Ting Wei Toh

Who will run Asia’s internet? In the middle of a massive digital infrastructure build-out, China and America are competing for profits and geopolitical influence. I travelled to Johor, Malaysia — the heart of Asia's data-center boom — to see this front in the US-China tech war. A few American allies, notably India and Australia, have cracked down on Chinese-built internet infrastructure. But in countries like Malaysia, picking sides seems unworkable. America brings cutting-edge tech; China brings money. US concerns about Chinese espionage through its infra also strike some Asian leaders as unconvincing, coming from the world's spying superpower. My latest in The Economist: https://lnkd.in/eK_rjkZz

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Here are seven examples from a multitude of potential scenarios that could lead to a citizen’s wrongful arrest under the new criminal code, BNSS. https://lnkd.in/gq2NPjVK

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With the next #generalelection on the horizon, I spoke to the authorities, tech firms, political parties, analysts and regular folks on the ground about keeping the #socialmedia and digital space safe during an election in #Singapore. Digital platforms have low barriers of entry and very wide reach, and can hence be tapped on by anyone whether for good or bad. The rise of #AI-generated content and #deepfakes adds another potentially nefarious dimension to ruses in the online domain. We’ve already seen it unfold in Singapore with #scams and extortion plots involving politicians. Beyond the technical aspects, there are also considerations like foreign interference and misinformation. Countering such issues requires raising awareness and education, along with well-considered regulation. Political parties are also gearing up for the hustings and staying prepared, adopting different policies and approaches to cope with this modern scourge. Sinister actors in the #digital space is a phenomenon observed across the world, and there are indeed lessons that Singapore can glean from the experiences of other countries. My thanks goes out to everyone who took the time to share their insights and comments with me for this piece: Carol Soon (PhD) Benjamin Ang Kasthuri Prameswaren Natalie Pang Isaac Neo Do have a read as we head towards the next general election, the first under the country’s fourth-generation leadership.

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Today in Asia Times, I wrote about China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) adapting Meta’s open-source AI model, Llama, to create “ChatBIT,” a tool tailored for military intelligence and battlefield decision-making. Despite Meta's restrictions on military use, the open-source nature of Llama enabled the PLA to bypass these rules, raising concerns over the potential misuse of generative AI. This development underscores the challenges of controlling AI technology amid rising global competition. The U.S. Department of Defense is closely watching these advancements, reflecting broader fears about AI’s security risks and its role in modern warfare. Experts note that while AI can streamline and enhance decision-making, its unpredictable behavior and potential for escalating conflicts necessitate strict oversight. The PLA’s retooling of Llama signals China’s broader strategy to leverage AI for strategic advantage, which could reshape the future of military engagement.

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My latest piece on China's 'gray zone' aggression around the first island chain, focusing on the strategic areas of the Senkakus, Kinmen Islands, and Scarborough Shoal. The article explores how Tokyo, Taipei, and Manila are navigating the complex challenge of defending their territories without escalating tensions into open conflict. #Geopolitics #EastAsia #MaritimeSecurity #China #Japan #Philippines #Taiwan #InternationalRelations #NikkeiAsia

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My latest South China Morning Post SCMP: Interviews with China's #civilservants have revealed a widespread fear of mistakes and a lack of flexibility, worsened by #CCDI's strict monitoring. In this environment, promotions serve as “carrot” while #corruption leads to dismissal, or “stick”. As the threat of stick grows and carrot remains unchanged, a culture of caution prevails. Further #centralization and #micromanagement have stifled innovation and creativity, resulting in a prevailing atmosphere of passivity and conformity, ultimately undermining the very objectives that the leadership seeks to promote: to get officials to do things. https://lnkd.in/g3-SyPhd #China #politics #CCP #Chinesegovernment #incentive #anticorruption

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Indian cyber-slaves are finally being rescued from East Asian narco-states holding them as slave labour—but the region’s criminal empires are growing ever-richer and more powerful, with the help pf China

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Rising Tensions in the South China Sea: Philippines Seeks Allies to Counter China's Militarization   Readmore: https://lnkd.in/eQw7THUH The South China Sea, a vital maritime region rich in resources, has emerged as a major geopolitical flashpoint due to China's increasingly aggressive actions. Beijing's relentless pursuit of territorial dominance is evident in its rapid militarization of artificial islands within the disputed Spratly archipelago..................   #BreakingNews, #SouthChinaSea, #Philippines, #China, #MilitaryNews, #GlobalPolitics, #InternationalRelations, #Geopolitics, #SubiReef, #CurrentEvents, #WorldNews, #Trending, #AsiaNews, #Defense, #GlobalSecurity

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Today in Asia Times, I wrote about Singapore's continued expansion of its submarine capabilities, highlighting the latest launch of the RSS Inimitable, a Type 218SG Invincible-class submarine. This submarine, designed to navigate Southeast Asia's complex and crowded maritime environments, has state-of-the-art features like lithium-ion batteries for enhanced endurance. The RSS Inimitable, built to ensure Singapore's submarine qualitative and quantitative edge in the region, is slated for handover in 2025 after extensive testing. The RSS Inimitable represents a military asset and a diplomatic tool, underlining Singapore's approach to regional security through technological supremacy and international cooperation. The launch is part of a broader strategy to maintain peace through strength, emphasizing readiness and deterrence in the context of rising regional tensions, particularly influenced by the strategic rivalry between the US and China. This strategy aligns with Singapore's military doctrine of being a 'poisonous shrimp'—small yet formidably armed—bolstering defense capabilities and diplomatic leverage

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With $529 million in tech investments in 2023, Vietnam is becoming a hub for AI-driven initiatives. VinBigdata is at the forefront, leveraging MongoDB Atlas to enhance user experiences. Check out DigiconAsia's chat with Dr. Kim Anh Nguyen about how VinBigData leads the AI wave! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gBWYMKCk #AI #MongoDB #VietnamTech #VinBigData

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"Chainalysis report reveals Central & Southern Asia and Oceania lead global cryptocurrency adoption, with India, Indonesia and Vietnam topping the rankings Central and Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO) have emerged as global leaders in cryptocurrency adoption, according to the latest report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.  The region accounts for seven of the top 20 countries in the company's Global Crypto Adoption Index, with India claiming the top spot. The report, which analyses on-chain cryptocurrency value received between July 2023 and June 2024, reveals that CSAO received more than US$750bn in crypto asset inflows during this period.  This figure represents 16.6% of global value received, placing the region behind only North America and Western Europe." FinTech Magazine

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Security analyst Chester Cabalza told This Week in Asia on Friday that China must “walk the talk of [a] China-Asean free trade agreement while pursuing a smooth completion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea”. While economics is the lifeblood of strategic cooperation, completion of the Code of Conduct is also “important to achieve peace and prosperity in the dynamic region”, according to Cabalza, founder-president of the International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC) think tank in Manila. The Code of Conduct for the South China Sea is a proposed binding agreement between Asean and China to establish rules governing behaviour in the disputed waters, including commitments to avoid militarisation, respect freedom of navigation, and resolve disputes peacefully. Negotiations on the agreement have been ongoing for decades. Cabalza, a professor of International Security at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), described China’s strategy of offering trade and investments to Asean states in return for their silence on the South China Sea conflict as “intensified salami slicing in the tense South China Sea”, but said such a move was “no longer adaptable” given that Western developed economies were also keen on investing in the region. “Many of these Asean countries are seen as engines of growth economically, with or without the China money,” he noted. “Silencing them in their territorial claims in the contested waters does not mean that they will become beggars to Beijing’s slumping economy and ageing human productivity.” What could break the impasse in negotiations was for claimant countries to adopt a “minilateral approach” to pursuing their own code of conduct, and for China to adhere to and respect an Asean-led Code of Conduct, Cabalza said. The Philippines and Vietnam are at the forefront of this minilateral approach, with both having agreed to negotiate differences in their overlapping claims in the Spratlys. https://lnkd.in/gMByWdRy

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Today in Asia Times, I wrote about the intensifying arms race between the US and China in directed-energy weapons, focusing on anti-drone technologies critical for potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Both nations are rapidly developing high-power microwave and laser systems to counter the growing threat of drone swarms, showcased by China's recent display of mobile directed-energy weapons at the Zhuhai Airshow. The US, meanwhile, has demonstrated its Coyote Block 2 interceptors, which have successfully destroyed drones in global deployments and are expected to expand in numbers and sophistication. China's directed-energy weapons, developed by corporations like Norinco, highlight its strategic push to neutralize drones in high-volume scenarios, while the US is advancing towards enhanced capabilities through additional drone interceptors and directed-energy research. Both nations view directed-energy weapons as crucial due to their ability to neutralize multiple drones without reloading and with minimal collateral damage. However, operational challenges, including energy demands and limited stockpiles, mean the US and China are exploring both kinetic and non-kinetic solutions to meet future drone threats effectively.

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#ASEAN and #AsiaPacific #business - Top names bloom here: I recall in the 1980s when I was an Apple evangelist for their DTP (desktop publishing products), and subsequently marketing their Macs and coding on Macs, I was the lone few, the renegade. Now, Apple is so mainstream, just as other big tech names are ubiquitous, such as Google, Amazon, Bytedance, etc. While many of these names have limited presence in ASEAN, it is inevitable all big (and emerging) names will have to make their brands better known, and more entrenched in the region. The reasons are simple. ASEAN is a HUGE market (bigger than America), and there is a lot more potential since there are many emerging economies here. The opportunities and potential to profits are profound. If you are not here yet, you are missing out. If you are not here yet, and want to succeed and profit from ASEAN, through one of the most established #consulting and #PR firms in Asia, visit us at https://mcgallen.com, or talk to us today. https://lnkd.in/gZgkDGqn

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The Malaysian government has consistently maintained a neutral stance in the ensuing Sino-US rivalry. However, the Malaysian Chinese media frequently adopts a discernible pro-China perspective in this ongoing geopolitical contestation. That said, Malaysian Chinese support for China is not unconditional. When issues arise that directly impact Malaysia’s sovereignty, such as the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Malaysian Chinese media have taken a clear and unequivocal nationalistic stance in support of Malaysia.

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Beijing must watch out for the strategies of new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as he seeks to recast Japan’s military partnership with the US, and also for whether he reaches out to Taiwan, according to observers. Past weeks have seen headline-grabbing security proposals from Ishiba, who took office on Tuesday after being elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). These included a call to form “an Asian version of Nato”, stationing Japanese troops on the US base in Guam, and a rethink of the US nuclear posture in the region to ensure deterrence. Ishiba’s stance on Taiwan might be another issue causing friction with Beijing, experts said, which deserves attention for Ishiba’s moves relating to Taiwan. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ge6sNiVu #shigeruishiba #sinojapanrelations #japan #china

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