Category: SE Asia

China, Philippines seek to share South China Sea

Proposed joint development agreement for contested area's oil and gas underscores diplomatic warming trend but faces legal hurdles and political risks By Richard Javad Heydarian China and the Philippines are now considering a series of resource-sharing agreements in the South China Sea, the latest development in a diplomatic warming trend that has reset the disputed … Continue reading China, Philippines seek to share South China Sea

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Indonesian polls may delay Freeport settlement

US mining giant's planned divestment in world's largest gold and second largest copper mine threatens to become ensnared in election politics By John McBeth If the difficult talks between the Indonesian government and American-owned Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold over the future of Papua’s Grasberg mine drag on beyond mid-year, they might well be postponed … Continue reading Indonesian polls may delay Freeport settlement

Indonesia needs China to get back on track

Presidential advisor Luhut Panjaitan tells Asia Times his nation needs more, not less, Chinese investment despite rising criticism of becoming a client state By John McBeth Intent on getting the US$5.9 billion fast-rail project back on track, Indonesia is now considering eventually extending the China-funded Jakarta-Bandung line as far as Jogjakarta in central Java, hundreds … Continue reading Indonesia needs China to get back on track

India takes fight to China via SE Asia

Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India's newly announced 'Delhi Declaration' puts maritime security at the forefront of relations By Richard Javad Heydarian In what has been described as “the most significant exposition of its ‘Act East’ policy,” India invited Southeast Asian heads of state as its chief guests during its recent 69th Republic Day … Continue reading India takes fight to China via SE Asia

A man, a plan, a canal…Thailand?

Ex-top brass appeal to new King Vajiralongkorn to bless building the long-envisioned Kra canal; China is keen to start digging General Saiyud Kerdphol, the military engineer of Thailand’s winning Cold War-era anticommunism campaign, believes now is the time to build the Kra canal – a long-envisioned channel through the country’s southern isthmus that would connect … Continue reading A man, a plan, a canal…Thailand?