15/04/2026

WEDNESDAY | APR 15, 2026

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‘Delay US overflight deal’ JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry has warned the Defence Ministry in a letter that an American proposal to give its military “blanket” permission to fly over Indonesian territory risked entangling Jakarta in potential South China Sea conflicts, sources said. mean they were not discussed in private. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. o Plan risks regional ties, says Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry

Uphold rule of law: Xi BEIJING: The international rule of law must be upheld for peace and stability to prevail in the Middle East, President Xi Jinping said yesterday, in a rebuke of the US-Israeli war on Iran. While Beijing has repeatedly criticised the US-Israeli campaign as illegal, Xi has made few public comments about the conflict. He will hold talks with US President Donald Trump in an expected meeting in Beijing next month. The rule of law cannot be “used when convenient and discarded when not”, Xi told Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the visiting crown prince of Abu Dhabi, according to Xinhua news agency. “We must not allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle,” Xi told Sheikh Khaled, the eldest son of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Xi told Sheikh Khaled, who also chairs the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, that China was willing to work with the UAE to build a more robust, resilient, and dynamic strategic partnership. The visit by the crown prince of the largest of the UAE’s seven emirates underscores a long-term commitment to expand a growing economic corridor with China, building on momentum generated by the 2024 visit of Sheikh Khaled’s father. On Monday, the UAE’s national airline, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, announced a plan to significantly expand its network of flights between the UAE capital and Chinese cities. Highlighting the UAE’s push to deepen economic ties with China, Sheikh Khaled’s delegation included Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and industry minister, Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi and Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. On Monday, Prime Ministier Li Qiang told the crown prince that Beijing was willing to explore cooperation in energy storage, hydrogen and new energy vehicles. Bilateral trade should be “expanded in scale, but also optimised structurally,” Li said, adding that China welcomed more UAE investment in sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Later this year, China plans to host the second China-Arab States Summit, where Beijing hopes to complete talks on a free trade pact between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. – Reuters

national security risks because it places Indonesia as a potential target in a regional conflict situation”. It noted that a number of US military aircraft had carried out surveillance operations in South China Sea on 18 occasions between January 2024 and April 2025, which constituted a violation of Indonesia’s territorial waters and airspace. Indonesia’s protests regarding this operation have never received a proper response from the US, it added. Spokespersons for Indonesia’s foreign and defence ministries, as well as the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reservations raised by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. Indonesia has a non-aligned foreign policy and President Prabowo Subianto has vowed to befriend all countries. Indonesia is a key member of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, and has committed the largest contingent of troops for the body’s proposed stabilisation force in Gaza. He has also remained close to Beijing. His first foreign visit as president in 2024 was to Beijing and he attended a military parade hosted by President Xi Jinping late last year, being photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The US and Australia joined the Philippines for their second joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea this year, amid tensions with China in the disputed waterway. – Reuters

Indonesia’s Defence Ministry did not respond to a Reuters question on whether the proposal was discussed between the two, but said the US proposal was being carefully reviewed by Jakarta, which had made a number of adjustments keeping in mind the country’s sovereignty and national interests. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is strategically located on the southern entry point of the South China Sea where it controls the Natuna Islands, and balances close ties with both China and the United States. China claims sovereignty over almost all the South China Sea despite overlapping claims by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. The letter from the Foreign Ministry said the US proposal should be treated with caution because it would allow Washington to maximise surveillance and reconnaissance using Indonesian waters and territory, and could affect relations with other strategic partners in the region, including China. It said an agreement with the US would give “the impression that Indonesia is involved in an alliance with the implication of increased

The letter, marked as urgent and confidential, was delivered early this month ahead of a meeting of Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington on Monday, according to two Indonesian sources with knowledge of the matter. The letter has not been previously reported and it urged the Defence Ministry to delay any final agreement with Washington. It is not clear if the overflight proposal was discussed by Hegseth and Sjafrie. The two Indonesian sources said the proposal had been slated to be signed at Monday’s meeting. A Pentagon statement that followed the meeting said the two countries established a major defence cooperation partnership and listed a number of ways in which the two countries would build defence ties, but did not refer to overflights. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that just because the overflights were not mentioned in the statement did not Evergrande boss pleads guilty to fraud BEIJING: The founder of Chinese property giant Evergrande has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and bribery, a court said yesterday. Evergrande’s rise was propelled by decades of rapid urbanisation and rising living standards, but in 2020, its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing and speculation. The company defaulted in 2021 after struggling to repay creditors. Founder Xu Jiayin, known as Hui Ka Yan in Cantonese, was reportedly held by police in 2023”. A public hearing was held on Monday and yesterday on a case against Xu for “illegally absorbing public deposits, fundraising fraud, illegally issuing loans, illegally using funds, fraudulently issuing securities, disclosing important information in violation of regulations, embezzlement and (corporate) bribery”, a court statement said. “Xu Jiayin pleaded guilty and expressed remorse,” the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in southern Guangdong province said. Evergrande Group and its real estate arm also stood trial. The court said it would announce a verdict at a later date. – AFP

ELEGANCE IN MOTION ... Dancers performing during Khmer New Year (Nokor Sankranta) celebrations at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh yesterday. – AFPPIC

Songkran breathes new life into Hat Yai SONGKHLA: Several months after devastating floods submerged business premises and disrupted livelihoods, Songkhla is showing signs of recovery as an influx of tourists during the Songkran festival breathes new life into its economy.

in line with the rise in tourist arrivals. Local authorities have stepped up safety measures and traffic control to ensure the celebrations proceed smoothly and safely. These measures include deploying security personnel at key locations and monitoring to prevent any untoward incidents. Overall, this year’s Songkran celebration not only reflects the vibrancy of Thai culture but also symbolises Hat Yai’s recovery as a tourism destination following the disaster. Earlier reports stated that prolonged heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across eight provinces in southern Thailand, affecting nearly 360,000 people in 48 districts. Hat Yai is located about 26km southwest of Songkhla City. – Bernama

hardships,” he said. Another youth, Pimchanok Rattanawong, 19, said the festival is not only about enjoyment but also about restoring community spirit. “Songkran makes us feel that the city is alive again. With so many tourists, the atmosphere has returned to how it used to be,” he said. Hotel and accommodation operators have also recorded a surge in bookings. Hotel operator Chalida Kittisak, 48, said occupancy rates have risen significantly this week. “We are fully booked for several days. This is what we have been hoping for after such a difficult period,” she said. Tuk-tuk drivers and transport service providers are benefiting from increased demand

some traders taking weeks to resume operations. “Water rose into our shops and we could not operate at all,” he said. He said the situation has improved markedly with the influx of tourists. Another trader, Naree Chaiyaporn, 38, said this year’s Songkran celebration has brought renewed hope. Although recovery remains incomplete, she said the increase in customers has strengthened confidence that the local economy will stabilise. University student Anan Srisawat, 21, said this year’s celebration signals a return to normalcy. “After the floods, many people felt sad and stressed. But when Songkran arrives, everyone comes out, celebrates and forgets their

Celebrated annually from April 13 to 15, Songkran marks the Thai New Year and has evolved into a major tourism event. Thousands of tourists were crowding the main streets of Hat Yai yesterday to take part in water festivities. For small traders, the celebration presents an opportunity to rebuild their lives. A street food vendor, Somchai Wongsawat, 45, said the floods caused significant losses as equipment and supplies were damaged, with