18/09/2025

THURSDAY | SEPT 18, 2025

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Chinese vice-president meets Asean leaders at expo

FOUR IN HOSPITAL AFTER S’PORE FLAT FIRE SINGAPORE: Four people were taken to hospital, including one who sustained minor burn injuries, following a fire at a HDB flat in Serangoon North, Singapore on Tuesday. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at 8pm. “The fire, which was confined to the bedroom, was extinguished with a water jet.” About 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated by police and SCDF as a precautionary measure. SCDF said preliminary investigations suggested that the fire likely originated from an electrical source in the bedroom. – Bernama CHINA ACCUSES NZ OF AIRPORT HARASSMENT WELLINGTON: China’s embassy in New Zealand said it has complained to Wellington over the “harassment” of its citizens at the country’s airports, including electronic devices being seized. Beijing “deplores the unwarranted conduct and harassment”, it said, demanding that “such wrongful acts cease immediately”. It has issued a complaint to New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry and “reserves the right to make further responses”, it warned. Wellington insisted that all visitors entering the country have to abide by laws and regulations, specifically “national security and border security” laws. “These laws and regulations are applied in a non-discriminatory manner regardless of country of origin.” – AFP

BR I E F S

cooperation with China in various fields to continuously inject new impetus into the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future, he said. When meeting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, Han pointed out that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and is the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. China is willing to work with Vietnam to take the strategic consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries as a guide, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, and inject strong impetus into the socialist modernisation of both sides, he said. Mai Van Chinh said Vietnam is willing to enhance high-level exchanges between the two countries, deepen cooperation with China in various fields and jointly promote the building of a Vietnam China community with a shared future. – Bernama-Xinhua

friendship two countries more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, he said. Bounthong said the relations between the two countries are at their best in history, adding that Laos is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, deepen political trust, strengthen practical cooperation and promote greater development of relations. When meeting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers Vongsey Vissoth, Han said Xi paid a state visit to Cambodia in April, and China is willing to work with Cambodia to accelerate the implementation of the consensus reached by their leaders. He called on both sides to give full play to the role of the inter-governmental coordination committee, speed up the construction of the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, and contribute to the modernisation of both countries. Vongsey Vissoth said the iron-clad friendship between Cambodia and China is unbreakable, and the destinies of the two sides are closely intertwined. Cambodia is willing to deepen between the

national stability, sovereignty and independence, and advancing its domestic political agenda. He expressed hope Myanmar would intensify efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes and safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Myanmar, as well as the security of the China-Myanmar border. U Nyo Saw expressed Myanmar’s willingness to deepen high-quality cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly address cross-border crimes and promote the building of a Myanmar-China community. When meeting Laos Vice-President Bounthong Chitmany, Han said under the guidance of the top leaders of the two countries, the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future has been advancing. China is willing to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached at the top level, deepen the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and hold celebration activities for the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year to make the

NANNING: Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng on Tuesday met leaders from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, who are in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to attend the 22nd China-Asean Expo and the China-Asean Business and Investment Summit, reported Xinhua. When meeting Myanmar Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Han said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, and not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Myanmar Acting President Min Aung Hlaing and reached a vital consensus. China is willing to work with Myanmar to implement the consensus reached and deepen the building of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, said Han. He added that China supports Myanmar in maintaining o China willing to work together to build shared future The plaintiffs had argued that the process had been flawed, bulldozing through parliament in March without proper public consultation, amid concerns of an expansion of the military’s involvement in civilian life under President Prabowo Subianto. Fears are growing in Indonesia that former special forces commander Prabowo is turning increasingly to the armed forces to help deliver his ambitious agenda after just 11 months in office, reviving memories of Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told Australian national broadcaster ABC that it remains “a work in progress”. The deal’s failure to be signed is the second time this month that Albanese has left a Pacific island nation without clinching a key deal. Last week, he walked away from talks in Vanuatu without signing an agreement aimed at deepening ties. Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat cited concerns that its wording would limit the country’s ability to access funds for “critical infrastructure” from other nations. Canberra has stepped up its engagement with the Pacific region in a bid to counter Beijing’s influence. To the north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most populous state in Melanesia. – AFP

Signing of defence treaty delayed PORT MORESBY: Australia and Papua New Guinea failed to sign a long-awaited mutual defence treaty as expected yesterday, as Canberra seeks to deepen ties with Pacific nations and counter Beijing’s rising influence. “any activities, agreements or arrangements with third parties would not compromise the ability of either of the parties to implement the treaty”, an allusion to China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

The deal, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, was set to see the nations commit to defending each other from armed attacks as they face “emerging threats” to their security, according to a copy seen by AFP. It was widely expected to be signed by leaders Anthony Albanese and James Marape yesterday in Port Moresby. But the two sides instead said the signing would take place “following Cabinet processes in both countries”. The joint communique did not detail the reason for the delay, although Albanese previously said approval by the Papua New Guinea Cabinet due on Monday had been delayed by the country’s independence celebrations. The treaty would ensure

DEADLY DELUGE ... At least 18 people were killed and many were reported missing after flash floods occurred in India’s Uttarakhand state. – AFPPIC

Indonesia upholds legal revision expanding military role JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Constitutional Court yesterday upheld the passage of revisions of the country’s military law by parliament earlier this year, rejecting legal challenges to the process. of at times violent demonstrations over issues from lawmakers’ allowances and state budget priorities to police conduct and perceptions of creeping militarisation in Indonesia, presenting Prabowo with his first major test.

Petitioner Ardi Manto Adiputra said lawmakers had met in secret to discuss revisions to the law and had rushed its passage. The petitioners included human rights and student groups and Indonesia’s former president Abdurrahman Wahid’s daughter Inayah Wahid. Indonesia’s law minister has said the legislative process was above board and public input had been sufficiently sought. – Reuters

the military-dominated 1966-1998 New Order era of authoritarian rule. Prabowo has appointed former generals to key posts and has deployed the military for various tasks, including handling street protests, implementing initiatives on free school meals and food security, manufacturing medicines, and seizing palm oil plantations for a new state-owned firm. The rulings come at a time of festering anger following two weeks

The court announced its decision on five petitions challenging the passage of the revisions, which, among other things, had increased the number of civilian government departments that military personnel can be posted to.

The petitions argued that the amendments to Indonesia’s military law lacked transparency and public participation before being passed by a parliament overwhelmingly allied with the president.