🇹🇭🇰🇭💦 Whose festival is it?
Philippines levels allegations against China and Indonesia meets up with Russia
Hello friends!
Today is the midway point of the New Year festivities across Thailand and Cambodia, which means we are about to be soaked in great photos from news media around the world. I love this time of year!
Elsewhere, an escalation in the South China Sea and Indonesia reaches out to Russia.
See you soon!
Erin Cook
🇹🇭🇰🇭 Songkran and Choul Chnam Thmey
Thailand is deep-breathing its way towards an economic shock of generational proportions — but now is not the time for worry. It’s Songkran! Foreign tourists have flocked to the Khao San Road celebration of the New Year water festival with an expected 100,000 visitors to participate this year, the Nation reports. Khao Sod English has some great snaps from the Silom Road event.
Authorities have opened two sites along the Cambodian border to visitors during the festival, Bangkok Post reports. Ta Kwai ancient temple and the nearby Hill 350 will close again Thursday afternoon and photography is limited to specific areas. Thailand had lost control of the area in July last year before regaining it in December in a battle that saw two Thai soldiers killed at Hill 350.
Speaking of, a brief online spat has emerged with Thais accusing Cambodians of using the term ‘Songkran’ to promote its own festival, known as Choul Chnam Thmey. Songkran is recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage to Thailand, though the two festivals do share many aspects. This isn’t the ‘who owns nasi goreng’ of Malaysia and Indonesia — Thailand accuses Cambodia of using the term to muddy the waters in territorial claims as well as steal away tourists dollars both countries are desperately vying for.
‘The broader point, however, is that cultural traditions across the region may share common roots. But attempts to claim exclusive ownership on the basis of unclear evidence may not be the best way to build relations between neighbouring countries. In the end, it may be left to tourists and the wider international public to decide which version of Songkran they most want to experience,’ concludes this report from the Nation.
🇵🇭 Cyanide allegations in the South China Sea
Chinese fishermen have been dumping cyanide into the waters around the Spratly Islands, the Philippine National Security Council said yesterday. China has denied the allegations, BBC reports. Call it “completely unbelievable and not even worth refuting,” says Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakin.
It’s an act of ‘sabotage’ aimed at “kill[ing] local fish populations, depriving Navy personnel of a vital food source,” NSC assistant director-general Cornelio Valencia said in Manila on Monday, as quoted by the BBC. As if, says Guo Jiakin. “The Philippines has illegally harassed Chinese fishing vessels engaged in normal fishing activities,” he said.
It’s not good for the fish, but it’s also terrible for the coral, which supports the BRP Sierra Madre, the old rusted-out ship the Philippines deliberately ran aground there back in 1999 to support its claim to the waters. Cyanide degradation could eventually sink the vessel.
Philippine authorities say they have seized cyanide from Chinese fishing fleets at least three times in recent months. It can be used in fishing (didn’t know this), but is banned in the Philippines and much of the region because it’s, uh, cyanide and super bad for the environment.
BBC’s report is fantastic, would recommend reading it in full, particularly given this story has the potential to really turn into something.
President Bongbong Marcos has bigger problems this week. He’s busy trying to prove he’s alive. He showed off his jumping jacks and issued a weight-lifting challenge after rumours swirled online that he was very sick or even dead, Rappler reports. “You know, I want to tell the public that…I assure you that what they’re saying is not true. Those are all lies,” he told media.
This sort of thing was also a feature of the Duterte presidency, though the motivations were very different there. Marcos was hospitalised with diverticulitis at the start of the year and promises he’s fitter and healthier now.
🇮🇩 Mr Subianto Goes to Moscow (Lagi)
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a sudden visit to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin yesterday. It’s the third time Prabowo has made the trip since becoming president, but jeeze, what a heady time we’re all having on this planet.
That’s exactly what he came for, Prabowo said. “I came to consult on the global geopolitical situation, which is experiencing rapid developments and changes,” he said during the meeting with Putin, noting that Russia has “a very positive role” to play here, as reported by Nikkei Asia.
For his part, Putin listed off the areas in which Indonesia and Russia are looking at deeper collaboration, including, crucially, energy, but also pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and space. He was also a little bummed out that trade had decreased slightly this year: “I hope that your visit will serve to ensure that we will find the necessary solution so that the situation remains stable and demonstrates growth,” he said, as per Bloomberg.
I am very interested in this trip. The statements from both leaders are almost boilerplate-y, but this sounds like near chiding from Putin. Given the last-minute nature of the visit, as well as similar circumstances for Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last month, I feel like a message is being sent. That both leaders went to Moscow, rather than Putin coming out this way, seems to be sending a separate message. The temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian oil, as well as existing good relations, doesn’t seem to require a high-level face-to-face visit. Might be time to get the new Ian Storey book.
Important to note, as all this is happening, there are also high-level defence minister meetings between Indonesia and the US. But that’s all happening right now, so shall revisit later in the week.
who does own nasi goreng though