China
Key points from China’s Foreign Minister’s visit to Indonesia
JAKARTA, INDONESIA — China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Indonesia on 12 January, just a day before Indonesia started its COVID-19 vaccination program using the China-made Sinovac.
Wang Yi met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi and Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.
A day later, Wang Yi met with President Joko Widodo.
Wang’s visit is part of his Southeast Asia tour, starting from Myanmar. After visiting Indonesia, he continued his trip to Brunei and the Philippines, at the foreign ministers’ invitation.
Here are three key points from the visit.
Indonesia demands serious commitment from China to protecting the fishing vessel’s crew members
The exploitation of Indonesian fishermen at China-owned fishing vessels has been Indonesia’s main focus for the past six months.
Throughout December last year, the SAFESeas Fishers’ Center received a report regarding 51 Indonesian vessel crew members trapped in China’s water and they wanted to return home.
According to Abdi Suhfan from the Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW), five fishers were victims of forced labour and human trafficking.
“They were supposed to return to Indonesia as the contract has expired. But they got stuck in the waters due to the pandemic. They had yet to receive their salaries from the company and the agency,” Abdi said in a statement received on 6 January.
During Wang’s visit, Retno pushed Beijing to pay attention to Indonesian fishing vessels’ workers’ rights protection through mutual legal assistance.
Director-General of Protocol and Consular at Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry Andy Rachmianto told reporters cited in Antara that Indonesian fishers’ protection is one of the country’s foreign policy priorities.
South China Sea stability is mandatory
Retno also stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the disputed South China Sea. Wang also expressed his readiness to negotiate the Code of Conduct (CoC) with ASEAN member countries.
CoC is a non-binding guideline regulating how to prevent a confrontation in the waters. Retno also called for all nations, including China to respect the UNCLOS (United Nations Conventions on the Law of The Sea) 1982.
In 2019, tensions between Indonesia and China intensified following the latter’s claim over the oil-rich Natuna Waters, arguing that the region is China’s territory based on its unilaterally-claimed Nine-Dash Line.
The Natuna Waters is included in Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI) based on the UNCLOS 1982. At that time, Beijing stated it has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands with ZEEI waters.
Investment in the Toba Lake
Luhut offered China to invest in Toba Lake in North Sumatera — one of the popular destinations Indonesia for travellers. Besides tourism, the minister also offered several projects for national economic recovery.
Luhut has invited Wang several times to visit the lake. The Chinese diplomat planned to visit last February, but the pandemic put a halt to his plans.
China
Tragic stabbing of Japanese boy in Shenzhen sparks concerns over Sino-Japanese relations
A 10-year-old Japanese boy died after being stabbed in Shenzhen on 18 September, raising fears about strained Sino-Japanese relations. The attacker, a 44-year-old man, was apprehended. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the act, urging Beijing for swift information. This incident follows previous attacks on Japanese nationals, heightening concerns for their safety in China.
CHINA: A 10-year-old boy, a dual citizen of Japan and China, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed while on his way to school in Shenzhen on Wednesday (18 September) morning.
The incident has raised alarms within the Japanese community in China and could further strain already tense Sino-Japanese relations.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boy was attacked in the abdomen near a Japanese school and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Despite efforts to save him, he died of his wounds early Thursday.
The assailant, a 44-year-old man, was arrested by police near the scene.
The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the boy was specifically targeted due to his nationality.
A local Japanese businessman expressed concerns for the safety of the community, advising vigilance and caution when speaking Japanese in public spaces.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the stabbing as an “extremely despicable crime” and called for prompt information sharing from Beijing regarding the investigation.
昨日、中国広東省深圳市で男に襲われた深圳日本人学校の児童が、19日未明に逝去されたとの報告を受けており、深い悲しみを禁じ得ません。心からのお悔やみを申し上げます。
極めて卑劣な犯行であり、重大かつ深刻な事案と受け止めています。— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 19, 2024
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, represented by spokesman Lin Jian, expressed condolences and emphasized the commitment to protecting foreign nationals in China.
Lin noted that such incidents could occur in any country and downplayed the potential impact on bilateral exchanges.
Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with the boy receiving immediate medical attention from passersby.
His mother was present during the attack.
This incident follows a similar knife attack in Suzhou in June, which left a Japanese mother and child injured.
In response to both attacks, Japanese officials have reiterated their demand for enhanced safety measures for their nationals in China.
Wednesday also marked the 93rd anniversary of a significant historical event—Japan’s bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which contributed to the Manchurian Incident and subsequent occupation of northeastern China during World War II.
In light of this, Japan had previously requested the Chinese government to bolster security at Japanese schools.
In mourning, Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, ordered the national flag at the embassy to be flown at half-staff and planned to visit Shenzhen to meet the victim’s family.
The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou reported that local government officials had also extended their condolences.
Community responses in Shenzhen reflected a mix of shock and sorrow, with residents leaving flowers at the entrance of the Japanese school.
One local expressed shame over the incident as a Chinese national, while another voiced concern over the implications for Sino-Japanese relations.
As diplomatic tensions have already been heightened by issues such as espionage allegations against Japanese nationals and trade disputes, including a ban on Japanese seafood following the Fukushima disaster, this tragic event may exacerbate existing challenges.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has urged both governments to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and seek clarity on the incident.
The investigation into the stabbing continues, with officials pledging to hold the perpetrator accountable under Chinese law.
Animals
Panda knocks down zookeeper in Chongqing zoo, both unharmed
A panda named Ding Ding knocked down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo on 19 September, sparking concern after a video surfaced online. Both the caretaker and the panda were unharmed, and the zoo has continued normal operations.
CHINA: On Thursday (19 September), a social media user shared a video showing a giant panda named Ding Ding (丁丁) knocking down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo.
In response to inquiries, zoo staff confirmed that both the zookeeper and the 9-year-old panda were unharmed and that Ding Ding continues to be exhibited as usual.
The video, circulated on Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows a zookeeper noticing that Ding Ding was attempting to escape through a partially open gate. The zookeeper rushed to close the gate, which produced a loud noise.
However, the gate wasn’t fully secured, and Ding Ding can be seen trying to open it again.
Visitors alerted the zookeeper, who rushed back to shut the gate.
This action seemingly agitated the panda, who then turned its attention toward the zookeeper.
During a brief chase, Ding Ding knocked down the zookeeper.
In the footage, some visitors can be heard advising others to stay calm and avoid shouting.
This is not the first such incident at the zoo.
In April 2024, another panda knocked over another zookeeper.
The zoo’s management reported that on 23 April, at around 2:00 PM, a zookeeper was guiding two pandas, Yu Ke (渝可) and Yu Ai (渝爱), to a feeding area when they chased and knocked the zookeeper down.
Fortunately, neither the zookeeper nor the pandas were injured.
Following that event, the zoo held a safety meeting and implemented stricter feeding protocols to prevent similar incidents.
Chongqing Zoo is home to 23 giant pandas.
According to Chongqing Daily, the panda enclosure, which has undergone three rounds of expansion and renovation, now covers nearly 20,000 square meters and is one of the earliest panda breeding centers in China.
-
Comments7 days ago
LHL’s 15-minute visit to Dr Lee Wei Ling’s wake raises eyebrows among Singaporeans
-
Singapore1 week ago
Media presence at Lee Wei Ling’s funeral contradicts family’s request for privacy
-
Opinion7 days ago
Police say LHY and LSF free to return, but risk of arrest and passport seizure remains
-
Singapore5 days ago
PM Wong’s budget flight homecoming via Scoot makes headlines, but why?
-
Current Affairs2 weeks ago
TJC issued 3rd POFMA order under Minister K Shanmugam for alleged falsehoods
-
Editorial3 days ago
Lim Boon Heng’s misleading claims & omission in July ST interview on Income-Allianz deal
-
Singapore1 week ago
Dr Lee Wei Ling, daughter of Singapore’s founding prime minister, passes away at 69
-
Civil Society1 week ago
Singaporean groups urge foreign minister to expedite recognition of Palestine