ASIA SUMMARY
September 11, 2023
Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand
WEEKEND
- NORTH KOREA (celebrations). On Saturday 9 Sept., the 25 million North Koreans celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang.
- MALDIVES (politics). On Sunday, Sept. 10, incumbent President Solih (MDP) came 2nd (39% of the vote) in the 1st round of the presidential election. His main rival, the capital's mayor M. Muizzu, won 46% of the vote. 80% of the electorate took part in the 1st round. A 2nd round will be held on Sept. 30.
- PAKISTAN (terrorism). On Saturday 9 Sept., a military operation against TTP (Pakistani Taliban) terrorists in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has left 7 TTP militants dead. This operation followed an attack by the TTP on Wednesday, Sept. 6, against two military posts in the Lower Chitral district.
- TAIWAN / CHINA (interstate tensions). On Monday, Sept. 11, during the previous 24 hours, Taipei reported the presence of 26 Chinese aircraft (Su-30, J-16 and J-10 fighters) and 13 Chinese ships in the vicinity of the island.
- PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN (interstate tensions). In the wake of the serious incidents of Sept. 6 (TTP attack), tension between Kabul and Islamabad continues, and bilateral trade at the Torkham border crossing has come to a standstill.
- INDIA (public order). In the wake of the arrest of a Telugu Desam Party leader on Sunday, Sept. 10, its supporters are mobilizing at state level (Andhra Pradesh) and calling for a strike on Monday, Sept. 11.
- NEPAL (strike; transport). Staff at Kathmandu's Tribhuwan airport announced on Sunday, Sept. 10, that they would go on strike on Monday, Sept. 11, following sanctions against colleagues. The strike could last until Sept. 13.
TO BE MONITORED (in the next few days)
- CHINA (bad weather). Torrential rainfall caused by a typhoon has been afflicting the south of the country for the past 7 days (flooding, blocked roads, population affected). Heavy rains will persist in Guangxi over the next few days.
- HONG KONG (bad weather). New torrential rains (following last weekend's historic downpour) flooded several areas of Kowloon on Monday morning, Sept. 11, hampering movement and flooding some areas, notably in Tap Mun (Grass Island) and Tai Po.
- THAILAND (bad weather). On Monday, Sept. 11, flash flood warnings were in effect in 20 provinces, mainly in the north, including Chiang Rai, Phetchabun, Bung Kan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chiang Mai and others.
- INDONESIA (transport). Fires ravaging the forests of Sumatra and Kalimantan are generating haze, affecting flights at Banjarmasin International Airport (delays, cancellations) in recent days.
- TAIWAN (defense). On Monday, Sept. 11., a Chinese carrier battle group led by the aircraft carrier Shandong passed 60 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan before entering the Pacific for maneuvers. On Saturday, Sept. 10, a US warship and a Canadian warship had sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
- SRI LANKA (public order). On Sunday, Sept. 10, the president ordered an investigation into allegations in a BBC documentary that the head of the secret service was involved in the deadly Easter 2019 attacks in Colombo (279 dead, including 45 foreign nationals).
- SINGAPORE (transport; sport event). The Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix will run from Sept. 15 to 17 in certain areas of the city center. From Wednesday, Sept. 13, road closures will be in force.
OUTLOOK & RECOMMENDATIONS
- Natural hazards: individuals present in East Asia (CHINA, HK), Southeast Asia (THAILAND) and South Asia will be alert to various local weather conditions (rainfall, floods, landslides), natural hazards (cf. earthquakes) that may impact safety and travel and will comply with the instructions of local authorities.
- Public order: as public gatherings may affect travel or even degenerate into clashes, people present in INDIA, CHINA, SRI LANKA, PAKISTAN, SOUTH KOREA, MALDIVES or INDONESIA will stay away from these various types of events.
- With the security threat (terrorism, civil war, kidnapping) remaining at its highest, and Western governments suggesting that their citizens refrain from traveling to these countries unless there is a compelling reason to do so, travel to AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, BURMA, NORTH KOREA and PAPUA-NG remains inadvisable.
- In view of the delicate relations between Beijing and Taipei, between China and India, the tense situation in the South China Sea (Beijing/Manila) and the continuing defiance of the North Korean regime, we can't rule out over the next few days the occurrence of events in the Indo-Pacific region with consequences for regional stability and the smooth running/relevance of travel.
Author(s)
