Is Southeast Asia becoming a dumping ground for Chinese goods? As exports flow in, the stakes get higher

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Southeast Asia is firmly in the forefront of China’s trade efforts, which analysts predict will only grow as the West’s growing geopolitical tensions and Trump 2.0 administration in the United States drag on.

This will make the benefits and drawbacks for the area more obvious, according to observers, which highlights the growing needed for nations to integrate a reaction to Beijing as they try to balance the scales. &nbsp,

Consumers in South Asian countries gain from the variety and relative accessibility of Chinese products on the one hand. But on the other hand, local sectors face an extremely fraught environment.

Local businesses are seeing eroding profit margins, plant closures, and widespread job losses, according to Doris Liew, an economist and assistant research manager at the Malaysian think tank the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs ( IDEAS ).

” Southeast Asia is grappling with the negative effects of China’s trade abundance, a problem that extends far beyond the region.

Analysts say the key is whether South Asian states can work together to navigate the landscape, especially given their varying stages of development and varying needs, as some South Asian states are considering countermeasures like anti-dumping tariffs. &nbsp,

” The reality is that the consequences are wildly diverse for specific industries … a single cross-region or even cross-industry result is so unlikely”, Diana Choyleva, chief analyst at Enodo Economics, told CNA.

Blasting UP THE EXPORT ENGINES

China’s import website has been operating at full capacity as its local market struggles with a sluggish property market and weak consumer demand. Exports make up around 20 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product ( GDP ).

Exports in 2024 grew 7.1 per cent year-on-year to 25.45 trillion yuan ( US$ 3.47 trillion ), exceeding 25 trillion yuan for the first time, according to China customs data released on Monday ( Jan 13 ). &nbsp,

” China consolidated its position as the world’s largest buying state in products”, said Wang Lingjun, assistant head of the General Administration of Customs, at a press conference on Monday.

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Indian PM opens strategic tunnel to China border zones

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a strategic Himalayan road tunnel on Monday ( January 13 ), allowing for cross-border disputed high-altitude disputes with rivals China and Pakistan. The Z-Morh or Sonmarg pipe, which extends 6.4 kilometers beneath a dangerous mountain pass that is closed off by frost for fourContinue Reading

Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols

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MANILA: The Philippines announced on Sunday ( 12 January ) that it had deployed a coast guard ship to confront Chinese police boats ‘ attempts to “alter the existing status quo” in the contested South China Sea.

Beijing asserts the majority of the proper waterway despite a 2016 worldwide tribunal decision that was opposed, and Philippine and Chinese vessels frequently engage in hostilities or anxious standoffs.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam even have promises to the lakes.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, said Chinese patrol ships had this year come as close as 60 nautical miles ( 111km ) west off the main Philippine island of Luzon.

” Their objective is to normalise for operations, and if these steps go unnoticed and unquestioned, it will allow them to change the existing position quo”, he said in a speech.

Eventually, he later claimed that Manila had sent a coast guard ship to the place to fight off the “unlawful” Foreign patrols.

He claimed that the implementation was meant to make sure that Chinese patrols “are not normalized, and that this bullying behavior does not thrive.”

Between December 30 and January 11, according to Tarriela, the Taiwanese coast guard reportedly deployed three vessels into Spanish waters from its Guangdong and Hainan bases.

The South China Sea conflicts have sparked problem they could bring the United States, Manila’s long-time safety ally, into military conflict with China.

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Taiwan says China redoubling efforts to undermine island with disinformation

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TAIPEI: Taiwan ‘s&nbsp, government says China is redoubling efforts to undermine confidence in the self-governing island’s democracy and close ties with the United States through the spread of disinformation, especially online. According to the National Security Bureau, China distributed 2.16 million bits of fake or biased information last year, upContinue Reading

Blinken to visit South Korea with eye on political crisis

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to South Korea for talks next week, the two nations announced on Friday ( Jan 3 ), with Seoul in political turmoil as its impeached president resists arrest. Blinken, on what will possibly be his last foreign journey before president-elect Donald Trump’sContinue Reading

Malaysia to resume search for wreckage of missing flight MH370

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Malaysia’s transport minister said on Friday ( Dec 20 ) that it has agreed in principle to resume the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared in one of the greatest aviation mysteries ever.

Aircraft MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 227 people and 12 staff, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on Mar 8, 2014.

Transportation Minister Anthony Loke stated that Ocean Infinity, which had also conducted the previous research for the planes that ended in 2018, made the suggestion to seek a new place in the southern Indian Ocean.

The company will collect US$ 70 million if aircraft found is substantial, Loke told a press meeting.

The next of kin is our duty, obligation, and commitment, he said.

” We hope this time may be good, that the aircraft may be found and offer closure to the households”.

The transport department is reportedly negotiating ultimate terms with the US-based company and is anticipated to complete it by the start of the year. &nbsp,

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China defence minister Dong Jun’s reappearance stirs more intrigue amid patron Miao Hua’s downfall

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It’s too soon to tell whether Mr. Dong is secure or still in trouble, according to experts.

They point out that he does not have the same authority as his two predecessors, who also served as state commissioners and members of the CMC, giving them immediate access to Premier Li Qiang and Mr. Xi, both. Mr. Dong is not a member of either of these positions.

What is also unclear is Mr. Dong’s absence from new formal events, which are typically attended by a defence minister.

Due to his Dec. 5 looks, Mr. Dong made his final public appearance on November 21 when he addressed a group of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Vientiane, Laos.

He chose to speak with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the outside, citing US deeds in Taiwan, which the Pentagon head called terrible, but he declined. Mr Dong’s emergence from a visit to China by Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Aaron Beng weeks afterwards also sparked debate.

While Mr. Dong’s emergence may indicate that he is currently healthy, observers say that it also depends on his part in the investigation into Mr. Miao’s disappearance.

Past analytical journalist-turned-commentator Cai Shenkun asserted in a Nov 11 post on social media app X that” since Admiral Dong Jun was promoted by Miao”, he may get “affected”.

Dr. Willy Lam, a top fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, cited rumors that Mr. Dong” spilled the beans on Miao Hua” as a see, leading to accusations that he may have avoided embarrassment. &nbsp,

Dr. Lam told CNA,” It’s possible that Dong Jun will continue for a few times just for the sake of appearances.” ” The fact that Dong Jun reappeared, this has added an interesting aspect to the account”.

” For now, it seems his political coming remains secure”, said Mr Chen Shih-min, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, who signalled that his security could possibly consolidate, if he fills the vacuum in the CMC, as a member.

MIAO HUA: PAWN IN POWER STRUGGLE?

Despite the fact that Mr. Miao has been identified as having been in difficulties, observers have expressed concern about how the language used to describe his situation was different from what is customary. &nbsp,

Wu Qian, a spokesman for the defense department, stated in a media briefing on November 28 that the CCP “has decided to suspend Miao Hua from duty pending exploration,” without providing more information about the allegations against him.

Some analysts pointed out how in announcing Mr Miao’s suspension, the Chinese term jiancha ( “inspection” ) was used instead of diaocha ( “investigation” ).

” If they use the proper name diaocha, it means more likely than not, according to the Chinese legal system, that he is already found guilty”. Jiancha, yet, is a “lighter term”, implying that Mr Miao “might never actually been given a long, serious prison term”, said Dr Lam.

National Taiwan University’s Mr Chen added:” Of course, it can also be interpreted as a somewhat liberal treatment of Miao Hua, and the reason for this could definitely be explained by the fact that Miao Hua is’ one of Xi Jinping’s really near allies.'”

However, Mr. Morris argued that easing the terminology does not affect Mr. Miao’s destiny, noting that the English announcement stated it was being investigated for a” serious violation of discipline.”

He continued,” The announcement that China has suspended Miao Hua from his job in a public manner is a clear indication that his career is over and that he will be placed under house arrest or worse.”

Additionally, there are disagreements over whether Mr. Miao’s suspension was the result of Mr. Xi’s intervention or that of rival factions opposed to the leader.

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