Asia Pacific – Page 1240 – Prologue Journal

Giant clams under threat as poachers target Philippine, Indonesian waters after China ban

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Demand for the molluscs – often over a metre wide – has surged in tandem with stricter global controls on ivory. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3218470/giant-clams-under-threat-poachers-target-philippine-indonesian-waters-after-china-ban?utm_source=rss_feed

Facing China, the Philippines and U.S. Join in Biggest Military Drill Yet

New York Times After years of saying it would not choose sides, the Philippines is now asserting a need to stand up to China’s territorial moves in the South China Sea. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/world/asia/philippines-us-military.html

Japan safety chief under fire for ‘savouring’ eel lunch, then responding to attack on PM Kishida

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Koichi Tani, chair of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission, is under fire after he ‘fully savoured, finished’ his lunch of eel rice before responding to smoke bomb attack on PM Kishida. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3218456/japan-safety-chief-under-fire-savouring-eel-lunch-then-responding-attack-pm-kishida?utm_source=rss_feed

New Zealand’s ex-PM Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard on fellowships

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. A global icon of the left and an inspiration to women around the world, the former leader has been appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3218448/ex-new-zealand-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-join-harvard?utm_source=rss_feed

WHO: contaminated cough syrup made in India found in Western Pacific

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. A batch of cough syrup – manufactured by QP Pharmachem, based in Punjab and exported to the Marshall Islands and Micronesia – was contaminated with unacceptable amounts of ingredients toxic to humans. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3218432/who-contaminated-cough-syrup-made-india-found-western-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed

US has no decoupling plans despite ‘complex’ ties with China: trade chief Katherine Tai

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The remarks by Trade Representative Katherine Tai follow similar comments by others, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, warning that decoupling of the two superpowers would be ‘disastrous’. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3218430/us-has-no-decoupling-plans-despite-complex-ties-china-trade-chief-katherine-tai?utm_source=rss_feed

China Detains Taiwan-Based Publisher in National Security Investigation

New York Times Li Yanhe’s publishing company put out books that often cast a critical eye on China’s ruling Communist Party. He disappeared while on a trip to China. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/world/asia/china-taiwan-publisher-detained.html

Singapore sees only ‘relatively muted’ boost from China’s reopening amid uncertain economic outlook

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The city state’s central bank said on Wednesday that growth risks were ‘tilted to the downside’ as tighter financial conditions weigh on global demand and China’s reopening is doing little more than boosting tourism.…

Singapore Hangs Man for Conspiring to Traffic 2 Pounds of Cannabis

New York Times Human rights groups called the punishment far too severe and raised questions about due process. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/world/asia/singapore-execution-cannabis.html

British American Tobacco Pays U.S. $635 Million for North Korea Cigarette Scheme

New York Times Prosecutors in the United States said the firm secretly did business with North Korea through an intermediary, violating sanctions. The company apologized. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/business/british-american-tobacco-north-korea-sanctions.html