ASEAN News

ASEAN – The US State Department has revised its fact sheet on Taiwan once more, reiterating that it does not favor formal independence for the Chinese-claimed, democratically-governed island. To Beijing’s chagrin, the State Department updated the wording on its website for Taiwan last month, eliminating language about not supporting Taiwan independence as well as admitting Beijing’s view that Taiwan is …

Asean – Official results indicated Thursday that South Korea’s governing party achieved a landslide win in local elections for mayors and governors of key cities and provinces, giving newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol a considerable boost. Yoon, an outspoken anti-feminist and political newcomer, won the March presidential election by only 0.7 percent — the smallest margin ever — and now …

ASEAN – Indonesia’s proposal to establish new provinces in the poor eastern area of Papua has not been fully addressed with the local community and is thus unviable, according to the governor. In April, lawmakers declared that parliament will consider adding three provinces to the territory’s existing two. Protests by Papuans in many cities followed the declaration, which they saw …

Japan – According to national broadcaster NHK, the governor of Japan’s Niigata prefecture handily beat his anti-nuclear opponent in an election today, a result that might empower members of the governing party who are seeking to restart the country‘s mainly idled nuclear power reactors. As indicated by exit surveys, Hideyo Hanazumi, who was endorsed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s governing Liberal …

China – Today, Beijing’s streets were bustling as people in two districts were permitted to come back to work, while Shanghai moved closer to removing its two-month-old Covid-19 lockdown, which began on Wednesday, as the number of Covid cases throughout China decreased. While the rest of the world attempts to coexist with the virus, China is the only major country to …

Korea – According to reports in the media, North Korea has eased movement restrictions that had been enforced in its capital city of Pyongyang after the government made its first admission of a Covid-19 breakout some weeks ago. The isolated country claims that the virus issue is now under control. Since the declaration of a state of emergency and the …

Asean – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob met with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and recommended that relations between Malaysia and Japan be raised to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP). During the meeting that took place at the Kantei, which is the office of the Japanese Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri, who was accompanied by a …

Asean – The White House announced on Thursday that K-pop idols BTS would visit the White House next week to discuss hate crimes against Asians and people of Asian descent with US President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, Biden will host the worldwide musical sensation and will “explore Asian inclusion and representation, as well as anti-Asian hate crimes and prejudice, which …

Asean – The 31st Southeast Asian Games came to a close on Monday with a colorful and exuberant closing ceremony at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium. Musical and cultural performances opened the occasion, which was followed by the singing of Vietnam’s national song, Doan Quan Viet-Nam Di (March to the Front). The exciting closing ceremony, which included breathtaking light effects, …

Asean – The development of a mutual understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia is very necessary in order to realize the goal of designating Malay as the official language of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean). Wisma Putra, according to the President of the Dewan Negara, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, played an essential role in determining a …