{"id":4563,"date":"2018-07-12T15:00:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T05:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/?p=4563"},"modified":"2018-07-12T10:29:15","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T00:29:15","slug":"regional-wrap-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/regional-wrap-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Regional wrap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Power politics, trade wars and a humanitarian rescue mission dominated headlines in the Asia Pacific region over the course of the last fortnight. The most important geopolitical development, quite obviously, was US Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2018\/07\/11\/politics\/pompeo-north-korea-intl\/index.html\">Mike Pompeo\u2019s meetings with North Korean officials<\/a> to finalise the terms of the supposed denuclearisation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/world\/trump-has-confidence-north-korea-will-honor-denuclearisation-contract\">\u2018contract\u2019<\/a> that the DPRK has signed with the United States. Unsurprisingly, the outcome of the talks was deemed to be unsatisfactory and Pyongyang registered its disappointment about Washington\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/international\/396418-north-korea-state-media-release-photos-of-kim-at-potato-farm-after\">\u2018gangster-like\u2019<\/a> tactics vis-\u00e0-vis the next steps. Quite clearly, both countries have different understandings of what was agreed upon during last month\u2019s summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore and as analysts had predicted, the deadlock over North Korea\u2019s nuclear program remains. Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/north-korea\/north-korea-has-increased-nuclear-production-secret-sites-say-u-n887926\">new reports suggest<\/a> that North Korea has accelerated nuclear testing at secret sites.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, some pundits <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/india-news\/amid-efforts-to-boost-india-us-relations-an-uptick-in-frictions\/story-8mUfAWozbz3MbnglkVCmuJ.html\">regretted<\/a> the US decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/us-postpones-22-dialogue-with-india\/articleshow\/64770170.cms\">postpone the \u20182+2\u2019<\/a> defence and foreign ministerial dialogue with India to accommodate a meeting with North Korean officials. Prioritising a friendly and important power like India over a pariah regime like North Korea\u2019s should have been an obvious choice for Washington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/india-news\/amid-efforts-to-boost-india-us-relations-an-uptick-in-frictions\/story-8mUfAWozbz3MbnglkVCmuJ.html\">according to them<\/a>. Interestingly, even as the \u20182+2\u2019 meeting was postponed, the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley visited India and held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and lobbied for New Delhi to <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/business\/india-business\/us-firm-india-may-cut-energy-imports-from-iran\/articleshow\/64782981.cms\">cut down on its oil imports from Iran<\/a>. There are signs that India is already complying with this US demand as Iranian oil imports <a href=\"https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/industry\/energy\/oil-gas\/after-sanctions-indias-iranian-oil-imports-in-june-fall-16-in-june\/articleshow\/64941857.cms\">have fallen by almost 16% since June<\/a>. Tehran has already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/chabahar-port-iran-slams-india-for-not-making-promised-investments-in-chabahar-port-1881219\">warned New Delhi of repercussions<\/a> if the trend continues.<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing trade war between the US and China has escalated further with the latest reports suggesting that Trump has upped the stakes by announcing <a href=\"http:\/\/fortune.com\/2018\/07\/11\/trump-china-trade-war-200b\/\">tariffs on $200 billion<\/a> worth of Chinese goods. Interestingly, Beijing has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theaustralian.com.au\/national-affairs\/foreign-affairs\/beijing-calls-for-canberras-help-to-counter-us-on-trade\/news-story\/a4195e015f95ffb913d4e62143d23b59\">renewed its call<\/a> to Canberra to sign up to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to tackle Trump\u2019s vicious attacks over trade, through a speech made by the Chinese ambassador at the One Belt One Road in Australia conference in Darwin. In response, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Frances Adamson reiterated the Australian position and apprehension about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theaustralian.com.au\/national-affairs\/foreign-affairs\/beijing-calls-for-canberras-help-to-counter-us-on-trade\/news-story\/a4195e015f95ffb913d4e62143d23b59\">\u2018transparency, rules and governance arrangements\u2019<\/a> of the mega initiative.<\/p>\n<p>In a stunning development that most did not see coming, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-07-03\/najib-razak-arrested-by-police\/9936612\">arrested and slapped with corruption charges<\/a> to which he has pleaded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/news\/asia\/najib-razak-charges-1mdb-malaysia-former-prime-minister-10497776\">not guilty<\/a>. If proven true, they could mean life imprisonment for the disgraced leader. Disconcertingly, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter have also been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/07\/10\/opinion\/pakistans-nawaz-sharif-elections-military-battle.html\">sentenced for ten years imprisonment<\/a> on corruption charges, two weeks before the general elections in a country historically ravaged by bloody civilian-military contests for leadership and troubling democratic credentials. Recently, Pakistan <a href=\"https:\/\/tribune.com.pk\/story\/1754807\/1-border-posts-upgraded-fatf-rules\/\">\u00a0also accepted being grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force<\/a> (FATF) for its support to terrorist groups operating in the subcontinent and has reportedly put <a href=\"https:\/\/tribune.com.pk\/story\/1743452\/2-pakistan-enacts-ambitious-reforms-comply-fatf\/\">ambitious plans in place to comply<\/a> with the ruling.<\/p>\n<p>South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited India this week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/india\/narendra-modi-and-moon-jae-in-hold-talks-india-south-korea-agree-to-expand-economic-strategic-cooperation-4705731.html\">\u2018to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties\u2019<\/a>. The two countries have signed 11 memorandums of understanding to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation, including plans to upgrade a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Seoul has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/india\/narendra-modi-and-moon-jae-in-hold-talks-india-south-korea-agree-to-expand-economic-strategic-cooperation-4705731.html\">championed<\/a> New Delhi\u2019s bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers\u2019 Group.<\/p>\n<p>The biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercises (RIMPAC), hosted by the US Pacific Fleet and featuring 25 countries, including Australia <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/07\/10\/here-some-some-of-the-highlights-so-far-from-rimpac-2018\/\">began this fortnight<\/a> and will end on the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> of August. China is conspicuous in its absence post its exclusion from the exercise by the US because of Beijing\u2019s latest acts of militarising the South China Sea. Meanwhile, it is reported that China has been quietly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/07\/10\/here-some-some-of-the-highlights-so-far-from-rimpac-2018\/\">conducting electronic warfare tests<\/a> in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s intimidation of international airlines continues and the latest airline to toe Beijing\u2019s diktat is Air India, which has changed the way it refers to the Republic of China from \u2018Taiwan\u2019 to \u2018Chinese Taipei\u2019. Some analysts were quick to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/india-news\/air-india-s-decision-consistent-with-international-norms-india-s-position-on-taiwan-mea\/story-x6jr4PV2zX5ded0S9WPdGO.html\">draw a connection<\/a> between this decision and India\u2019s recent strategic reorientation or \u2018reset\u2019 vis-\u00e0-vis the People\u2019s Republic. However, the Indian MEA\u2019s maintains that the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/taiwan-protests-air-india-move-to-change-name-to-chinese-taipei-5247790\/\">move is consistent<\/a> with official Indian position on One China. In response, Taiwan <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/taiwan-protests-air-india-move-to-change-name-to-chinese-taipei-5247790\/\">lodged its protest against Air India\u2019s decision<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Closer home, reports of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.9news.com.au\/national\/2018\/07\/06\/16\/46\/anu-hacked-china-security-threat\">massive hacking<\/a> of the Australian National University\u2019s (ANU) computer systems by China-based hackers have caused great worry in the national capital. Members of the strategic community are concerned about the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.9news.com.au\/national\/2018\/07\/06\/16\/46\/anu-hacked-china-security-threat\"> possible loss of ANU\u2019s intellectual property<\/a> relating to cutting-edge research into defence applications.<\/p>\n<p>Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has urged the parliament <a href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/exit-paris-climate-agreement-tony-abbott-99319\">to exit the Paris agreement on climate change<\/a> and withdraw from its emissions reductions target, in a stinging attack on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull\u2019s National Energy Guarantee. Ironically, it was Abbott who had <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-07-04\/tony-abbott-says-pull-out-of-paris-climate-agreement\/9937972\">agreed to the agreement<\/a> as the Australian prime minister in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Australia joined 12 other countries to cooperate on a difficult rescue operation in Thailand to save a young soccer team and its coach who were stuck in a treacherous cave for over two weeks. After a remarkable effort, all the persons were rescued alive. However, the mission was marred by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-07-11\/thai-cave-rescue-navy-seal-remembered\/9978638\">death of a Thai navy SEAL<\/a> tasked with delivering oxygen cylinders.<\/p>\n<h3>Significance for Australia<\/h3>\n<p>As alluded to in the previous edition of the Regional Wrap, Australia has been circumspect about any real chances of success coming out of the talks between the US and North Korea. The recent breakdown in the negotiations is hardly surprising for anyone, including Canberra. Australia would just be hoping that this wouldn\u2019t lead to another round of verbal bellicose exchanges between Washington and Pyongyang as they\u2019re both led by temperamental and unpredictable leaders.<\/p>\n<p>A downturn in US-India ties and prospects of sanctions on India either due to Iranian oil or Russian defence purchases would be worrisome to Australia. These two nations are the lynchpins of Australia\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategic reorientation and Canberra has a vested interest in ensuring the preservation of amicable ties between Washington and New Delhi.<\/p>\n<p>Canberra is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-07-11\/donald-trump-us-china-trade-war\/9971560\">being warned to brace<\/a> for the effects of the 1930s style trade wars between Washington and Beijing, which has the potential to hit the Australian economy hard. Economists are pessimistic about any reversal of tariff trends and predict that higher tariffs and barriers to trade may become the norm, which would be detrimental to Australian interests of a free global economy.<\/p>\n<p>The latest round of hacking reports of ANU\u2019s computer systems by China-based persons adds to the debate on Beijing\u2019s interference in Australian politics and drives home the magnitude of the threat that Australia faces in the cyber realm. Needless to say, this poses a national security threat to Australia and is causing sleepless nights Down Under.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, Australian participation in the Thai cave rescue mission is being <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-07-11\/thai-cave-rescue-australia-foreign-aid\/9981412\">hailed as an example<\/a> of what Australian aid can achieve in terms of elevating the country\u2019s soft power and outreach and demonstrates Canberra\u2019s commitment to the region.<\/p>\n<div class=\"label author\">AUTHOR<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio\"><strong>Aakriti Bachhawat<\/strong>\u00a0is a Research Assistant at the Griffith Asia Institute.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Power politics, trade wars and a humanitarian rescue mission dominated headlines in the Asia Pacific region over the course of the last fortnight. The most important geopolitical development, quite obviously, was US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo\u2019s meetings with North Korean officials to finalise the terms of the supposed denuclearisation \u2018contract\u2019 that the DPRK has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":4032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[233],"tags":[716],"class_list":["post-4563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature-series","tag-aakriti-bachhawat"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Jill Moriarty","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Regional wrap | Griffith Asia Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Power politics, trade wars and a humanitarian rescue mission dominated headlines in the Asia Pacific region over the course of the last fortnight. 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