Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16, communication minister says

    Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16, communication minister says

    JAKARTA, Indonesia — In a sweeping digital protection measure, Indonesia has announced it will prohibit children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed the groundbreaking regulation on Friday, marking one of Asia’s most comprehensive youth digital safety initiatives.

    The new policy targets high-risk digital platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Bigo Live, and Roblox. Minister Hafid emphasized that the ban addresses escalating threats to children’s wellbeing, citing exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and algorithm-driven addiction as primary concerns.

    Implementation will commence gradually from March 28, allowing platforms time to establish compliance mechanisms. “Our children face increasingly real threats,” Hafid stated. “The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms.”

    The minister acknowledged potential initial discomfort, noting: “Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children’s complaints.” However, she characterized the move as necessary “in the midst of a digital emergency” to reclaim sovereignty over children’s futures.

    Jakarta residents expressed support for the restrictions. Marianah, 43, noted: “Children have too much freedom with photos, videos and everything. Some content is educational, but some is misleading.” Another parent, Harianto, 49, urged broader action against pornography and online gambling websites.

    The decision follows Indonesia’s recent surprise inspection of Meta’s Jakarta office over concerns about harmful content handling. The ministry issued a stern warning regarding Meta’s alleged low compliance with national regulations.

    Indonesia becomes Southeast Asia’s first nation to implement such restrictions, joining Australia which began similar measures in December 2025, resulting in the revocation of approximately 4.7 million child accounts. European nations including Spain, France, and the UK are also considering protective measures amid growing global concern about unregulated social media’s impact on minors.

  • Taking women empowerment to heart

    Taking women empowerment to heart

    Chen Zhonghong, a dedicated member of China’s National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has redefined political advocacy through her hands-on approach to public service. In 2025 alone, her schedule documented over 60 official engagements, each representing tangible connections with vulnerable communities including struggling children, isolated seniors, and rural women seeking entrepreneurial training.

    Operating an agricultural enterprise in Tianjin, Chen emphasizes that meaningful political representation cannot be achieved through conference room deliberations alone. “Only by immersing ourselves in grassroots communities and maintaining close proximity to citizens can we genuinely comprehend their actual necessities,” Chen stated. “Every positive response from community members validates that our efforts yield meaningful impact.”

    Now serving her second term as a national political adviser, the 58-year-old has concentrated her efforts on addressing critical gaps in elderly care and child welfare systems. During visits to nursing facilities, Chen discovered that while residents received adequate physical care, they suffered from profound loneliness. “Their deepest need isn’t material support but genuine companionship—someone to sit and converse with them,” she observed.

    This realization prompted Chen to explore innovative elderly care models that integrate traditional services with social resources and artificial intelligence applications. Similarly, her involvement with special needs children during Children’s Day activities revealed both the challenges facing these children and the tremendous pressures borne by their parents.

    Chen advocates for inclusive development that ensures special needs children receive increased societal attention and support. Her experiences have solidified her conviction that effective political service requires not merely physical presence but authentic emotional investment—truly internalizing the urgent concerns and needs of the people she represents.

  • Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal conviction

    Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal conviction

    Imprisoned Hong Kong media magnate and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai has formally declined to appeal his conviction under the territory’s national security legislation. Legal representatives confirmed receiving unequivocal instructions from their client against pursuing further legal challenges, though no specific rationale was provided for this decision.

    The 78-year-old British citizen, detained since 2020, received a twenty-year prison term last month—the most severe punishment issued under the security law—for conspiring to publish seditious materials and colluding with external forces. Lai has consistently maintained his innocence regarding these charges.

    This development follows the successful overturning of a separate fraud conviction last month related to unlawful subletting of office premises. However, Lai’s international legal team emphasizes that this procedural victory remains inconsequential while the primary national security conviction stands.

    The case against Lai substantially relied on his 2019 meeting with senior US officials, including then-Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during widespread pro-democracy demonstrations. Lai contends these discussions merely addressed Hong Kong’s contemporary situation and never involved attempts to influence foreign policy.

    Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee hailed the sentencing as justified, characterizing Lai’s actions through his Apple Daily newspaper as “evil deeds beyond measure” that misled youth into protest participation. Conversely, United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the verdict as incompatible with international legal standards, joining widespread criticism from human rights organizations.

    Concerns regarding Lai’s deteriorating health in custody have been raised by family members, who report serious medical issues including dental deterioration and nail loss. Prison authorities vigorously deny these allegations and assert Lai receives appropriate medical care.

    The national security law, implemented by Beijing following the 2019 protests, remains deeply controversial. Critics argue it facilitates political repression and fosters fear, while Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain it is essential for preserving stability and does not undermine the region’s autonomy.

  • Xi underlines key role for economic powerhouses

    Xi underlines key role for economic powerhouses

    President Xi Jinping has called upon China’s foremost economic provinces to spearhead the nation’s advancement in developing new quality productive forces and achieving common prosperity. During a deliberation session with deputies from Jiangsu province at the National People’s Congress on Thursday, the president emphasized the critical role of major economic hubs in navigating complex challenges and driving sustainable growth.

    Addressing representatives from China’s second-largest provincial economy, Xi outlined the imperative for these economic powerhouses to pioneer innovative approaches to emerging circumstances and deeply-rooted issues. The president’s remarks came as China prepares to implement its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), with Jiangsu demonstrating robust economic performance—recording 5.3 percent year-on-year growth in 2025 and maintaining the largest absolute economic increase among provincial-level regions.

    Xi highlighted the strategic importance of integrating scientific innovation with industrial development, urging enhanced efforts in core technological breakthroughs and efficient commercialization of research achievements. “The development of new quality productive forces is instrumental in advancing high-quality growth and enhancing economic competitiveness,” Xi stated, designating Jiangsu as a frontrunner in this transformative process.

    The president emphasized that economic resilience depends on strengthening internal capabilities and fully integrating into China’s unified national market. He also advocated for expanded high-standard opening-up policies and proactive engagement with global markets while maintaining vigilance against potential risks.

    Xi further connected economic development with social objectives, noting that Chinese modernization must prioritize common prosperity. He called for addressing key welfare issues including quality employment, increased household incomes, and improved public services. The president concluded by linking effective Party self-governance with guaranteed socioeconomic development, emphasizing the ongoing political education campaign’s role in strengthening governance performance.

  • China’s economic growth plans seen as beneficial to entire region

    China’s economic growth plans seen as beneficial to entire region

    China’s recently announced economic roadmap for 2026 is generating optimistic forecasts across the Asia-Pacific region, with analysts highlighting significant opportunities for neighboring economies amid global uncertainties. The comprehensive growth strategy, unveiled during the annual sessions of China’s top legislative and advisory bodies, outlines a targeted GDP expansion of 4.5-5% while emphasizing quality development through technological advancement and domestic market stimulation.

    Premier Li Qiang’s government work report, presented to the National People’s Congress, establishes this growth target as strategically aligned with China’s long-term objectives through 2035. The policy direction demonstrates continuity while adapting to what the report describes as an “increasingly complex external environment” characterized by geopolitical tensions and Middle East conflicts affecting global economic prospects.

    The economic blueprint includes substantial measures to boost household consumption through comprehensive income growth plans for both urban and rural residents. These initiatives specifically target low-income groups with practical measures to enhance earnings, increase property incomes, and improve social security systems. This domestic focus, according to regional experts, will create substantial spillover effects across Asian economies.

    Dr. Li Wei, Senior Lecturer in International Business at the University of Sydney Business School, notes that China’s policy approach signals “strong continuity” while demonstrating adaptability to global uncertainties. “Policies aimed at stimulating domestic demand and diversifying export markets suggest a broader effort to rebalance growth drivers,” Li observed.

    The regional implications are particularly significant for ASEAN nations, with China serving as the trading bloc’s largest partner and primary export market. Peter T.C. Chang, former deputy director of the University of Malaya’s Institute of China Studies, emphasizes that China’s domestic market expansion “will have enormous global ramifications” and is “set to become a major driver of global demand.”

    Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, President of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, confirms that ASEAN exporters will welcome greater market access to China. Additionally, the region stands to benefit from continued Chinese investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, electric vehicles, mineral processing, and industrial upgrading—areas specifically highlighted in the government’s development agenda.

    The technological dimension of China’s growth strategy also presents collaborative opportunities. The work report emphasizes driving high-quality development in key manufacturing chains through industrial foundation reengineering and advanced technology research. Pipit Aneaknithi, Chairman of Global Sustainability at Kasikornbank, notes China’s demonstrated leadership in technological innovation and sees significant potential for cooperation, particularly with Thailand’s ambition to become a regional hub for AI, logistics, and digital technology.

    This comprehensive economic approach, balancing domestic stimulation with technological advancement, positions China as a stabilizing force in regional economic development while creating multiple pathways for cooperative growth across Asia-Pacific economies.

  • NPC deputies to deliberate key draft bills

    NPC deputies to deliberate key draft bills

    China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has commenced deliberations on three pivotal legislative proposals that will significantly shape the nation’s economic, social, and environmental trajectory. The fourth session of the 14th NPC received the draft bills addressing environmental protection, ethnic unity, and national development planning, marking a substantial step in China’s legislative agenda.

    Vice-Chairman Li Hongzhong of the NPC Standing Committee presented comprehensive explanatory remarks on the proposed legislation, emphasizing their critical importance in advancing the rule of law and supporting national development objectives. The environmental code, positioned as China’s second formal statutory code following the 2020 Civil Code, represents a monumental legislative undertaking with 1,242 articles organized across five substantive sections.

    The environmental legislation embodies Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, establishing frameworks for pollution control, ecological conservation, and green development initiatives. The draft adopts a human-centered approach designed to promote sustainable development while enhancing public welfare and strengthening China’s distinctive socialist legal system.

    Simultaneously, the draft bill on ethnic unity and progress comprises 64 articles focused on reinforcing the sense of community among China’s diverse ethnic populations. The legislation outlines specific measures to encourage interaction and integration through educational programs, cultural exchanges, sports activities, tourism development, and digital platforms. It explicitly prohibits violent terrorist activities, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism, establishing criminal liability for violations.

    The national development planning legislation, containing 38 articles, arrives at a strategically significant moment as China initiates its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period. This draft standardizes planning procedures while clarifying departmental responsibilities and providing institutional mechanisms for effective implementation within a legal framework. The legislation aims to enhance macroeconomic governance and expand democratic participation in the development process.

    All three drafts have undergone preliminary review by the NPC Standing Committee, following China’s standard legislative procedure requiring three readings before adoption. Measures of particular national significance typically undergo additional scrutiny during plenary sessions of the full NPC assembly.

  • Anhui continues to achieve development milestones

    Anhui continues to achieve development milestones

    Anhui Province has emerged as a formidable economic force in China’s development landscape, achieving remarkable growth through strategic opening-up policies and international trade expansion. According to Liang Yanshun, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Anhui Provincial Committee, the inland region has consistently innovated its approach to global engagement, enhancing both platform development and capacity building for international commerce.

    Statistical indicators reveal Anhui’s extraordinary economic transformation: with a GDP of 5.3 trillion yuan ($769.1 billion) in 2025, representing 5.5% year-on-year growth, the province now surpasses Argentina’s entire economy in scale. This development milestone underscores the effectiveness of President Xi Jinping’s guidance during his three inspection tours to Anhui since 2016, which provided strategic direction for high-level opening-up initiatives.

    International trade performance has been particularly impressive, with goods trade growing at an average annual rate of 13.2% over the past five years, exceeding 1 trillion yuan in 2025. The province demonstrated strengthened trade relationships with ASEAN (38.3% increase) and the European Union (21.6% increase), while importing over 330 billion yuan worth of high-quality consumer goods, advanced technology, and energy resources from more than 160 countries.

    Anhui’s manufacturing prowess has gained global recognition, with vehicle exports reaching 1 million complete units by end-2025—the highest among all Chinese provincial-level regions—while industrial robot exports ranked second nationwide. The province’s infrastructure development, particularly the fully navigable Yangtze-Huaihe Grand Canal operational since September 2023, has supported its position as China’s leader in waterway freight volume for consecutive years.

    Foreign investment metrics further illustrate Anhui’s attractiveness, with actual utilized foreign direct investment reaching 15.33 billion yuan in 2025, marking a 23.9% year-on-year increase—the nation’s fastest growth rate. Simultaneously, outbound investment reached $3.05 billion (17.5% increase), with 268 Anhui-based entities expanding operations across 48 countries and regions, including first-time investments in Antigua and Barbuda.

    The province’s business environment received top-three national rankings in market, innovation, rule of law, and government services according to the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce evaluation. This ecosystem has attracted major international projects, including Volkswagen Group’s first R&D center outside Germany, established in Hefei with full vehicle platform development capabilities that reduce development cycles by approximately 30%.

    Anhui enterprises have increasingly participated in global infrastructure projects, contributing to initiatives such as Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and Algeria’s Constantine Housing Project. As the province enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), leadership emphasizes that opening-up remains fundamental to writing the Anhui chapter of Chinese modernization, injecting sustained momentum into regional development.

  • Sri Lanka takes control of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sunk an Iranian warship

    Sri Lanka takes control of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sunk an Iranian warship

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — In a significant humanitarian gesture amid escalating maritime tensions, Sri Lankan authorities commenced the evacuation of 200 sailors from the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr on Friday. The operation follows the ship’s distress call after experiencing engine failure while positioned outside Sri Lankan territorial waters.

    This development occurs against the backdrop of heightened military alertness in the Indian Ocean, triggered by the unprecedented sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine earlier this week—one of the rare instances of submarine-surface vessel combat since World War II.

    Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath confirmed the ongoing disembarkation process, noting that crew members would undergo standard medical examinations and immigration formalities before temporary relocation to the Welisara naval base north of Colombo. The vessel itself will subsequently be towed to the eastern port of Trincomalee for repairs.

    Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake characterized the decision as a complex balancing act between humanitarian obligations, international maritime conventions, and the nation’s longstanding non-alignment policy. “We have to understand that this is not an ordinary situation,” Dissanayake stated during a press briefing, emphasizing that the move followed consultations with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain.

    The geopolitical implications extend far beyond technical assistance. The IRIS Dena had recently participated in multinational naval exercises hosted by India—involving 74 nations including the United States—before its fateful encounter in international waters. The sinking prompted Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to condemn the action as an “atrocity at sea” and vow that the U.S. would “bitterly regret” the attack.

    Analysts observe that these events signal concerning expansion of Middle Eastern conflicts into the Indian Ocean, placing strategically positioned nations like Sri Lanka in diplomatically delicate positions. President Dissanayake reinforced his administration’s neutral stance on social media, affirming that “no civilian should die in wars” while maintaining that “every single life is as precious as our own.”

  • Israeli airstrikes hit S. Beirut after full evacuation warning

    Israeli airstrikes hit S. Beirut after full evacuation warning

    BEIRUT – In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israeli warplanes conducted a new series of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut late Thursday. The military action followed an unprecedented full-scale evacuation warning issued by Israel for the entire Dahieh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

    The Israeli military’s urgent directive, demanding immediate departure of all residents from Beirut’s southern periphery, marked the first instance of such a comprehensive evacuation order for the region. The subsequent aerial bombardment created plumes of smoke visible across the city, as documented from vantage points in Baabda.

    Lebanese health authorities reported a mounting humanitarian toll, with official figures indicating 123 fatalities and 683 injuries resulting from Israeli operations since Monday. The violence has created a rapidly deteriorating security situation throughout southern Lebanon.

    Diplomatic channels saw intensified activity as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun engaged in urgent discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron. President Aoun detailed the deteriorating security conditions and specifically appealed for French intervention to prevent Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut following the evacuation threats.

    In parallel developments, President Macron also conferred with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The French leader communicated his government’s readiness to initiate necessary diplomatic contacts and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, according to statements from the National News Agency.

    The current escalation cycle began when Hezbollah launched missile and drone attacks against Israel on Monday, characterizing the offensive as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and repeated Israeli military actions on Lebanese territory. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions and deployed ground forces into southern Lebanon, signaling a potential expansion of the conflict.

  • Why India’s Narendra Modi chose to back Israel over Iran

    Why India’s Narendra Modi chose to back Israel over Iran

    In a significant geopolitical development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic engagement with Israel has sparked intense scrutiny regarding New Delhi’s strategic positioning amid escalating Middle Eastern tensions. The timing of Modi’s visit to Israel, occurring just days before joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran, has raised critical questions about India’s foreign policy orientation and its implications for regional stability.

    The context of this diplomatic maneuver unfolds against the backdrop of devastating conflict in Iran, where approximately 1,000 casualties have been reported alongside widespread disruption throughout the Gulf region. This confrontation represents one of the most consequential Middle Eastern military engagements in recent decades, pitting Iran against what it perceives as Israeli expansionist ambitions.

    During Modi’s high-profile meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bilateral relations were elevated to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.’ The Indian leader received a specially created Knesset medal recognizing his service to Israel, raising questions about prior knowledge of impending military actions. India’s subsequent response—or lack thereof—to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the torpedoing of an Iranian naval vessel by US forces has drawn criticism from diplomatic circles, with former officials describing these developments as ‘strategic embarrassments’ damaging to India’s regional credibility.

    This geopolitical repositioning reflects deeper ideological transformations within India’s political landscape. Since assuming power in 2014, the Modi administration has progressively advanced the concept of Hindu Rashtra (Hindu state), a vision supported by the ideological framework of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Analysts observe that this domestic transformation has corresponding international dimensions, particularly in shaping India’s Middle East policy.

    Author and political analyst Suchitra Vijayan notes: ‘New Delhi increasingly frames its interests through a civilizational, anti-terror lens that aligns with US and Israeli security discourses. Islamophobia has become institutionalized in foreign policy, effectively replacing non-alignment with a principle of strategic annihilation of Muslims.’

    This philosophical shift manifests in practical cooperation: Indian delegations frequently study Israeli approaches to governance, dissent management, and security commodification. Israeli tactical methodologies are increasingly visible in India’s domestic security operations, including protest suppression in Haryana, surveillance of political figures in Delhi, and demolition operations in Kashmir.

    India’s stance on Iran must be contextualized within its broader position on Gaza. Over the past thirty months, during which approximately 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured, India has provided military equipment (including combat drones), labor replacement for Palestinian workers, and consistent diplomatic protection for Israel at the United Nations. New Delhi initially hesitated to endorse the Gaza ceasefire resolution and declined to support arms embargo measures, citing national interest considerations.

    External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar defended this orientation: ‘Israel represents a nation with which we maintain robust national security cooperation. It has consistently supported India during periods of national security vulnerability.’

    This alignment carries significant economic implications. With Iran restricting maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, India faces energy security challenges given its limited emergency reserves. Approximately nine million Indian workers in Gulf states (particularly UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) face uncertain prospects, potentially disrupting remittance flows critical to India’s economy.

    Despite these risks, India appears to be hedging its strategic bets. The US recently granted India a 30-day waiver for Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi has gradually distanced itself from initiatives like the Chabahar Port project in Iran following American pressure. Major Indian conglomerates—including those led by Adani, Ambani, and Tata—maintain deep infrastructure, logistics, and defense partnerships with Israel, positioning them to capitalize on potential post-conflict economic opportunities.

    India’s integration into US-Israeli strategic frameworks continues through participation in the I2U2 grouping (India, Israel, UAE, US) and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement of a ‘hexagon alliance’ against ‘radical axes’ reportedly includes India as a key participant alongside Greece, Cyprus, and unspecified Arab, African, and Asian states.

    While this foreign policy orientation has drawn criticism from opposition parties, independent media, and activist organizations, the absence of robust political challenges to the government’s Hindu nationalist agenda suggests continuity in India’s strategic alignment. As Vijayan concludes: ‘Very few nations demonstrate both governmental and popular anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim sentiment simultaneously. India represents one such case.’