ASEAN News

North Korea harshly criticised the United States’ choice to give Taiwan a weapons aid package costing up to $345 million on August 4. Congress approved up to $1 billion in weapons for the island as part of the aid package included in the 2023 budget. In response, North Korea charged that the US had turned Taiwan into an “unsinkable advanced …

Indonesia’s Golden Visa policy will waive visas for foreign companies who make a real investment of at least $50 million in the country and individuals whose investment value in government bonds is at least $350,000, according to Tempo. The policy will likely be issued in one or two weeks, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan …

Reaffirming Beijing’s readiness to work with Pakistan, President Xi Jinping highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an exemplary project of high quality. He said China and Pakistan have adhered to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in advancing the project.  Xi highlighted the CPEC has injected new momentum into Pakistan’s economic and social development and …

Aung San Suu Kyi, the former head of Myanmar, has received a partial pardon on five of the 19 crimes she was found guilty of, shortening her sentence by six years. Former president Win Myint’s sentence was reduced by four years thanks to a pardon from the State Administration Council, which is run by the military junta. The amnesty for …

A fire broke out Monday morning at a shophouse in Geylang – a township area located in the central region of Singapore – prompting the evacuation of some 30 people from neighbouring units. Twelve emergency vehicles and about 50 firefighters were deployed to put out the blaze. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted of the incident at 61 …

Authorities in Seoul, South Korea, said on Saturday that a cat at an animal shelter had been found to have a possible case of avian influenza. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, it will take about two or three days to determine whether the infection was highly pathogenic. Two cats at a shelter in central Seoul …

The recent diplomatic activities of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Jakarta for the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meetings and the ASEAN Regional Forum are examined in this article. While Wang tried to allay regional worries about China’s forceful rise and rivalry with the US, ASEAN member nations reacted to his comments with caution and distrust. …

Singapore is known to have some of the toughest anti-drug regulations in the world. The law specifies the death penalty will be imposed on anyone caught trafficking over 15g of heroin or 500g of cannabis. The city-state stresses such rules are necessary to protect society. On Friday, Singaporean national Saridewi Djamani became the first woman in the country to receive …

On July 20, 2023, Indonesia opened the first state-backed cryptocurrency exchange under the Commodities Futures Trading Supervisory Agency’s oversight. This ground-breaking program promotes a secure and ethical trading environment while strengthening the legal framework governing the nation’s thriving cryptocurrency industry. The newly launched cryptocurrency exchange lists authorised cryptocurrency firms, including well-known brands like Binance, Ripple, Ethereum, Tether, and Bitcoin. The …

As the crisis in Myanmar continues, ASEAN countries are approaching the conflict with caution, while the EU remains steadfast in its implementation of hard-hitting sanctions. The complex and delicate nature of the conflict has prompted different responses from regional players, sparking debates about the most effective approach to address the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar.  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations …