power in August last year. They had largely banned education of girls when last in power two decades ago but had said their policies had changed. The Taliban-led administration has not been recognised internationally. (Reuters)
December
Russians flock to Thailand as tourism rebounds from collapse
Written by Nur Yasmin
Thailand is receiving an influx of Russian visitors, with data showing monthly arrivals doubling in November and up nearly seven times than September, far outpacing rises from other countries in the run-up to peak travel season.
One of Asia's most popular travel destinations, Thailand is seeing a much-needed tourism boom, with 1.75 million visitors in November, quadruple the number received for the whole of last year when flights and foreign arrivals were limited by the pandemic.
Thailand removed the last vestige of its tight COVID-19 entry policies in July to revive its collapsed tourism sector and since September, and arrivals from Russia have grown at a faster rate monthly than any other country, including those rising from low bases, according to official data.
Russia was Thailand's seventh-largest tourism market in 2019, before the pandemic, at 1.48 million visitors, but on a monthly basis in November, it was third behind Malaysia and India, with 108,985 arrivals, up from 44,314 in October and 15,900 in September.
By comparison, arrivals from Malaysia fell steadily from September's 332,493 to 258,873 by November and visitors from India grew incrementally each month from 116,386 in September to 145,628 in November.
Russian arrivals in November represented about 60% of the number who visited in the same month in 2019.
"This year we have seen the Russian market return, particularly after the Ukraine conflict," said Stuart Reading, deputy CEO of Laguna Resorts and Hotels.
He said the strengthening of the rouble against the Thai baht had helped, as had his chain's hiring of some Russian-speaking staff.
The rouble has been one of world's best-performing major currencies against the dollar this year.
Russian travellers tend to stay longer than others, Reading added, at seven to 10 nights, while "snowbirds" escaping the harsh winter back home were staying up to three months.
A top destination for Russians is Phuket, where they account for about a quarter of the island's visitors, helped by direct flights to there and Bangkok, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
"We're seeing Russian families renting homes and extending their stays from 16 days to a few months," Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Phuket's Tourist Association advisory chairman.
"In the evening you'll see Russian families strolling in the park along with locals," he said, adding some were staying until March.
Overall arrival numbers could exceed 11.5 million by year-end, according to the TAT, just over a quarter of the record of nearly 40 million in 2019, who spent about 1.91 trillion baht ($55.17 billion). (Reuters)
December
China slams Taiwan's 'cannon fodder' conscription decision
Written by Nur Yasmin
China's government criticised Taiwan on Wednesday for seeking to use the Taiwanese people as "cannon fodder" by extending compulsory military service from four months to one year starting in 2024.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen announced the extension to compulsory military service on Tuesday, citing the rising threat that the island faces from its giant neighbour China.
China considers democratically-governed Taiwan its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Responding to a question on Taiwan's decision to lengthen the period of miltary service, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "struggling for the great task of achieving national reunification is immeasurably significant, dying for Taiwan independence separatist activities is completely worthless".
"We believe Taiwan compatriots are highly principled, they will not be put up as cannon fodder by Taiwan independence separatist forces," Wang told a regular news conference.
China has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims, including almost daily Chinese air force missions near the island over the past three years.
Taiwan's government says only the island's 23 million people can decide their future. (Reuters)
December
Japan PM floats possibility of snap election before defence budget tax hike
Written by Nur Yasmin
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday floated the possibility of calling a snap election before a tax increase aimed at funding the country's defence budget comes into place "sometime after 2024".
The government is set to implement tax increases to cover a shortfall of 1 trillion yen ($7.47 billion) in the defence budget, despite stiff opposition from within the ruling coalition amid Kishida's sagging popularity.
"We will be asking the general public to take on the (tax) burden for an appropriate period of time, starting from sometime after 2024 up to 2027. We'll make a decision on when it starts, and I think there could be an election by then," Kishida said in a late-night television programme aired on Tuesday.
The premier added that he is "not currently thinking about holding an election next year" in an interview held on Wednesday, Kyodo news agency reported.
The next national election is due by 2025, unless Kishida calls for a snap election.
Kishida revealed a new national security plan in mid-December and has pledged to double defence outlay to 2% of Japan's gross domestic product by 2027.
The new defence plan requires an additional 1 trillion yen in funds that Kishida has said will be covered by an increase in taxes.
Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Koichi Hagiuda said on Sunday that it was necessary to dissolve parliament before tax hikes come into place to let the electorate make a judgement on the matter. (Reuters)
December
Taiwan to test arrivals from China for COVID from Jan 1
Written by Nur Yasmin
Taiwan will test arrivals from China for COVID-19 from Jan. 1 in response to a surge in cases there, the government said on Wednesday, joining other countries in stepping up controls on people coming from China.
Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre said all passengers arriving on direct flights from China, as well as by boat at two offshore islands, will have to take PCR tests upon arrival.
The government will conduct virus sequencing for those who arrive from China and test positive to track new variants of the coronavirus, it said in a statement.
The measures, which will run until the end of January, do not include those arriving from Hong Kong or Macau, the centre added.
Those who test positive will be able to isolate at home, it said.
The majority of those affected will be Taiwanese citizens who live and work in China and their Chinese spouses and children, as Beijing banned Chinese tourists from visiting the island in 2019.
Many of those Taiwanese who live in China traditionally return to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls next month.
In an abrupt change of policy, China this month began dismantling the world's strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and extensive testing, putting its battered economy on course for a complete re-opening next year.
The lifting of restrictions, which came after widespread protests against them, means COVID-19 is spreading largely unchecked and likely infecting millions of people a day, according to some international health experts.
After effectively shutting its borders to visitors to control the pandemic and enforcing strict quarantines for all arrivals for almost two years, Taiwan re-opened to the world in October and ended mandatory isolation. (Reuters)
December
Hong Kong scraps most COVID rules, though masks still mandated
Written by Nur Yasmin
Hong Kong will cancel its stringent COVID-19 rules from Thursday, city leader John Lee said, meaning that arrivals will no longer need to do mandatory PCR tests while the city's vaccine pass would also be scrapped.
All measures would be cancelled on Thursday, apart from the wearing of masks which still remains compulsory, Lee told a media briefing on Wednesday.
"The city has reached a relatively high vaccination rate which builds an anti-epidemic barrier," Lee said.
"Hong Kong has a sufficient amount of medicine to fight COVID, and healthcare workers have gained rich experience in facing the pandemic," he added.
Lee said his government is aiming to reopen the borders with mainland China by Jan. 15 and was working with authorities over the border to ensure an orderly re-opening.
He said the authorities have been preparing for the scrapping of all restrictions.
"The time is appropriate for us to do this, having prepared for six months to do this," said Lee. "The whole society is preparing for this. We are doing all this according to our local epidemic situation."
Hong Kong's vaccine pass requirement, which was imposed in February and was a must for people to access most venues in Hong Kong, will end from Thursday. Social distancing rules such as a cap on gatherings of more than 12 people in public will also be scrapped from Thursday.
The city has for nearly three years largely followed China's lead in tackling the novel coronavirus, with both places being the last strongholds in adopting a zero-COVID policy.
The removal of the curbs are likely to result in an increase of travellers to the former British colony who have previously shunned it due to strict restrictions.
In an abrupt change of policy, China this month began dismantling the world's strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and extensive testing. The country will stop requiring inbound travellers to go into quarantine from Jan. 8, authorities said this week.
Restrictions on travel between Hong Kong and the mainland were imposed in early 2020. The reopening was postponed several times due to outbreaks in Hong Kong or the mainland.
International passengers arriving in Hong Kong since mid-month are no longer subject to COVID-related movement controls or barred from certain venues, the government announced in December.
Business groups, diplomats and many residents had slammed Hong Kong's COVID-19 rules, saying they threatened its competitiveness and standing as an international financial centre.
The rules have weighed on Hong Kong's economy since early 2020, speeding up an exodus of businesses, expatriates and local families that have left amid a drive by Beijing to more closely control the former British colony. (Reuters)
December
Fourth Japan minister exits PM Kishida's four-month-old cabinet
Written by Nur Yasmin
Japanese reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, becoming the fourth minister to leave the cabinet appointed by Kishida in August.
Three other ministers have quit in close succession due to scandals, some involving funding and ties with the Unification Church.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's close links with the religious group were revealed after the killing of former premier Shinzo Abe, and have been cited by public opinion poll respondents as a reason behind Kishida's low approval ratings.
"I take my responsibility very seriously as the one who appoints (ministers)," Kishida said to reporters after confirming that Akiba had quit.
"By rising to my political responsibilities, I hope to be fulfilling my duties as prime minister," he said.
Opposition parties have accused Akiba of involvement in election law violations and of ties with the Unification Church, although Akiba has denied any wrongdoing.
"There was not a single thing that I did that breached the law," Akiba said to reporters gathered at the prime minister's office after he submitted his resignation to Kishida.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but I tendered my resignation to the prime minister as I felt I must not hamper the debates in parliament," he added.
Akiba will be replaced by former reconstruction minister Hiromichi Watanabe, Kishida said.
Kishida said Mio Sugita, parliamentary vice-minister for internal affairs, had also submitted her resignation.
In early December, Sugita retracted and apologised for a number of past comments, including calling sexual minorities "unproductive".
Speculation has mounted that Kishida plans to overhaul his cabinet by early next month to boost his sagging popularity, with the Sankei newspaper reporting on Friday that some ruling party members have floated Jan. 10 as a possible date.
Kishida did not rule out a reshuffle but played down the possibility that it could happen within the next week or two.
"I don't mean to say I won't ever consider a cabinet reshuffle, I'm just saying I'm not considering one over the New Year holidays," he said. (Reuters)