South Asia Archives - Page 5 of 86 - Investigative Journalism Reportika

South Korea, Japan ‘ready to stop North Korea hiding behind Russia’

Editor1 month ago05 mins

Leaders of South Korea and Japan said they would maintain their readiness to stop North Korea hiding behind Russia in its provocative acts, Kim Tae-hyo, South Korea’s deputy national security adviser, said on Friday. Kim was speaking after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met for talks in Seoul that included ways to deepen cooperation, even as Kishida prepares to step down at the end of the month. Kishida arrived for a two-day visit and talks with Yoon, their 12th summit in about two years. It was their last summit, as Kishida will not seek reelection as prime minister and leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party after three years in the job. During the summit, Kishida called for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through a “unification doctrine” that Yoon announced last month, which focuses on expanding North Koreans’ access to external information and proposes establishing an official dialogue channel between the two Koreas to discuss various issues. Yoon, in his opening remarks at Friday’s summit, said it was important to maintain the positive momentum in relations with Japan. He added that the two countries have a chance to raise their relations to another level when they mark next year’s 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and that working with Kishida on improving relations was the most meaningful development since he became president. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a meeting at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 6, 2024. (Lee Jin-man/Pool via Reuters) Relations between the two U.S. allies have been fraught for years because of South Korea resentment of Japan’s behavior during its occupation of Korea before and during World War II. But Yoon and Kishida have been able to build a close relationship as a result of Yoon’s decision last year to resolve a long-standing dispute regarding Japan’s wartime mobilization of Koreans for forced labor by compensating victims without contributions from Japanese firms. The two leaders have since resumed a “shuttle diplomacy” of holding meetings on the fringes of international conferences and visiting each other as needed. Their restored relations have also substantially enhanced trilateral security cooperation with the United States, as all three of the allies warily watch North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and the missiles to carry them. RELATED STORIES Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo reaffirm Korean Peninsula denuclearization commitment Tokyo, Seoul target North Korea-Russia arms deal with sanctions Yoon, Kishida aim for better ties; island issues may constrain South Korea has been trying to bolster cooperation with regional partners in response to deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia. On Wednesday, Yoon met New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. They condemned North Korea’s nuclear weapons development and its military cooperation with Russia, including the North’s export of ballistic missiles to Russia in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Yoon and Luxon denounced Russia’s war against Ukraine, while pledging to support Ukrainian sovereignty and its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, according to a joint statement. Edited by Mike Firn.

Experts: North Korea’s Chinese-made soccer uniforms might violate sanctions

Editor1 month ago05 mins

Read a version of this story in Korean. North Korea’s national soccer team will kick off the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, but their Chinese-made uniforms might be part of a sanctions violation, experts told Radio Free Asia. Chinese sportswear maker Inlang Sports posted on social media last week that the North Korean team would be wearing uniforms bearing Inlang’s logo for the first time in Thursday’s match vs Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The company in January held a ceremony to announce that they had agreed to sponsor North Korean men’s and women’s soccer, and supply uniforms, but this arrangement could be in violation of sanctions intended to deprive Pyongyang of cash and resources that could be used in its nuclear and missile programs. “Money transfers and joint ventures would likely be a sanctions violation,” Aaron Arnold, a Senior Associate Fellow at the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute’s Centre for Finance and Security, told RFA Korean. “You could also feasibly argue that the uniforms are prohibited under the luxury goods ban, but that could be a stretch.” UN Security Council Resolution 2270 defines sports equipment as “luxury goods,” but Alastair Morgan, the former ambassador of the United Kingdom to North Korea, explained to RFA how the uniforms might not count. A friendly football match between the national teams of North Korea and Jordan. (Jordan Football Association) “The PRC … might argue that a sponsorship arrangement does not necessarily involve the supply of goods though it might do so, and/or that items of clothing are not ‘recreational sporting equipment,’” he said, using an acronym for the People’s Republic of China. “Depending on the nature of the financial transactions involved, and whether the DPRK recipient was a designated entity, there might conceivably be other violations.” Inlang’s sponsorship of the team also could mean that the North Korean uniforms could be sold to the outside world. Inlang did not respond to RFA queries regarding possible sanctions violations. This is not the first time that North Korean soccer has caused sanctions concerns. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifier match between South Korea and North Korea held in Pyongyang in 2019, the South Korean national team instructed its players not to exchange uniforms after the match due to the possibility of violating sanctions against North Korea. Should the North Korean team qualify for the World Cup, it would be Inlang’s debut at the tournament. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, 13 teams wore Nike kits, seven went with Adidas, and 6 wore Puma. Six different makers outfitted the remaining six teams. Nike is also the current sponsor of the Chinese national team. In 2010, the last time North Korea qualified for the World Cup, the team wore uniforms made by Italian firm Legea. Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong.

North Korea may have executed officials over flood damage: spy agency

Editor1 month ago06 mins

North Korea is suspected of executing a number of officials held responsible for devastating floods this year and South Korea’s spy agency said it was “monitoring signs” to try to determine what had happened. The agency’s announcement came a day after a South Korean broadcaster reported that up to 30 officials in flood-hit regions of North Korea had been shot to death. Heavy rains in July flooded large areas along the Amnok River in North Korea’s North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces with some South Korean media outlets reporting that more than 1,000 people were killed or were missing. At that time, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that he would punish officials for the damage, which a South Korean government ministry said appeared to be an attempt by Kim’s to dodge blame for the disaster. Since then, Kang Pong Hun, the chief secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee of the North’s ruling party, and other senior officials, including Public Security Minister Ri Thae Sop, were dismissed from their posts over the flood damage, according to North Korea’s state-media. The South’s National Intelligence Service, or NIS, said Kang was possibly among the executed officials. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a flood-affected area near the border with China, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in this undated photo released July 31, 2024 by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters) NIS’s announcement came a day after South Korea’s TV Chosun cited an unidentified South Korean government source as saying North Korean officials deemed responsible for the flood disaster had likely been executed. “We understand late last month, 20 to 30 officials in the affected region were shot to death, including Kang Pong Hun” TV Chosun quoted the official as saying. Since the disaster, the North’s state media have featured Kim leading flood relief efforts, emphasizing his concern for the victims, but it has given no details of casualties. South Korea said that there was a high possibility of casualties given that North Korea was reporting the rescue effort in such detail. A resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told Radio Free Asia Korean, on condition of anonymity for security reasons, that residents affected by the flood were forced to watch propaganda videos that portrayed Kim as a hero and were told they must avoid showing even a hint of sadness on their faces. Another resident told RFA Korean that soldiers mobilized to rebuild flood-hit towns were stealing food and other supplies because they have been given none by the government, upsetting residents. RELATED STORIES Sent to flood-ravaged areas, North Korean soldiers steal supplies, townspeople say North Korean flood victims who lost their homes or families told not to show sadness State media shows North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un leading flood rescue North Korea reportedly declined a rescue offer from China, and did not respond to a South Korean offer of aid. But the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered humanitarian assistance to help North Korea cope with flood damage in another sign of expanding relations between the two nations. Russia’s state-run Tass news agency carried a similar report, saying that Putin told Kim in a message: “You can always count on our assistance and support.” Edited by Mike Firn.

How secure is Hun Manet’s year-old premiership in Cambodia?

Editor2 months ago014 mins

On Aug. 22, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet marked his first anniversary in office by personally receiving dozens of Khmer artifacts returned to Cambodia by the United States. The ceremony at his Peace Palace was dripping with symbolism. “Why did these Khmer statues leave Cambodia? Because we were divided,” he declared. “However, now, their return symbolizes our reunion. On the first anniversary of [his government], we have maintained stability, peace, and prosperity for the people. Today, we celebrate as a unified nation, free from war and division.” However, just a week earlier, the Cambodian Interior Ministry had ordered police to tighten security around Phnom Penh, instructing provincial leaders to do the same, citing a group allegedly plotting a Bangladesh-inspired “color revolution.” There is unease in the country over tensions with neighboring Vietnam over the Funan Techo Canal, the Hun dynasty’s legacy project, which could threaten Vietnam’s rice-growing heartlands. In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, front, prays before a statue with Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona, right, during a ceremony for the return of artifacts in Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AKP via AP) The public is also concerned about the implications of the Development Triangle Area, an old agreement involving Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam that has become a new point of contention in anti-Cambodian People’s Party circles. Despite the government’s efforts to frame this as a purely economic zone, old prejudices persist, with some Cambodians viewing Hun Manet’s government as unpatriotic, much like they did his father’s. Hun Sen, who ruled from 1985 until he handed power to his son last year, was often accused of being a puppet of Vietnam and later China, accused of selling off Cambodian land to the highest foreign bidder. On the surface, despite concerns about the recent Bangladesh revolt, Hun Manet and his family appear secure. They control almost every significant political and social institution, and the economy continues to provide jobs and food for the people. Hun Sen meticulously planned last year’s transition, implementing a “generational succession” in which key political and civil service families passed power down to their sons or relatives. Shrewd transition strategy This strategy was shrewd, as many authoritarian governments have succumbed to fratricide during leadership transitions. By allowing the political families that matter to keep their patronage and corruption networks, no one lost wealth or influence, thus ensuring stability during the changeover. The Hun family remains first among equals, the ruling house within Cambodia’s political aristocracy. They control nearly every important institution except two: the navy, run by the Tea family, and the national police, overseen by the Sar family. Hun Sen secured the presidency of the Cambodian Senate earlier this year, making him the acting head of state – a position that grants him the institutional power to intervene if his son’s government faces a crisis. To further consolidate power, he enacted constitutional amendments last year to weaken the National Assembly and appointed a loyalist, Khuon Sudary, as its president. Additionally, he installed a family ally as army chief, succeeding Hun Manet, while another son, Hun Manith, heads military intelligence and now serves as deputy army chief. People carry small Cambodia national flags and banners during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Funan Techo Canal in Kandal province, Aug. 5, 2024. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Another son, Hun Many, who leads the country’s largest youth movement, was appointed minister of the Civil Service last year, ensuring the Hun family’s control over the bureaucracy. Hun Sen intends to remain CPP president for life, with Hun Manet running the party’s youth wing. Hun Sen has also brought the rowdy but powerful business tycoons into line through the Cambodia Oknha Association he formed last year and presides over. The monarchy, while independent, lacks political interest, with King Norodom Sihamoni staying out of politics and the Queen Mother, the power behind the throne, now 88 years old. Moreover, Hun Sen, Hun Manet, and their allies dominate the Royal Council of the Throne, the body responsible for selecting the next king. In this feudal-like political system, the Hun family has appeased other influential families by allowing them to keep their patronage networks while consolidating its power across almost every key institution. Ordinary Cambodians’ concerns No family from this First Estate can rival the Huns. They also enjoy the support of the economic barons, the oknhas, and other business elites who finance the political aristocracy. That leaves the Third Estate, the ordinary Cambodians. Hun Sen needed to rig last year’s general elections—and the two prior—to secure his son’s ascent to power. Repression has persisted under Hun Manet’s rule. The opposition has been neutralized, and civil society has been either silenced or co-opted. Hun Manet’s government has successfully distributed patronage to the middle classes, whose loyalty might have shifted toward a political alternative, if one was ever to exist again. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (C, front) cuts the ribbon at the launching event of the Kampot Multipurpose Port in Kampot province, Cambodia, June 6, 2024. (Ly Lay/Xinhua via Getty Images) The government continues to deliver basic needs. While the recent revolution in Bangladesh alarmed the Hun family, Cambodia does not face similar conditions. The country’s garment industry, which many expected to collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, has instead rebounded and is once again driving economic growth. Cambodia’s tourism industry has also recovered in terms of visitor numbers, though revenue remains about two-thirds of pre-2020 levels. There has been progress in the tech and service sectors, though the construction industry and related sectors, like brickmaking, have declined. Typically, young women worked in garment factories while young men found jobs on construction sites, so the loss of construction jobs could have posed a threat to the government. However, many young men have returned to agriculture, which is thriving, especially with increased exports to China. Read more RFA commentaries COMMENTARY: Cambodia’s Hun Dynasty stakes reputation on the Funan Techo Canal COMMENTARY: Elite power…

The Global Media Propaganda Network

Editor2 months ago2 months ago021 mins

China’s international media presence plays a pivotal role in amplifying its reach and reinforcing its soft power propaganda network globally. State-run media outlets like China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Xinhua News Agency broadcast in multiple languages, targeting diverse audiences worldwide. For instance, CGTN offers channels in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian, ensuring China’s narratives reach a broad spectrum of viewers. Additionally, CGTN’s specialized channels, such as CGTN Turk and CGTN Hausa, operate on popular social media platforms like Facebook and X, further expanding their influence. Xinhua News Agency, dubbed “The World’s Biggest Propaganda Machine” by Reporters Without Borders, is a cornerstone of this strategy. It operates globally, providing content in multiple languages while subsidizing coverage costs to ensure widespread dissemination of Chinese viewpoints. Xinhua’s CNC World, a 24-hour English-language news channel, is designed to offer a favorable view of China, countering foreign media narratives. Moreover, China’s media outlets are available across numerous cable and satellite providers worldwide, making channels like CCTV-4 and CGTN accessible in various regions. This global media network allows China to strategically influence international perceptions, particularly in countries with significant Chinese-speaking populations and in regions where China’s economic interests are strong. For instance, the Global Times, another Chinese state-run outlet, receives significant traffic (average 104.6K monthly organic visits) from countries like India (30%), the United States (27%), and Australia (7%), illustrating the global reach of China’s media apparatus. China Daily, another key player in China’s international media strategy, further amplifies the country’s global soft power. With an organic traffic of 44.8K monthly visits, it reaches a significant audience, particularly in Western and Asian countries. The majority of its readership comes from the United States, accounting for 43% of the traffic, followed by India (9%), Australia (7%), Singapore (6%), and Malaysia (5%). China Daily publishes content in English, making it accessible to a global audience and allowing China to shape international perspectives on various issues. Through these extensive media channels, China effectively promotes its political and cultural narratives, aligning global content with its ideological goals and enhancing its soft power influence on the world stage. Propaganda by Xinhua: Key Examples Xinhua News Agency, as China’s largest and most influential state-run news organization, has been at the forefront of disseminating propaganda that aligns with the Chinese government’s narratives on various contentious issues. During the 2017 Doklam standoff, Xinhua released a satirical video titled “Seven Sins of India,” which portrayed India in a derogatory manner, sparking accusations of racism and anti-Indian sentiment. In 2019, during the Hong Kong protests, Xinhua’s biased portrayal of the protests as violent and illegitimate led to Twitter banning state-sponsored media from ad purchases. Xinhua’s role in spreading propaganda became even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it downplayed the virus’s threat and emphasized China’s response while ignoring early cover-ups and public discontent. Additionally, Xinhua has been involved in promoting disinformation during the Russian -Ukraine war by supporting pro-Kremlin narratives through digital ads on Facebook. These examples underscore Xinhua’s role in advancing the Chinese government’s propaganda efforts on a global scale. CGTN and Its Role in Chinese Propaganda China Global Television Network (CGTN) is a key player in the Chinese government’s global media strategy, acting as the international arm of China Central Television (CCTV). Controlled by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, CGTN broadcasts in multiple languages and aims to promote China’s narratives to a global audience. Over the years, CGTN has been embroiled in various controversies, including the detention of Australian journalist Cheng Lei on national security grounds and its dissemination of disinformation regarding COVID-19. The network has also faced criticism for its biased coverage of significant geopolitical events, such as the 2019 Hong Kong protests, the Russian -Ukraine war, and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant discharge. These incidents highlight CGTN’s role in spreading Chinese state propaganda, often facing pushback from international regulators. For instance, the United States designated CGTN as a foreign mission, and the UK revoked its broadcasting license in 2021 due to concerns over editorial independence and political control. CGTN’s YouTube Network and Its Global Reach CGTN’s YouTube network is a significant component of its international media presence, leveraging the platform to reach diverse audiences across the globe. The main CGTN channel boasts 3.14 million subscribers, making it the flagship of the network. Other regional and language-specific channels, such as CGTN Africa with 884K subscribers and CGTN Español with 530K subscribers, highlight CGTN’s tailored approach to different markets. The network also includes specialized channels like CGTN Sports Scene (175K subscribers) and CGTN Documentary (9.5K subscribers), further expanding its reach and influence. With content available in multiple languages, including Arabic (588K subscribers) and French (457K subscribers), CGTN’s YouTube channels play a crucial role in disseminating content that aligns with China’s global narratives, making it a vital part of the country’s soft power strategy. Channel Name Subscriber Count CGTN 3.14M CGTN Europe 448K CGTN America 707K CGTN Africa 884K CGTN Documentary 9.5K CGTN Arabic 588K CGTN Global Watch 6.04K CGTN BIZ 2.58K CGTN Sports Scene 175K CGTN Podcasts 3.23K CGTN Global Business 8.14K CGTN Français 457K CGTN UN 193 CGTN Español 530K CGTN на русском 289K The CGTN Soft Power Network with the Subscriber Count Here is a case study of two of its prominent YouTube Channels: YouTube Channel: CGTN Arabic CGTN Arabic, formerly CCTV-Arabic, is an Arabic-language television channel under the China Global Television Network, a subsidiary of China Central Television. The channel serves as a propaganda arm of the Chinese government, disseminating content that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) agenda. It aims to shape perceptions of China in the Arabic-speaking world, often countering Western narratives and promoting a sanitized image of China, including controversial areas like Xinjiang. Key Propaganda Themes 1. Propaganda to Whitewash Xinjiang’s Image: 2. Promoting China’s Global Influence: 3. Bashing Western Media and Policies: 4. Promoting Chinese Culture and Economic Achievements: 5. Positive Spin on Controversial Issues: Community Engagement In recent years, CGTN Arabic’s community posts have frequently bashed…

Pakistan-based Uyghur businessmen praise China during Xinjiang visit

Editor2 months ago09 mins

Read this story in Uyghur: خىتاي پاكىستاندىكى بىر قىسىم ئۇيغۇرلارنى «ئىرقى قىرغىنچىلىق ساياھىتى» گە ئاپارغان A group of 10 Pakistan-based businessmen who praised China’s policies during a trip to Xinjiang this month have been blasted by Uyghur activists for parroting Beijing’s propaganda and turning a blind eye to China’s oppression of the roughly 12 million Uyghurs living there. The businessmen, most of whom were ethnic Uyghurs, came on the eight-day trip funded by the Chinese government from the Ex-Chinese Association Pakistan, established in 2007 with China’s support to promote the welfare of the Uyghur community in the country. In social media posts, the delegation said they saw Uyghurs and other Muslims living happily and peacefully in the far-western region, and that China was actively developing the region. They also dismissed Western reports of Chinese atrocities. Photos and videos from the trip, which began on Aug. 20 and included stops in Urumqi, Korla and Kashgar, show members of the delegation — two of whom wore doppas, or Uyghur skullcaps — raising Chinese flags, attending special banquets and participating in events organized by officials. The posts showed them watching musical performances and proclaiming that “Muslims of all ethnicities are living happily in Xinjiang.” The trip is the latest by officials from mostly Muslim countries organized by Beijing in an effort to dispel allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs in the region, activists say. An estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs have been put into concentration camps scattered around Xinjiang, although Beijing has described them as job training facilities that are now mostly closed. RELATED STORIES Uyghur refugees in Pakistan face deportation in April Major Muslim group buys into China’s narrative of happy Uyghurs in a stable Xinjiang China pumps up narrative of happy Uyghurs in Xinjiang among Pakistanis Foreign diplomats in China treated to tour of Xinjiang and ‘happy’ Uyghurs But this was the first time that a foreign delegation with ethnic Uyghurs from a Muslim-majority country was invited to the far-western region, Uyghur activists said. “Despite having relatives in prison, they remain silent about East Turkestan because they benefit from the Chinese consulate” in Pakistan, said Omer Khan, founder of the Pakistan-based Omer Uyghur Trust, which assists Uyghurs living in the country, using Uyghurs’ preferred name for Xinjiang. “Their actions bring shame not only to Uyghurs in their homeland, but also to Uyghurs worldwide,” he said. RFA could not reach the Ex-Chinese Association Pakistan for comment. Helping cover up? Activists and Uyghurs abroad said they found the photos and videos disturbing, mainly because most Uyghurs living outside China cannot communicate with their relatives in Xinjiang or obtain information about those who have been detained there. Uyghurs in Pakistan are outraged by the delegation members, seeing them as aiding and abetting China’s efforts to cover up the Uyghur genocide, Khan said. Nearly 1,000 Uyghur families live in Gilgit and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, where their ancestors migrated from Xinjiang 50 to 60 years ago. However, they are stateless and do not have Pakistani citizenship. In Rawalpindi, nearly 100 Uyghurs who fled to Pakistan through Afghanistan years ago are still at risk of being deported to China or Afghanistan because of Pakistan’s failure to grant them citizenship — something activists say is due to Chinese pressure. Members of the delegation — which included association chairman Muhammad Nasir Khan and Nasir Khan Sahib, former chairman of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry — began posting on social media in Urdu and English as soon as they arrived in Xinjiang, Khan said. In Korla, the second-largest city by population in Xinjiang, they participated in the city’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage Week” as part of China’s “Xinjiang is a wonderful place” propaganda campaign designed to counter criticism of its policies in the restive, heavily Muslim region, he said. The Chinese press covered the delegation’s visit, claiming that they witnessed peace, stability, economic development, religious harmony and cultural prosperity in the region. State-controlled media reports publicized the delegation’s statement: “We can see people dancing happily all the time. We really feel that the life of the people in Xinjiang is sweeter than honey.” Abdul Aziz, a Uyghur businessman from Gilgit who participated in the Xinjiang trip, posted short videos on Facebook titled “Xinjiang trip diaries,” showing the delegation visiting exhibitions on counter-terrorism and anti-extremism, the International Grand Bazaar and the Islamic Institute of Xinjiang in Urumqi and tourist sites in other places. RFA’s attempts to contact Abdul Aziz via his social media platforms were unsuccessful. Pakistan under pressure Hena Zuberi, director of the human rights group Justice for All, described the situation as deeply saddening, saying Beijing is using such visits to justify its genocidal policies under the guise of China-Pakistan friendship. Pakistan has come under pressure from Beijing because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a 3,000-kilometer (1,800-mile) Chinese infrastructure network project under the Belt and Road Initiative to foster better trade with China, and secure and reduce travel time for China’s Middle East energy imports. “If they took a stance and they said and asked the hard questions and demanded to know what was happening to those Muslim people in the Uyghur region, I think the situation would be different,” Zuberi said of the visiting delegates. “But Pakistan is so economically imprisoned by China, they can’t,” she said. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Notable Cambodian businessman detained, charged in embezzlement case

Editor2 months ago03 mins

A prominent Cambodian businessman has been detained for questioning by an investigating judge following accusations he stole millions of dollars from an investment company. Kuy Vat, the former chairman of the Cambodian Investors Corporation, was arrested on Aug. 24. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday charged him with “non-compliance with traded instruments.” The fraud and embezzlement charges follow allegations from several people that Kuy Vat has bounced large checks and otherwise misappropriated money invested in the Cambodian Investors Corporation, or CIC, according to CamboJA News. CIC collected US$100 million from investors but allegedly hasn’t allowed people to make withdrawals and hasn’t paid out interest, as promised, since August 2023, CamboJA News reported earlier this year. Kuy Vat is the owner of the Park Cafe chain of restaurants, which has 11 locations across Phnom Penh, the capital. Among the alleged victims in the case is Kouch Mengly, a Cambodian-American who told Radio Free Asia in April that he lost US$300,000 to the company. “If justice isn’t sought and this is allowed to continue, the people will lose faith in the government and the justice system, and the government will lose the faith of the international community, which will lead to the destruction of the Cambodian economy,” he said. CIC board member Som Sambath told RFA that he was unaware of allegations that Kuy Vat had transferred money from CIC to his personal accounts. “I don’t know what to say until I know the truth – then I can answer your question,” he said. “I don’t know how to answer now.” RFA was unable to reach a spokesman for Phnom Penh prosecutors, Chhay Chhay Hong, to ask about the charges. CIC board member Khim Sokheng was also unavailable for comment on Wednesday. Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Matt Reed.

Top White House official in Beijing for talks with foreign minister

Editor2 months ago04 mins

U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan arrived in China on Tuesday on a three-day trip that includes talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and comes after complaints from China’s neighbors about what they see as its territorial intrusions. Sullivan and Wang “will hold a new round of China-U.S. strategic communication,” according to China’s foreign ministry, exchanging views on bilateral relations, “sensitive issues” and “major international and regional hotspots.” A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on Friday that Sullivan and Wang would discuss a range of topics including areas of disagreement, such as Taiwan, Ukraine and the Middle East. RELATED STORIES Top White House official to visit China Philippines, China clash near disputed shoal in South China Sea Philippines joins US-led allies in multilateral maneuvers in South China Sea The visit comes amid protests by U.S. allies Japan and the Philippines about what they say are Chinese incursions. Japan said a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance plane entered Japanese airspace for two minutes on Monday, which Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi described as “utterly unacceptable.” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday China was trying to verify the report, adding that its military had “no intention of intruding” into any country’s airspace. Meanwhile, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday that China was “the biggest disrupter” of peace in Southeast Asia. His comments came after a clash on Sunday between Philippine and Chinese vessels near a disputed reef in the South China Sea. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is welcomed by Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Yang Tao (C) and US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (L) upon arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Aug. 27, 2024. (Ng Han Guan/POOL/AFP) Sullivan was greeted at Beijing’s Capital Airport by the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s North American and Oceanian department head Yang Tao, and U.S. ambassador Nicholas Burns. His trip is the first official visit to China and the first by a national security adviser since Susan Rice went to Beijing under the Obama administration in 2016. Sullivan and Wang have met in Washington, Vienna, Malta and Bangkok over the past 18 months. Edited by Mike Firn.

Vietnam’s parliament appoints new ministers after To Lam takes top job

Editor2 months ago05 mins

Updated Aug. 26, 2024, 06:45 a.m. ET. Vietnam has announced a shakeup of ministers as To Lam shores up power and continues his predecessor’s anti-corruption campaign, following his elevation to general secretary of the Communist Party this month. National Assembly members replaced two deputy prime ministers and appointed another – the country’s fifth – at an extraordinary meeting in Hanoi attended by Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Supreme Court Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh, 66, Finance Minister Ho Duc Phoc, 60, and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, 61, became deputy prime ministers. The shakeup comes after Le Minh Khai was removed from his position as deputy prime minister by the Politburo on Aug. 3 to take responsibility for a land-use scandal in Lam Dong province. The Politburo also announced this month it was moving Tran Luu Quang from a deputy prime ministerial role to head up the Central Economic Commission. Parliament also appointed new justice and environment ministers in Monday’s one-day session. ‘Blazing furnace’ continues National Assembly Secretary General Bui Van Cuong said parliament would elect a new state president during its October session, Vietnamese media reported. Lam has held the post for three months. Lam, a former public security minister was elected general secretary – the country’s most powerful position – on Aug. 3, following the death two weeks earlier of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong. Trong had championed an anti-corruption drive known as the “blazing furnace” to tackle graft among party officials and business leaders. The campaign claimed the jobs of several senior government members, including Vo Van Thuong, who was forced to step down as president in March after just one year in office. Lam, 67, took over the presidency on May 22 and had already assumed the general secretary’s role on an interim basis the day before Nguyen Phu Trong’s death. RELATED STORIES Analysts: Vietnam’s new leader promises reform, but it won’t be easy To Lam elected as Vietnam’s top leader Nguyen Phu Trong left Vietnam’s Communist Party ripe for strongman rule Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales Canberra, said it would be unusual for Lam to remain both party secretary general and president. “Since reunification of Vietnam and the adoption of the 1992 constitution, Vietnam’s party leaders have consistently rejected the idea of merging the office of party general secretary and state president,” said Thayer. He said if Lam was able to concentrate on a single role it would give him more time to oversee the selection of the next generation of leaders at the party congress scheduled for early 2026 and continue Trong’s “blazing furnace” campaign. “No doubt To Lam will be vigorous in opposing any potential candidate involved in corruption or who fails to meet party ethical standards,” he added. “But the process of vetting must be viewed as fair and balanced across the entire Vietnam Communist Party and not a particular faction or region.” Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Updated to note election for state president will take place in October.

Lao and Chinese security forces raid call centers in the Golden Triangle

Editor2 months ago06 mins

Lao and Chinese security forces detained 771 people in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone during a joint operation conducted ahead of a deadline for illegal call centers in the notorious zone to close. Authorities in northern Laos have notified call centers in the Chinese-run special economic zone, or SEZ, that they have until Sunday to shut down their operations. Scamming operations run by Chinese nationals who try to trick people into fake investments are rife in the zone. Many of the workers are mistreated and prevented from leaving the premises. The Golden Triangle SEZ along the Mekong River in Bokeo province in northern Laos has been a gambling and tourism hub catering to Chinese visitors, as well as a haven for online fraud, human trafficking, prostitution and illegal drug activities. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Command dismantles a gang of telecommunication fraudsters in a video posted to their Facebook page in Bokeo Province, Laos, Aug. 20, 2024. (Mass Media of Public Security via Facebook) The Lao government’s closure order came after an Aug. 9 meeting between the Bokeo provincial governor, high-ranking officials from the Lao Ministry of Public Security, and Zhao Wei, the chairman of the Golden Triangle SEZ. The joint raids with Chinese authorities began on Aug. 12, according to the Lao Ministry of Public Security website. Among the 771 people detained were 275 Laotians, 231 Burmese and 108 Chinese, the ministry said. Other nationalities included people from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Vietnam. “Most of them are just workers who were hired to work at the centers,” a ministry official told Radio Free Asia. “It’s a form of human trafficking because they were lured to come to the SEZ to work at stores or restaurants, but later they were forced to work as scammers.” Computers and cellphones A Bokeo provincial official, who like other sources in this report requested anonymity for security reasons, said many of the Chinese citizens who were arrested were in leadership roles at the call centers. “We handed over all the Chinese to Chinese authorities at the border gate in Luang Namtha province several days ago,” she said. “Other foreigners, such as Indians and Filipinos, are waiting for their respective embassies to pick them up.” Most of the arrested Lao nationals were booked, reeducated and handed over to family members, she said. Authorities have also seized more than 2,000 pieces of electronic equipment, including 709 computers and 1,896 mobile phones, according to the ministry. “All Chinese people and equipment seized from the raid have been sent back to China to comply with the agreement between the Lao Ministry of Public Security and the Chinese counterparts,” a Luang Namtha province official told RFA. RELATED STORIES Laos orders Golden Triangle scammers out of zone by end of month 280 Chinese arrested in Laos for alleged online scamming Laos repatriates 268 Chinese suspected of scamming In the first half of 2024, as many as 400 call centers were operating in the Golden Triangle SEZ. The centers mostly targeted Chinese, which eventually prompted authorities in China to team up with their counterparts in Laos. The owner of a Vientiane employment agency that hires workers for Chinese companies in the SEZ said they have paused recruitment activities and are waiting to see what happens after Sunday’s deadline. “If the police stop raiding the places, we’ll be back in business,” he said. Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed.

Category: South Asia