Asia
Anger mounts over government handling of floods in China
By John Braddock, 30 July 2016
With widespread media and internet reports accusing officials of negligence, Beijing is increasingly nervous about deepening social opposition.
Sri Lanka’s National Unity Government alliance extended
By Vilani Peiris, 29 July 2016
The deal is aimed at establishing a strong regime committed to Washington’s geo-political strategy and the imposition of the IMF’s austerity demands.
Military crackdown ahead of Thai constitutional referendum
By Tom Peters, 29 July 2016
The draft constitution empowers the military junta, which seized power in a 2014 coup, to continue its rule even if elections are held.
Philippine President Duterte delivers State of the Nation Address
By Joseph Santolan, 26 July 2016
Duterte’s speech was a repugnant mixture of proposals to assist big business in the exploitation of cheap labor and statements sanctioning the murder of alleged criminals.
US stokes divisions over South China Sea at ASEAN summit
By Peter Symonds, 25 July 2016
The Philippines and Vietnam are at loggerheads with Cambodia over a reference in the final communiqué to the recent UN-backed court ruling negating China’s maritime claims.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan take opposed stands on Hague court’s anti-China ruling
By Deepal Jayasekera, 22 July 2016
While India has lined up behind Washington in supporting the provocative ruling issued in The Hague, Pakistan has backed China’s rejection of it.
US and Chinese officials visit Sri Lanka, highlighting growing regional tensions
By K. Ratnayake, 22 July 2016
China has attempted to strengthen its relations with Sri Lanka since the US-inspired regime-change that ousted former President Mahinda Rajapakse.
US admiral holds “frank” talks in Beijing over South China Sea
By Peter Symonds, 20 July 2016
The Chinese regime is playing directly into Washington’s hands by resorting to its own reckless military measures that heighten the danger of conflict.
Foreign minister resigns as Maldives political crisis intensifies
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 18 July 2016
Bitter infighting, driven by the geo-strategic demands of the US and India, is deepening within the Maldives ruling elite.
Japan exploits violence in South Sudan to dispatch military
By Ben McGrath, 16 July 2016
While portrayed as a rescue mission, the deployment of additional Japanese troops to Africa marks an expansion of Japan’s role on the continent.
Indian troops kill dozens of protesters in Kashmir
By Kranti Kumara, 16 July 2016
The past week of mass protests in Kashmir has rattled India’s Hindu supremacist BJP government and laid bare Kashmiris’ deep disaffection from the Indian state.
Manila responds to South China Sea ruling
By Joseph Santolan, 15 July 2016
The Duterte government has reacted to the ruling with caution, seeking to placate Washington and Beijing, while the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines has escalated its attacks on China.
Amid Brexit shocks, Indian elite seeks “new opportunities”
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 14 July 2016
The Indian government is attempting to use Britain’s exit from the EU to pursue its own economic and strategic interests.
Hague court decision sets stage for US confrontation with China
By Peter Symonds, 13 July 2016
Yesterday’s tribunal ruling branding China’s actions in the South China Sea as “illegal” provides another pretext for the US to ramp up its military expansion in Asia.
Right-wing ruling coalition wins Japan’s upper house election
By Ben McGrath, 13 July 2016
The LDP’s victory gives Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the necessary numbers to revise the Japanese constitution in line with his push for re-militarization.
Hague court decides South China Sea case today
By Joseph Santolan, 12 July 2016
Regardless of the details of today’s tribunal decision, Washington will exploit the ruling to escalate its war drive against China.
Opposition party in South Korea hit by corruption probe
By Ben McGrath, 12 July 2016
The investigation into the People’s Party is a politically-motivated attack by President Park Geun-hye’s administration.
Halt the attacks on living conditions! Fight for socialist policies!
By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 12 July 2016
The mounting strikes and protests in Sri Lanka can only be advanced through a break from the entire ruling class and the fight for a unified international and socialist movement of the working class.
UN court to deliver decision on South China Sea disputes
By Peter Symonds, 11 July 2016
With a ruling imminent, the US has cranked up its propaganda apparatus and military activity in the South China Sea, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation with China.
US and South Korea agree on THAAD anti-missile system
By Ben McGrath, 11 July 2016
The installation will likely inflame tensions while continuing to stoke an arms race in East Asia.
Philippine police and vigilantes kill 72 during first week of Duterte government
By Joseph Santolan, 9 July 2016
Duterte is pursuing his fascistic agenda, including to reinstate the death penalty and to reduce the minimum age of criminal accountability as low as nine years.
Widespread destruction in China following floods
By Ben McGrath, 9 July 2016
At least 186 people have been killed, dozens remain missing and 32 million people have been affected overall.
Chinese Walmart workers engage in wildcat strikes
By Linda Tenenbaum, 8 July 2016
The strike has spread rapidly, with Walmart workers determined to reach out to their national and international co-workers.
India and Iran approve Chabahar corridor, amid heightening tensions in South and Central Asia
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 7 July 2016
To access energy resources and strike a strategic blow against China and Pakistan, India plans to build a transport corridor via Iran to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Brexit to intensify Sri Lankan economic crisis
By Saman Gunadasa, 6 July 2016
The British vote threatens to exacerbate Sri Lanka’s balance of payments crisis and deepen the widespread discontent over the government’s austerity measures.
Chinese military drills ahead of South China Sea court ruling
By Peter Symonds, 6 July 2016
The military exercises are meant as a warning to the US, which has deliberately inflamed territorial disputes in the sea over the past six years.
US attempt to hustle India into Nuclear Suppliers Group stalls
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 5 July 2016
US officials have vowed to work with India to secure its entry into the NSG, while joining India in suggesting that Beijing was responsible for its rebuff.
Dhaka hostage crisis ends in a violent military assault
By Deepal Jayasekera, 4 July 2016
Whoever the perpetrators of Dhaka hostage-taking, this type of terrorism has been fomented by the US-led wars in the Middle East.
Uncertainty in Japan following Brexit vote
By Ben McGrath, 4 July 2016
Japanese vice foreign minister Sugiyama held high-level talks in Washington, London and Brussels, stressing the need for political, economic and security coordination.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 July 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Duterte takes office as president of the Philippines
By Joseph Santolan, 1 July 2016
Duterte’s presidency represents a move by the Philippine ruling class to resolve the political crises in the country through dictatorial forms of rule.
Russian president seeks closer economic and strategic ties in Beijing
By Peter Symonds, 28 June 2016
The two countries are being driven closer together by fears of the growing danger of war posed by the United States.
Indian Stalinists try to paper over deep rift over tie-up with Congress Party
By Deepal Jayasekera, 28 June 2016
The CPM leadership has effectively given its West Bengal unit the green light to continue its alliance with the big business Congress Party.
Taiwanese airline cabin crews strike
By Ben McGrath, 27 June 2016
The walk-out highlights the growing anger more broadly throughout the Taiwanese working class.
Indonesian naval vessels clash with Chinese fishing boats
By John Roberts, 24 June 2016
Indonesia’s aggressive fisheries enforcement regime has been encouraged by Washington as it prepares to step up military and diplomatic pressure on China.
Sri Lankan plantation workers demand higher wages
By our correspondents, 24 June 2016
Plantation workers from Hatton and Maskeliya in the central hills district spoke with WSWS reporters about their worsening working and living conditions.
South Asian ruling elites rattled by Brexit campaign
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 23 June 2016
Commentators have generally backed the “Remain” campaign and expressed dismay about the damaging economic consequences of a British exit from the EU.
Two US aircraft carriers in war games in western Pacific
By Peter Symonds, 21 June 2016
The show of force is a sign that the US intends to ramp up its confrontation with China following an imminent ruling on the Philippine legal challenge to Beijing’s maritime claims.
Opposition grows to US military bases on Okinawa
By Ben McGrath, 20 June 2016
While local politicians attempt to keep the protests limited in scale and scope, the widespread anger is bound up with opposition to Japanese remilitarization.
Abe sets date for Japan’s upper house election
By Ben McGrath, 18 June 2016
The Abe government’s push for remilitarization is driving political tensions in Japan.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
18 June 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Sri Lanka: JVP calls for state of emergency in response to flood disaster
By Vilani Peiris, 17 June 2016
The JVP’s proposal shows its readiness to strengthen the capitalist state apparatus against rising social unrest.
US-China tensions rise amid major naval exercises
By Peter Symonds, 16 June 2016
The Malabar war games involving the US, Japanese and Indian navies are “complex, high-end, war-fighting exercises” aimed against China.
Duterte government opens peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines
By Joseph Santolan, 15 June 2016
As government and party leaders meet to negotiate in Oslo, CPP head Joma Sison is calling for a “coalition government” with the fascistic Duterte regime.
Hurtling toward the precipice of war, Modi cements Indo-US alliance
By Keith Jones, 10 June 2016
The alliance between the Indian bourgeoisie and US imperialism represents a sea change in world geopolitics, with explosive implications for inter-state relations across Asia and the world.
Sri Lankan plantation unions conspire with government and employers
By Shree Haran, 10 June 2016
The Tamil Progressive Alliance and other estate unions have agreed to negotiate with the employers to impose a major attack on the wages, jobs and social rights of plantation workers.
US and Chinese military aircraft in second close encounter in East Asia
By Peter Symonds, 9 June 2016
The incident took place amid Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance toward Beijing over maritime disputes in the East China and South China Seas.
Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines supports state burial for Ferdinand Marcos
By Joseph Santolan, 8 June 2016
The CPP is entering an alliance with incoming President Rodrigo Duterte and, in doing so, its leader Joma Sison has endorsed the state burial of the dictator Marcos.
Sri Lankan armoury explosion forces thousands to flee
By W. A. Sunil, 7 June 2016
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the highly-populated villages around the Salawa military complex, near the capital, Colombo.
Maoists take cabinet positions in Philippine government
By Joseph Santolan, 7 June 2016
The Maoist officials in the Duterte administration will be directly responsible for carrying out the suppression of the working class.
Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
Washington and Beijing draw battle lines over South China Sea
By James Cogan, 6 June 2016
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter threatened that China “could end up erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation.”
Sri Lankan government exploits flood disaster to evict Colombo’s poor
By Pani Wijesiriwardane, 4 June 2016
The forced removal of slum dwellers is part of the government’s Megapolis project to serve international and local investors.
Tamil nationalists hail government on Sri Lankan civil war victims’ Memorial Day
By K.Nesan, 4 June 2016
C. V. Wigneswaran applauded the US-backed Sri Lankan regime, whose top officials oversaw the massacres at the end of the war, for its “good governance.”
Sri Lankan president attends G7 “outreach meeting”
By Nanda Wickremasinghe, 3 June 2016
The gathering’s main purpose was to more firmly tie the countries involved in the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia.”
New TamilNet slanders against WSWS: an admission of political bankruptcy
By K. Nesan and V. Gnana, 3 June 2016
The Tamil nationalists did not answer the WSWS’s exposure of its slanders that the WSWS supports imperialism and genocide, but accused it of defending the Sri Lankan state.
A wave of summary executions following the Philippine election
By Dante Pastrana, 2 June 2016
In line with president-elect Duterte’s election promise, police and vigilantes have launched a campaign of murderous violence against alleged criminals.
India: Congress Party and Stalinists suffer debacle in state elections
By Arun Kumar, 2 June 2016
The Stalinists have been reduced to the third-party in West Bengal, which they ruled for 34 consecutive years ending only in 2011.
China prepares to send nuclear submarines into Pacific Ocean
By Peter Symonds, 31 May 2016
Chinese submarines will be deployed in an effort to prevent Beijing’s nuclear arsenal being wiped out in an American nuclear first strike.
Indian Stalinists abet US war plans against China
By K. Ratnayake and Keith Jones, 31 May 2016
The CPM’s opposition to the India-US basing agreement is a sham and a political trap, aimed at tying the working class to the Indian bourgeoisie, its parties and state.
Myanmar mine landslide leaves 14 dead, 200 missing
By John Braddock, 30 May 2016
Regular mining disasters are one aspect of the exploitation of the Burmese working class, on which the lucrative jade industry is built.
Indian warships enter South China Sea
By Deepal Jayasekera, 28 May 2016
While aggressively pursuing New Delhi’s own strategic ambitions, the Indian naval patrol is in line with the US “pivot to Asia” and preparations for war against China.
Australian election: Military spending is war preparation, not “industry policy”
By James Cogan—SEP candidate for the Senate in NSW, 26 May 2016
The greatest expenditure on hardware for the Australian military since World War II is being cynically portrayed as a public works program.
Obama appeals for closer US-Vietnamese ties
By Peter Symonds, 25 May 2016
In return for lifting the arms embargo, Obama undoubtedly extracted commitments from Hanoi to align more closely with Washington against Beijing.
Sri Lankan flood and landslide deaths continue to climb
By Pani Wijesiriwardena, 25 May 2016
Apart from perfunctory warnings for the public to be “vigilant,” the Sri Lankan government took no serious measures to lessen the cyclone’s impact.
Dormitory fire kills 17 children in Thailand
By Tom Peters, 24 May 2016
The fire in a Chiang Rai school dormitory is the latest tragedy caused by the lack of proper building and safety standards.
Obama seeks Vietnam military ties amid rising tensions with China
By Bill Van Auken, 23 May 2016
Part of the discussions in Hanoi will involve the pre-positioning of US military hardware at bases used four decades ago to wage war on the Vietnamese people.
Spy plane “intercept” highlights US push for South China Sea confrontation
By Mike Head, 20 May 2016
Allegations that Chinese aircraft “unsafely” intercepted a US surveillance plane underscore Pentagon calls for a “trigger” for conflict with China.
Hundreds feared dead in Sri Lankan landslides and floods
By our correspondents, 20 May 2016
Disaster victims have blamed the government and other authorities for not providing adequate relief or moving residents to safe places.
Many dead or missing after landslides in Sri Lanka
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 May 2016
Successive governments have done nothing to mitigate the death and destruction caused by annual monsoonal rains.
UN officials say torture is “common practice” in Sri Lanka
By Minusha Fernando, 18 May 2016
The revelations constitute a damning exposure of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government’s claims to defend democratic rights.
Duterte offers cabinet posts to Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines
By Joseph Santolan, 17 May 2016
The president-elect has vowed to restore hangings and not to back down on the country’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
US refuses to finance F-16 fighter jets for Pakistan
By Sampath Perera, 16 May 2016
As tensions with Washington escalate, Pakistan has indicated it is looking for alternative jets from China and Russia.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
14 May 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Sri Lankan SEP holds successful May Day meeting in Colombo
By our reporters, 12 May 2016
More than 200 people joined the meeting, which was followed by the International May Day online rally.
War danger grows following new US provocation in South China Sea
By James Cogan, 11 May 2016
US imperialism continues to stoke up long-standing, competing claims over territory in the South China Sea to militarily encircle and destabilise the Chinese regime.
Sri Lankan police arrest scores of Tamil youth
By Subash Somachandran and S. Jayanth, 11 May 2016
The repression of Tamil youth is another attempt to divide Sri Lankan workers along communal lines and follows Colombo’s agreement to impose more IMF cuts.
Fascistic candidate Rodrigo Duterte wins Philippine presidential election
By Joseph Santolan, 10 May 2016
Responsibility for the successful political career of Duterte rests with the anti-working class and nationalist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Sri Lankan government begins implementing IMF austerity demands
By Saman Gunadasa, 5 May 2016
The IMF bailout agreement is based on immediate steps to slash the budget deficit at the expense of social spending and working class conditions.
Maoist-backed, fascistic candidate leads Philippine presidential race
By Dante Pastrana, 4 May 2016
Duterte has pledged to summarily execute alleged criminals, kill union activists and block any political opposition by shutting down Congress and the courts.
May Day 2016: Oppose the drive to war in the Asia-Pacific
By James Cogan, 4 May 2016
James Cogan, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), delivered the following speech to the International Online May Day Rally.
LInk to audio
Malaysian investment fund default intensifies political instability
By John Roberts, 3 May 2016
The latest development in the 1MDB scandal is a further blow to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s hold on power.
May Day 2016: The political tasks facing the workers and toilers of the Indian sub-continent
By Wije Dias, 3 May 2016
Wije Dias, general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), delivered the following speech to the International Online May Day Rally.
US senators demand escalation of military confrontation with China
By James Cogan, 2 May 2016
The rhetoric reflects the fact that major figures in the US political establishment are more than prepared to trigger a war.
Sri Lankan prime minister seeks financial help in China
By Vilani Peiris, 29 April 2016
Wickremesinghe’s visit to China underscores the magnitude of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and the geo-political tensions engulfing the region.
Under Chinese pressure, India cancels visa to Uyghur separatist Dolkun Isa
By Kumaran Ira, 28 April 2016
India canceled a visa for US-backed Uyghur separatist Dolkun Isa to attend a conference in Dharamsala.
India bullies Maldives into enhanced “defence cooperation” pact
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 28 April 2016
By cajoling the Maldives into a new defence pact, India provided the US with a demonstration of its potential as a “frontline” ally in confronting China.
US warplanes sent near disputed South China Sea reef
By Peter Symonds, 27 April 2016
The use of American ground attack aircraft and special forces helicopters near a Chinese-claimed islet was designed to send a menacing message to Beijing.
China debt levels reach record high
By Nick Beams, 26 April 2016
China’s debt levels have risen rapidly since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, with some analysts warning that the country may experience a “Lehman” disaster.
Indian air chief calls growing Chinese influence a strategic threat
By Kanda Gabriel, 22 April 2016
India’s alignment with Washington’s anti-China “pivot” is inflaming explosive military and national-ethnic tensions across South Asia.
US threatens harsh sanctions if North Korea conducts nuclear test
By Peter Symonds, 21 April 2016
The intensifying US pressure is not primarily directed at Pyongyang, but against Beijing, as part of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia.”
Earthquakes in Japan kill 42 people, injure 1,000
By Peter Symonds, 18 April 2016
The response of the Japanese government has been a military one—despatching some 20,000 troops as part of rescue and relief operations.
South Korea’s Democrats narrowly defeat ruling conservatives in national election
By Ben McGrath, 15 April 2016
The Minjoo Party of Korea’s victory is not an endorsement of their policies but a sign of frustration with deteriorating economic conditions.
The US to further expand its military presence in the Philippines
By Peter Symonds, 14 April 2016
As US-China tensions mount, Defence Secretary Carter signalled Washington’s intention to seek access to more Philippine military bases.
US defence secretary’s trip to Asia sets stage for new provocations against China
By Peter Symonds, 13 April 2016
Carter arrives in the Philippines to send a message to Beijing that the South China Sea is “a core American strategic interest.”
Australia’s prime minister to make state visit to China
By James Cogan, 13 April 2016
Despite the hype about exciting economic opportunities in China, Turnbull faces fraught issues on trade and Australia’s involvement in the US military buildup in Asia.
New civilian government installed in Burma
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, 12 April 2016
Far from representing the dawning of democracy in Burma, the government is the outcome of a sordid power-sharing deal between Suu Kyi and the military.
Nepal tries to balance between India and China
By W.A. Sunil, 12 April 2016
New Delhi, backed by Washington, is seeking to ensure its dominant position in Nepal, as part of US efforts to undermine China in every corner of Asia.
Lockheed Martin offers to site F-16 fighter jet production in India
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 11 April 2016
This offer, which could only be made at Washington’s urging, is part of the US drive to make India a “frontline state” in its military-strategic offensive against China.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 April 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
US seeks to develop close military ties with Sri Lanka
By Vijith Samarasinghe, 8 April 2016
The US Seventh Fleet flagship’s visit to Colombo indicates moves by the Sri Lankan government to tie the country into US war plans.
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