CALD

1 December 2014

On 24-27 November 2014, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), with the support of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan (DPP) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) spearheaded a 9-in-1 election observation mission in Taiwan with a visit to three major cities – Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan.
http://cald.org/site/cald/?p=9117

CALD Congratulatory Letter to DPP Chairperson, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen

1 December 2014

CALD letter to DPP Chairperson Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, congratulating her for DPP’s Success in the 9-in-1 elections held last November 29 2014.

http://cald.org/oldsitefiles/site/cald/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Final-CALD-Letter-to-Dr.-Tsai-Ing-wen.pdf

9-in-1 Taiwan Electoral Observation Mission

24 November 2014

BURMA

27 November 2014

Aung San Suu Kyi’s party Wednesday, November 26, said Myanmar is expected to hold high-level political talks within days aimed at amending a controversial junta-drafted constitution that bars the opposition leader from becoming president.
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/76215-suu-kyi-nld-myanmar-constitution-talks

CAMBODIA

2 December 2014

CALD member party, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), intends to lay the foundation for Cambodia’s democratic future, for other political parties and leaders who will take up their positions in the years and decades to come in the spirit of democracy.
http://truth2power-media.blogspot.com/2014/12/sam-rainsy-political-legacy-for-future.html

Opposition TV ‘will be truly independent’

1 December 2014

The opposition party will aim to deliver Cambodians television programming similar to that seen on CNN and the BBC, a spokesman said yesterday.

As part of a political deal finalised on Friday, the government granted the Cambodia National Rescue Party an analogue television licence, enabling it to compete against the country’s traditionally government-aligned and -owned stations.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/opposition-tv-‘will-be-truly-independent’

Hun Sen, Rainsy Settle Differences in Reform Deal

1 December 2014

Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy, in a meeting on Friday at the National Assembly, settled the remaining disputes between the CPP and CNRP over the details of the sweeping electoral reform package promised in their July 22 political deal.
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-and-rainsy-settle-differences-in-reform-deal-73309/

HONGKONG

2 December 2014

The Chairwoman of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party urged pro-democracy protesters on Monday to “exercise maximum restraint” following hours of violent clashes with the police as they tried to encircle government headquarters.

“I think people are getting frustrated because we do not get any response from Beijing and from the Hong Kong government. But the students want to escalate the action and their confrontation with the police, and [this is] resulting in police brutality,” Emily Lau told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2014/12/01/hong-kong-mp-praises-students-cause-but-criticizes-tactics/

China Refuses British MPs entry to Hong Kong

1 December 2014

A group of British lawmakers investigating Britain’s relations with Hong Kong have been told China will not allow them into the former colony, the MPs said Sunday, November 30.

The Foreign Affairs Committee, a panel of lawmakers who scrutinise the Foreign Office’s work, is looking into Britain’s relations with the Chinese special administrative region 30 years on from the 1984 Joint Declaration, which set out the terms of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong.
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/europe/76581-china-refuses-british-entry-hong-kong?utm_content=bufferf37a1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Hong Kong Protesters Clash with Police at Government HQ

1 December 2014

Hong Kong police have clashed with pro-democracy activists overnight, briefly shutting down government offices on Monday.

Protesters fought police armed with pepper spray, batons and water hoses on Lung Wo Road in the Admiralty district.

On Monday, an injunction was granted to clear an area just west of the main Admiralty protest site.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-30270794

7 Hong Kong Police Officers Arrested for Alleged Assault on Protesters

27 November 2014

Seven Hong Kong police officers have been arrested for assault over an alleged case of police brutality at pro-democracy protests last month which shocked residents of the Chinese territory.

Footage of the alleged assault, taken by a TV crew at the city’s main protest site in Admiralty on October 15, was widely disseminated online, sparking an outcry from the public, politicians and rights groups.
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/26/world/asia/hong-kong-protests-mong-kok/

PHILIPPINES

2 December 2014

When the Philippines hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in 1996, the Philippines was then dubbed as “Asia’s next economic tiger.”

It was a peak year as reforms pursued by then President Fidel Ramos were taking shape.

Nineteen years and 3 presidents later, APEC returns to the Philippines in 2015, at a time when the Philippine economy has become one of the fastest growing in Asia despite a slowdown in its gross domestic product (GDP) expansion in the third quarter of 2014.

http://www.rappler.com/business/economy-watch/76727-apec-philippines-2015-kickoff

Manila Right on the Money with Banking Reforms

28 November 2014

The biggest economic policy question of the moment in South-east Asia is: What will the start of the Asean Economic Community next year actually mean for business?

Consulting firm EY recently released a major report, Trade Secrets On The Asean Economic Community And Inward Investment, to provide a partial answer.

Major changes to banking policy in the Philippines also provide another part of the answer, and are an aspect that has received surprisingly little coverage beyond the Philippines itself.

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/eye-the-economy/story/manila-right-the-money-banking-reforms-20141127

Philippine Economy Expanding Like It’s 1950s on Consumption Boom

27 November 2014

Philippine President Benigno Aquino is lifting millions out of poverty and boosting the middle class even as he struggles to increase government spending. Ayala Corp. (AC) is reaping the gains.
The nation’s oldest family-controlled company has more than tripled its capital spending in the past five years to expand its property, banking and infrastructure units and cash in on one of the fastest expansions in Asia. Businesses are counting on structural reforms, a young population and rising remittances to keep their revenue surging, while wrestling with port logjams and delayed project rollouts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-26/philippine-economy-expanding-like-it-s-1950s-on-consumption-boom.html

SINGAPORE

29 November 2014

Singapore has made great economic strides over the 50 years since independence. With a GDP per capita of $55,000, the island state is, by this measure at least, the most prosperous country in the world. Yet rather than being proud of their country’s achievement, measures of social harmony and happiness indicate that Singaporeans are far from pleased with the status quo.

http://yoursdp.org/news/chee_in_wsj_singapore_needs_a_bold_new_vision/2014-11-28-5912

TAIWAN

2 December 2014

On November 29, Taiwan held its “nine-in-one” elections, with over 11,000 posts up for grabs on local ballots. As the first elections since the Sunflower Movement protestors occupied Taiwan’s legislature back in March, the world was watching to see if popular dissatisfaction against the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would translate into electoral change. The answer was a resounding yes.
http://thediplomat.com/2014/12/opposition-dpp-wins-big-in-taiwan-elections/

DPP Wins 13 Cities/Counties

1 December 2014

The Democratic Progressive Party has won 13 seats in November 29’s historic election. All across Taiwan, people have resoundingly rejected the KMT and chosen a new path forward. The following is a full list of elected candidates from the Central Election Commission
http://english.dpp.org.tw/dpp-wins-13-citiescounties-in-historic-election/

The Taiwanese People Have Spoken

1 December 2014

The Democratic Progressive Party received its best ever showing in November 29’s historical election. Following the election victory, Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen made the following remarks at a press conference on 8:30 pm.
http://english.dpp.org.tw/the-taiwanese-people-have-spoken/

Pre-Election Message from Chairperson Tsai

29 November 2014

Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen made the following remarks during a pre-election press conference November 28 (Friday) afternoon with Taichung candidate Lin Chia-lung, Changhua County candidate Wei Ming-lu and Nantou County candidate Lee Wen-chung. During the press conference, the last before the November 29 elections, Chairperson Tsai said: “We believe we have the abilities to bring to the people change. And we hope that the people can give us their support.”

http://english.dpp.org.tw/pre-election-message-from-chairperson-tsai/

Political Surgery

28 November 2014

THIS year is unlikely to be remembered fondly by Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou. He entered it with opinion polls at record lows. Spring saw students occupying the legislature for more than three weeks in protest against his efforts to forge closer ties with China; thousands took to the streets to back them. Local elections on November 29th are likely to compound his misery. Voters will choose more than 11,100 mayors, town chiefs and councillors. Prospects for Mr Ma’s party, the Kuomintang (KMT), look grim.
http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21633880-taiwans-ruling-party-faces-challenge-local-polls-political-surgery?zid=306&ah=1b164dbd43b0cb27ba0d4c3b12a5e227

ALDE

27 November 2014

A video summary of recently concluded Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Party Congress in Lisbon, Portugal.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152810919114590