Asia Pacific – Page 898 – Prologue Journal

Turmoil in China’s Military Leads Xi to Redouble Quest for Control

New York Times Xi Jinping, China’s leader, set out to clean up the military a decade ago. But now his crown jewel, the missile force, is under a shadow. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/world/asia/china-nuclear-military-xi.html

‘Black magic’ scams prompt Malaysia police warning for elderly to be on their guard

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Victims recount being put into a trance by strangers who convince them to hand over their valuables in return for help ‘to turn their fate around’, police said. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3230209/black-magic-scams-prompt-malaysia-police-warning-elderly-be-their-guard?utm_source=rss_feed

Cambodia’s king appoints Hun Sen’s son as new leader

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The long-serving Cambodian strongman announced he was stepping down and handing power to eldest son Hun Manet days after winning a landslide victory in polls widely decried as a sham. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3230196/cambodias-king-appoints-hun-sens-son-new-leader?utm_source=rss_feed

Indonesia’s ‘cruel’ meat market, Vietnam ‘flexers’ on the rise: 6 weekend reads you may have missed

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. From Indonesia shutting down dog meat market to Hong Kong’s drag queens keeping it perfectly imperfect, here are stories you may have missed over the weekend. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3230197/indonesias-cruel-meat-market-vietnam-flexers-rise-6-weekend-reads-you-may-have-missed?utm_source=rss_feed

Asia has 5 of the world’s top 7 most powerful navies. Singapore ranks No 24

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The navies of Taiwan, Thailand, North Korea and Australia didn’t make the global top 10 either. But Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and India did. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3230190/asia-has-5-worlds-top-7-most-powerful-navies-singapore-ranks-no-24?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s hardening China stance is ‘clearly a concern’. But ‘behind closed doors’, does Asean accept it?

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Tokyo has once again labelled China its ‘greatest strategic challenge’ – a stance analysts say regional elites have likely accepted ‘behind closed doors’, even as Southeast Asian nations remain reluctant to take sides. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3230075/japans-hardening-china-stance-clearly-concern-behind-closed-doors-does-asean-accept-it?utm_source=rss_feed

Monday Briefing: Khan Arrested in Pakistan

New York Times Also, diverted floodwaters provoke anger in China. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/briefing/khan-pakistan-china-floods-asia.html

Does Australia really want to be at the front line of US aggression against China?

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. As the US steers Australia towards becoming a bridgehead against China, Canberra must rethink its commitment if it genuinely seeks peace, prosperity and regional stability https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3230059/does-australia-really-want-be-front-line-us-aggression-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed

Horrific accident in Pakistan as passenger train derails, killing at least 30 people, critically injuring dozens of others

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. More than 80 people were injured – some critically – when carriages of the Hazara Express derailed in Nawabshah, on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3230157/pakistan-passenger-train-derails-killing-least-30-people-critically-injuring-others?utm_source=rss_feed

At Least 20 Killed After Train Derails in Pakistan

New York Times An express train carrying about 950 passengers was traveling from Karachi to Havelian when 11 carriages fell off the tracks, officials said. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/world/asia/pakistan-train-derails.html