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June
APEC senior officials press bold trade agenda before ministers meeting
Written by Nur Yasmin
Senior officials from 21 APEC members deliberated on an array of proposals for bold and concrete trade initiatives on vaccines and related goods and services, structural reforms, digital innovation, as well as inclusion and sustainability.
The discussion on a range of agendas is a part of the preparations for the New Zealand-hosted 2021 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting on Saturday (June 5), according to a release issued by the APEC Secretariat and received here on Friday.
"There was a clear and strong sense among senior officials that APEC should be responsive to the crisis and find practical ways to support recovery through trade and that our work should complement and support the work of the World Trade Organization," the 2021 New Zealand Chair of APEC Senior Officials Vangelis Vitalis emphasized.
Senior officials are encouraged by the strong progress made this year to implement the 2020 Ministers’ Responsible for Trade Declaration on Facilitating the Movement of Essential Goods, including work on vaccines, related goods, and services and pushed for high-level commitment ahead of the Ministers’ meeting on Saturday.
According to a recent APEC report, eliminating tariffs on vaccines and related goods and easing export restrictions will help expedite vaccine distribution and production, thereby resulting in wider availability and affordability and contribute to a healthier recovery.
At the two-day meeting, Chair of APEC Business Advisory Council, Rachel Taulelei, briefed senior officials by reiterating the need to ensure open and unrestricted trade in vaccines and associated goods and services "as there is no solution to this crisis unless as many as possible are vaccinated."
Taulelei affirmed that widespread vaccination was a prerequisite for the safe reopening of borders, which is critical to economic recovery.
Furthermore, APEC senior officials concurred on continuing consultations on the resumption of safe and seamless cross-border travel, noting that border restrictions, while necessary to protect populations from COVID-19, are having a significant economic impact.
"Member economies are united in supporting the region’s micro, small, and medium enterprises; women; and others, with untapped potential, given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on these groups," Vitalis remarked.
"APEC is also progressing work on trade and sustainability issues, including the indigenous economy – a New Zealand priority," he stated.
APEC member economies continue to consider further work on the environmental goods and services initiative, as well as carrying on the work for building APEC’s capacity to address harmful subsidies, such as those on fisheries, as part of implementing the APEC Roadmap on Combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
A New Zealand priority is to increase emphasis on inclusion and sustainability policies to help drive recovery, including through structural reform, in particular, by stimulating growth and removing undue burden on investors and traders.
The 2021 APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to be held virtually on June 16, with priority being accorded to promoting macro-economic and structural policy responses to the pandemic.
APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade is set to meet this Saturday (June 5), with focus on trade’s vital role in battling the pandemic and preparing for and driving recovery. (Antaranews)
June
EU to impose new sanctions on Myanmar junta, companies -top envoy
Written by Nur Yasmin
The European Union will impose a new round of sanctions on Myanmar's military junta and its economic interests in the coming days, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told Reuters on Thursday.
In an interview in Jakarta after meetings with Southeast Asian diplomats, Borrell said the fresh sanctions from the EU would be the third batch introduced since the military ousted Myanmar's democratically-elected government on Feb. 1.
"There is a third row of sanctions in preparation that will be approved (in) the coming days (targeting) personnel of the military junta and also the entity that represents the economic interests of the military," he said.
Since the coup, EU sanctions have frozen assets or applied travel bans on 21 military and civilian members of Myanmar's junta. European citizens and companies are also forbidden from making funds available to those sanctioned.
The bloc's last round of sanctions in April targeted military-owned conglomerates Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), barring EU investors and banks from doing business with them.
The EU sanctions, along with those of other Western powers, have yet to persuade the junta to cede to their demands to restore democracy, release political detainees or begin dialogue with members of the ousted government, many of whom are imprisoned.
The coup plunged Myanmar into crisis after 10 years of tentative steps toward democracy. Mass demonstrations have met with a deadly crackdown by security forces and the economy has collapsed. A refugee crisis is growing and some of Myanmar's many ethnic armed groups are taking up arms against the junta.
While in Jakarta, Borrell met with envoys from countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday. The headquarters of ASEAN, which includes Myanmar as one of its 10 members, is based in the Indonesian capital.
Borrell said he told the Myanmar representative to ASEAN: to "end repression and go back to normal political behaviour through free and fair elections".
He said he wanted ASEAN to continue to lead the global diplomatic effort to restore stability and democracy to Myanmar, even though the group has been criticised by human rights groups, opponents of the junta and experts for being too slow and too meek in responding to the coup.
"They are doing the best possible job," said Borrell.
As first reported by Reuters, two senior ASEAN officials are heading to Myanmar this week to meet with the junta, the first visit by the bloc's representatives since the coup was launched.
ASEAN has also said it opposed a non-binding United Nations resolution for an arms embargo on Myanmar. The EU already has a freeze on the sale and transfer of weapons to the country.
A further 14 high-ranking Myanmar military officials were sanctioned by the EU for serious human rights abuses against the Rohingya minority after some 700,000 of the Muslim ethnic group were violently expelled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar by security forces in 2017. (Reuters)
June
APEC trade ministers' meeting to prioritize vaccines, essential goods
Written by Nur Yasmin
The upcoming APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting on June 5 will focus on trade's vital role in enabling access to vaccines and essential goods and ensuring that the global trading system flows smoothly.
New Zealand's Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor will chair the Virtual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting, according to a release issued by the APEC Secretariat and received here on Thursday.
"The Asia-Pacific is confronted by the greatest health and economic crisis of our lifetimes and unprecedented uncertainty, as economies continue to struggle to bounce back from COVID-19," Minister O’Connor remarked.
The minister noted that these problems demand APEC’s cooperative response.
"We know nobody is safe until everybody is safe from COVID-19, and we know that trade has a vital role to ensure our region prospers economically by keeping our markets open to one another rather than closing ourselves off," O'Connor noted.
"Responsibility falls on New Zealand, as this year’s host economy to lead an APEC 2021 agenda that responds to these challenges as well as our responsibility for ensuring sustainable recovery," he affirmed.
"I will be urging APEC trade ministers to accelerate access to vaccines and other goods essential in fighting the pandemic by streamlining and speeding up related trade procedures," he emphasized.
The APEC Ministers Responsible Trade meeting will focus on two key priorities: trade’s role in responding to COVID-19 and supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) that offers predictable trade rules for business.
Minister O’Connor drew attention to the worrisome trends of vaccine protectionism and increasingly restricted supply chains affecting the flow of goods and services across the world.
The latest report by the APEC Policy Support Unit showed that while the average tariff on vaccines is very low within APEC, at only 0.8 percent, levies are much steeper for several goods that are crucial in the vaccine supply chain.
Hence, New Zealand will be seeking cooperation of member economies on ways to eliminate barriers to trade in essential goods and services that are important to sustainable recovery.
Ministers will hold discussions on ways to revivify the WTO to offer consistent and transparent trade rules as well as on what contribution the trade policy can make to respond to environmental issues, such as climate change and overfishing.
A day before the meeting, APEC trade ministers will also join business leaders to tackle major trade challenges at such a critical time.
"The choices we make right now matter. I hope we can look back at this time and know that the APEC trade ministers took the opportunity to join, work, and grow together to provide vital support for our region’s recovery and to lay the foundations for a better future," Minister O’Connor stated. (Antaranews)
June
Myanmar diplomacy intensifies, EU threatens more sanctions
Written by Nur Yasmin
Diplomacy intensified with Myanmar's junta on Thursday as the head of the International Red Cross met with army ruler Min Aung Hlaing and two Southeast Asian envoys arrived for talks on ending the turmoil since the Feb. 1 coup.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, meanwhile, told Reuters the bloc planned to impose a new round of sanctions on the ruling generals and their economic interests in the coming days.
Myanmar has sunk into chaos since the coup overthrew elected leader Aung Suu Kyi. At least 845 people have been killed by security forces and more than 4,500 jailed, according to an activist group. Anti-junta protests flare daily, ethnic conflicts have resurged and the economy is paralysed by strikes.
ICRC President Peter Maurer was the most senior representative of an international organisation to travel to the capital Naypyidaw to meet Min Aung Hlaing, whose critics say he should be denied international recognition.
"People in Myanmar are in need of urgent assistance and protection," Maurer said, according to an ICRC statement.
He had brought up "the use of force during security operations" and had made the case for better humanitarian access to conflict areas and for the resumption of Red Cross prison visits. Suu Kyi, 75, is herself being tried on various charges.
Reuters was unable to reach the junta's spokesman for comment.
The junta chief was "noncommittal" but he had not refused Maurer's request, the Nikkei news service said, citing people familiar with the meeting.
The junta has said its measures are restrained against those it brands a threat to state security. It says the death toll is lower than those given by rights groups and the United Nations.
REGIONAL ENVOYS
The main international diplomatic effort has been led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
But there has been little sign of progress since the 10 member countries, Myanmar among them, said at the end of April they had reached a 'consensus' to try to end the crisis - which included political talks and putting a stop to bloodshed.
Killings have continued and instead of talking to a rival underground government, the junta has branded it a terrorist group.
Two ASEAN envoys had arrived and were expected to meet Min Aung Hlaing on Friday, the local Delta News Agency reported.
The envoys are Erywan Yusof, the second minister for foreign affairs for Brunei, ASEAN's chair this year, and the bloc's secretary-general Lim Jock Hoi, also from Brunei.
The United Nations, Western countries and China have all backed ASEAN's mediating role, but some Western powers have also imposed increasing sanctions to target the junta members and their economic interests.
"There is a third row of sanctions in preparation that will be approved (in) the coming days," European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told Reuters on Thursday during a visit to Jakarta.
Neither sanctions nor diplomacy nor the increasing violence have had an obvious impact on the junta, which argues that the coup which ended 10 years of tentative democratic reforms will bring a "disciplined democracy".
The army took power after the former electoral commission rejected its accusations of fraud in a November election swept by Suu Kyi's party.
Around 400 pro-democracy supporters took to the streets of downtown Yangon on Thursday to stage one of the biggest recent demonstrations against military rule in Myanmar's commercial hub and largest city.
"We gathered at the protest today in order to show that we won't allow them to rule us," Zayar Lwin, an activist and former political prisoner who attended the rally, told Reuters. (Reuters)
June
Taiwan says in vaccine talks with Pfizer and J&J
Written by Nur Yasmin
Taiwan is in talks with COVID-19 vaccine makers like Pfizer (PFE.N) and Johnson and Johnson (JNJ.N) for more supplies, its foreign minister said on Thursday while expressing appreciation to Japan for considering donating much needed shots.
Taiwan has been a model for how to control the pandemic, but a recent spike in domestic infections has increased the need to inoculate people faster. read more
During a video call with international media in Japan, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu repeated complaints that China, which claims the island as its own territory, has hampered efforts to secure more vaccines, and kept Taiwan excluded from the World Health Organisation.
So far, Taiwan has received only the Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) and AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) vaccines. But Wu said his government was "negotiating with individual companies like Pfizer" and J&J, while expressing confidence in its domestic vaccine rollout.
"When and if our own vaccines are rolled out toward the end of July, I think this will become the most important supply for the vaccine demand here in Taiwan," Wu said.
Johnson & Johnson was not immediately available for comment.
Responding to Reuters request for comment, Pfizer said: "As Taiwan is outside the scope of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine collaboration agreement with BioNTech, we will have to refer you to BioNTech for any questions on this matter."
BioNTech did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Wu did confirm, however, that the German government has helped with talks underway between Taiwan and BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), after a deal fell through earlier this year. read more
Taiwan had blamed China for blocking that deal. Beijing, which has offered to supply Chinese-made vaccines as well as BioNTech shots via the German firm's Chinese partner Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd (600196.SS), has denied that accusation.
Wu also cited Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as saying that Japan is "seriously and positively" considering donating vaccines to Taiwan. "Taiwan and Japan are always very good partners. And in times of difficulties, we always try to reach out to each other," Wu said.
Japan plans to donate about 1.2 million AstraZeneca vaccines to Taiwan, public broadcaster NHK reported.
About 3% of Taiwan's 23.5 million people have been inoculated, and the government has been scrambling to ensure the millions of vaccines it has ordered arrive on time amid global shortages. (Reuters)
June
Rohingya Muslim refugees 'injured in protests' on isolated island during UNHCR visit
Written by Nur Yasmin
Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar, angry at living conditions on a remote Bangladeshi island, suffered baton injuries as they protested against the lack of access to a visiting U.N. team, two of the refugees said.
The Rohingya, who fled violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, cannot move off the flood-prone island of Bhasan Char, several hours away from the mainland by sea.
A two-member delegation from the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) was joined by Bangladesh foreign ministry officials on Monday on the visit to Bhasan Char, where Bangladesh wants to transfer 100,000 of the more than a million refugees who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar.
Two refugees told Reuters by phone that they protested because Bangladesh had blocked them from speaking to the UNHCR delegates.
"They only allowed the delegates to meet a few refugees who would not say anything critical against Bangladesh," said Ali, who declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals from authorities.
"We wanted to speak to the U.N. officials to tell them about the real situation here," he added. "We don't have work ... how will we earn? And there is also no proper healthcare here."
They said hundreds of refugees protested and were baton-charged by police.
Despite criticism from rights groups, Bangladesh has already moved some 18,000 Rohingya to the island.
The UNHCR said it "had the opportunity to talk to a large group of refugees, predominantly young men", adding they had raised concerns about a lack of access to jobs and education. It said in a statement it was "deeply concerned" to learn of injuries.
Bangladesh's foreign ministry said a large number of Rohingya gathered and launched a demonstration during the UNHCR visit.
"At one point, the crowd got agitated and in the process some of the Rohingya reportedly got minor injuries," it said in a statement. It said the crowd had "free and frank interactions" with the U.N. officials.
Myanmar is facing genocide charges at the international court of justice in The Hague over the 2017 campaign against the Rohingya. The military denies the charges, saying it was waging a legitimate campaign against insurgents who attacked police posts. (Reuters)
June
International Red Cross head meets Myanmar junta leader
Written by Nur YasminThe head of the International Committee of the Red Cross met Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday and made the case for better aid access and prison visits as well as raising the use of force during security operations, the ICRC said.
"This visit aimed to share ICRC's concerns on the current humanitarian situation and reinforce ongoing efforts to ensure space for neutral and impartial humanitarian action," Peter Maurer said in a statement. (Reuters)
June
UN Gaza relief chief called in by bosses after comments over Israeli air strikes
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Gaza director of the U.N. agency that deals with Palestinian refugees has been called in for a consultation with his bosses in Jerusalem after angering Palestinians with comments they said favored Israel during last month's fighting.
Protests have erupted in the territory over the comments by UNRWA Gaza chief Matthias Schmale in an interview with Israel's N12 television on May 22, in which he said he did not dispute Israel's assertion that its airstrikes were "precise".
Eleven days of conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on May 10. More than 250 Palestinians were killed in hundreds of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. More than 4,000 rockets, many intercepted, fired by Gaza militants killed 13 people in Israel.
Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules the enclave has ridiculed him as "a spokesman for the Israeli military".
Schmale, based in Gaza, has apologized for his remarks in which he was commenting on the ferocity of the airstrikes and said: "... precision was there but there was an unacceptable and unbearable loss of life on the civilian side".
Sami Mshasha, UNRWA's spokesman in Jerusalem, said on Wednesday Schmale and his deputy had been "called in for consultation and discussion at the Jerusalem headquarters over the latest developments in Gaza".
Another official told Reuters that Deputy Commissioner-General Leni Stenseth would temporarily lead the Gaza team.
UNRWA provides education, health, and relief services to around 5.7 million Palestinian registered refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
"In the coming few weeks, UNRWA will review the emergency response mechanism in Gaza to determine lessons and conclusions to improve UNRWA's response and performance during times of crisis and emergency," Mshasha said in a statement.
In a statement on May 25, Schmale said in apology: "There is no justification whatsoever for killing civilians." He said: "Military precision and sophistication are never a justification for war."
Israel's foreign ministry has said its forces acted "in accordance with international law, in defending our citizens from Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket fire". (Reuters)
June
Iran nuclear deal talks set to break for a week, diplomats say
Written by Nur Yasmin
Talks aimed at reviving Iran's nuclear pact with global powers were expected on Wednesday to adjourn for a week, diplomats said, with the remaining parties to the deal due to meet in the evening to sign off on the move.
The adjournment to Thursday, June 10, would leave only eight days to reach an agreement before Iran's presidential election, which is likely to usher in a hardline president. Delegates say that while a deal is possible by then that timeline appears increasingly unlikely.
Formal meetings of the remaining parties - Iran, Russia, China, France, Britain, Germany, and the European Union - in a format known as the Joint Commission have punctuated and bookended indirect talks between Iran and the United States on both countries returning to full compliance with the 2015 deal.
The EU chairs Joint Commission meetings in the basement of a luxury hotel and leads shuttle diplomacy between Iranian envoys and a U.S. delegation based in another luxury hotel across the road. Iran refuses to hold direct talks with Washington.
"A meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action will take place in Vienna today, Wednesday 02 June 2021," the European Union said in a statement, referring to the Iran nuclear deal by its official name.
The statement gave no time. One delegate said the meeting would be in the early evening and another said 7:30 p.m. (1730 GMT). As the day wore, on, however, other diplomats said the time was slipping.
"The meeting of the Joint Commission of #JCPOA is postponed until late evening," the head of Russia's delegation, Mikhail Ulyanov, who is also ambassador to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, wrote on Twitter. He did not give a time.
Two diplomats said the talks, which are in their fifth round and began in April, were expected to adjourn for a week, resuming on Thursday, June 10.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator said the barriers to the revival of the deal are complicated but not insurmountable.
"Differences have reached a point where everyone believes these differences are not insolvable," Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state TV ahead of the meeting.
"But the details are important and Iran's firm positions are important to be observed."
Iran's government spokesman on Tuesday denied that negotiations had stalled with the Islamic Republic's June 18 presidential election less than three weeks away.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors holds a quarterly meeting next week, with a number of the delegates at the nuclear talks due to take part. (Reuters)
June
Philippines Duterte urges vaccine uptake after missing targets
Written by Nur Yasmin
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the public on Wednesday to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after data showed the government was far behind its immunization targets as it battles one of Asia's worst and longest-running outbreaks.
"I invite all our countrymen to be vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity because this is the most, if not the only way, effective way, to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic," Duterte said in a televised address.
"Let us all keep in mind that the vaccine will not only protect you from the virus, it will also protect your loved ones, especially the sick and elderly."
John Wong, a data analyst on the government's coronavirus task force, said that in the three months since early inoculations started, just 14% of senior citizens and 8% of people with health conditions had received first doses of a vaccine, short of the 21% target.
Wong attributed the slow rollout to limited vaccine supplies, vaccine hesitancy, and accessibility problems.
"Some people want the vaccine but cannot access it. We need to address access issues," Wong said.
And Wong said only half of the 2.1 million people eligible for a second dose had come back to receive it.
"We need to follow up on this," he added.
The Philippines has logged 1.24 million cases and 21,158 deaths since its first domestic infection in March last year.
The over 50s were the worst hit, accounting for more than 81% of deaths, Wong said.
Carlito Galvez, the former general in charge of vaccine procurement, expects a steadier flow of vaccine supply from this month onwards.
The Philippines is set to receive nearly 10 million doses of vaccines of various brands in June, which would allow for 1.5 million shots to be administered weekly, he told ANC news channel.
In the seven days to May 30, an average of 144,402 doses were administered daily, health ministry data showed. (Reuters)