27/07/2025

theSun on Sunday JULY 27, 2025

WORLD 7

HK issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists HONG KONG: Security police here announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organising or taking part in the “Hong Kong Parliament”, a group that authorities say aimed to subvert state power. The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the “Parliament” group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a “Hong Kong constitution”. Police said they are still investigating and more arrests may follow. Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million (RM530,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000, are those said to have organised or run in the election and sworn in as its councillors. The UK foreign and home secretaries condemned the move in a joint statement, calling the arrests “another example of transnational repression” and saying it damages Hong Kong’s international reputation. “(The UK) will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas,” it said in a statement on Friday. – Reuters Australia, Britain sign 50-year submarine treaty SYDNEY: Australia’s government said yesterday it signed a treaty with Britain to bolster cooperation over the next 50 years on the Aukus nuclear submarine partnership. The Aukus pact, agreed upon by Australia, Britain and the US in 2021, aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the next decade. Defence Minister Richard Marles said in a statement that the bilateral treaty was signed with Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey yesterday after a meeting in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state. “The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of our SSN-Aukus submarines,” the statement said. The treaty was a “commitment for the next 50 years of UK-Australian bilateral defence cooperation under Aukus Pillar I”, it said, adding that it built on the “strong foundation” of trilateral Aukus cooperation. Britain’s Defence Ministry said the bilateral treaty would underpin the two allies’ submarine programmes and was expected to be worth up to £20 billion (RM113.5 billion) for Britain in exports over the next 25 years. Aukus is Australia’s biggest-ever defence project. – Reuters

Cambodia calls for immediate ceasefire

formidable challenge. Analysts said if DPP gets control of the purse strings, even if only for a few months, it is likely to reverse the budget cuts and increase defence spending. Beijing has loomed large over the recall vote, with Taipei warning of “visible evidence” that China was trying to interfere in the process. KMT ties with Beijing and frequent visits by its lawmakers to China have raised concerns among critics over Chinese influence on the party. For KMT lawmakers to lose their seat, the number of votes in favour of recalling them must exceed those against and also be more than 25% of the total number of registered voters in the electorate. – AFP more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, with more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia. After the closed meeting of the Security Council in New York, Cambodia’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. “Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire, unconditionally, and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” he told reporters. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said yesterday for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show “genuine sincerity in ending the conflict”. “I urge Cambodia to stop violating Thai sovereignty and to return to resolving the issue through bilateral dialogue,” Maris told reporters. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said on Friday, before the UN meeting was held, that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions. Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited shelters yesterday to meet evacuees. “The military needs to complete its operations before any dialogue can take place,” Thaksin told reporters. The 76-year-old said he had no plans to contact Hun Sen, Cambodia’s powerful ex-prime minister, who was long a close ally. “His actions reflect a disturbed mindset. He should reflect on his conduct,” Thaksin said of Hun Sen. – AFP

SAMRAONG Thailand Cambodia clashed for a third day yesterday, as the death toll from their bloodiest fighting in years rose to 33 and Phnom Penh called for an “immediate ceasefire”. A border dispute erupted into intense conflict involving jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on Friday. The Cambodian Defence Death toll rises in border clashes (Cambodia): and

province, which borders Thailand’s Trat province – on the coast some 250km southwest of the main frontlines. AFP journalists in the Cambodian town of Samraong, near the ridge of hills that marks the border and has seen the bulk of the fighting, heard the thumping of artillery yesterday afternoon. A Thai villager reached by phone as he sheltered in a bunker in Sisaket province, just 10km from the frontier, also reported hearing artillery. “I just want this to end as soon as possible,” said Sutian Phiewchan. The fighting has forced

Ministry said 13 people were confirmed killed in the fighting, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people injured. In Thailand, the army said five soldiers were killed on Friday, taking the toll there to 20, comprising 14 civilians and six military personnel. The death toll across the two countries is now higher than the 28 killed in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011. Both sides reported a clash at about 5am (same time in Malaysia), with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing “five heavy artillery shells” into locations in Pursat

Thai citizen Juam, 50 sits next to her dog Krati inside a shelter in Srisaket province yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Taiwan votes in high-stakes recall election TAIPEI: Taiwanese voters turned out at schools, temples and community centres yesterday to cast their ballots in a high-stakes recall election that could give President Lai Ching-te’s party control of the parliament. 24 KMT lawmakers facing potential recall. Elections for another seven KMT lawmakers will be held on Aug 23.

While Lai won the presidential election last year, his DPP party lost its majority in the legislature. Since then, KMT and TPP have joined forces to stymie Lai’s agenda, and slashed or frozen parts of the government budget. Contentious opposition Bills, including an attempt to expand parliament’s powers, sparked brawls in the legislature and massive street protests. DPP needs a minimum of 12 KMT lawmakers recalled to gain temporary control of the parliament, with risk analysis firm Eurasia Group giving that outcome “a 60% probability”. Lai’s party would then need to flip six seats in by-elections later this year to cement its dominance in the parliament, which analysts say would be a

In Taipei, residents queued in school hallways and temples. AFP saw an elderly man arrive at a primary school in an ambulance, which had brought him from hospital so he could vote in favour of the recall. A 71-year-old woman surnamed Tseng said she was voting against the recall, arguing the process was “costly” and the government should instead “focus on improving the economy and social welfare”. Both major parties held rallies in recent days to urge supporters to take part in the election, which could upend the balance of power in parliament.

Civic groups backed by Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are seeking to unseat 31 lawmakers belonging to the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, which they accuse of being pro-China and a threat to the democratic island’s security. KMT, which wants closer ties with Beijing, controls parliament with the help of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and has slammed the recall effort as a DPP power grab. Polling stations opened at 8am (same time in Malaysia) with