These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
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US officials say China's actions towards Taiwan risk destabilising region
China's actions towards Taiwan are destabilising and risk undermining peace and stability in the region, said two top US officials on Wednesday (Dec 8), adding that Beijing's "bullying behaviour" has pushed more countries to step up their support of Taiwan.
Tension in the Taiwan Strait has crept up in recent weeks, with China sending aircraft into Taiwan's air defence identification zone and conducting a combat readiness patrol as US lawmakers visited the island.
"We view the PRC's growing military, diplomatic and economic coercion towards Taiwan with serious concern. These actions are destabilising to the region and risk a miscalculation that could harm the global economy," said Mr Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, using the country's official name, the People's Republic of China. - Straits Times
Still no clue where Jho Low is
Police have yet to establish the whereabouts of Low Taek Jho, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin confirmed in a statement to the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said that police investigations have revealed that the billionaire fugitive was moving from place to place to avoid detection.
Hamzah reiterated this in a written parliamentary reply to Wong Chen (Subang-PH) when the government was asked to verify if the criminal who has evaded capture since 2018 was indeed in China. - New Straits Times
More incentives for foreign film shoots
The government looks set to increase incentives and deregulate foreign film shoots in Thailand, aiming to promote shooting and production.
Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) ordered related agencies at a meeting on Dec 3 to find fresh ways to lure more foreign film shoots to Thailand.
New incentives should be finalised and proposed to CESA's next meeting in January, he said. - Bangkok Post
Newly shipped Pfizer doses to boost 2nd massive vax drive: NTF
The newly shipped 1,082,250 doses of Pfizer vaccine came just in time to boost the upcoming second leg of the national vaccination days from December 15 to 17.
On Wednesday night, Dr. Maria Paz Corrales of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) welcomed the government-procured jabs and urged the public to get their shot as soon as possible and take part in the three-day vaccination drive.
"Sana po ay magpa-bakuna na po ang ating mga kababayan para po masaya ang ating nalalapit na holidays lalo na sa darating na linggo, sa second phase ng national vaccination days (Please get vaccinated for a merry Christmas, especially next week where we will stage the second phase of the national vaccination days)," she said. - Philippine News Agency
Sovereignty over cyberspace an important part of national sovereignty: official
Ensuring sovereignty in cyberspace helps to protect national sovereignty, said head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia.
Speaking at the national scientific conference on "Ensuring national sovereignty in cyberspace" on Wednesday, Nghia said that the strong development of science and technology, especially the fourth industrial revolution, had created a new strategic space called cyberspace.
Cyberspace has become a key and indispensable part of the implementation of strategies on foreign relations, consolidation and maintenance of the socio-economic activities of countries. - Vietnam News
PM says meeting on 24th of December will ‘decide on the candidacy of the next Prime Minister’
Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, has stated that on December 24, 2021, there will be a meeting of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party to decide on the candidates for the next Prime Minister.
The PM made his remarks at an inspecting visit to the construction site of the new Phnom Penh International Airport in Prek Sleng commune, Kandal Stung district, Kandal province.
The PM stated, “On December 24, the members of the Central Committee are ready to attend the meeting of the Central Committee of the Party to decide on the candidacy of the Prime Minister and there are some tasks that the committee has to do.” - Khmer Times
Facebook finally bans Myanmar military-linked companies from its platform
Facebook on Tuesday said it will ban companies linked to Myanmar’s military from operating on its platform, just hours after lawyers filed a $150 billion class action lawsuit against the company on behalf of Rohingya refugees.
The page of telecoms operator Mytel, part owned by the military, was among those removed, and a Facebook official told Myanmar Now the company had taken action against “hundreds” of other accounts and pages linked to military-controlled businesses.
The social media giant, now officially called Meta, said that the move expands an existing ban on military pages. The company had resisted calls from activists to enforce such a ban for years. - Myanmar NOW
Demand for green economy opportunity for Indonesia: BI
The global demand for green finance has created an opportunity for Indonesia’s economic sectors, senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Destry Damayanti, said at an online discussion on Wednesday.
"The opportunity comes from Indonesia's vast and diverse natural resources. Thus, we can achieve zero emissions earlier," she added.
President Joko Widodo has said that Indonesia has a very large source of renewable energy from biothermal, tidal, and wind power plants, which are estimated to generate 418 thousand Megawatt (MW) of power, she noted. - AntaraNews.Com