Singapore disputes US human trafficking report (Straits Times, 30 July 2017)
Singapore disputes US human trafficking report (Straits Times, 30 July 2017) Singapore has taken issue with an annual report by the US State Department for depicting an inaccurate and less positive picture of the human trafficking situation here. An inter-agency task force co-chaired by the Home Affairs and Manpower ministries said there were 17 sex…
Read MoreUS, allies prepared to use ‘overwhelming force’ in North Korea, general says (Fox News, 30 July 2017)
US, allies prepared to use ‘overwhelming force’ in North Korea, general says (Fox News, 30 July 2017) The statement from Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, came after the militaries of the U.S., South Korea and Japan spent 10 hours conducting bomber-jet drills over the Korean Peninsula. The training mission was a…
Read MoreThe ASEAN Economic Community: A work in progress (Manila Times, 29 July 2017)
The ASEAN Economic Community: A work in progress (Manila Times, 29 July 2017) According to the AEC Blueprint 2015, the aim is “to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy.” The ASEAN Economic…
Read MoreAt 50, ASEAN is a neighbourhood, not yet community (Jakarta Post, 29 July 2017)
At 50, ASEAN is a neighbourhood, not yet community (Jakarta Post, 29 July 2017) South-east Asian countries today are far more integrated than they have ever been in the modern history of the region, but ASEAN has some way to go before it can call itself a real community. The 10 member countries grouped in…
Read MoreXi Jinping personally behind island-building in the South China Sea (South China Morning Post, 28 July 2017)
Xi Jinping personally behind island-building in the South China Sea (South China Morning Post, 28 July 2017) An editorial in Study Times – put out by the Central Party School, the Communist Party’s top academy – was the latest to lavish praise on Xi for his tough stance on territorial issues with the country’s Asian neighbours. “[President…
Read MorePermanent Court of Arbitration to set up office in Singapore (PCA, 25 July 2017)
Permanent Court of Arbitration to set up office in Singapore (PCA, 25 July 2017) The Singapore Ministry of Law and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) announced today that the PCA will set up a staffed office in Singapore to administer PCA hearings held in Singapore and Asia. The Singapore office will be the PCA’s…
Read MoreAustralia’s offshore refugee processing causes ‘extensive suffering’ and must end, says UN agency chief (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Australia’s offshore refugee processing causes ‘extensive suffering’ and must end, says UN agency chief (UN News, 24 July 2017) Four years on, Australia’s offshore processing has left some 2,000 people languishing in unacceptable circumstances – causing physical and psychological harm, according to the United Nations refugee agency, which has called for an immediate end to…
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name? South China Sea Claimants Seek to Remove ‘China’ (Voice of America, 24 July 2017)
What’s in a Name? South China Sea Claimants Seek to Remove ‘China’ (Voice of America, 24 July 2017) Some nations have renamed parts of the South China Sea to strengthen their claims over the disputed waterway. But how much effect do such changes have on territorial disagreements? Indonesia is the latest country to take such…
Read MoreBack from visit to Myanmar, independent UN rights expert says situation ‘worsening’ (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Back from visit to Myanmar, independent UN rights expert says situation ‘worsening’ (UN News, 24 July 2017) In a statement from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee accused national authorities of “presiding over a worsening security and human rights situation” in the country. Ms. Lee said she catalogued…
Read MoreHuman rights defenders in Viet Nam should ‘never be treated as criminals,’ says UN rights office (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Human rights defenders in Viet Nam should ‘never be treated as criminals,’ says UN rights office (UN News, 24 July 2017) Noting that well-known activist Tran Thi Nga was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment and five years’ house arrest for so-called “anti-State propaganda” for comments posted online, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the Office of the…
Read MoreChina, EU seek to strengthen WTO trade remedy, notification disciplines (WTO News, 14 July 2017)
China, EU seek to strengthen WTO trade remedy, notification disciplines (WTO News, 14 July 2017) China has put forward a new proposal aimed at strengthening WTO disciplines on transparency and due process in anti-dumping and countervailing proceedings, while the European Union has offered a new initiative on improving the reporting of subsidy programmes to the…
Read MoreMalaysia requests an interpretation of the Judgment of 23 May 2008 in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) (ICJ Press Release, 30 June 2017)
Malaysia requests an interpretation of the Judgment of 23 May 2008 in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) (ICJ Press Release, 30 June 2017) Malaysia has filed an Application requesting interpretation of the Judgment delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 23 May 2008…
Read More