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International News (6891)
July
World Bank trims East Asia, Pacific GDP forecast amid COVID-19 concerns
Written by Nur Yasmin
Growth in East Asia and the Pacific this year will likely be slower than previously thought, the World Bank said on Thursday, as many countries in the region grapple with spikes in COVID-19 cases, new variants, and vaccine supply constraints. (Reuters)
July
Minister: Malaysia to stop using Sinovac vaccine after supply ends
Written by Nur Yasmin
Malaysia's health ministry on Thursday said the country will stop administering the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac once its supplies end, as it has a sufficient number of other vaccines for its program. (Reuters)
July
Afghan neighbours wary of new refugee crisis as violence surges
Written by Nur Yasmin
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meets regional leaders for talks in Uzbekistan on Thursday as deteriorating security in his country raises fears of a new Afghan refugee crisis with neighboring Pakistan already ruling out taking any more. (Reuters)
July
U.S. rejects China maritime claims, calls for ASEAN action on Myanmar
Written by Nur Yasmin
The United States rejects China's "unlawful" maritime claims in the South China Sea and stands with Southeast Asian countries facing Chinese "coercion", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.
China rejected Blinken's comments, which he made in an address in a video conference with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), as irresponsible and aimed at provoking discord.
Blinken also said the United States had "deep concerns" about the situation in Myanmar and urged the group to take action to end violence and restore democracy there.
The meeting with the 10-member bloc, which includes Myanmar, is the first since the Biden administration took office in January and comes amid concerns among diplomats and others that Washington has not been paying sufficient attention to a region that is crucial to its strategy to counter an increasingly assertive China.
ASEAN has been leading the main diplomatic effort on Myanmar since a Feb. 1 coup plunged it into turmoil.
Myanmar's junta has shown little sign of heeding what ASEAN called a five-point consensus, reached in April, which seeks an end to violence, political talks and the nomination of a regional special envoy to Myanmar.
Blinken urged ASEAN to take "immediate action" on the consensus and appoint the envoy, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
Blinken asked for the release of all those "unjustly detained" in Myanmar and the restoration of its democratic transition, Price said.
On the disputed South China Sea, Blinken emphasised the U.S. rejection of China's "unlawful maritime claims" and said the United States "stands with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of coercion", Price said.
China said the comments were aimed at derailing regional peace and stability.
"It is extremely irresponsible of the U.S. to deliberately provoke controversy over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, sow discord among China and ASEAN countries," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a briefing in Beijing.
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China claims vast swathes of the South China Sea via its unilaterally declared, U-shaped, "nine-dash line" which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines, all ASEAN members.
Trillions of dollars in trade flow every year through the waterway, which also contains rich fishing grounds and gas fields.
In addition to the South China Sea, the Mekong River has become a new front in U.S.-China rivalry, with Beijing overtaking Washington in both spending and influence over downstream countries at the mercy of its control of the river's waters.
Price said Blinken "pledged continued U.S. support for a free and open Mekong region under the Mekong-U.S. Partnership".
Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he hoped Wednesday's meeting signalled a "refreshed commitment" to U.S. multilateral cooperation.
"We understand that multilateralism was not a key focus for the previous administration, but the Biden administration's embrace of multilateral cooperation is a welcome development," Hishammuddin said, according to a copy of his delivered remarks.
"This path is the only way forward to ensure stability, peace, prosperity and security for our region." (Reuters)
July
Singapore sees most COVID-19 cases in 10 months after karaoke cluster
Written by Nur Yasmin
Singapore reported its highest number of local coronavirus cases in 10 months on Wednesday, after the discovery of a cluster among hostesses and customers of KTV karaoke lounges.
Of the 56 new community infections, 41 were linked to the KTV outbreak, the health ministry said.
The ministry earlier this week said it was investigating infections among Vietnamese hostesses who frequented KTV lounges or clubs and was offering free COVID-19 testing to anyone potentially exposed.
The first known case was a Vietnamese woman who sought medical help on Sunday, local media reported.
Singapore has yet to reopen KTV lounges and clubs and authorities said the places where the virus spread were operating as food and beverage outlets.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said police would take action against violators.
"Any outlets providing hostess services, dice games and all this very close contact, were never allowed," he told local media, according to CNA.
"So for this to now happen has been troubling (and) disappointing."
Ong said there was no plan to reverse recently loosened restrictions because of the cluster, citing progress in vaccinations.
Among those infected was also a cruise passenger hospitalised on Wednesday. Nearly 3,000 passengers and crew were confined to their cruise cabins, awaiting for COVID-19 tests. read more
Singapore has dealt swiftly with most of its coronavirus outbreaks and imposed targeted restrictions in May aimed at slowing the spread of the Delta variant.
It is aiming to complete the vaccination of two-third of its population by Aug. 9. (Reuters)
July
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries call for end to violence in Afghanistan
Written by Nur Yasmin
The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday called for an end to violence in Afghanistan against civilians and the authorities and urged the Afghan government to strengthen its position for the sake of stability.
Senior Afghan leaders are expected to meet the Taliban for talks in Doha this week.
In a statement, the SCO foreign ministers called for a purely peaceful settlement. (Reuters)
July
Vietnam says Pfizer to provide 20 mln vaccine doses, consider tech transfer
Written by Nur Yasmin
Vietnam's health ministry said on Wednesday that U.S. vaccine maker Pfizer (PFE.N) would provide an additional 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech (22UAy.DE), to administer to 12-18 year olds.
Vietnam has procured a total of 31 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses. The additional supply would bring the number of doses to 47 million set to be delivered by the fourth quarter of the year, the health ministry said in a statement.
Vietnam is also working with Pfizer on the possibility of a vaccine technology transfer or placing a Pfizer plant in the country to manufacture vaccine, the statement said.
After successfully containing the disease for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has faced a more stubborn outbreak since late April, with a surge in daily infections to record levels adding to pressure on the government to accelerate inoculations.
The country said it would offer Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine as a second dose option for people inoculated with a first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZN.L) vaccine 8-12 weeks before. read more
Vietnam's mass inoculation campaign is in its early stages, with fewer than 300,000 people fully vaccinated so far. It has so far used AstraZeneca's viral vector vaccine and last week took delivery of 97,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA shot. (Reuters)
July
NZ's Ardern says special APEC meeting to focus on economic impact of pandemic
Written by Nur Yasmin
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday that a special meeting of leaders of the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC this week will discuss the global economic impact of COVID-19 and no major announcement is expected.
APEC host New Zealand said earlier this week it will chair the informal meeting of APEC leaders ahead of a formal gathering in November, the first time such an additional meeting has been held. read more
Ardern has said U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the two-hour virtual meeting, to be held on Friday.
She could not confirm if Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.
"It is extraordinary that we have brought this meeting together outside of the APEC leaders retreat, but that's because of the circumstances," Ardern said in Wellington.
"Here we literally want to bring leaders together to discuss economic impacts and the latest from the World Health Organization," she said.
In a meeting last month, APEC trade ministers agreed to review trade barriers and expedite the cross-border transit of COVID-19 vaccines and related goods, but stopped short of a broad commitment to remove tariffs. read more
Ardern said the agreement has made a difference in the flow of vaccine consumables. (Reuters)
July
U.S. says will continue to hold Hong Kong authorities accountable
Written by Nur Yasmin
The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday the United States would continue to hold Hong Kong authorities accountable for the erosion of rule of law in the territory.
State Department spokesman Ned Price told a regular news briefing risks to the rule of law that were formerly limited to mainland China are now increasingly a concern for Hong Kong.
"We know that a healthy business community relies on the rule of law, which the national security law that applies to Hong Kong continues to undermine," he said.
Price was responding to a question about a strengthened State Department warning to businesses issued on Tuesday about growing risks of having supply chain and investment links to China's Xinjiang region. It cited alleged forced labor and human rights abuses there. read more
Price was asked if a similar warning might be issued over Hong Kong. A source told Reuters earlier the Biden administration could announce a similar business advisory on Hong Kong as soon as Friday, based on deteriorating conditions there.
The Treasury Department, meanwhile, declined to comment on a Financial Times report that Washington would impose more sanctions this week in response to China's crack-downs in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. read more
Price said the United States would continue to impose "costs and sanctions" on Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses, including forced labor, but made no specific mention of any new measures.
"When it comes to Hong Kong, we don't have anything to announce at this time, regarding future policy moves," Price said, while adding: "We will continue to call international attention to and hold PRC and Hong Kong authorities accountable for the erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong."
The PRC is the acronym for China's official name, the People's Republic of China. (Reuters)
July
Biden's Vietnam ambassador nominee vows to press Hanoi on rights, trade
Written by Nur Yasmin
President Joe Biden's nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to Vietnam vowed at his Senate nomination hearing on Tuesday to boost security ties with Hanoi while seeking equitable market access and pressing Hanoi to respect human rights.
Marc Knapper, a career diplomat currently serving as deputy assistant secretary for Japan and Korea, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the relationship between Washington and its former Vietnam War foe had undergone a "profound transformation" since normalization of ties in 1995.
"Our two countries have moved from a history of conflict to a comprehensive partnership that spans political, security, economic, and people-to-people ties," he said, while adding that the relationship was not without its challenges.
"We have serious, serious concerns," Knapper said. "Only when we see significant progress on human rights can our partnership reach its fullest potential."
Knapper highlighted Hanoi's restrictions on internet freedoms and referred to a "troubling trend of harassment, arbitrary or unlawful arrests, unjust convictions, and harsh sentences of journalists and activists."
He said he would "press" Hanoi "to respect the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and religion or belief."
Knapper, a linguist who speaks Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese, said bilateral trade with Vietnam had grown from nearly nothing in 1995 to more than $90 billion in 2020, but said there were challenges as well.
He said he would "advocate for a level playing field for U.S. companies and investors, including by urging Vietnam to maintain equitable market access for U.S. digital services and agricultural products."
Knapper, the son of a Vietnam War veteran, vowed to strengthen security ties, saying Hanoi and Washington both believed there was "no greater challenge" than that posed by China, including in the South China Sea, where Vietnam and China have rival claims.
"Right now, we have what we call a comprehensive partnership; we hope to raise it to a strategic partnership, and I will take steps to do that by strengthening even further our security relationships with Vietnam," he said. (Reuters)