In The News

Huawei Equipment Ban: Asia Times

David Goldman May 19, 2020
Huawei Technologies held a strong lead in the world’s 5G mobile broadband race, but the Trump administration is keen to slow that rollout. The US president, in an unprecedented move, tries to block sales to Huawei of any products made with US equipment, reports David Goldman for Asia Times. The move could block Huawei’s access to needed equipment and chips. “The ban may apply not only to the...

World Health Assembly Excludes Taiwan: Taipei Times

Lee I-chia May 19, 2020
Taiwan demonstrated skill in tackling and controlling the spread of Covid-19 among its population of 23 million. Even so, the World Health Assembly, hesitant to antagonize China, excluded Taiwan from its virtual meeting. Taiwan sent a letter of protest to the World Health Organization Secretariat. “While the focus of this year’s WHA should be on the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s performance in...

Brexit and “Rip the Band-Aid Off”: Asian Age

Latika Bourke May 18, 2020
The clock is ticking on the Brexit transition. Negotiations continue even as public attention distracted by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a wide gap in expectations from the EU and the UK, negotiations have made little progress on contentious issues including EU access to UK fishing grounds, UK adherence to EU regulations, and agreements on becoming carbon neutral by 2050. “The UK now wants what it...

Shaky Coalition Government in Israel: NPR

Mark Katov May 18, 2020
Israel had three elections since April 2019 that produced no clear winner. To contain the Covid-19 pandemic, leading rivals Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz agreed to share power in a unit government, despite Gantz’s pledge not to join a government led by his rival. “Netanyahu begins his fifth consecutive term as prime minister one week before he goes on trial for corruption charges,” reports...

China Endangers the Diaspora: Diplomat

Chauncey Jung May 16, 2020
Covid-19 pandemic costs are immense, as the world heads into recession and unemployment increases. The United States, which may spend as much as $5 trillion to tackle the many challenges, and other nations question China's lack of transparency in late 2019. In turn, China threatens to boycott Australian goods as that government calls for an investigation. The issue has entered political...

Covid-19 Stimulus: South China Morning Post

Nicholas Spiro May 15, 2020
Central banks around the globe organize massive stimulus programs from central banks, but these are not without risk. By reducing interest rates and rapidly investing in a range of assets to prop up prices, central bankers hope to save jobs and prevent a long economic depression. Governments already holding heavy debt extend rescues to a range of businesses, including some that would have failed...

Covid-19 “Overreaction” a Success in Vietnam: BBC

Anna Jones May 15, 2020
After taking aggressive measures against Covid-19 in early January, Vietnam reported no new cases in more than a month. “Vietnam saw a small window to act early on and used it fully,” reports Anna Jones for BBC News. “But though cost-effective, its intrusive and labour intensive approach has its drawbacks and experts say it may be too late for most other countries to learn from its success.” The...