Asean morning news for May 21

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

South China Sea: World War 3 fears as US destroyer Preble sail near Spratly Islands
The move is likely to anger Beijing at a time of tense ties between the world’s two biggest economies.
— Spratly Islands

South China Sea: Beijing urges an end to ‘provocative actions’ as US warship sails near disputed waters
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it “strongly urges the US to stop such provocative actions” after Washington said one of its warships sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, claimed by China, in the South China Sea.
— South China Morning Post

India, Singapore Begin SIMBEX 2019 Naval Exercises in South China Sea
The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy began a major bilateral naval exercise on Sunday in the South China Sea.
— The Diplomat

Southeast Asia Struggles with Trash Rejected by China
Southeast Asian nations are facing increased dumping of waste from industrialized nations, with Malaysia and the Philippines threatening to send back trash to countries of origin.
— Radio Free Asia

ASEAN countries equilibrate between China and the U.S.
In the aftermath of Trump’s dramatic escalation of the dispute between China and the United States, with the president increasing tariffs on imports on Beijing and moving to blacklist Huawei, the foreign minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, urged Washington to exercise restraint in its approach and permit China to “assume its rightful place as it develops.”
— CGTN

ASEAN’s megacities in danger
As megacities emerge across the globe, the ones in Asia remain among the fastest growing and cheapest places to build.
— The Asean Post

Interview: China’s Mekong Dam-building Mindset ‘Exported Downstream’ to Cambodia and Laos
The Mekong River extends for thousands of miles through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, supporting more than 65 million people who depend on it for food, transportation, and commerce.
— Radio Free Asia

ASEAN’s mobile internet not good enough
Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is not only inevitable but is already upon us.
— The Asean Post

ASEAN: Next Generation Episode 1
10 countries, 640 million people, a combined economy the size of India’s. ASEAN is preparing for the next generation. In episode one of this four part series Bloomberg’s Haslinda Amin explores the financial and digital revolution driving connectivity, integration and inclusion.
— Bloomberg

Highlighting Asia’s global startup leadership at annual conference Ignite 2019
With over 70 world-class speakers from 14 countries – including China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Germany, Sweden, and USA – and over 2,000 expected attendees, the third staging of Ignite Premier Innovation Conference will be the largest to date.
— BusinessWorld Online

K 2019: Southeast Asia economy report
The Asian region is buckling down on major trends and issues to a future ‘perfect’ economic growth, which will lead to a ripple effect in the on plastics industry, according to research.
— British Plastics and Rubber

Private equity investment in SE Asia booming but warning signs flicker
Southeast Asia private equity investment in technology and internet sectors is burgeoning but weaker exits is casting a shadow over the market, according to Bain & Company’s latest research.
— The Asset (paywall)

ASEAN Risk Monitor and Disaster Management Review (ARMOR): Bridging Science and Decision Making (1st Edition)
The ASEAN Risk Monitor and Disaster Management Review (ARMOR) is important for several reasons.
— Reliefweb

How good was InfoComm Southeast Asia 2019?
Now that the dust has settled and InfoComm Southeast Asia is over, we run the rule over proceedings.
— InAVate

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Cambodian People Commemorate the National Day of Remembrance
Cambodian people across the nation today mark the National Day of Remembrance with religious ceremonies to wish for peace for the soul of victims who died during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

Cambodia joins the 5G race despite concerns over cost and viability
The buzz around 5G mobile technology is building in Cambodia as major carriers plan to try out services this year and a state-owned telco teams up with China’s Huawei to roll out a network in 2020.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Cambodia re-enacts Khmer Rouge killings – in pictures
Cambodian actors have re-enacted atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge on the country’s National Day of Remembrance – known informally as the “Day of Anger”.
— BBC

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

President Jokowi re-elected with 55.5 per cent of votes: Elections commission
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has, as expected, defeated his old rival Prabowo Subianto at the polls again – this time by more than double the votes he had garnered at their last presidential race in 2014.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Global slowdown still shadows Indonesia’s 2020 state budget
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said Indonesia is to still face a tough external economic challenge in 2020 because of an adverse geopolitical situation that was particularly triggered by a trade war between the United States and China.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s election watchdog throws out petitions claiming election fraud
Indonesia’s election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) has rejected – on grounds of weak evidence – complaints filed by supporters of presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto that last month’s election was plagued by cheating, saying that the petitioners only submitted online news links.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Lao gov sits on dam collapse report waiting on Seoul’s approval on what to say
Almost one year after a tsunami-like wall of water swept away homes, villages, people, cattle and agriculture fields in Champassak and Attapeu provinces of Lao PDR the government has reportedly been handed a report into the tragedy which lays the blame firmly at the feet of the project builders.
— AEC News Today

Don’t use cryptocurrencies, central bank warns
The Bank of the Lao PDR has warned commercial banks, businesses and members of the public not to buy, sell or use cryptocurrency for money transactions as this practice is illegal.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

NGOs launch new campaign against Penang reclamation project
The proposed Southern Reclamation Scheme (SRS) will not just disrupt the hydrology of Penang’s seabed but also that of northern Perak, where there are 6,000 inshore fishermen.
— The Sun Daily

NFCorp: Our new buyer will repay outstanding loan to Putrajaya
The National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd’s (NFCorp) new buyer is ready to fully repay the company’s outstanding loan to the federal government, company chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail said today.
— Malay Mail

ESSCom thwarts attempt to smuggle in RM455,000 worth of cigarettes
The Eastern Sabah Security Command seized 84,500 packs of contraband cigarettes worth about RM455,000 from five multi purpose vehicles at the Sapi Nangoh Road Check Point (RCP) yesterday.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Terrified Central Bank Attempts to Arrest Myanmar’s Bitcoin Binge
An emerging economy which expects to attract $5.8 billion worth of Foreign Direct Investments is belittling its goals with an anti-technology stance.
— CCN

China’s CNPC breaks into Myanmar fuel retailing with Singapore brand
China National Petroleum Corp is planning to open dozens of petrol stations in Myanmar, the first major foreign investor to enter the fast-growing Southeast Asian fuel market, as the state giant expands its retail oil business, company officials said.
— Reuters

Foreign bank subsidiaries allowed to provide retail services
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) will allow foreign banks to open branches in the country to help local businesses gain access to financing, deputy governor U Soe Thein said during a press conference on May 17.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

BoP swung to a surplus of $4.27b in four months
The country’s balance of payments posted a surplus of $467 million in April, a reversal of the $270-million deficit recorded a year ago, buoyed by remittances, foreign direct investments and income from the investments of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas abroad.
— Manilastandard.net

Comelec reports 74.89% voters’ turnout in ’19 midterm elections
Technical glitches and election-related violence (ERV) failed to dampen the enthusiasm of over 46.3 million voters to participate in the 2019 midterm elections last week.
— Business Mirror

POGOs without valid work permits for foreign workers to be shut down — DoF
FINANCE SECRETARY Carlos G. Dominguez said that he will pursue the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) companies employing foreign nationals without work permits, after learning that 12,000 foreigners are currently in the country without the proper authorization.
— BusinessWorld Online

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Secondary school dropout becomes first ITE graduate to be accepted by NUS medical school
Twenty three year old Nicholas Chan has become the first Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduate to be accepted into the competitive medical programme at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. A secondary school dropout, Nicholas had to take an …
— The Independent

Singaporeans must learn to work alongside robots
AS a leading digital hub, Singapore has embraced faster than most the idea that automation increases efficiency, results in fewer mistakes and a more optimised workforce, and helps the country achieve its Smart Nation goals. Despite this, there is still some resistance among those whose jobs could …
— The Business Times

S’poreans arriving in Britain can use e-gates at 15 airports
Singaporeans visiting Britain are now eligible to use automated ePassport gates (e-gates) at 15 airports across the country.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Key parties still coy on coalition
The Bhumjaithai Party has decided to hold talks with other parties which remain undecided over which camp to back in forming a coalition government while insisting the party is not attempting to set up a third alliance.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to ban three kinds of plastic by end of this year
By the end of 2019 Thailand will be free from three types of plastic – microbeads, cap seals and oxo-degradable plastics.
— The Thaiger

Chinese customs office detains 3,000 containers of durian
The Thailand World News reported that export of Thai durian to China has encountered an obstacle. Traders loudly complain about the situation.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam, EU Eye Trade Alternative to US
Vietnam and Europe could be swapping more pomelo fruit and Portuguese cheese soon if a new trade deal comes into effect, linking two regions that have been looking for an alternative to the trade tensions brought on by the United States.
— VOA

Vietnam’s Abivin lifts Startup World Cup 2019, takes home US$1M prize money
The Hanoi-based startup has built an AI-powered logistics optimisation platform that helps companies save on logistics costs, automate process, and enable supply chain visibility Abivin, a Vietnamese startup that has built an AI-powered logistics optimisation platform to help companies save on …
— e27

Moderate credit growth positive for Vietnam’s economy
Despite credit growth among Vietnamese credit institutions remaining low this year, experts are not concerned about the slowdown, saying it was a good sign for the economy.
— VietnamPlus

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.