‘Bad for the world’: Southeast Asia environment leaders wary about lack of US climate leadership under Trump

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“We heard that the US might withdraw from the ( Paris ) Agreement. If it happens, it will be negative for the world environment area. This is a worry, ” said Dr Ching Thoo Ki, the secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry Of Natural Resources And Environmental Sustainability.

In battling climate change, the Global North must be good with the Global South.

“Put away all the political issues, rely on what is on the table today, and this is climate change. The ice are melting. Sea rates are rising. So it’s happening, ” he said.

The Philippines is a key person in helping countries that suffer the most from weather impacts get more funding for a Loss and Damage Fund. It is currently hosting the fund’s table.

The Philippines must remain rational as we move forward, according to Ms. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.

“The common sense, I think, for the Philippines is that we move on, ” she said.

“Of program, there are political, geostrategic considerations to every decision that we make, but we know how resilient we are, and so our paths will generally stay on track. ” 

Mr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Indonesia’s new minister for surroundings, did not directly comment on the influence of Mr. Trump’s re-election, but he did raise questions about the lack of cooperation and improvement in climate diplomacy in the current political climate.  

With the COP29 chance, we hope that all nations will open themselves up to taking bold, achievable actions. If all countries can work together, then it will be easier to achieve results that can be agreed globally, ” he said.

We will only have a discussion that will stop in nothing if we get to sucked into it and continue to build and emit greenhouse gases. ”

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Laos methanol poisoning: Australian teen the fourth tourist to die

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Bianca Jones, an American teenager, is the third tourist to pass away in Laos from a rumored mass poisoning.

The 19-year-old’s home confirmed her death to the internet on Thursday. An National person died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, according to the US State Department earlier in a 24-hour update.

Two Danish people, aged 19 and 20, likewise died last week in Laos, Danish government confirmed, declining to reveal more due to security issues.

Although the deaths are still being investigated by the police, various travelers ‘ online testimony and news accounts suggest they perhaps have consumed alcohol laced with methanol, a fatal substance that can be found in bootleg liquor.

Jones’s companion Holly Bowles is in hospital on existence help, while a British woman is also reportedly in hospital. How many more people have died from the alleged poison remain a mystery.

The department of foreign affairs confirmed Jones ‘ death, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

On Thursday evening, Albanese stated,” Her family and friends are grieving a horrible and cruel loss. Our thoughts are with her.”

Every parent has the worst nightmares and nightmares that no one should experience.

He said he hoped Ms Bowles, who is already at Bangkok Hospital, would recover also.

The US State Department stated that it was” strongly monitoring” the victim’s condition in terms of the American target and that local authorities were in charge of determining the cause of suicide.

Australian and UK authorities have each warned their citizens to be careful of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the two American ladies stayed in Vang Vieng, told the BBC that it was closed for police research.

The two girls were among more than 100 visitors who received completely Lao vodka shots, according to the hostel’s manager, according to the hostel’s manager. He claimed the piece left the next day and headed home, noting that no other friends had reported health issues.

The hostel’s director claimed he hoped the analysis had eventually remove the name, but that they have since stopped providing free pictures.

In a speech to Australian news the Herald Sun, Jones’s community expressed their “deepest thanks for the enormous support, passion, and prayer we’ve received from across Australia”.

As we move past our pain and begin to heal,” We politely ask for protection,” the statement read.

Unli e eth a drinks, alcohol is toxic to humans. Bootleg wine producers often add it to their drinks, but, as a cheap way to increase liquor articles.

Earlier this year, at least 57 people in India died after consuming methanol-laced liquor. Similar cases of mass poisoning have also been reported across the world, from the Philippines to Peru.

A little river area in central Laos and a tourist destination for Southeast Asians, Vang Vieng is a gateway.

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BlackBerry welcomes Canada’s support to enhance cyber resilience in SEA via Malaysian Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

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  • In partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada will engage$ 3.9M CAD
  • To arrange local incident response and address digital threats from a single location.

BlackBerry welcomes Canada’s support to enhance cyber resilience in SEA via Malaysian Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

At the APEC Leaders ‘ Summit last week, NYSE-listed BlackBerry Ltd, expressed its gratitude for the Government of Canada’s announcement to invest Canadian$ 3.9 million ( RM12.48 million ) in Malaysia. The money will go toward strengthening Southeast Asia’s capacity-building and threat intelligence initiatives. &nbsp,

Canada’s support will be delivered by BlackBerry in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan University’s ( TMU’s ) Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, with a goal to train 3, 500 cyber-defenders from Malaysia and other ASEAN members. Aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific approach, the program establishes Malaysia as a gateway of local security superiority in Southeast Asia, said BlackBerry in a speech.

The government of Canada will help with the creation, development, and delivery of a comprehensive security education, including programs for women, while expanding the offerings from the world-class Malaysia Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE ), which was co-founded in Cyberjaya and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

The goal is to promote the CCoE as a regional hub for learning and intelligence-sharing, enabling government and industry to greater stop, hinder, and organize responses to incidents that may influence operational resilience and national security, and to help more men and women take advantage of the region’s most in-demand cybersecurity roles.

Role-based learning and professional tracks as well as certifications in security and women in security management courses may be offered at the Malaysia CCoE. In line with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which aims to promote and attach people, funding from the government will also help Malay and local participants gain bursaries and bursaries to take courses at the CCoE and obtain security certifications from respected business bodies. &nbsp,

The Cyber Security Center of Excellence has the potential to become a global destination for emerging cyber threats, according to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who inaugurated the facility on March 26 in Cyberjaya. To share knowledge, threat intelligence, and collaborate on developing methods and strategies to strengthen national and regional cyber-resilience, Malaysian and Canadian universities, research institutions, and skilled practitioners.

BlackBerry welcomes Canada’s support to enhance cyber resilience in SEA via Malaysian Cybersecurity Center of ExcellenceJustin Trudeau ( pic ), Prime Minister of Canada said, “Cybersecurity is a pillar of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. With our government’s investment in Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in collaboration with BlackBerry, Canada will share cyber-expertise, train the cyber workforce across ASEAN countries, increase public-private sector collaboration, and strengthen our collective capacity to counter, deter and respond to cyber threats”.

BlackBerry CEO, John Giamatteo, added,” BlackBerry is honored to partner with the Governments of Malaysia, Canada, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to establish the Malaysia Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. This top-notch facility also serves as a global hub for coordinating regional incident response and training and upskilling Malaysian and regional cyber workforces. No matter how advanced your cybersecurity arsenal is, countries need a well-trained cyber-workforce to support their front lines of defense in a growing digital economy.

The collaboration between Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University and BlackBerry will help to provide cybersecurity skills training in this crucial region for international security, which now more than ever needs technology security, according to Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University.

The announcement comes one and a half months after BlackBerry and the Malaysian government made a long-term software and services agreement to advance regional digital workforces through training in advanced cybersecurity technology and training at a specialized facility. &nbsp,

Visit this link for the CCoE’s current course information.

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Malaysia commends Laos for successful Asean 2024 chairmanship

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Datuk Sari Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the country’s defense minister, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Laosi government for successfully leading Asean this time.

General Chansamone Chanyalath, the deputy prime minister of Laos and general Chansamone Chanyalath, met with Mohamed Khaled on Wednesday ( Nov. 20 ) for a meeting at the Asean Defence Ministers ‘ Meeting ( ADMM), which praised Laos ‘ efforts to advance Asean, particularly in promoting regional defense cooperation.

” Under Laos ‘ advice, Asean has made significant progress in enhancing military engagement, elevating the army plan to new amounts.

Malaysia anticipates Laos ‘ ongoing support as we prepare to appoint an Asean head in 2025, Shah said in a Twitter post.

In the same conference, Khaled likewise had informal meetings with the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin. He emphasized the importance of the US playing a discourse role in promoting stability and security in Southeast Asia.

The US has fully acknowledge Asean’s strategy for addressing local security issues and the importance of putting Asean’s position at the center of local security frameworks at its disposal.

Khaled and his team made their way to Laos on Tuesday ( Nov 19 ), where Malaysia also suggested expanding Asean’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief ( HADR) mission.

All ASEAN part state would gain from a more efficient and coordinated response to local disasters. – Bernama

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Commentary: Southeast Asia will find Trump’s second trade war harder to weather

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More stringent tariffs could force businesses to relocate full industrial ecosystems in his second term. South Asian nations are well-positioned to provide themselves as steady and trustworthy alternatives to high-tech supply chains.

Thailand’s Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan sees opportunity back, noting,” Trump’s win may be useful for Thailand because Republicans are pro-business, and the US-China trade war will continue and effect in more opportunities”.

However, realising this opportunity wo n’t be straightforward. It requires moving beyond low-cost production to create more advanced value-added features. The US may also exert pressure on ASEAN nations or initiate immediate action to restrict Chinese influence in key areas.

A CRITICAL TEST FOR ASEAN

In the upcoming years, Southeast Asia will have to put up a significant check.

Following the initial trade war, China’s developments in emerging industries like electrical automobiles and clean energy technologies present a new concern for ASEAN. ASEAN must balance geopolitical concerns with priorities for business growth because of China’s cost advantages and dominance in these industries, which makes it harder to realize substantial diversification of supply chains.

Balancing the pressures of Trump’s business plans with relationships with both the US and China may involve agility, vision and assistance.

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Locad raises US mil for smart digital logistics engine to expand globally

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  • By Q4 2024, money may enable rise into the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
  • Since Series A, Locad has scaled its concept across SEA, Australia &amp, China

Locad cofounders (Left to Right: Shrey Jain, CTO, Constantin Robertz, CEO & Jannis Dargel, COO

Locad, a leading intelligent electronic logistics motor empowering consumer businesses with its Cloud Supply Chain-as-a-Service for international distribution, announced a US$ 9 million ( RM40 million ) Pre-Series B campaign co-led by Global Ventures and Reefknot Investments. Other traders include Sumitomo Equity Ventures, Antler Elevate, Febe Ventures, and JG Summit.

The funding may accelerate Locad’s global expansion, starting in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Q4 2024 as part of its” Grow Global, Go Native” strategy for businesses, and further enhance its AI-driven shipping functions. Locad aims to build modern supply chain infrastructure, connecting manufacturers to customers in development areas through a integrated, cloud-based transportation system.

Through a seamless operating system and supply chain infrastructure as a support, Locad’s sky supply chain makes wise online shipping and empty trading possible for client companies. The company allows brands to join all sales channels in e-commerce and wholesale to a single share of stock and a bright logistics system, managed via its Control Tower orchestration platform, which provides real-time visibility, analytics, and AI-enhanced workflow automation.

Constantin Robertz, CEO and co-founder of Locad, said,” We are on a mission to enable smart digital logistics for consumer brands. In APAC, we have developed a cloud supply chain platform over the past four years that enables brands to integrate their omnichannel distribution and access localized fulfillment in growth markets in SEA and AU. We are now looking forward to expanding our business to other countries by expanding our footprint to the US and joining the GCC to facilitate brand distribution.

Noor Sweid, founder and managing partner of Global Ventures, said,” We are delighted to lead Locad’s funding round. With our goal of decentralized and resilient supply chains that are in line with our vision, Locad’s innovative engine is changing the way brands manage supply chains, enabling faster and more effective customer reach.

” Locad exemplifies this shift, offering localised, efficient solutions. We are confident it is well-positioned to capitalise on opportunities in evolving markets like MENA, embodying the future of agile, sustainable logistics”, he added.

Marc Dragon, managing director of Reefknot Investments, said,” We are excited to co-lead this oversubscribed round and deepen our commitment to Locad as they expand globally. Since our Series A investment, Locad has scaled its asset-light fulfilment model across Southeast Asia, Australia, and China while enhancing AI-driven features like demand, inventory, and carrier analytics &amp, optimisation”.

We are confident that Locad’s global expansion and innovation focus will add significant value to brands looking to expand internationally and improve customer experiences, he added.

Shrey Jain, co-founder and CTO of Locad, said,” By combining smart digital logistics with AI-driven insights, we empower brands to optimise supply chains by positioning inventory closer to demand, reducing delivery times, and improving customer satisfaction. In light of this fundraise, we can increase the efficiency and support brands in a dynamic business environment, further strengthening our tech-enabled logistics ecosystem.

Since its Series A round in 2023, Locad has grown significantly in size and scope, supporting over 300 consumer brands in Southeast Asia and Australia. The business improves customer experiences and operational efficiency by offering innovative digital logistics solutions. Its logistics engine seamlessly integrates with leading e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Shopee, Amazon, and TikTok, helping brands optimise inventory and delivery management across multiple sales channels.

Brands can expand their distribution through Locad’s platform as more markets are opened up by the GCC and the USA.

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Third phase of handout to cost B140 billion

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According to the lieutenant finance minister, 14 million people will receive funding in Q2 of next year.

Discussed: 20 Nov 2024 at 14: 11

Eligible recipients queue at a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives branch to withdraw cash given under the first phase of the state-sponsored handout programme last month.
To remove money from donations made during the first step of the state-sponsored flyer program, ready consumers waited at a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives tree next month.

According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, the Thai government plans to give 14 million persons 140 billion ringgit as part of its cash-handout trigger program in the second quarter of next year.

” Growth can be pushed up by the various stimulus measures in the upcoming year to over 3 %.” We are very convinced of that”, Mr Julapun said on Wednesday, adding that full-year progress in 2024 did not reach 2.8 %.

About 14.5 million poor and disabled individuals have so far received a settlement of 10, 000 ringgit, out of an estimated 45 million who are expected to be take part in the Pheu Thai-led government’s unique system.

In January, 40 billion baht will be transferred to the old, followed by 140 billion ringgit in the second quarter to others who have registered, Mr Julapun said.

He added that the government intends to invest 40 billion baht by the start of the year to reduce producers ‘ production costs.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy grew by 3 % in the July-September period this year, the fastest rate in two years, the National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ) said this week.

The agency forecast growth of 2.6 % this year and 2025 growth in a range of 2.3 % to 3.3 %.

Last year’s growth of 1.9 % lagged regional peers. Due to high household debt, higher borrowing costs, and clunky demand from China’s major trading partner, the economy has struggled.

The Bank of Thailand ( BoT ) unexpectedly reduced its policy interest rate last month following sustained government pressure. Dec. 18 is when it’s second rate meeting, but it’s already said nothing will change.

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Fox companies Good Foodie Media and Involve Asia are driving the MarTech industry forward

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  • MarTech-driven e-commerce projected to reach US$ 7.88B by end-2024
  • Both businesses are driving business growth through MDEC’s Wolf Programme

Rene Menezes, president and co-founder of Involve Asia (1st from right) and Lim Pinn Yang, co-founder and CEO of Good Foodie Media (2nd from left) were panellists at the recent Endeavor Future Forum 2.0. (Picture credit: MDEC)

The evolving integration of technology across a range of industries to stay ahead is what is driving the modern economy’s transformation. With Malaysia’s aim for the digital economy to contribute&nbsp, 25.5 % to the nation’s GDP by the end of 2025, it underscores the crucial role of businesses including marketing technology ( MarTech ) and digital creative content in driving this upward trajectory.

The digital creative content segment alone generated an impressive US$ 1.2 billion ( RM5.6 billion ) in 2021 and the ecommerce sector, driven by MarTech, is expected to reach US$ 7.88 billion ( RM35.2 billion ) by the end of the year.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation ( MDEC )’s national strategic initiative, which offers a myriad of enabling incentives for Malaysian businesses and Rakyat to play a leading role in the global digital revolution and digital economy, is a catalyst for the growth of these crucial digital economy segments.

The Founders Centre of Excellence ( FOX ) program, a bespoke program designed for specific businesses that showcase high-growth growth with the potential to become the next scaleup tech icons, has also been introduced in conjunction with the MD initiative. Important MarTech industry players, such as MD standing companies Good Foodie Media and Involve Asia, have been identified by MDEC as being at the forefront of the digital revolution and using their expertise to form and shape the online landscape.

The electronic economy is inventive

The expansion of information development during the pandemic opened up new opportunities for collaboration with in-demand designers. Through a varied approach that involves both publishers and articles creators, Good Foodie Media, a media company focused on food and cooking online content, has benefited from this synergy to assist brands promote their products. Consumer reliance on digital communication was further increased as a result of the pandemic, increasing Good Foodie Media‘s reputation as a reliable source of high-quality content.

The team behind Good Foodie Media unwinding at their recent company annual dinner after a successful year (Picture Credit: Foodie Media)

” During the epidemic, there were movements power purchases,” according to our advertising section. We changed our websites so that internet marketing could be implemented. In doing so, we were able to increase our profit and survive the challenging time. This has taught us to use our already-available tools in times of difficulty, according to Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang, co-founder and CEO of Good Foodie Media.

By properly integrating native consumer behavior with regional consumer behavior in the food and beverage sector, the system that seamlessly integrates articles with commerce has gained widespread support.

The platform has seen considerable success over the years thanks to the major success it has experienced since Lim’s founding in 2017 and several other co-founders since then. After receiving their first cash from an angel investor, they expanded into Kuala Lumpur, expanding from a 1, 000-strong fan base focused on the Penang cooking field to over 30 million users today.

With the major traction we had, we were able to rapidly rise up the ranks and gain access to Johor. He continues,” We therefore diversified our platforms to different verticals to meet people in different consumer demands, including Malaysia Homie, Bangkok Foodie, ChiHou, and Halal Foodie,” he adds.

” We’re working on creating a software program that seamlessly combines commerce and content with the goal of streamlining local consumer behaviour in the F&amp, B room,” according to our strategic hinge. With our 30 million-strong captive audience, we see this as a key opportunity to create an integrated experience that enhances engagement and drives growth in this sector” ,&nbsp, Lim said.

The second installment of Good Foodie Media’s advertising campaign, which partnered with Funding Societies, was launched in association with Maybank and PayNet in 2024. To time, Good Foodie Media has aided over 15, 000 MSME.

In the same year, MDEC gave Good Foodie Media the distinction of being a significant person in the country’s modern economy.

The online advertising market is on the rise.

The most popular online marketing and partner control program in Southeast Asia through the Squirrel program, Involve Asia, has revolutionized how brands and advertisers collaborate with publishers and influencers to create performance-based advertising campaigns. The platform has empowered over 500 brands to reach millions of consumers through its network of 400, 000 affiliate partners, driving a total transaction value of over US$ 1.5 billion ( RM6.7 billion ) since its establishment a decade ago.

Rene Menezes, president and co-founder, Involve Asia (2nd from right) receiving the Malaysia’s Affiliate Marketing Pioneer Award from Amiruddin Abdul Shukor, head of Corporate Services of MDEC. (Picture credit: MDEC)

” What sets Involve Asia off is its&nbsp, commitment to transparency, performance monitoring, and data-driven insight, making it a trusted partner for organizations looking to expand their digital footprint across the place”, says Rene Menezes, president and co-founder of Involve Asia.

Backed by popular opportunity capital and private equity firms like 500 Startups, OSK Technology Ventures, and Bintang Capital Partners, the company has established a solid presence across Asia, with offices across six countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Last year alone, Involve Asia raised over US$ 10 million ( RM44.6 million ) in funding to fuel its expansion and product development. The company’s remarkable achievement led to a 150 % annualised growth rate from its beginning stages to pre-IPO success.

The potential of MarTech has been successfully used by Involve Asia to spur growth and spur innovation in digital marketing. By integrating sophisticated equipment, Involve Asia optimises strategy management, enabling detailed targeting and real-time efficiency analytics. These abilities have enabled the business to implement effective strategies that have constantly yielded higher ROI for their clients, including data-driven influence marketing campaigns and highly personalized affiliate programs.

Their creative thinking and creative use of technologies have not only provided thousands of SMEs with new opportunities, but they also established new standards for the environment. The MarTech and online innovative industries act as catalysts for a more diverse and robust digital economy in addition to being growth drivers. These companies are maximizing the full potential of these sectors with MDEC’s proper support, ensuring overall financial growth. &nbsp,

These organizations are poised to remain at the forefront of the online business, supporting progress and enabling businesses to grow in an extremely competitive and technologically connected world as they continue to embrace and progress with the most recent developments in MarTech and electronic information.

For Malaysian online standing companies, MDEC offers a variety of programs. Work for this Malaysia Digital Status.

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‘We want to have a say’: PM Wong on the importance of summits like G20

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ASEAN, GERMANY AND FRANCE This means we need to” strengthen our own neighbourhood”, Mr Wong said, referring to the&nbsp, Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ). He highlighted the job done between ASEAN members in some areas, including&nbsp, modern and efficient communication, a regional energy grid and transaction systems.Continue Reading

Friend or foe? Southeast Asia braces for Trump 2.0 – Asia Times

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BANGKOK – As Southeast Asian nations grapple with US President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant language and business war threats, the approaching party’s next trip will set the region’s trade-dependent nations on edge and its autocratic regimes at ease.

” In his first term, he]Trump ] did not exhibit interest in the promotion of democracy or human rights”, Kantathi Suphamongkhon, a former Thai foreign minister and trade representative, said in an interview. ” This trend is expected to continue.

” Administrations in Southeast Asia will feel less or no stress on this front,” sage Kantathi predicted.

Those officials, including in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, all seen as leaning toward China, can expect less clash from Washington in responding to their lack of good votes, free speech and other animal rights-related issues, which Democrat administrations like the cheerful Joe Biden state generally emphasize.

Provincial leaders reportedly change their political stances in response to Trump’s unpredictable behavior.

” Under his strongman administration, a personal connection with him has heightened price,” Kantathi said”. The advantage will be those who can accurately compliment Trump. Charm offensive abilities may be made more valuable.

The former leading minister added that “government officials who favor a transactional approach and dedication to work toward a deal harmony with the US will be seen in a good light.”

As businesses seek to relocate their operations from China to Southeast Asia in order to avoid Trump’s tariffs, Trump’s return to power could lead to a US-China trade war, according to analysts.

A first trade war salvo on a few Chinese goods, which Trump had previously won, spooked many businesses and prevented them from entering Southeast Asia and from China to avoid tariffs and quotas on “made-in-China” goods and services. Vietnam was one of the victims of that migration, but others might benefit from a larger exodus in the future.

If US President-elect Donald Trump follows his threat to radically increase tariffs on Chinese goods, Cambodia could be a major winner, according to a recent online article from the Phnom Penh-based Khmer Times. According to the statement,” US companies are already looking for alternative sources of goods to shift their production from China to the kingdom [Cambodia].”

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice president Lim Heng told the local publication,” We know all about the]trade ] war threat between China and America. Chinese companies will be more reliant on this threat to invest in Cambodia.

He predicted that” chinese businesses and regional businesses will invest in Cambodia and export to the US, Europe, and other countries.”

Cambodian exports of clothing, electrical goods, raw materials, and travel accessories could benefit from new US tariffs, which Trump has suggested will rise to 60 % for all goods made in China and 20 % elsewhere.

Still, regional countries will rue having to make the push-comes-to-shove choice of backing either the US or China if the world’s two biggest economies wage an all-out trade war.

Some people worry that Trump’s tariffs will put more of China’s excess goods in nearby Southeast Asian markets, putting more low-cost, competitive pressure on local manufacturers and businesses.

A Bangkok Post editorial warned on November 8 that the Thai government should be careful not to be perceived as having an unfavorably close relationship with China or acting as a hub for Chinese investors.

” We want to be loved by China. We want to be loved by America”, said Thailand’s Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan in September before Trump’s election win.

However, some in Asia believe that America, which is battling hostilities and wars across the globe and that needs friends and allies, is becoming increasingly desperate.

According to Wanwichit Boonprong, a lecturer in political science at Bangkok’s Rangsit University,” Southeast Asia now has more bargaining power than before and sees that the United States will re-enter the conflict in the South China Sea.” Therefore, America’s position is not as strong as before.”

Indeed, China appears to be gaining in regional influence.

” He]Trump ] should know that in recent years, Chinese capital has had a huge influence in]Southeast Asian ] countries, both legally and illegally, and many countries are happy to accept it because of their geopolitical location that is very close to China, coupled with the fact that many countries have Chinese descent, and in terms of culture or tradition it is easy to accept being Chinese,” Wanwichit said.

For instance, during the anti-communist purges and extrajudicial killings that targeted ethnic Chinese throughout the archipelagora during the old Cold War, China was Indonesia‘s adversary.

Today, Beijing has built a Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure-building program and has poured billions into the nation’s nickel industry, a key element in the global transition to electric vehicles ( EVs ).

He should be aware that several Asian nations have increasingly sought to maintain balance between China and the US as a result of the rise of China in the [Southeast Asian ] region and what appears to be Washington’s diminished interest there. This includes Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia,” Paul Chambers, a Southeast Asian security affairs specialist at Naresuan University, said in an interview.

Regional nations that believe China exerts excessive pressure on itself for power and influence may concur with Trump’s resumption of the presidency.

” Given Trump’s demonstrated anti-China policy in his first term, his return to office in 2024 points to more economic and security benefits for countries feeling bullied by China in Asia, namely Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, and South Korea,” Chambers said.

” Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia are the frontline states in the eyes of the United States as a result of China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea,” Kasit Piromya, another former Thai foreign minister, said in an interview.

Washington and Bangkok enjoy close diplomatic, economic, and, especially, military relations – all of which are expected to continue under Trump.

” If Trump offers positive inducements to the Thai military, relations will improve,” Chambers, an expert in the Thai military, said.

Thailand, a non-NATO US treaty ally, excels at balancing its relations with China and the US delicately by looking for the advantages that each superpower offers the country.

Trump’s return to the White House coincides with the US Pentagon’s hopes to sell Lockheed Martin’s F-16 warplanes to Thailand against strong competition from Sweden’s Saab-made Gripen E/F fighter aircraft.

Eight AH-6″ Little Bird combat helicopters are currently being built by US defense contractor Boeing for the Royal Thai Army, and Thai pilots will soon be trained at Yuma Proving Ground in Mesa, Arizona.

In July, a couple of Beechcraft/Textron AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft were delivered from its Providence, Rhode Island-based factory to Thailand’s air force.

Possible options include arming the Wolverines with laser-guided bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and other weapons. A dozen patrol boats were given to the Thai Marine Police by the US a year ago.

In October, US Ambassador to Thailand Chusak Sirinil, a minister, met with the prime minister’s office to discuss how the US is ready to work with Thailand in a number of areas, including modernizing the military, battling drugs, and strengthening economic ties. Chusak said”, Thailand remains a steadfast ally of the United States.”

Countries like Cambodia could face new scrutiny for their close financial ties with Chinese companies that have profited from the nation’s real estate, natural resources, tourism, and other industries if Trump adopts a targeted hard line against Beijing and its regional allies.

US-Cambodia relations are already strained by Washington’s criticism of Phnom Penh’s slide toward authoritarianism and human rights clampdown. Cambodia has accused the US of interfering with its internal affairs and even suggested that the country attempted to start a” color revolution” to overthrow previous Prime Minister Hun Sen’s regime.

Additionally, according to Phnom Penh’s repeated denials, the US believes that Cambodia has entered a secret pact that grants China access to its Ream Naval Base along the Gulf of Thailand.

Senate President Hun Sen, who allegedly hoped to bolster ties with Trump, optimistically posted on his Facebook page:

” Before the election, Donald Trump sent a message to the American people and around the world about loving peace, war-hating, ]and ] so-called pacifism. Trump’s victory demonstrates that Americans prefer peace over a direct conflict with Israel and Ukraine.

Since 1978, Richard Ehrlich has been a foreign correspondent for the American government in Bangkok. Excerpts from his two new nonfiction books”, Rituals. Killers. Wars. &amp, Sex. — Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka &amp, New York “and” Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers &amp, Freaks “are available <a href="https://asia-correspondent.tumblr.com/”>here.

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