Once a snooker player, this Singaporean will now compete in Street Fighter at the Asian Games

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In 2016, Chia was later introduced to users of the Street Fighter area, including Ho Kun Xian, a professional gamer and nbsp.

He recalled that there used to be an Alienware Gaming eatery in Chinatown, but it is now closed. ” When I was free, I would simply meet them when they used to hang out there about every Friday.”

Chia, who participated in his first major championship in 2017 and placed in the top 20, was reminded of how this environment also tapped into his aggressive side.

In my very first tournament, I had the opportunity to play” Tokido”( professional fighter Hajime Taniguchi ), one of my fighting game heroes, and it was a very enlightening experience. I therefore enjoyed it and never looked up.

According to Chia, who was named Intel World Open SEA Champion in 2021, there were highs and lows along the way. He placed next in both the Evolution Championship Series 2021 Online Asia South and the Capcom Pro Tour Southeast Asia that same year.

The Capcom Pro Tour Southeast Asia was won by Chia the following month.

When I competed in competitions, I suffered many losses as well as some victories. He continued,” And I believe, like any other sports, it is quite emotionally discouraging.”

It depends on how much energy you’re willing to put in and how determined you are, but you just have to endure and with time, progress may come and results will result.

Chia is drawn to Street Fighter for two reasons, the first of which is that it is a unique activity.

” I’ve always preferred solitary activities or contests. Yet when I watch Television, I still favor table tennis, snooker, basketball, and golf. I occasionally like to see ball ,” he said.

Secondly, I enjoy the benefit that comes with it. I didn’t have to claim that someone” carried” me if I perform well in a competition.

Chia has had the support of a loving community throughout his Street Fighter endeavors.

” My family has always been very encouraging of it. Fortunately, my parents don’t live in the past. They have always been very supportive of me and are generally very open-minded. I’m therefore quite appreciative ,” he said.

The assistance from his wife in particular has always been” immense ,” Chia continued.

She has undoubtedly witnessed the reduction of my billiard and that stage. She therefore said,” Just go and do it ,” when I started to find love in competing in another sport or game.

A” Severe Fact.”

Chia, an oil and gas professional, usually practices for approximately four hours four times per week. It’s important to strike a balance to avoid lose out because Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays are for spending time with his family, he said.

There are still instances where I overdo it, there are instances in which I lack discipline, and I only practice on Sundays. He said,” I usually don’t do that, but on some days I start and never stop.

I may perform, for instance, from 2 to 7 o’clock in the afternoon. If that occurs, it will then gradually get up to me after in the week. When that occurs,( and) I become too exhausted, I typically take a half-week break to completely re-energize myself.

But as Chia emphasized, development comes with discipline.

I might pick things up quicker than other folks, but I don’t think of myself as brilliant. It won’t take long for you to reach a certain amount if you start out in the sport, enjoy yourself, and put in enough practice, he said.

Chia often practices with athletes from nations like Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as part of his preparation for the Asian Games. These include well-known gamers from the gaming industry like Masato & nbsp, Takahashi, Taniguchi,” Oil King”( Leevy Lin ), and” Bonchan.”

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‘Charlot’ in Cambodia: New novel explores Charlie Chaplin’s midlife crisis in French Indochina

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There was no power, only a few books, and an enormous river crossing. First-time author Ian Masters, 49, grew up in rural villages, which also provided him with creative freedom as a young American man living abroad. & nbsp,

When Masters was younger, he would spend a lot of time simply gazing at the river close to his parents’ home in the past Zaire, which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wondering where people and their tales originated. & nbsp,

He wrote one of those long-dreamed tales about 40 years afterwards.

The first book by Ian Master is” Charlot.” picture provided.

In his first book, Charlot, Masters explores Charlie Chaplin’s internal conflict as he travels through then-French Indochina in 1936 to try to reconcile the two edges of his character. In Charlot, a fictionalized account of actual events, Chaplin abandons his” Little Tramp” part in the midst of Cambodia’s social unrest. & nbsp,

This book, according to Masters,” is a testament to the ability of tale and storytelling to bind people together and make substantial connections.”

Before relocating to Cambodia in 2010, Masters spent well over ten years as a blogger in the Television, drama, and television industries. He began working on the TV comedy line” Love9″ for BBC Media Action that in 2013 and started doing research on Chaplin’s excursion to the area.

Masters told the Globe,” We were creating a character for the show, and the team suggested the name” Charley ,” to be modeled on” Saklo ,” which was the Khmer equivalent of Charlot( which was) the French name for Charlie Chaplin. I quickly learned that Chaplin continued to have a big impact on Cambodian comedians, who frequently wore his trademark brush beard. More than that, I learned that he had really taken a lengthy trip to Indochina in 1936 following the publication of” Modern Times.”

Masters wanted to learn more about Chaplin, a middle-aged man who was 47 at the time and on the verge of being surpassed by technologies, during this crucial time in the writer’s job. Chaplin had vowed not to make another movie, but something happened while he was in Indochina that caused him to switch from silent movies to talkies, cultural comedies to social satire. & nbsp,

Visitors might interpret the fictionalized account of Chaplin’s growing fear as Masters’ way of outlining how a midlife crisis typically develops. Undoubtedly, a wave of sudden tumult that brings buried personality issues to the surface hits many people who believed they had discovered their real selves by their 40s.

When Masters decided to grab his notebook and write this story during the 2020 Covid crisis, he was almost simply Chaplin’s time. Masters rapidly expanded on his character’s history, fusing point with fantasy to create the novel, from a 2, 000 word screenplay.

A Charlot viewer might be perplexed by an implicit connection between Chaplin’s and Masters’ life. While Chaplin transitioned from silent films to” talkies ,” Masters is making the switch from being a multi-award-winning screenwriter to an author. & nbsp,

More information about the author’s excursion was provided to the Globe.

Holding his soon-to-be-published book” Charlot ,” Ian Masters. Photo provided.

Before writing this book, had you ever considered becoming a writer or poet?

I returned to the United Kingdom after growing up in the Congo and fell in love with English books. I became very active in theater and attended the University of Cambridge to study English books. At the time, I wasn’t really considering writing books, but I did begin to experiment with my writing and mind. When I was around twelve years old, I recall beginning to write my first book in the back of my mechanics textbook. I don’t think I’ve always finished it. & nbsp,

I then became more interested in screenwriting, and in 1999, my partner and I established a training program for screenwriters in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, where we collaborated with fresh authors and accents to produce numerous short videos.

I pursued a master’s degree in filmmaking, but primarily it was this fascination with listening to people tell their stories from various locations and trying to come up with ideas for what to do with all that natural materials. You try to make stories out of the strange and bizarre figure conditions you encounter as an analyst.

Do you have any personal connections to Charlie Chaplin’s living? Why is there such a strong curiosity in him? Do you feel as though your life are related in any way?

It is obvious that Charlie Chaplin has absolutely nothing to do with my career. He is a perfect talent, but I believe there are some issues that writers and artists face, as he did to some extent. & nbsp,

One of the earliest memories I have of Chaplin’s function is of returning to the United Kingdom after spending years in the Congo and sitting in a place with an eight-meter display that depicts the actor from” Mabel at the Wheel.” Sincerely, I hadn’t given it much thought until a couple years afterward, when I was in Cambodia.

Even though she belongs to the YouTuber technology, my daughter completely adored some of Chaplin’s movies when I showed them to her at that time.

As I continued to read more about Chaplin’s life, I became aware that much had been written about the first years of his life but much less about his early years, when he was in his middle age.

Naturally, I was also approaching middle age and wondering,” Well, what kinds of issues do writers, artists, and designers deal with?”

In” The Great Dictator ,” he had to” kill” the Tramp in order to speak in his own voice even though people didn’t want him to because that’s what technology was demanding. But after that, his subsequent movies, and his final couple, you are aware that he was banished from Hollywood. He was essentially thrown out.

Therefore, what I most relate to Chaplin’s career is the process of struggling with your speech, first trying to figure out what it is, not trusting it, and having all of that imposter syndrome. & nbsp,

How did you develop each section of your text, then, keeping this in mind? & nbsp,

It began as a story. This entire narrative had been written as a narrative, from beginning to end. I decided to copy that into a Word document and simply add some words to make it more entertaining.

It turned out to be more difficult than that. It was obvious that I had to adapt it from a story. & nbsp,

Another one of his histories was something I didn’t want to write. Now, there were far too many of them. Making a fictional story that wouldn’t affect the historical reality of his life was therefore somewhat difficult.

Luckily, I already had the story in the form of a story. As a result, some of the novel’s creating felt quite robotic. It appeared as though I was simply dividing images into sections. & nbsp,

Do you intend to create additional ebooks?

I would adore to. even though I’m still working on films right now.

My great-grandfather spent his formative years working a bit in the Congo and self-publishing some works. I was very interested in discussing these books with my father and perhaps incorporating them into a fresh book. But if you prefer, that would be more of a piece of introspection.

I’m currently midway through a book that is more about expat existence in Cambodia. a lot more enjoyable, lighter, and traditional fiction-related.

But foremost, I’m sort of anticipating Charlot’s progress.

What kind of influence do you think this text will have on the people who read it?

Well, I detest the fact that Chaplin’s like is waning over time. I’d like to see more people participate in Chaplin’s job.

I’d really like for readers to interact with this text and gain some insight into a figure they thought they knew but have since learned more about. & nbsp,

It would also be interesting to see it turned into a film because, in my opinion, that’s when it comes to life.

Do you have any suggestions for aspiring authors?

Exercise question yourself. I have therefore been writing this book for a very long time. Don’t judge yourself, is the tips. Simply enjoy what you’re trying to say and make an effort to talk honestly to it. & nbsp,

* Monsoon Books does release Charlot in October. Learn a passage around.

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‘Shadow fleet’ oil tankers pose growing risk in SEA

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People of Batam, Indonesia, the largest city in the nation’s Riau Islands, awoke on May 3 to find beaches covered in oil. & nbsp,

The Pablo, a 26-year-old ship with story of transporting sanctioned crude oil, was the alleged cause. A fire on board the ship two days prior caused numerous blasts that tore open the fuel tank and dumped their material into the water. The ship has been left floating in the South China Sea abandoned, with no one being able to move her thus much. She has no known landlord or employer with whom authorities can communicate. & nbsp,

Local authorities in Batam were tasked with cleaning tons of fuel spend from tourist-clogged beaches. Places somewhere along Southeast Asia’s busy shipping paths may do well to take notice, despite the fact that the recovery effort was far from the largest in the region.

One in five unprocessed oil tankers are now part of the global” dark ship” that transports sanctioned fuel from Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. As this sector has grown, so has the number of mishaps involving these containers. There were as many groundings involving ships transporting sanctioned fuel as in the previous three years combined, according to the most recent report on health and transport by European employer Allianz.

According to Madani Samir, co-founder of the website crude oil delivery monitoring services TankerTrackers.com, sanctioned oil has long been transported through the waterways in and around the Riau Islands to China. He explained that ship-to-ship transfers are used for the transhipments, which are typically carried out without many of the security features used by the main tanker ship in such operations.

They harm the environment because they constantly spill fuel. “& nbsp,

Madani Samir

” They will do the transhipment there so they can return quickly and pick up more oil ,” Madani said.” It’s a good halfway location to the destination. They harm the environment because they constantly spill oil; there are no port authorities manifest, no push boats to help, and no growth lines surrounding the ships in case of an oil spill. “& nbsp,

Beyond the dangerous activities carried out by” shadow fleet” containers, there is lively concern about the condition of the ships themselves. In addition, & nbsp,

Madani remarked,” The containers are living longer than they ought to.” Typically, someone enters with a million dollars higher bid just before they are sold for combat, grabs hold of that ship, and throws it up into movement.

The market’s dynamics to avoid sanctions actively encourage for risky behavior. According to Jonathan McConnell, leader of the maritime surveillance company Meridian, traders who deal in sanctioned oil elsewhere in the supply chain typically charter the cheapest shipping option available, irrespective of health or climate risks.

” I believe that in many instances, particularly when dealing with sanctioned fuel, they’re going to go for the lowest bidder ,” he said.

The masters of these ships have actively avoided the expenses of inspection and repair by flagging their warships with nations like Gabon or Mongolia in the race to the middle on contract value. These nations are appealing to shipowners looking to operate a ship that does not adhere to Oil Companies International Marine Forum ( OCIMF ) standards because they are likely to have less capacity to enforce international standards for the tanker trade.

These dynamics now apply to the ships transporting Russian crude oil because also, as a result of the E. U., US, and G7 restrictions on the country. From roughly one fourth of seaborne exports prior to the war to roughly two thirds following the imposition of unrefined export restrictions in December, the proportion of Russia’s main oil mix, Urals, transported by boats older than 15 years of age has doubled.

There is a slim chance of holding any of the involved professional actors responsible for any environmental harm if these practices do result in an accident. Many of the ships involved in the industry are not insured by any known party, and many more are only covered by report.

There is always someone who will offer – unquote’ secure’ a company if it doesn’t meet the security record, McConnell said. They’ll give you the piece of paper, but if there is an event, they won’t make it up to you.

If an insurance company refuses to pay restitution following an incident, applicants may take it to court. However, James M. Turner, a maritime attorney with the London-based firm Quadrant Chambers, clarified that unless the insurer has assets in the nation where the judgment was obtained, rulings in such cases are successfully invalid.

Additionally, while obtaining payment for an economic crisis from an insurance company that refuses to pay may be very challenging, getting payment from the shipbuilder is frequently nearly impossible.

According to Turner, if a terrible responsibility is incurred and the fleet is lost in incurring the responsibility, there will be no property against which you can maintain any sort of claim. In most cases,” the ship will ultimately be owned by one ship company whose only asset is the vessel.”

The international community is compelled to move in and pay the bill because there is no way to get compensation from those who profit from the trade in permitted oil. The International Oil Pollution Compensation ( IOPC ) Funds are the de-facto underwriters of last resort in the global tanker trade. They are mutual funds established by the International Maritime Organization, a U.N. organization in charge of regulating international shipping, to compensate for oil spills to member states. & nbsp,

When the MT Princess Empress sank in the Philippines this year, the organization was forced to pay the victims of an oil spill brought on by a extremely outdated and poorly maintained ship. The circumstances surrounding that flow were relatively favorable because the ship’s owner, the Filipino-owned RDC Reield Marine Services, was well-known and covered by a respectable insurer willing to pay for damages.

On March 22, 2023, fuel spilled from the sunken ship Princess Empress along the shoreline of Pola, in the Philippines’ Oriental Mindoro province, is being cleaned up by a fisherman wearing personal protective gear. Jam Sta Rosa took the picture for AFP.

In the event of a significant oil flow involving savage ship like the Pablo, none of these elements may be taken for granted.

The region’s governments have taken notice of the growing risk that these tankers pose to the environment and marine traffic. & nbsp,

In the first quarter of this year, Singapore detained more ships than in the whole generation between 2009 and 2019 due to unsafe inspections. The Indian coast guard, however, has pledged to step up patrols and was able to capture an Iranian-flagged tanker in July that was transporting oil illegally through Indonesia’s waters.

Even China, the main country for sanctioned oil transiting the Straits of Malacca, has taken note of the dangers these ships pose, including increasing & nbsp, safety checks on older tankers at the port of Qingdao, a significant hub for the nation’s oil imports. & nbsp,

This might not be enough to stop a significant fuel flow in the future, though, given the large number of dangerous boats that are still traveling through South Asian waters and acting in dangerous ways. Any significant flow could probably play havoc on the environment and permanently harm the reputation for safety that the tanker industry has worked so hard to establish.

McConnell said,” I think the genuine masters would love to see some protection here against these negative stars, but it’s just not happening.”

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Hun Sen’s seemingly seamless succession in Cambodia

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Longtime Thai Prime Minister Hun Sen’s anticipated transfer of power to his brother went practically exactly as planned after a century of laying the social groundwork there. & nbsp,

Hun Sen & nbsp was barred from its platforms in the run-up to the July 2023 election, eliminating a crucial outlet for government propaganda, and not even Meta was able to stop the inevitable outcome.

On July 23, 2023, Hun Manet, the eldest child and the first elected member of the National Assembly, took office. The actual shock came when Hun Sen announced a clear timeline for his departure after 38 years in office despite numerous declarations that he wanted to hold onto his position well into the 2030s.

As a result, Manet will move from being the prime minister-designate, which he was given by the Cambodian People’s Party( CPP ) in December 2021, to the position on August 22, 2023. Hun Sen may take office as Senate President and continue to lead the CPP, maintaining a sizable amount of influence.

The majority of spectators have offered justifications for this orderly transfer of power that highlight Cambodia’s lack of democracy and the rule of law. Press releases denouncing the July votes, which have been a chorus heard since the 1990s, were quickly released by some institutions. & nbsp,

Hun Manet on the path of his plan. Facebook Screengrab photo

The elections” were neither free nor fair ,” according to Washington & nbsp, and they also pointed to the” restrictive political environment” and the lack of” multi-party democracy and respect for human rights.”

While some governments, including Australia’s, and some sent gratitude, & nbsp, like Beijing, most reiterated their unhappiness with the political process, while others remained strangely silent. Manet is in charge from this vantage point because he had no other option. An illegal poll results in an illegal prime minister.

Cambodian scientists and despotism have offered more enlightening responses. The” hereditary succession ,” according to Neil Loughin, resulted from a two-fold strategy that was almost flawlessly carried out. & nbsp,

To & nbsp, a methodical dismantling of opposition parties and affiliated institutions outside the CPP, was the first component of the strategy. Several places for protest against Manet’s succession were left after all opposition was put down.

The following tactic was to properly manage any possible CPP opposition to Manet. The Hun family has maintained balance by dividing the nation’s treasures among the upcoming era of CPP leaders, allowing influential group members like Minister of National Defense Tea Banh and Interior Sar Kheng to pass on their own opportunities to their kids.

Another explanation for why the sequence was met with little resistance is found in the CPP’s strategies for & nbsp, education, and youth engagement. This explanation is frequently unrecognized by the media. & nbsp: After the 2013 election, when opposition parties unexpectedly gained support from younger voters, it was important to learn how to appeal to young people. & nbsp,

In order to address the younger generation of voters, who spend more time looking at their phones than watching television, Hun Sen & nbsp embraced Facebook. Because of this, Meta’s banning in 2023 was significant.

However, the children plan went beyond Facebook. Since June 2020, Manet has served as the leader of a CPP Youth Working Group that has started promoting both inside and outside of Cambodia the traditions and interests of the country. & nbsp,

Numerous college scholarships were given by Hun Sen-affiliated organizations, and numerous public schools had their names changed to reflect illustrious CPP wealthy families.

The Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, a purportedly nonprofit organization that promotes education and healthcare across the nation, was also presided over by Hun Sen’s eldest brother. & nbsp,

In the minds of younger voters, the CPP has come to be seen as a destination for much of the country’s political generosity over the past ten years.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) poses for a picture during a ceremony at a compound of factories in Phnom Penh on September 6, 2017. Photo: AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy
On September 6, 2017, Hun Sen poses for a photo with shop personnel in Phnom Penh. The photo is of him with them. AFP / Tang Chhin Sothy photo

However, there was a stick for every academic turnip. There is proof that the CPP’s top executives started line-editing the Thai education in 2009, removing material they deemed to be harmful to their interests. More recently, subjects like the color revolution were included in textbooks, & nbsp, which matched Hun Sen’s rhetoric with courses in education.

These initiatives centrally stifled the growth of critical thinking among Cambodia’s children, just as the opponent was systematically destroyed. Many young people were taught to recognize the status quo and not question the way things are now. The CPP did everything it could to prevent reruns of the 2013 poll, and it was successful.

Controlling children and education, putting an end to internal strife, and eliminating any criticism paved the way for Manet’s coronation. It is possible— though certainly not inevitable — that Hun Manet’s reign will continue unchallenged for years, if not decades, to come because the effects of these strategies are likely to last long after the election.

At the University of Canberra, Will Brehm teaches as an associate professor of education. He is the co-editor of .apo-tokyo.org/publications/public-policy-innovation-for-human-capital-development/” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Public Policy Innovation for Human Capital Development, & nbsp, Memory in the Mekong, and npsc, as well as the author of .taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003397144/education-power-contemporary-southeast-asia-azmil-tayeb-rosalie-metro-brehm” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Education and Power in Contemporary Southeast Asia and .routledge.com/Cambodia-for-Sale-Everyday-Privatization-in-Education-and-Beyond/Brehm/p/book/9780367712044″ rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Cambodia for Sale.

This andnbsp, post, and was originally published by East Asia Forum and are being reprinted with permission from Creative Commons.

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In Vietnam, a controversial planned execution strains death penalty

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In the case of Nguyen Van Chuong, whether he is dead or alive is anyone’s guess.

Nguyen’s community is still unsure of when he will receive a lethal venom injection, or even if it has already occurred, fifteen years after his death sentence in the port city of Hai Phong in northeastern Vietnam.

In a letter to the court dated August 4 that was also posted to Facebook, Chuong’s father, Nguyen Truong Chinh, stated that he had received” a notice of the execution of my son, Nongi Van Chuhong ,” implying that the Court of Hai Phong City had insisted on killing his son. In order to politely ask the appropriate government to look into the situation and save my brother from injustice, I am writing this letter.

The judge had asked him if he wanted his brother’s body and possessions returned after his execution that evening, which is a phone that no parents ever wants. The family father was informed that he had three days to submit a written request to retrieve his brother’s body or ashes, though it was unclear whether the murder had already taken place or was scheduled.

Since then, he has been protesting while holding banners in front of the courthouse.

One of his banners read,” Dear friends who love justice and freedom, please share[ this crusade ] to aid prisoner Nguyen Van Chuong.”

For the alleged 2007 murder of a high-ranking law agent, the younger Nguyen, 40, has been on death row since 2008. Popular Vietnamese attorneys who have argued for leniency in response to allegations that police tortured Nguyen in order to obtain a confession as well as other obvious irregularities in his conviction became aware of his case.

Nguyen’s attorneys appealed to the Supreme Court when he received his initial suicide sentence in 2008. However, the case was swiftly dismissed, escalating public outrage over the trial’s purported injustice. In Vietnam, where rights organizations claim judges have given death sentences more frequently in recent years, the opposition on the statement and the apparent impending execution have broken the veil of secrecy that protects news about such cases.

One of the 55 nations in the world that still execute its residents is Vietnam. Amnesty International claims that because” secrecy and limiting state practices” prevent an accurate assessment, many deaths go unreported. More than 119 people received death words in Vietnam between 2020 and 2021, according to the charitable organization’s estimate of a 30 % increase in the death penalty.

The nation had then follow just China and Iran in carrying out executions.

Despite having no apparent connection to the officer’s death, Nguyen and two other men who were accused of being complicit in the shooting were apparently handcuffed, beaten, and threatened from the moment of his collar until they confessed.

Strong alibi witnesses who testified under oath that they were with Nguyen in his hometown of Hai Duong, around 40 kilometers away from the assault, provided strong evidence. However, rather than looking into the evidence, authorities swiftly detained Nguyen Trong Doan, his younger brother, for tampering with witnesses and the facts.

Officials came to the conclusion that the three suspects killed and robbed the agent in order to obtain heroin. Nguyen was sentenced to death course, while the other two received long prison terms.

Nadia Ivanova, chairman of People in Need’s center for human rights and democracy and one of the 13 signatories to an open letter to the Taiwanese president urging an immediate end to Nguyen” murder, stated that” as of recent data we have, he is still alive and has received the notice for his implementation.” ” A few days after the announcement, his household managed to pay a visit to his incarceration.”

However, despite the case’s obvious public interest, Ivanova claimed that discussions have only been held in casual settings.

The fact that there has been almost no national media coverage on the case or about the notification itself since August 4 — the notification day— has really concerned us about this case. She claimed that the majority of the knowledge came from social internet, specifically his family’s Facebook post.

During an interview with AFP on April 24, 2018, Nguyen Truong Chinh, his brother and death row inmate, displayed beautifully crafted animals made from acrylic bags at his Hai Duong, Vietnam, home. The palm-sized works that death row inmates have covertly created and smuggled from their isolated cell provide a unique look at life in prison in Vietnam, which is thought to be home to one of the nation’s top executioners. AFP pictures by Nguyen Nhac.

When Nguyen’s appeal was denied by the Supreme Court in 2013, a number of attorneys and human rights activists pointed out discrepancies and legal flaws in the exploration, trial, and appeal stages of his case. These include discrepancies in witness claims, disputed inferences of weapons and knives, and a lack of research into Nguyen’s evidence, including cellphone records.

Some legal professionals even think he’s really a scapegoat.

Le Cong Dinh, a human right attorney and former vice president of the Ho Chi Minh Bar Association, stated that” we believe that the sufferer had some issues with another officer regarding the job development.” ” The murderer is probably the other police officer ,” she said. However, the authorities charged [ Nguyen ] with hiding this case.

Vietnam imposes the death penalty for 22 crimes, including murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, sexual assault on children, and financial crimes like problem. The death penalty is most frequently used for drug-related crimes, with possession of cocaine and heroin or smuggling punishable by death, but money punishment is almost always used in serious corruption instances and violent crimes.

” Due to rape, we raised a lot of voices against death in custody in Vietnam. But given that this is how Vietnam looks into fugitive cases, I don’t see any changes in the future.

Le Cong Dinh, a solicitor for human right

This time, the public has expressed an odd concern that Nguyen’s test was harsh and that he might have been tortured in order to get a confession.

” Taiwanese people don’t typically react strongly to cases involving the demise penalty.” Nguyen Khac Giang, a Taiwanese political analyst and visiting fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said that this was one of the rare occasions when the community became very active on social media, calling for fairness and re-examining the case.

Nguyen cited the widespread belief that there may have been a serious violation of due process, including possibly even abuse during the interviews leading to” a required admission of guilt ,” despite having no interpersonal connection to the prisoner.

It’s almost certain that magistrates in Vietnam have already rendered a decision before you even stand trial, he said. Additionally, a lot is unknown about this situation, particularly how the prosecutors and the authorities conducted their investigation.

Le from the Bar Association stated that there is no turning back after a wrongful murder and that the only way to address the issues of abuse and unfair execution is to completely abolish the practice.

Because of rape, we spoke out strongly against the death penalty in Vietnam. But given that this is how Vietnam looks into fugitive circumstances, I don’t see any changes in the future, Le said.

” I have no desire for upcoming adjustments.” We have no other option but to abolish the death penalty. No dying is what we want. We have occasion to save the people if we have any additional information.

Nguyen of ISEAS is more upbeat. He acknowledges Vietnam’s adoption of new rules to conform to international standards of fairness and due process and believes that his nation has advanced over the years. A nationwide requirement that voice recorders and various witnesses be present in question rooms is one of these.

Such actions might pave the way for a future court method that is more clear. However, for the time being, the life of the condemned Nguyen’s community and the lives of their son and brother are in jeopardy.

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The 8th PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards celebrate success in the real estate market – Southeast Asia Globe

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PropertyGuru Group( NYSE: PGRU ), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, announced today the winners of the 8th Annual PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards, supported by donors CBRE Cambodia, Dewan Architects and Engineers, and SALTO Systems. & nbsp,

Property development companies and real estate projects from all over the kingdom competed for prestigious & nbsp, honours on Friday, 18 August 2023 at the Grand Ballroom of Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

OCIC Group won the top award of Best Engineer for the first time ever while its project Diamond Bay Garden won two accolades, including Best Condo Development( Cambodia ). Siha Property Co., Ltd was named Best Store Programmer while its project Siha Residence won four awards, including Best Housing Development ( Cambodia ). & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Marum Estate, a project by Sir Stamford Raffles( Cambodia ) Co., Ltd., also won four awards, including Best Township Development. Canopy Sands Development garnered three honors for its job Bay of Lights, including Best Township Masterplan Design. & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Another award – winning projects this time include Angkor Sereymongkol by Sok Tonh Real Estate, Apsor Mera by Bosba Property Co., Ltd, Dragon Land 598 by Dragon Land Investment Co., Ltd., La Maison Plaza by Cambestate Management Co., Ltd., Maline Office by Maline Office Co., Ltd, Mean Chey Avenue by RM Commercial Co., Ltd., The Garden Residency 2 by JS Land Plc, and Vong Residence by Bossba Investment Co., Ltd.

Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, president of Prince Holding Group, accepted the Cambodia Real Estate Personality of the Year prize from the editorial staff of Property Report by PropertyGuru, the standard publication of the Awards. Under Neak Oknha’s leadership, & nbsp, Prince Holding Group has & nbsp, invested in over a million square metres of projects throughout the kingdom.

” The Awards this month continue to celebrate success in the Cambodia home business”, said Jules Kay, GM of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events. ” With growing interest from local customers and international buyers in quality houses and advancements, Cambodia certainly remains one of the country’s most important and impressive border markets”.

” Thanks to the prize winners in Cambodia this year for creating such great – quality residential and commercial innovations”, said Jeremy Williams, managing director, Marketplaces, PropertyGuru Group. ” These components have tremendous potential to lead to economic development in Cambodia, supported by its resilient local real estate market”.

The independent panel of judges who determined this year’s list of winners are Sorn Seap, chairperson of the Awards in Cambodia and president, Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association( CVEA ), David Granger, Siem Reap branch manager, IPS Real Estate Agency, Dilip Abye, architectural design manager, Archetype Cambodia, Jenny Chea Sok You, architect and managing director, CMED Construction, Jovany Antonio, residential director, DA & amp, G Asset Management, Kinkesa Kim, deputy managing director, CBRE Cambodia, Lim Veasna, partner and attorney – at – law, commercial arbitrator and mark agent, Vinaya Law Firm, Simon Griffiths, managing director, The Mall Company, Dr. Simon Vancliff, COO, Rose Marvel Co., Ltd, and Thida Ann, managing director, PropNex Cambodia.

HLB International Real Estate Group, led by Paul Ashburn, made the collection process as good, open, and reliable as possible.

Major state winners of the PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards will expand to the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, presented on Friday, 8 December in Bangkok, Thailand where they will compete for regional honors against their peers from several active home markets in the region.

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to encourage high – quality work within the economy, encompassing home development, construction, architecture, interior design, and green building practices. The line originally covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the country’s powerful property markets, including Australia, China, India, and Greater Niseko in Japan. & nbsp,

The 8th PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards are supported by gold sponsors CBRE Cambodia, silver sponsors & nbsp, Dewan Architects and Engineers and & nbsp, SALTO Systems, official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru, & nbsp, official publicity partner TWPR, & nbsp, media partners Bridges, Cambodia Begins at 40, Construction & amp, Property, Siemreap. net, and Southeast Asia Globe, supporting associations Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association( CVEA ) and EuroCham Cambodia, and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email & nbsp, awards @ propertyguru.com & nbsp, or visit the official website: & nbsp, AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

LIST OF WINNERS

8th PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards

Designer AWARDS

Best Engineer

Win: OCIC Group

Best Store Programmer

Win: Siha Property Co., Ltd

Creation AWARDS

Best Township Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

WINNER: Marum Estate by Sir Stamford Raffles( Cambodia ) Co., Ltd.

Best Mixed Use Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

WINNER: Marum Estate by Sir Stamford Raffles( Cambodia ) Co., Ltd.

Best Luxury Housing Development( Phnom Penh )

Win: Siha Residence by Siha Property Co., Ltd

Best High End Housing Development( Phnom Penh ) & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Dragon Land 598 by Dragon Land Investment Co., Ltd.

Best Affordable Condo Development( Phnom Penh ) & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

WINNER: The Garden Residency 2 by JS Land Plc & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Best Waterfront Condo Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Diamond Bay Garden by OCIC Group

Best Housing Development( Greater Phnom Penh ) & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Apsor Mera by Bosba Property Co., Ltd

Best Residential Development( Siem Reap ) & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Angkor Sereymongkol by Sok Tonh Real Property

Best Retail Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Mean Chey Avenue by RM Commercial Co., Ltd.

Best Leisure Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Bay of Lamps by Canopy Sands Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Best Shophouse Development & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: La Maison Plaza by Cambestate Management Co., Ltd.

Style AWARDS

Best Township Masterplan Design & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Bay of Lamps by Canopy Sands Development

Best Luxury Housing Architectural Design & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Siha Residence by Siha Property Co., Ltd

Best High End Housing Architectural Design & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

Win: Dragon Land 598 by Dragon Land Investment Co., Ltd.

Best Housing Architectural Design & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp, & nbsp,

WINNER: Marum Estate by Sir Stamford Raffles( Cambodia ) Co., Ltd.

The Best Luxury Housing Interior Design & nbsp, NBP, SNP, BSP, NBSPS, ANBsP, TNPs, ANDNBPSP

Win: Siha Residence by Siha Property Co., Ltd

The Best Housing Interior Design & nbsp, & NbSP, and nBSP, as well as the following acronyms: best housing interior design:

Bossba Investment Co., Ltd. ‘ s Vong Residence is the winner.

The Best Housing Landscape Design & nbsp, & ndrps, AndnBsP, A.B. S.P., B.S.

WINNER: Marum Estate by Sir Stamford Raffles( Cambodia ) Co., Ltd.   

Best Office Architectural Design, & nbsp, NBP, SNP, ANBSP, BSP, HNB, P, and NBSPS, As well as the following:

Win: Maline Office, a division of Malines Office Co., Ltd.

The Best Retail Architectural Design & nbsp, & NbSP, NBP, * BSP, > BPS, | NBS P

Win: Mean Chey Avenue by RM Commercial Co., Ltd.

Best Leisure Architectural Design, & nbsp, AndnBsP, A NBP, An NbSP, At BPS, Above and Beyond, As Well As Then, B. S. P., Sr.

Win: Bay of Lamps by Canopy Sands Development

BEST Honors FROM CAMBODIA

The Best Condo Development ( Cambodia ) & nbsp, ntbcspen, and bbpsf, as well as the following: acquires and condos: best condo development, cambinia

Win: Diamond Bay Garden by OCIC Group

The Best Housing Development( Cambodia ) & nbsp, NBP, SNP, NBSP, ANDNBSP, ABNBSPS, ATSN, AMBSPN

Win: Siha Residence by Siha Property Co., Ltd

THE PUBLISHER’S OPTION

The Year’s Real Estate Personality in Cambodia: Andnbsp, & nBSP, A NBSP, An NBPsP

Win: Prince Holding Group Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi

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Australia outlines national strategy to boost trade and investments with Southeast Asia

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” Southeast Asia is expanding extraordinarily.” By 2040, it will be the fourth-largest economy in the world and the next financial superstar, according to Mr. Albanese.

Nevertheless, he claimed that Australia’s trade and investment with the Southeast Asian region have lagged behind the expansion of the blocs’ economy.

” We have a lot more to perform.” We are committed to resolving this and making the most of the options available to our parts.

Two-way trade between Australia and ASEAN was worth more than A$ 178 billion( US$ 113 billion ) last year, while investment totaled about$ 307 billion($ 195 billion ).

AWARENESS RISE

Nicholas Moore, the American Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, stated that there needs to be more awareness of potential business prospects between the two areas.

He hopes that the strategy’s recommendations will help American trade keep up with the expansion of ASEAN and increase American foreign direct investments in the area.

” China, Europe, and the United States have been the focus of a lot of( Australia’s ) trade and investment.” On Thursday, the last day of the ASEAN Summit, he told CNA’s Asia Then from Jakarta that there hasn’t been as much attention paid to the East Asian region as there could have been.

Therefore, the main focus of our recommendations is on how to raise awareness of the possibilities in the Southeast Asian region as well as how the place you perceive Australia and the chances we can provide.

ADOPTIONS FOR Advice

Three of the strategy’s 75 recommendations were approved by the American government on the day it was introduced.

Mr. Albanese pledged$ 60 million to support initiatives to strengthen ties with the local union.

They include teams based in Southeast Asia that look for and support opportunities for American investors, a business exchange program to encourage two-way trade, and an exchange initiative for young professionals to establish business ties.

Australia’s unusual and finance ministers will examine the other recommendations and evaluate their progress once a year to make sure the strategy stays on course.

Mr. Moore added that systems must be implemented for easier exposure, such as recognizing skills across the parts, as there are also barriers to people and investment flowing between Australia and Southeast Asia. & nbsp,

According to one of the article’s recommendations, the American government should improve the migration system to make it simpler for East Asian businesses to conduct business there. Mr. Albanese stated that his administration is currently conducting a thorough movement review in relation to the issue of more attainable permits.

ASEAN Relations- AUSTRALIA

The Asian prime minister emphasized the significance of the group to Australia during the ASEAN conference.

” Australia and ASEAN are bound by more than just a coincidence of geographical or the morality of story, so the importance of AsEAN is essential to Australia’s coming.” We all have the same optimism about this area’s options and the potential of our citizens, he said.

” The future of Australia’s economy is with Southeast Asia.”

For a unique mountain honoring the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australian speech relations, he invited the bloc’s top officials to travel to Melbourne the following year.

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China’s bazooka stimulus days are done and gone

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A great deal is riding on Li Qiang’s visit to Jakarta this week, the new Chinese premier’s first official stop in Southeast Asia.

For all the disappointment that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden won’t be at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Li is the one from which ASEAN leaders most want to hear.

In March, Xi entrusted Li to revive flagging mainland growth and restart big-picture reform efforts.

How Li characterizes Beijing’s plans for the world’s second-biggest economy means more for developing Asia than the West, given the ASEAN region’s extreme vulnerability to weakening Chinese growth. That’s especially true as China resists firing its stimulus “bazooka” during this latest downturn.

Since January, ASEAN has found itself grappling with two big misconceptions about China’s 2023. One, that the end of Covid-19 lockdowns would generate explosive growth and lift global demand. Two, that China would ramp up stimulus quickly and with overwhelming force amid signs the economy was struggling instead.

China’s slide toward deflation confounded the first assumption. Beijing’s surprisingly laid-back approach to cratering growth also caught developing Asia by surprise.

Li’s biggest challenge in Jakarta is reassuring ASEAN leaders that (a) rumors of a Chinese financial crisis are greatly exaggerated and (b) the region’s prospects have more to gain from allying with China than Biden’s America.

That’s become a bigger challenge as Beijing holds its fire on stimulus, dimming hopes the economy might hit its 5% economic growth target. Nor did the moves of recent days reassure ASEAN that China might fire its bazooka.

On September 1, for example, China moved to support its shaky property sector by cutting minimum down payments for mortgages to 20% for first-time buyers and 30% for second-time buyers nationwide.

The People’s Bank of China also cut the reserve requirement ratio on foreign exchange deposits, unleashing US$16 billion of liquidity to support a yuan that’s fallen 5% in four months.

The step came after regulators slashed margin requirements and stamp duties for equity transactions to “invigorate the capital market and boost investor confidence.”

All this sparked hopes Beijing was getting serious about rescuing its beleaguered property and financial sectors. Yet these are relatively modest tweaks that are unlikely to alter the downward trajectory of Asia’s biggest economy.

A worker at the construction site of Raffles City Chongqing in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. Photo: Asia Times Files / AFP / Wang Zhao

A sustained rally in Chinese stocks and revival in economists’ perceptions is “unlikely without more aggressive action to stabilize the ailing property sector and lift aggregate demand,” says economist Charles Gave at Gavekal Dragonomics.

Of course, the urgency is rising. Last week, for example, saw Guangzhou become the first “tier one” city to cut down payments and loan rates for many home purchases. Other cities followed Guangzhou’s lead, including Beijing and Shanghai, which loosened local property market restrictions late.

“But there remains little prospect of big-bang stimulus at the national level,” Gave says. “As a result, aggregate demand will continue to be subdued and growth weak.”

China’s downshift, Gave adds, “will have differing effects on different economies around the world. In Asia, manufacturing exporters partially dependent on Chinese final demand, such as Taiwan, will take a hit, although the pain will be mitigated by a nascent upturn in the electronics cycle.”

The US, he adds, “with little macro exposure to Chinese demand, will be relatively insulated. But Europe will suffer the twin blows of reduced Chinese demand for its exports, together with heightened Chinese competition against its manufacturers because of the soft renminbi.”

To be sure, Li has solid arguments to make that China isn’t unraveling in the ways Western media and commentators suggest. Xi and Li have ample latitude and enough levers to prop up growth if and when they choose.

The recent successes by Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) demonstrate how China Inc is navigating around US sanctions in nimble and creative ways.

The chip breakthrough buttressed the argument that the Sino-US trade war isn’t slowing China’s ambitions to move upmarket.

It helps, too, that for all the asset bubbles afflicting the Chinese economy, no specific tract of land has ever been worth as much as California as Tokyo’s Imperial Palace was in Japan’s frothy 1980s.

Still, Xi and Li are determined to balance the short-term desire to boost growth with the longer-term imperative of recalibrating growth engines. However, this is causing consternation across Asian economies that were betting on a post-Covid Chinese growth surge.

In recent months, global markets have ricocheted between excitement over a Chinese stimulus boom and disappointment over Beijing taking its sweet time to jolt a slowing economy.

Xi and Li have settled on a strategy somewhere in between by breaking the economy’s fall without giving too much support that would incentivize bad corporate behavior.

Li Qiang and Xi Jinping have their economic policy work cut out for them. Image: Twitter / Screengrab

Under the surface, there are myriad hints that Li’s arrival in March put economic reforms on the front burner. In other words, Beijing now cares more about avoiding boom-bust cycles going forward than mindlessly generating new imbalances in 2023.

This anti-Mario Draghi moment has taken ASEAN by surprise. In 2012, the then-president of the European Central Bank made his infamous pledge that he’s “ready to do whatever it takes” to stabilize the financial system via powerful monetary easing.

On Draghi’s watch, the ECB unleashed stimulus on a level that would’ve been unfathomable to Bundesbank officials of old. His aggressiveness inspired other central bankers to follow suit, including then-Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda.

In Tokyo, between 2013 and 2018, the Kuroda-led BOJ’s balance sheet swelled to the point where it topped the size of Japan’s $5 trillion economy.

In both cases, a monetary boom did little, if anything, to make the broader European or Japanese economies more competitive, productive or, broadly speaking, more prosperous. Instead, rich monetary support generated a bubble in complacency.

Excessive monetary easing in Europe, Japan and elsewhere took the onus off government officials to loosen labor markets, reduce bureaucracy, incentivize innovation, tighten corporate governance or invest big in strengthening human capital.

China, it seems, is determined to go the other way. In the months since Xi started his third term — and Li arrived on the scene as his No 2 — Beijing has confounded the conventional wisdom on Chinese stimulus even as clear economic headwinds persist.

The closely-watched purchasing managers’ index (PMI) survey showed worse-than-expected non-manufacturing activity in August. A Caixin survey showed China’s service sector last month expanded at its slowest pace in eight months.

“As market competition was still tight, there was limited room for service companies to raise prices for customers, with the gauge for prices charged recording the lowest level in four months,” says economist Wang Zhe at Caixin Insight Group.

The services PMI suggests “activity in other services industries such as property may have deteriorated further in August,” Goldman Sachs wrote in a note.

One key market worry, says Goldman strategist Danny Suwanapruti, “is whether a weaker Chinese yuan will spur significant capital outflows. However, FX reserves are high, commercial banks’ external assets have been built up and the PBOC has tightened capital outflow channels.”

For now, says analyst Michael Hewson at CMC Markets, the outperformance of the dollar “is coming against a backdrop of rising optimism about the prospects for the US economy.” That, in turn, has markets wondering how a weaker yuan might affect global markets.

Former top International Monetary Fund official Josh Lipsky notes that the fallout from China’s slowdown “can’t just be wished away” and further weakness will “change some of the fundamentals of how the global economy has been wired over the past several decades.”

Jyotivardhan Jaipuria, founder of Valentis Advisors, believes that “China is perceptibly slowing down and that will have a secular slowdown in growth because they probably overbuilt the infrastructure.”

Now, he says, Beijing will “have to go through a phase where that whole overbuilt infrastructure which drove all the GDP growth for the last many years is going to start hurting them.”

The property sector also remains a considerable concern.

Troubles at Country Garden, China’s largest private property developer, are reminding markets that default risks abound. Recent days brought news that the company reported a record half-year loss of 48.9 billion yuan ($6.75 billion) for the first six months of 2023.

The resulting capital outflows have Li’s team unveiling fresh moves to boost personal income tax deductions for childcare, parental care and education. Additional steps to build a better social safety net that encourages consumption over savings are vitally needed.

“Policy momentum is clearly picking up,” says Citigroup analyst Yu Xiangrong. “This macro backdrop could be more supportive for China assets.”

China’s policy response aims to avoid more moral hazard risks. Image: Twitter Screengrab

Economist Hao Hong at Grow Investment Group adds that “economic fundamentals, as reflected in the cyclical asset prices, have so far failed to respond to policies as they used to. More needs to be done and will be.”

Yet things are only picking up so much as Beijing avoids another Draghi-like stimulus boom that will just add to China’s long-term troubles and squander recent progress made in deleveraging the economy.

It’s up to Li to explain to ASEAN officials – and global markets – why things are different this time in China. The more directly and transparently he does it, the better it will go over with China’s neighbors and the wider world economy.

Follow William Pesek on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @WilliamPesek

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FDI bonanza not trickling down in Vietnam

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With some US$ 450 billion in foreign direct investment ( FDI ) being converted into significant gross domestic product ( GDP ) and other gains, Vietnam has become one of the greatest economic success stories in the last 35 years. The nation continues to be a top target for internal FDI, drawing in multinational corporations like Samsung, Intel, LG, Toyota, and Lego.

Because of its beneficial side effects, such as technological advancements, ability transfers, management expertise, and value chain integration, FDI is a desirable mechanism for developing nations. These spillovers take place as a result of interactions with multinational corporations( MNEs ), supplier relationships, and learning and competition in the domestic market. & nbsp,

Local businesses become more competitive over time, which allows them to advance in the value chain and contend with MNEs. However, the evidence at hand suggests that Vietnam hasn’t experienced much of this overflow sensation. & nbsp,

While Vietnam has seen some good externalities over the past five years, such as record-breaking career development and economic growth, these gains have fallen short of expectations and have failed to realize the full potential of the nation.

The market is extremely dependent on FDI for exports because local manufacturing firms have few connections with DFI companies. Over 70 % of Vietnam’s total export value is generated by FDI, indicating that local businesses have not experienced similar growth and development.

When FDI firms are present on the market, home businesses typically struggle to increase andnbsp, their absorption capacity, but it seems the Vietnam case is mainly serious. Limited technology transfers exist between FDI companies and local businesses, and Vietnam’s manufacturing industry has unusually low productivity.

Only & nbsp, a small group of Vietnamese businesses, have been able to advance in the value chain. As a result, their functions are primarily limited to supplying input materials or low-value tasks, which result in to & nbsp, fragmented and ineffective n & m, linkages, and externalities.

A Samsung electronics shop under an official propaganda billboard in the center of Hanoi. Photo: AFP / Hoang Dinh Nam
a Samsung electronics store in the heart of Hanoi that is advertised as standard advertising. Asia Times Files, AFP, and Hoang Dinh Nam are the photographers.

Although such an arrangement can provide significant benefits, just a small portion of Vietnam’s nearly 900,000 businesses can access them, according to ONE senior Vietnamese employee at he was working for Samsung. For instance, Apple purchased AirPods & nbsp in 2020 from 21 local suppliers, but none of them were Vietnamese.

The few spill results from Vietnam’s significant FDI flows are due to a number of factors.

Long ago, it seemed that state policies prioritized quantity over quality. Technology transfer requirements were not completely followed. This has resulted in low-tech FDIs proliferating throughout the business, along with open mismanagement in a number of instances. & nbsp,

Many FDI companies place a high priority on straightforward systems in order to capitalize on Vietnam’s market size, ability, and low labor costs.

The fact that Vietnamese businesses have a relatively brief history of advancement compared to their peers is another factor contributing to the low spill. The growth of the private market was hampered by the implementation of a national control business shortly after the nation’s unification in 1975. & nbsp,

Although the Doi Moi policy was implemented in 1986 to correct this strategic error, Vietnamese businesses also have less market experience than their counterparts in the area, and as a result, their corporate governance is significantly poorer.

Private businesses in Vietnam also face a number of obstacles, most notably & nbsp, when trying to access investment and conventional loans. Some people use more expensive unofficial channels to manage. The competitiveness of local businesses on the international stage is hampered by higher logistics costs and minor corruption with government agencies. & nbsp,

Last but not least, there are still gaps between the common sector’s implementation management reality and government ambitions.

Many of these problems are human-made, and disciplined implementation and powerful policies can help. Vietnam has special advantages, such as its strategic area in Southeast Asia, young, agile people, socially stable environment, remarkable innovation performance, thriving digital economy, and an open economy with numerous free trade agreements.

Hanoi should promote investment in human capital by putting into place a thorough countrywide training programme on digital ability in order to fully capitalize on these benefits and encourage positive externalities, especially in building strong local firms. This will make it easier to implement the national 4.0 strategy andnbsp, and it will support the transformations of the & nBSP, Digital & NbSp and Green & NBSP.

Targeted and extensive investment in energy, online, transportation, and other essential infrastructure will also strengthen home businesses’ competitiveness and inspire the workforce. By encouraging a more effective government through improved give and accountability, this can be improved. & nbsp,

On September 29, 2021, a worker in Hanoi mop the shop’s surface. The market has been severely impacted by evacuations. Asia Times Files, AFP, and Nhac Nguyen

Hanoi may appear to other Asian nations like Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea to see how digitizing government service can increase productivity and how it will disrupt emerging value chains.

In order to draw MNE offices and research and innovation centers, Vietnam had also enhance the business environment, create laws governing state-owned enterprises, and position itself as a local hub.

Vietnam has been a desirable location for FDI companies, but local businesses have not yet fully benefited from it. With the right plan in place, overcoming these obstacles may enhance local businesses and result in greater success.

At RMIT University Vietnam, Trung Quang Nguyen is the ministry of management’s mind. Interim Manager of the RMIT Vietnam International Business Program is Quyen Dang. Senior Lecturer in International Business at RMIT Vietnam is Erhan Atay.

This andnbsp, post, and was initially published by East Asia Forum and are being reprinted with permission from Creative Commons.

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