US influence in South-east Asia is likely to wane

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House

Significance Trump had said his attendance was certain, but now he appears less sure. This is raising fresh questions about his administration’s policy towards South-east Asia, a region which received more attention under his predecessor, Barack Obama. Impacts Less US influence in ASEAN could benefit China, though ASEAN states will still seek US involvement to hedge against Beijing. US policy towards South-east Asia will be driven more by Congress than the White House. The White House is unlikely to prioritise good governance or human rights over trade initiatives.

Trump targets South-east Asia-US policy continuity

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Vice President ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
East Asia Summit ◽  
Trump Administration

Subject Emerging US policy towards South-east Asia under the Trump administration. Significance On May 5, the 30th US-ASEAN Dialogue opens in Washington, to be co-chaired by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. This follows Vice-President Mike Pence’s visit to Indonesia of April 20-22, the first to South-east Asia by a cabinet-level official from the Trump administration. The White House used that occasion to announce that President Donald Trump will attend the APEC meeting in Vietnam and the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines in November. Impacts Trump may co-chair a US-ASEAN Summit with Philippines president on the EAS’s margins, which could improve frayed bilateral ties. Congress could frustrate any Trump administration plans to sanction countries with trade surpluses with the United States. An ASEAN-US free trade agreement is unlikely soon. Trump has invited Vietnam’s prime minister to visit Washington later, which could make Hanoi more bullish towards China.

ASEAN-US summit will irk Beijing

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Way

Subject The forthcoming ASEAN-US summit. Significance On February 15-16, US President Barack Obama will host the first ASEAN-US Summit to be held outside South-east Asia and also the first to be conducted with a partner from outside the region. ASEAN's 2016 chair Laos will co-chair the meeting, to be held in California. Impacts The summit is unlikely to warm Thai-US relations significantly. US encouragement to resolve Rohingya issues will put pressure on Myanmar's incoming government domestically and internationally. The summit may pave the way for specific ASEAN-US trade initiatives.

White House may ease Myanmar sanctions in May

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
International Crime ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Hillary Clinton ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
Clinton Presidency ◽  
Legislative Measures

Subject Outlook for US sanctions on Myanmar. Significance In mid-May, President Barack Obama is expected to announce his decision on whether to renew the administration's sanctions on Myanmar under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Impacts Obama may defer major changes in sanctions policy for an assumed Hillary Clinton presidency, bolstering her political capital. Republicans could use any sanctions decision by Obama as justification to delay other legislative measures. The SDN list will probably be retained to help tackle human rights abuses, drug trafficking and other international crime in Myanmar. Myanmar's new government may lobby Washington to maintain US sanctions for now.

Western tech firms will expand in South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Cloud Services ◽  
Infrastructure Investment ◽  
The Internet ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Us South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Infrastructure

Significance Although several countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, also have laws which restrict the internet -- and affect foreign tech companies through data localisation and other requirements -- Western companies are inclined to downplay this aspect of the region’s tech sector. Impacts The new US infrastructure plan, which has USD65bn earmarked for digital infrastructure investment, may dampen US tech investment overseas. A potential US-South-east Asia digital trade agreement would not prioritise human rights. US and Chinese firms will compete for cloud services contracts in the region.

Malaysia-Vietnam TPP deal is likely by year-end

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
Political Dynamics ◽  
Trade Unionism

Subject Outlook for the Trans-Pacific Partnership in South-east Asia. Significance Chief negotiators for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal will meet July 24 to 27 while trade ministers convene July 28 to 31. US President Barack Obama's administration hopes to submit the final TPP agreement to Congress before end-2015. However, domestic and foreign political dynamics could slow that schedule. The White House will push for congressional approval and a formal TPP launch before Obama leaves office in January 2017, with the deal including South-east Asian members Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Impacts Malaysia's services and Vietnam's apparel/textiles sectors would gain under the TPP. Hanoi's TPP entry would strain its relationship with Beijing. The TPP could bolster Vietnamese factory-level trade unionism. Kuala Lumpur will need to manage domestic disaffection over the TPP carefully. Brunei and Singapore are unlikely to find difficulty ratifying the TPP.

Islamic State threat to Indonesia is changing

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
The Government ◽  
State Group

Subject Islamic State threat in Indonesia. Significance The attack against a police post and a Starbucks on Thamrin Road in Jakarta on January 14 has resulted in tighter counterterrorism measures, including arrests of suspects and a crackdown against media outlets promoting Islamic State group (ISG). More controversially, the government is considering harsher counterterrorism laws. Impacts The ISG threat in South-east Asia exists independently of a future wave of returning fighters. Greater powers for security forces will be unpopular as these agencies have previously been accused of human rights abuses. Security agencies are likely to be under-resourced.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Parts of South-east Asia may adopt nuclear post-2030

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Renewable Energy Development

Significance It is the only country in South-east Asia with a large-scale nuclear plant, although this was never loaded with fuel. Other countries in the region have tentative plans to develop nuclear power programmes. Impacts The current absence of nuclear power programmes will help avert the diversion of capital from renewable energy development in the region. South-east Asian countries with small, non-power reactors, built for research, will try to maintain these facilities. Across the region, the need for electricity grid investment will increase as more decentralised generation sources are deployed.

scholarly journals Human Rights in Southeast Asia

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Werner F Menski
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
And Migration

Many challenges exist regarding the discourse over human rights in South East Asia due to the complex relationship between the region’s myriad cultures, laws, religions and political desires. This socio-political environment produces a number of varying, and often contradictory, interpretations of human rights, as well as differing opinions on how they should be implemented. On one hand, some countries in Southeast Asia have internalized international human rights instruments by amending their constitutions in order to provide a semblance of protection for their citizen’s human rights. On the other hand, some countries still operate under authoritarian regimes and continue to violate certain internationally recognized rights for the sake of preserving political stability and economic development. Proponents of such regimes often claim that this is done to maintain both societal and religious harmony. Therefore, the effort to address human rights issues in Southeast Asia must expand beyond the international legal sphere and take into account the intricate relationships and power struggles between the region’s various economic interests, social and cultural norms, and religions. Furthermore, the successful implementation of human rights law in Southeast Asia will require a number of obligations and checks be imposed on the state governments in the region. The specific means by which to promote human rights in South East Asia, and how to reconcile diverging options on the definition and scope of said rights, was the theme of the 2nd Annual Conference of the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration (CHRM2) and Indonesian Consortium for Human Rights Lecturers (SEPAHAM Indonesia), held in August, 2017, at the University of Jember. This article is a summary of the major points and topics covered during the two day conference.

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