Japan, ASEAN to boost security ties with eye on China - CNA

With Malaysia, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that he had agreed with counterpart Anwar Ibrahim to deepen strategic ties and provide 400 million yen (US$2.8 million) for "warning and surveillance" equipment.

Kishida said that with the world "at a historical turning point, Japan places great importance on promoting cooperation with ASEAN, including Malaysia, to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure a world where human dignity is protected".

Malaysia, along with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan, have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

JOINT DRILLS

In September, militaries from ASEAN nations held their first-ever joint exercises, although host Indonesia insisted they were non-combat drills, focusing on areas such as disaster relief and maritime patrols.

Asked about the ASEAN summit, China's foreign ministry said Friday that Beijing "believed that any cooperation should be conducive to advancing mutual trust among regional countries and promoting common development".

"We hope that relevant countries can truly do things conducive to regional peace and stability. At the same time, any cooperation should not target third parties," spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

"ZERO EMISSION COMMUNITY"

Japan is also expected to use the summit to push energy cooperation, with a meeting of its Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative scheduled for Monday that will be attended virtually by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, officials said.

Tokyo is boosting its renewables sector but has also come under fire from environmental groups for providing large-scale public financing for fossil fuel projects around Asia.

Japan has also been seeking to push the export of tech aimed at reducing emissions by coal plants, such as co-firing with ammonia and carbon capture. But critics say these methods are unproven and expensive.

"This push to lock in fossil fuel-based energy across the continent is delaying the transition from fossil fuels to renewables," the Climate Action Network said this month.

Ammonia "fails to meaningfully reduce emissions, jeopardises the decarbonization of Japan's energy and any possibility of phasing out fossil fuels", it said.

ASEAN's 10 member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. The summit marks 50 years of ties with Japan.

While Myanmar is a member, the leaders of its junta have been banned from the bloc's high-level meetings since failing to implement an agreed five-point peace plan following the 2021 coup in which they took power.

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2023-12-16 07:00:29Z
CBMiVmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9qYXBhbi1hc2Vhbi1ib29zdC1zZWN1cml0eS10aWVzLWV5ZS1jaGluYS0zOTkzNTIx0gEA

EU vows Ukraine to get aid despite veto by Hungary's Orban - CNA

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders expressed confidence on Friday (Dec 15) that they would clear a large package of aid for Ukraine early in 2024, despite a veto by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

All 27 EU states except Hungary agreed on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite its invasion by Russia, bypassing Orban's grievances by getting him to leave the room.

However, they could not overcome his resistance to revamping the EU budget to channel €50 billion to Kyiv and provide more cash for other tasks such as managing migration.

Kyiv is reliant on foreign assistance as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, and US President Joe Biden has so far been unable to get a US$60 billion package for Kyiv through Congress.

EU leaders, who would prefer a deal backed by all members but also have a plan B, are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit at the end of January or early in February.

"We are working very hard to have an agreement by 27 member states," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding: "But I think it is now also necessary to work on potential alternatives to have an operational solution in case that an agreement by 27, so unanimity, is not possible."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those expressing optimism on getting the aid to Kyiv, which is part of a broader multi-year EU budget plan.

"We have other ways of helping Ukraine, but we have not given up on the goal of finding a solution here," said Scholz, who diplomats and officials said played a big role in getting Orban to leave the room to clear the way for a decision on starting accession talks.

Macron said the EU was "not blocked" from providing aid next year, adding he felt Orban had an incentive to reach a deal.

The EU could continue to help with a workaround that involved a deal between 26 members and Ukraine, which would also deny Budapest access to linked EU funds, such as on migration.

The Kremlin praised Orban, who maintains close ties to Russia, and said the EU decision to open accession talks with Kyiv was politicised and could destabilise the bloc.

Orban, who has a history of trying to use disagreements with other EU leaders for his electoral benefit, told state radio he had blocked the aid to ensure Budapest gets EU money that is frozen over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.

"It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to," he said.

The EU restored Hungary's access to €10.2 billion of frozen funds this week, but €21.1 billion remain locked.

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2023-12-15 19:17:49Z
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50 years of Asean-Japan ties: Singapore PM Lee among leaders to attend special Tokyo summit - The Straits Times

TOKYO – Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is among nine Asean leaders who will gather in Tokyo at the weekend to celebrate a half-century of Asean-Japan ties.

The three-day event, starting on Dec 16, will culminate in a joint statement that sets out a “new vision for the future”, as well as a plan spelling out the steps for a wide range of cooperation, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Among other things, Japan and Asean are likely to deepen their cooperation in areas such as supply chains, artificial intelligence and maritime capacity-building.

The commemorative summit comes as Japan and Asean mark 50 years of friendship and cooperation, having also upgraded their relationship to the highest-tier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September.

Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Dec 14 that Japan and Asean will discuss ways to deepen and broaden their dialogue partnership, including in such areas as the digital and green economies.

Leaders will also discuss “regional and global issues of mutual concern”, the statement added.

PM Lee, who arrives in Tokyo on Dec 15, will meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for what will be their fifth bilateral summit in two years.

During his four-day visit ending Dec 18, he will be accompanied by Mrs Lee – who will take part in a Spouse Programme hosted by Mr Kishida’s wife Yuko – as well as Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will be Acting Prime Minister in his absence.

Leaders will attend a dinner hosted by Mr and Mrs Kishida on Dec 16, before the commemorative summit on Dec 17.

On Dec 18, they will attend a meeting of the Asia Zero Emission Community, a framework launched by Japan to promote decarbonisation across Asia by tailoring energy transition measures to each country’s circumstances.

Relations between Asean and Japan have come a long way since 1973, when distrust towards Tokyo was rife. Memories of wartime aggression were still raw, while Japan’s synthetic rubber exports posed a grave threat to Asean’s natural rubber produce.

Both sides sought to soothe tensions by establishing dialogue channels, first through a synthetic rubber forum in 1973. This set the stage for the Fukuda Doctrine four years later, promulgated by then Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.

The doctrine spelt out three tenets that would serve as Japan’s lodestar for its ties with Asean: It would never be a military power, it would establish “heart-to-heart” relations with Asean, and it would forge an equal partnership with Asean.

Today, Japan consistently ranks as Asean’s “most trusted” partner in the annual State of South-east Asia survey by Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Economic ties are also strong. In 2022, Japan was Asean’s fourth-largest trading partner and second-largest source of foreign direct investment.

Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar, which has been under military rule since a coup against the civilian government in 2021, was not invited.

Timor-Leste will join as an observer, with Asean having agreed “in principle” in 2022 to admit the country as its 11th member.

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2023-12-15 04:18:39Z
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50 years of Asean-Japan ties: Singapore PM Lee among leaders to attend special Tokyo summit - The Straits Times

TOKYO – Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is among nine Asean leaders who will gather in Tokyo at the weekend to celebrate a half-century of Asean-Japan ties.

The three-day event, starting on Dec 16, will culminate in a joint statement that sets out a “new vision for the future”, as well as a plan spelling out the steps for a wide range of cooperation, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Among other things, Japan and Asean are likely to deepen their cooperation in areas such as supply chains, artificial intelligence and maritime capacity-building.

The commemorative summit comes as Japan and Asean mark 50 years of friendship and cooperation, having also upgraded their relationship to the highest-tier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September.

Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Dec 14 that Japan and Asean will discuss ways to deepen and broaden their dialogue partnership, including in such areas as the digital and green economies.

Leaders will also discuss “regional and global issues of mutual concern”, the statement added.

PM Lee, who arrives in Tokyo on Dec 15, will meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for what will be their fifth bilateral summit in two years.

During his four-day visit ending Dec 18, he will be accompanied by Mrs Lee – who will take part in a Spouse Programme hosted by Mr Kishida’s wife Yuko – as well as Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will be Acting Prime Minister in his absence.

Leaders will attend a dinner hosted by Mr and Mrs Kishida on Dec 16, before the commemorative summit on Dec 17.

On Dec 18, they will attend a meeting of the Asia Zero Emission Community, a framework launched by Japan to promote decarbonisation across Asia by tailoring energy transition measures to each country’s circumstances.

Relations between Asean and Japan have come a long way since 1973, when distrust towards Tokyo was rife. Memories of wartime aggression were still raw, while Japan’s synthetic rubber exports posed a grave threat to Asean’s natural rubber produce.

Both sides sought to soothe tensions by establishing dialogue channels, first through a synthetic rubber forum in 1973. This set the stage for the Fukuda Doctrine four years later, promulgated by then Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.

The doctrine spelt out three tenets that would serve as Japan’s lodestar for its ties with Asean: It would never be a military power, it would establish “heart-to-heart” relations with Asean, and it would forge an equal partnership with Asean.

Today, Japan consistently ranks as Asean’s “most trusted” partner in the annual State of South-east Asia survey by Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Economic ties are also strong. In 2022, Japan was Asean’s fourth-largest trading partner and second-largest source of foreign direct investment.

Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar, which has been under military rule since a coup against the civilian government in 2021, was not invited.

Timor-Leste will join as an observer, with Asean having agreed “in principle” in 2022 to admit the country as its 11th member.

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2023-12-15 01:23:49Z
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EU gives green light to Ukraine membership talks in shock win for Kyiv - The Straits Times

Talks to take years

The talks themselves are likely to take years.

Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million and is geographically bigger than any EU member, presents some unique challenges for admission to the 27-member bloc.

In intense diplomacy on the matter, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Mr Orban before the summit, alongside Ms von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel.

The European Commission on Dec 13 restored Hungary’s access to up to €10.2 billion (S$13.6 billion) in refunds for economic projects after finding it had fulfilled conditions on the independence of its judiciary.

Talks will continue at the summit on the bloc’s multi-annual budget framework.

Mr Michel said the European Council had also decided on Dec 14 to open accession negotiations with Moldova.

He went on to say the summit granted EU candidate status to Georgia and would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful - Bosnia - once it reaches “the necessary degree of compliance” with criteria.

Earlier in the day, as the 27 EU leaders gathered for their last summit of the year, Mr Orban insisted that the EU should not start membership talks with Ukraine. He was a lone hold-out at the summit.

Other EU leaders had warned that not agreeing to start negotiations would have been seen as a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. REUTERS

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2023-12-14 18:35:53Z
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Chinese mourners use AI to digitally resurrect the dead - CNA

"NEEDS ARE GROWING"

Wu and his wife were devastated when Xuanmo, their only child, died of a sudden stroke last year at the age of 22 while attending Exeter University in Britain.

The accounting and finance student, keen sportsman and posthumous organ donor "had such a rich and varied life", said Wu.

"He always carried in him this desire to help people and a sense of right and wrong," he told AFP.

Following a boom in deep learning technologies like ChatGPT in China, Wu began researching ways to resurrect him.

He gathered photos, videos and audio recordings of his son, and spent thousands of dollars hiring AI firms that cloned Xuanmo's face and voice.

The results so far are rudimentary, but he has also set up a work team to create a database containing vast amounts of information on his son.

Wu hopes to feed it into powerful algorithms to create an avatar capable of copying his son's thinking and speech patterns with extreme precision.

Several companies specialising in so-called "ghost bots" have emerged in the United States in recent years.

But the industry is booming in China, according to Zhang Zewei, the founder of the AI firm Super Brain and a former collaborator with Wu.

"On AI technology, China is in the highest class worldwide," said Zhang from a workspace in the eastern city of Jingjiang.

"And there are so many people in China, many with emotional needs, which gives us an advantage when it comes to market demand."

Super Brain charges between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan (US$1,400 to US$2,800) to create a basic avatar within about 20 days, said Zhang.

They range from those who have died to living parents unable to spend time with their children and - controversially - a heartbroken woman's ex-boyfriend.

Clients can even hold video calls with a staff member whose face and voice are digitally overlaid with those of the person they have lost.

"The significance for ... the whole world is huge," Zhang said.

"A digital version of someone (can) exist forever, even after their body has been lost."

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2023-12-14 05:41:27Z
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Japanese ministers quit over kickbacks scandal - CNA

"The public's doubts are around me over political funds, which is leading to distrust in the government. As an investigation is going on, I thought I wanted to set things right," Nishimura told reporters.

Kishida said a day before that he would deal with the allegations "head-on".

"I will make efforts like a ball of fire and lead the LDP to restore the public's trust," he told reporters.

POLL RATINGS

The prime minister's poll ratings are the worst for any premier since the LDP returned to power in 2012 because of voter anger about inflation as well as his handling of a string of earlier scandals.

The kickbacks allegedly went to party members who exceeded their ticket sales quotas for party fundraising events.

"If you are confident of selling (tickets), if you sell more than you are obliged to sell, that will all become your income, so that's easy and great," a senior official who used to work in the office of an LDP lawmaker told broadcaster ANN, with his face concealed and voice disguised.

The latest scandal implicates the largest faction within the LDP, which was headed by ex-premier Shinzo Abe before his assassination last year.

The grouping headed until recently by Kishida himself was also suspected of failing to declare more than 20 million yen in the three years to 2020, the Asahi Shimbun daily reported.

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2023-12-14 03:51:00Z
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