2018/51, 7 May 2018
ASEAN continues to face criticism from outside the region for being “soft” on the South China Sea issue. ASEAN official statements, including the Chairman’s Statement of the recently concluded 32nd ASEAN Summit have been singled out as “subdued,” “watered down” and “failing to rise to the occasion.” However, once the hyperbole and media soundbites were separated from the substantive discourse, ASEAN’s deft handling of this sensitive issue becomes evident.
2018/50, 3 May 2018
At the 32nd ASEAN Summit in April 2018, Singapore introduced the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) as one of the key deliverables. The ASCN is aimed at being prepared for the security and socio-economic implications arising from changing centres of urban populations. As this is a regional initiative to be sustained and continued region-wide beyond Singapore’s chairmanship term, the ASCN’s launch and initial activities this year will be important in entrenching the network’s continuity. The ASCN concept note highlights that the network’s primary goal is to “improve the lives of ASEAN citizens, using technology as an enabler.”
The ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement at the end of 32nd ASEAN Summit emphasized the importance of connectivity. It reiterated the governments’ commitment towards a Seamless ASEAN Sky to help airlines operate within ASEAN in an integrated fashion. The governments also promised to harmonize safety standards and increase air traffic management capacity.
At the 32nd ASEAN Summit on 27-28 April 2018 in Singapore, the ASEAN leaders issued their Vision for a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN “as an articulation of ASEAN’s strategic position and intent in the context of a shifting geopolitical and economic landscape.”
2018/47, 26 April 2018
On 26 April, Boracay Island, the Philippines’ most popular destination for local and foreign tourists, was closed down for six months upon the verbal request of President Duterte. In 2017, more than 2 million tourists visited Boracay.
The seventh plenum of the twelfth Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is scheduled to convene in May 2018. The plenum is expected to make major personnel decisions that will generate important implications for Vietnam’s political prospects, especially the thirteenth congress of the CPV to be held in 2021.
2018/44, 25 April 2018
On 23 April, BN (National Front coalition) revealed its candidates for the state of Kelantan for GE 14. This northern Malaysian state has 14 parliament seats and 45 state legislative assembly seats. Since 1990, BN has been the opposition to PAS (Islamic Party of Malaysia) in the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly (SLA). Analysts argue that GE 14 will be BN’s best chance to recapture the state after PAS’ internal split (which led to the formation of Amanah, National Trust Party). In 2015, PAS also lost its spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was Kelantan Chief Minister between 1990 and 2013. The possibility of three-cornered fights between BN, PAS and PH (Alliance of Hope) would not be helpful to PAS’ cause to retain control of the state as PH will gain some of PAS’ supporters.
“New wave of Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea?” by Le Hong Hiep
2018/52, 7 May 2018
On 2 May 2018, U.S. news network CNBC reported that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the Spratlys, namely Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. The report substantiates the concern among regional observers that China may soon start a new round of escalation in the South China Sea after a relatively calm period.