According to a former U.S. economic envoy to China, It’s time for the United States to balance the influence in the region as China is emerging as a bigger threat to its relationship with the South East Asian countries. Economist David Dollar studied the China’s Belt and Road initiative as this maybe the main tool used by Beijing to spread influence …

HANOI – VIETNAM has rejected China’s “unilateral decision” to ban fishing in disputed areas of the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement posted on the government’s website. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development rejected China’s decision claiming it is under Vietnam’s sea territory and directed provinces and cities to encourage fishermen …

Laos in partnership with China has submitted plans to to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to build yet another new hydropower dam on the Mekong River. Construction is expected to start later this year, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said on Monday. The Sanakham dam hydropower plant, with an estimated cost of US$2.073 billion, will be developed by Datang Sanakham …

SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA – Chinese biotech firm BGI group launched its own molecular and diagnostic laboratory in San Fernando, Pampanga to help boost the country’s Covid-19 testing capacity. According to the Chinese Embassy, the new laboratory aims to provide additional 3,000 more testings to help Philippines to increase its detection capacity of the virus. BGI’s Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory, …

The Health Minister’s proposal is aimed at gradually restoring economic and social ties. The proposal was provisionally approved by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a meeting on foreign policy on May 7, according to Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). “The prime minister and agreed Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,” said Dr Taweesin. “However, …

KUALA LUMPUR – Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to safeguard its interest and rights in the South China Sea, amid disputes, between Chinese and Malaysian vessels standoff. “Malaysia remains firm in its commitment to safeguard its interests and rights on the South China Sea.” The Foreign minister calls for resolving the disputes through an amicable and …

The Thai Trade Centre (TTC) in Hong Kong said the price of Thai jasmine rice in the city has risen after people began hoarding supplies, while the import of Thai rice to Hong Kong rose by 2 to 3 tonnes in the first quarter of the year. Chanunpat Pisanapipong, executive director of TTC in Hong Kong, said the pandemic and …

Thai social media users mocked China for authoritarian rule and likened President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh. A comparison that is also banned in China. “Thailand is poor, but China is Pooh,” read one viral tweet. Social media anger from Chinese communists over a Thai internet model’s comments on the virus from Wuhan has set off a storm. Uniting …

PETALING JAYA – Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah as been named among the “top doctors” in the world by a Chinese TV station for his straight-forward approach in handling the Covid-19 crisis. China Global TV Network (CGTN) commended Dr Noor Hisham alongside with US Infectious Disease Expert Dr Anthony Fauci and New Zealand’s Director-general of Health Ashley Bloomfield …

Facing an increasing number of coronavirus cases, the Indonesian governmet has expedited efforts to ready emergency hospitals and quarantine centers by constructing new buildings or reassigning existing ones, including former refugee camps and athlete hostels, against a worse-case scenario of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission. As of April 3, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous nation …