Japan-Malaysia: new package of agreements on energy and defence

Today’s headlines:More missile exchanges between the United States and Iran; In Thailand, 50 tonnes of chemical precursors used in the production of amphetamines seized; In Indonesia, fuel prices rise by almost a third, with eknock-on effect on subsidies; In Papua New Guinea, pumice is blocking the passage of fishing boats; A further 15 deaths in the unrest in Pakistani Kashmir.

JAPAN – MALAYSIA

At the end of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s three-day visit to Japan, the two countries announced that they had signed a series of energy and maritime cooperation agreements. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that this includes cooperation between coastguards to ensure safe and free navigation in regional waters. Anwar has promised Japan a stable supply of liquefied natural gas, 15% of which already comes from Malaysia.

IRAN-UNITED STATES

The United States and Iran continued to exchange attacks in the Middle East for the second consecutive day, escalating tensions and jeopardising the fragile ceasefire reached in April. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that it had struck military, surveillance and radar targets in southern Iran as part of self-defence operations. Shortly before, President Donald Trump had promised a tough response against Tehran, accusing it of delaying a final peace agreement. In response, Iran attacked US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait and fired missiles at a US command centre in Jordan.

IRAN

Two Iranian Christians have been released after serving a five-year sentence on charges of “spreading deviant propaganda contrary to the holy religion of Islam” and “having links with foreign leaders”, reported Article Eighteen, whilst an evangelical church in Mashhad, which once held services in Farsi, was demolished without warning.

SINGAPORE – RUSSIA

Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, will visit the Russian city of Kazan next week, from 17 to 19 June, for a summit celebrating relations between Russia and the ASEAN countries. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had listed Singapore among “hostile countries” due to the city-state’s strong condemnation of the war. The last meeting between a Singaporean Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin dates back to 2019.

SOUTH KOREA – THAILAND

In the Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan, Thai police have seized 50 tonnes of chemical precursors, enough to produce 1.1 billion amphetamine tablets. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the operation was made possible thanks to cooperation with South Korean intelligence services, which in April had extradited a Thai drug lord known as ‘Noo Chen’.

INDONESIA

The Indonesian state-owned company Pertamina has raised the prices of certain fuels by almost a third, whilst the Bank of Indonesia has unexpectedly raised interest rates for the second time in a month in recent days, in an attempt to bolster confidence in the currency. Meanwhile, inflation has risen to over 3% and the cost of subsidies for fuel, energy and fertilisers has increased by 208% compared to last year.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Thick blocks of volcanic pumice are blocking the passage of boats in Papua New Guinea. The ongoing eruption of an underwater volcano began on 8 May, approximately 125 km south-east of the island, causing concern among the local population, who rely on fishing for their livelihood. Satellite images show formations of brown pumice rock along the coast, allowing residents to walk where, until a few months ago, there was only water.

PAKISTAN

At least 15 people (11 civilians and four security personnel) were killed in clashes yesterday in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir, after the Joint Awami Action Committee, an activist group, had called a traders’ strike and a march to Muzaffarabad to protest against the allocation of 12 seats to refugees in next month’s local elections. Yesterday, a military helicopter crashed in the region due to a technical fault, authorities reported.

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