January 12, 2024
A weekly review of key news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen reviews a Taiwanese Marine battalion in 2020. Photo credit: Wikimedia/中華民國 (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Taiwan Presidential and Legislative Elections: January 13, 2024
Sophie Mak and Rurika Imahashi, Nikki Asia (January 12, 2024): Taiwan ‘open’ to deeper AUKUS ties amid election meddling fears
Maggie Miller and Joseph Gideon, Politico (January 11, 2024): Taiwan bombarded with cyberattacks ahead of election: Cybersecurity groups link the attacks against Taiwanese critical infrastructure to China.
Paul Huang, Foreign Policy (January 11, 2024): Taiwan’s Elections Aren’t All About China
Mercedes Hutton, Hong Kong Free Press (January 11, 2024): Taiwan KMT election hopefuls say Hong Kong’s One Country, Two Systems ‘a failure,’ warn island on ‘brink of war’
Office of Senator Mitt Romney (January 11, 2024): On Eve of Taiwan Elections, Senate Approves Bipartisan Resolution Commending Taiwan’s Commitment to Democracy
Michael Smith, Australian Financial Review (January 10, 2024): China threatens fresh Taiwan sanctions as pre-election tension mounts
Reuters (January 10, 2024): China satellite launch causes pre-election political storm in Taiwan
Reuters (January 9, 2024): Bridge dilemma exposes China divisions ahead of Taiwan elections
Indonesia General Elections: February 14, 2024
Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Sydney Morning Herald (January 12, 2024): Deepfake dead dictator Suharto back on the campaign trail
Reuters (January 8, 2024): Indonesia presidential frontrunner under fire as rivals attack defence plans
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Randy Mulyanto, The Guardian (January 8, 2024): From military leader to ‘harmless grandpa’: the rebranding of Indonesia’s Prabowo
AFP (January 7, 2024): Indonesia’s Presidential Hopefuls Face Off in Debate
Cambodia Senate Elections (indirect): February 25, 2024
Human Rights Watch (January 11, 2024): Cambodia: New Prime Minister But No Improvements
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (January 8, 2024): Cambodian Government Critic Arrested for Facebook Post
South Korea Legislative Elections: April 10, 2024
Koh Ewe, Time (January 10, 2024): South Korean Opposition Leader, After Being Stabbed in Neck, Urges End to ‘Warlike Politics’
Stratfor (January 10, 2024): South Korea: Opposition Losing Members Ahead of April Election
Lee Minji, Yonhap (January 10, 2024): N. Korea likely to carry out psychological warfare ahead of general elections: official
Julian Ryall, DW (January 8, 2024): What’s behind North Korea’s increasing belligerence?
Nam Hyun-woo, Korea Times (January 8, 2024): NK likely to continue provocations for greater leverage before elections
AP (January 7, 2024): South Korea says North Korea has fired artillery near their sea boundary for a third straight day
India Parliamentary Elections: May 2024
Reuters (January 5, 2024): India forecasts 7.3% economic growth, boosting Modi’s election chances
Mongolia Parliamentary Elections: June 28, 2024
The Diplomat (January 11, 2024): Challenges in Mongolia’s Upcoming Election: June 2024 will see the first elections since constitutional changes reconfigured Mongolia’s legislature and electoral system.
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Bhutan Parliamentary Election Runoffs: January 9, 2024
Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy (January 10, 2024): Bhutan’s Elections Are a Bright Spot in South Asia
Upasana Dahal and Jalees Andrabi, AP (January 10, 2024): Bhutan Votes In Former PM In Elections Overshadowed By Economic Strife
Gopal Sharma, Reuters (January 8, 2024): Bhutan votes in final round of national elections, economy main issue
AFP (January 6, 2024): India keeps wary eye on Bhutan election as China seeks to draw kingdom into its orbit
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: January 7, 2024
Julhas Alam, AP (January 12, 2024): The US and UK say Bangladesh’s elections extending Hasina’s rule were not credible
Madison Minges and Tazreena Sajjad, American University (January 10, 2024): Understanding Bangladesh’s Election Results
Michael Martin and Diaa Hadid, NPR (January 8, 2024): Bangladesh’s prime minister wins a majority in parliamentary elections
Reuters (January 6, 2024): Bangladesh poll booths burn on election eve, as train arson kills four
Maldives Presidential Election: September 9 and 30, 2023
Joe Cash, Reuters (January 10, 2024): Maldives upgrades ties with China amid pivot from India
Times of India (January 10, 2024): Amid Maldives row, EU report says ruling coalition deployed anti-India sentiments during 2023 presidential polls
Semafor (January 8, 2024): The Maldives and India are feuding after Modi’s beach trip
AP (January 8, 2024): Maldives suspends 3 officials for disparaging India
Malaysia General Elections: February 19, 2022 (next general elections due in 2027, but a number of state and local elections happen before then)
Munira Mustaffa and Amrita Malhi, The Diplomat (January 10, 2024): How Should Malaysia’s Government Deal With the ‘Green Wave’? The Islamist party PAS is ascendant, but Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s current response to the group risks doing more harm than good.
Asia This Week: January 12, 2024
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Last Updated: February 3, 2024 by 21votes
January 12, 2024
A weekly review of key news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Taiwan Presidential and Legislative Elections: January 13, 2024
Sophie Mak and Rurika Imahashi, Nikki Asia (January 12, 2024): Taiwan ‘open’ to deeper AUKUS ties amid election meddling fears
Maggie Miller and Joseph Gideon, Politico (January 11, 2024): Taiwan bombarded with cyberattacks ahead of election: Cybersecurity groups link the attacks against Taiwanese critical infrastructure to China.
Paul Huang, Foreign Policy (January 11, 2024): Taiwan’s Elections Aren’t All About China
Mercedes Hutton, Hong Kong Free Press (January 11, 2024): Taiwan KMT election hopefuls say Hong Kong’s One Country, Two Systems ‘a failure,’ warn island on ‘brink of war’
Office of Senator Mitt Romney (January 11, 2024): On Eve of Taiwan Elections, Senate Approves Bipartisan Resolution Commending Taiwan’s Commitment to Democracy
Michael Smith, Australian Financial Review (January 10, 2024): China threatens fresh Taiwan sanctions as pre-election tension mounts
Reuters (January 10, 2024): China satellite launch causes pre-election political storm in Taiwan
Reuters (January 9, 2024): Bridge dilemma exposes China divisions ahead of Taiwan elections
Indonesia General Elections: February 14, 2024
Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Sydney Morning Herald (January 12, 2024): Deepfake dead dictator Suharto back on the campaign trail
Reuters (January 8, 2024): Indonesia presidential frontrunner under fire as rivals attack defence plans
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Randy Mulyanto, The Guardian (January 8, 2024): From military leader to ‘harmless grandpa’: the rebranding of Indonesia’s Prabowo
AFP (January 7, 2024): Indonesia’s Presidential Hopefuls Face Off in Debate
Cambodia Senate Elections (indirect): February 25, 2024
Human Rights Watch (January 11, 2024): Cambodia: New Prime Minister But No Improvements
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (January 8, 2024): Cambodian Government Critic Arrested for Facebook Post
South Korea Legislative Elections: April 10, 2024
Koh Ewe, Time (January 10, 2024): South Korean Opposition Leader, After Being Stabbed in Neck, Urges End to ‘Warlike Politics’
Stratfor (January 10, 2024): South Korea: Opposition Losing Members Ahead of April Election
Lee Minji, Yonhap (January 10, 2024): N. Korea likely to carry out psychological warfare ahead of general elections: official
Julian Ryall, DW (January 8, 2024): What’s behind North Korea’s increasing belligerence?
Nam Hyun-woo, Korea Times (January 8, 2024): NK likely to continue provocations for greater leverage before elections
AP (January 7, 2024): South Korea says North Korea has fired artillery near their sea boundary for a third straight day
India Parliamentary Elections: May 2024
Reuters (January 5, 2024): India forecasts 7.3% economic growth, boosting Modi’s election chances
Mongolia Parliamentary Elections: June 28, 2024
The Diplomat (January 11, 2024): Challenges in Mongolia’s Upcoming Election: June 2024 will see the first elections since constitutional changes reconfigured Mongolia’s legislature and electoral system.
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Bhutan Parliamentary Election Runoffs: January 9, 2024
Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy (January 10, 2024): Bhutan’s Elections Are a Bright Spot in South Asia
Upasana Dahal and Jalees Andrabi, AP (January 10, 2024): Bhutan Votes In Former PM In Elections Overshadowed By Economic Strife
Gopal Sharma, Reuters (January 8, 2024): Bhutan votes in final round of national elections, economy main issue
AFP (January 6, 2024): India keeps wary eye on Bhutan election as China seeks to draw kingdom into its orbit
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: January 7, 2024
Julhas Alam, AP (January 12, 2024): The US and UK say Bangladesh’s elections extending Hasina’s rule were not credible
Madison Minges and Tazreena Sajjad, American University (January 10, 2024): Understanding Bangladesh’s Election Results
Michael Martin and Diaa Hadid, NPR (January 8, 2024): Bangladesh’s prime minister wins a majority in parliamentary elections
Reuters (January 6, 2024): Bangladesh poll booths burn on election eve, as train arson kills four
Maldives Presidential Election: September 9 and 30, 2023
Joe Cash, Reuters (January 10, 2024): Maldives upgrades ties with China amid pivot from India
Times of India (January 10, 2024): Amid Maldives row, EU report says ruling coalition deployed anti-India sentiments during 2023 presidential polls
Semafor (January 8, 2024): The Maldives and India are feuding after Modi’s beach trip
AP (January 8, 2024): Maldives suspends 3 officials for disparaging India
Malaysia General Elections: February 19, 2022 (next general elections due in 2027, but a number of state and local elections happen before then)
Munira Mustaffa and Amrita Malhi, The Diplomat (January 10, 2024): How Should Malaysia’s Government Deal With the ‘Green Wave’? The Islamist party PAS is ascendant, but Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s current response to the group risks doing more harm than good.
Category: This Week Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan