March 11, 2024 |
SOUTHEAST ASIA ROUNDUP

 

By API Desk | Date 03-11-2024

 

Indonesia seeks South Korean support in defense upgrade

Indonesia’s defense minister and South Korea’s ambassador to Jakarta discussed bilateral cooperation to boost the Southeast Asia country’s defense industries amid increasing regional tensions.

Prabowo Subianto, the presumed winner of the presidential elections, met with South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-Depok to discuss the possible transfer of technology to improve Jakarta’s defense industries, a move that will future strengthen bilateral relations between two countries .

Hoping for “cutting-edge technology and knowledge transfers,” Prabowo said the upgrades are needed to support domestic defense equipment. Indonesia has previously manufactured military equipment  based on Korean defense technology, such as strategic sealift vessels.

 

Thailand hosts the largest military drills in Southeast Asia.

Thousands of troops from Thailand and the United States, as well as 29 other countries, recently participated in the 43rd Cobra Gold exercise, the largest military drill in Southeast Asia which ended last March 7. 

Royal Thai Armed Forces chief General Songwit Nonpackdee said that almost 9,000 troops from 30 partner nations have joined in the exercise, which has expanded to cover “full spectrum of threads across all domains.” 

Cobra Gold exercises began in 1982 as a bilateral maritime exercise between Thailand and US, and has since expanded to included other Asian countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. 

“In the last 20 years, the nations have trained together, with that training put to operational use in responding to seismic and life-threatening events,” said U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec said. “Only through cooperation can we rise to these challenges and keep our people safe by providing a solid foundation for regional security and inclusive prosperity.”

 

Malaysia proposes buffer zone with Thailand

The Malaysian government has proposed to set up a buffer zone along the 99-kilometer Malaysia-Thailand border to control illegal activities.

While the proposal is still under the interior ministry’s consideration, Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun told the media that the buffer zone is critical to controlling smuggling activities.

Muhamad Zaki also said that if illegal jetties were built on government land, they would have to discuss with local authorities on how to deter criminal activities on said jetties. 

“We expect a high level of awareness among the local people in the border area not to build jetties to commit illegal activities,” he added.

 

UN targets Myanmar’s access to arms

The international community must take action to “target” Myanmar junta’s access to arms, jet fuel, and foreign currency and prevent it from committing “atrocities” against its people, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights said.

Volker Turk, the UN human right chief, repeated his call to the international community to “refocus its energy on preventing atrocities against all people, including  the Rohingya.” 

During the 2021 coup, the United States, Japan and European powers had imposed sanctions while China and Russia provided arms to support the military junta who had seized control of the government. 

Nearly a million Muslim Rohingya, who were viewed as “foreign interlopers”, were displaced and forced to live in camps by the Bangladeshi border district of Cox’s Bazar. Last month, Bangladesh announced  it will no longer take in Rohingya refugees, citing security concerns.  

 

Vietnam calls for restraint in Ayungin Shoal

Vietnam’s foreign ministry has voiced concern over the recent Chinese harassment in the Second Thomas Shoal, calling for restraint to prevent a potential conflict.

In a statement, its foreign ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said they are “deeply concerned  about the recent tension in the East Sea that may affect peace, security, and stability in the waters.”

Vietnam refers to West Philippine Sea as the East Sea, and the Second Thomas Shoal as Bai Co May. Vietnam is also the first claimant state outside China and the Philippines to issues a statement on the recent incident involving  the Chinese Coast Guard  and Philippine vessels en route to a routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. 

Hang also said that the freedom of navigation and overflight must be guaranteed  and claimant states should not use or threaten to use force. Hang added that