Local authorities attempted to take down banners at a funeral for the head of a banned Buddhist church in Vietnam as plain clothed security officials filmed monks and other guests, one of the church’s leaders told Radio Free Asia. Thich Tue Sy, 81, of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam died on Nov. 24 at Phat An Pagoda in the southern province of Dong Nai. His funeral ceremony began on Nov. 25 and lasted until Wednesday, when he was cremated. On the first day of the funeral, provincial authorities and…
Month: November 2023
Taiwan election 2024: why the DPP is facing an uphill battle
Tsai’s government has not been as successful with non-Western nations. Taiwan has only 13 diplomatic partners left, having lost nine to Beijing since Tsai came to power. 03:24 Taiwan’s presidential front runner Lai Ching-te picks de facto envoy to US as running mate Taiwan’s presidential front runner Lai Ching-te picks de facto envoy to US as running mate The New Southbound Policy, Tsai’s flagship initiative to promote economic diversification towards 16 Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, has not been a major success. Taiwan’s top trading partner…
Foreign Minister Wang Yi warns of ‘devouring’ Mideast violence as China convenes high-level UN meeting
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe and urged the world not to turn away. 03:05 Four-year old American girl freed as Hamas and Israel release hostages under a 4-day truce Four-year old American girl freed as Hamas and Israel release hostages under a 4-day truce “Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce – which we strongly welcome – but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire,” he told the meeting. A six-day truce…
Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen says China attack unlikely for now
China is not likely to consider a major attack on Taiwan for now due to domestic challenges, the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday, although Beijing is trying to sway its coming election. “I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges,” Tsai told the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York. “My thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan,” she added in a recorded interview. Tsai was responding to questions about the risks…
Vietnam lawmakers pass law creating new grassroots security force
Vietnam’s National Assembly on Monday approved a law consolidating volunteer civil defense team leaders, residential ward lookouts and part-time commune police officers into a local security force that will have arrest powers, uniforms and local offices. The law states that “forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level” will supplement full-time commune and ward police officers in an effort to create a “whole people’s movement to protect the Fatherland’s security.” Because scams, frauds and debt evasion have become such a problem throughout society, the Ministry of Public…
Myanmar court jails former minister for decade over social media posts
A court in Yangon’s Insein Prison sentenced Myanmar’s former Information Minister Ye Htut to 10 years in prison Wednesday following a trial highlighting the ruling junta’s clampdown on online dissent, sources with ties to the facility told RFA Burmese. The prolific Facebook poster and former minister from 2014-2016 under Thein Sein’s quasi-military government, which handed power to Aung San Suu Kyi following the 2015 elections, received three years in prison for “spreading false news” and seven years for “sedition” in violation of Sections 505(a) and 124(a) of Myanmar’s Penal Code.…
Kim Jong Un’s daughter has a new lofty title
The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received a new official title – “Morning Star of Korea” – that seemingly casts her as heir apparent to succeed her father, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia. After North Korea successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21, the Organization and Guidance Department of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party organized lectures for government officials to explain the satellite’s strategic significance. But the bigger news was how they referred to Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae,…
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Gets Mixed Reviews After One Year in Power
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Little more than a year after becoming Malaysia’s prime minister in late-November 2022, Anwar Ibrahim is getting mixed reviews from political analysts. As the country’s fifth prime minister in less than five years, some credit his sustained grasp on power with bringing political stability to the country. “When Anwar formed the government last November, a lot of pundits or the general population think it will only last two months or three months [until] the government will collapse because the government consisted of 19 different [parties],” said…
US bills targeting China AI and Hong Kong offices clear key House panel amid call for ‘bold new ideas’
A bill introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, a Texas Republican, and the committee’s ranking member Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat, would require American firms investing in Chinese companies developing artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics and semiconductors to report such activity. Democratic congressman Gregory Meeks of New York was a co-sponsor of the legislation meant to strengthen reporting on American investment in Chinese hi-tech sectors. Photo: Reuters The House bill goes beyond thee restrictions US President Joe Biden’s administration announced this year on investments that companies…
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Gets Mixed Reviews One-Year On
A little more than a year since taking office, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is getting mixed reviews from political analysts as he tries to balance promised reforms with political reality. Dave Grunebaum has more on this story from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Voice of America