Latest news with #Jakarta-based
The Star
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Jakarta governor Pramono's first 100 days a mixed bag
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung (right) and his deputy, Rano Karno (centre), talking with a prospective tenant of low-cost rental apartments (rusunawa) in Jagakarsa in South Jakarta on May 8, 2025. - Antara JAKARTA: While a recent survey reveals public satisfaction with many of Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung's programmes, activist groups have pointed out several flaws in his policies during his first 100 days in office. The public opinion poll from Indikator Politik Indonesia showed that Pramono's approval rating stood at 60 per cent since taking office in mid-February. Compared with the approval ratings of his counterparts across five other provinces in Java, Indikator placed Pramono in the second-lowest position. The survey, released on May 28, also indicated that while around 70 per cent of respondents were satisfied with six of Pramono's surveyed programmes, such as extending the operational hours of public libraries and holding job fairs, better policy communication is needed for Pramono's office to inform more residents. The pollster's founder Burhanuddin Muhtadi said that only one third of residents were aware of Pramono's programmes, despite Jakartans' high exposure to media. Since assuming office, the former cabinet secretary has been making efforts to fulfil his campaign promises, either introducing new initiatives like extending operational hours of public spaces or resuming past policies such as the Ciliwung River normalization and relocation of evicted Kampung Bayam residents. At City Hall on Monday, four Jakarta-based civil groups gathered to release the results of their own assessment of certain programmes of the new Jakarta administration, such as workforce policy and some past initiatives that the city reenacted, such as the river normalisation and the Kampung Bayam relocation programme. The groups were Greenpeace Indonesia, the Jakarta Urban Poor Network (JRMK), Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) and Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta). The results of their assessment showed that the Pramono administration gained an average score of 20 for all of the assessed policies, way below the threshold set by the civil groups, which stands at 75. The groups particularly criticized how Pramono reenacted the river normalization project and the relocation of displaced Kampung Bayam residents without transparency and without listening to the aspirations of the affected populations, while prioritising short-term solutions that could further harm the vulnerable groups. Pramono has set a target of completing the Ciliwung River normalization by 2026, a long-stalled project that aims to help mitigate flooding in Greater Jakarta. In the case of Kampung Bayam, Pramono moved in March several of its evicted residents to a low-cost vertical housing complex (rusun) Kampung Susun Bayam, located near the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. The residents had been left hanging for years after their former houses were demolished to pave the way for the construction of the sports complex, under the leadership of former governor Anies Baswedan. The activist groups, however, claimed that the monthly rents in the new housing complex left several residents hesitant about moving as they may be too high. 'The new city administration is trapped in instant solutions, exacerbating the city's perennial problems,' said Greenpeace Indonesia campaigner Jeanny Sirait, referring to problems surrounding floods and land tenure. Chico Hakim, special staffer to the governor, told The Jakarta Post that the administration had received the assessment results from the civil groups, saying that it would look into every criticism and suggestion. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Indonesia's 10-year power procurement plan: Green boon or climate doom?
JAKARTA: Indonesia has backtracked on pledges it had made to stop building new coal-fired power stations – other than those it had already previously committed to – with the announcement of a new 10-year plan that includes more coal plants coming into operation as late as 2033. But in a shift from the past, renewable energy comprises the majority of the 69.5 gigawatts (GW) additional power capacity outlined in the government's 2025-2034 electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL). The ambitious plan, released on Monday (May 26), has been met with scepticism, with analysts and observers questioning whether the country can truly achieve its power supply and environmental targets. Indonesia issues updated power business plans every few years to reflect estimated electricity demand growth, investment needs and technology costs. The last one, covering the years from 2021 to 2030, was released in September 2021. Based on the new 10-year plan, Indonesia would have to build renewable power plants five times faster than today in the first five years and 11 times faster in the second five years of the period, Tata Mustasya, the executive director of the Indonesian Sustainable Welfare Foundation (Sustain), told The Straits Times. 'This is hard to achieve without major policy reforms,' Tata said, pointing out that between 2018 and 2023, Indonesia added a total of 3.2GW of renewable power capacity, or equivalent to 0.53 GW annually, and a 2025 target to achieve 23 per cent renewable energy was later revised to between 17 and 19 per cent. At present, wind and solar comprise less than 1 per cent of Indonesia's annual power-generating capacity. Some of the policy reforms, according to Tata, include offering attractive power purchase rates to solar farms and channelling some of the government royalties collected from coal mines to the construction of smart grids to help distribute power from the renewables. Indonesia has been stepping up efforts to attract green investment, including by promoting floating solar farms on reservoirs, or installing them offshore, to avoid the high costs of land procurement and having to relocate local residents. But coal power still dominates, with just over 60 per cent of the nation's electricity generated by burning the fuel. Indonesia is also a major coal producer and top global exporter. Lobbying efforts by coal interest groups, and government policies, have ensured coal's pre-eminent position. A government coal price cap ensures that power producers can access affordable coal shipments. And an unattractive power purchase rate offered to solar farms has deterred investors, according to Jakarta-based Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR). All power plants and solar farms must sell their generated electricity through PLN, the state power utility. But things are changing, especially as using solar and wind is now cheaper than fossil fuels, in addition to the lure of investment and jobs in renewable energy product manufacturing. Worries over coal plants' air pollution, health costs and their planet-warming emissions are also pressuring the government. Indonesia, which lies on the Equator, and Singapore are also discussing the terms of a possible agreement for a planned sale of solar power from Batam to Singapore via an undersea cable. Earlier talks have revealed that the possible sale size would be 2GW annually as part of the Republic's biggest effort so far to import low-carbon electricity, ST reported in November 2024. The plan is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on renewable energy cooperation between the two neighbours signed in March 2023 during the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat held in Singapore. 'Very soon. It won't be long. Signs started to emerge that we would have an agreement (with Singapore),' Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said at the May 26 RUPTL press briefing, referring to the Singapore-Indonesia MoU. Analysts and industrialists have offered mixed views about the new RUPTL, with some of them seeing it as the government striking a balance between the interest to promote green investment and to accommodate coal proponents. 'In terms of energy mix (proportion between renewable and fossil energies), it looks okay because the renewable energy portion increased, but we are seeing new coal-fired power plants being planned. 'This is against an earlier commitment,' the chief executive of a Jakarta-based business group that seeks renewable energy projects told ST in a text message. He did not want to be named when commenting on government policies. Of the additional 69.5GW in power capacity outlined in Indonesia's new 10-year power procurement plan, 42.6 W would come from renewable energy – 17.1 GW from solar, 11.7 GW from hydroelectricity, 7.2 GW from wind power, 5.2 GW from geothermal, 0.9 GW from bioenergy and 0.5 GW from nuclear. On top of that, it also includes: 10.3GW of battery and pumped (hydroelectricity) storage; and 16.6GW of fossil-based electricity production from coal (6.3GW) and gas (10.3GW). Mutya Yustika, who covers economics, finance and politics of the Indonesian electricity market for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Ieefa), noted that the 16.6GW of additional fossil fuel power capacity would require multibillion-dollar investments. 'Obtaining the necessary financing will be challenging, considering the strict ESG (environmental, social and governance) guidelines by banks or other financial institutions,' Mutya told ST. Many foreign banks, for example, will no longer fund new coal- or gas-powered plants. 'This condition might tip the balance towards the acceleration of renewable energy power plants,' she added. Ieefa is a US-based think-tank. Still, the plan now expects coal power to be part of the energy mix until 2063 – well beyond 2057 in the previous plan and challenging the government's net-zero 2060 pledge. New coal plants typically have an average life of 30 years. But overall, the RUPTL represents an important step in the right direction, said Dody Setiawan, senior analyst of climate and energy at London-based energy think-tank Ember. 'It aims to ensure that Indonesia's 8 per cent economy target has the energy it needs to support industrial development while also beginning to address decarbonisation,' Dody told ST. President Prabowo Subianto has set an 8 per cent annual growth target for the latter part of his five-year term that started in October 2024. South-east Asia's largest economy has grown about 5 per cent annually in the past decade. Dody said that while the RUPTL gives encouraging signals, there needs to be clear regulatory support. Jakarta-based foundation Sustain's Tata said the government needs to introduce incentives to help bring down the costs of building renewable energy power plants, which typically require heavy capital investment upfront, although they typically have low operating costs. This is especially the case for solar power plants, he added. 'A bold incentive the government could offer investors would be a large-scale competitive bidding auction at one go – combining several projects into one package – to build solar farms,' Tata said, arguing that this would create economies of scale. Under the revised investment plan, 47,758km of new transmission lines will be built, connecting Java island with Sumatra and Kalimantan, moving the nation a step closer to a single power grid. At present, Indonesia's main power grid links only Java, Bali and Madura islands, with other islands operating independently. 'Expanding transmission lines is necessary to connect new power plants, particularly renewables, to demand centres to strengthen the grid reliability and flexibility,' Ember's Dody said. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Mixed views on Indonesia's 10-year power procurement plan
At present, wind and solar comprise less than 1 per cent of Indonesia's annual power generating capacity. PHOTO: EPA-EFE JAKARTA – Indonesia has backtracked on pledges it had made to stop building new coal-fired power stations – other than those it had already previously committed to – with the announcement of a new 10-year plan that includes more coal plants coming into operation as late as 2033. But in a shift from the past, renewable energy comprises the majority of the 69.5 gigawatts (GW) additional power capacity outlined in the government's 2025-2034 electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL). The ambitious plan, released on May 26, has been met with scepticism , with analysts and observers questioning whether the country can truly achieve its power supply and environmental targets. Indonesia issues updated power business plans every few years to reflect estimated electricity demand growth, investment needs and technology costs. The last one, covering the years 2021 to 2030, was released in September 2021. Based on the new 10-year plan, Indonesia would have to build renewable power plants five times faster than today in the first five years and eleven times faster in the second five years of the period, Mr Tata Mustasya, the executive director of the Indonesian Sustainable Welfare Foundation (Sustain), told The Straits Times. 'This is hard to achieve without major policy reforms,' Mr Tata said, pointing out that between 2018 and 2023 , Indonesia added a total of 3.2 GW of renewable power capacity, or equivalent to 0.53 GW annually ; and a 2025 target to achieve 23 per cent renewable energy was later revised to hitting between 17 and 19 per cent. At present, wind and solar comprise less than 1 per cen t of Indonesia's annual power generating capacity. Some of the policy reforms, according to Mr Tata, include offering attractive power purchase rates to solar farms and channelling some of the government royalties collected from coal mines to the construction of smart grids to help distribute power from the renewables. Indonesia has been stepping up efforts to attract green investment, including by promoting floating solar farms on reservoirs, or installing them offshore, to avoid the high costs of land procurement and having to relocate local residents. But coal power still dominates, with just over 60 per cent of the nation's electricity generated by burning the fuel. Indonesia is also a major coal producer and top global exporter. Lobbying efforts by coal interest groups, and government policies, have ensured coal's pre-eminent position. A government coal price cap ensures power producers can access affordable coal shipments. And an unattractive power purchase rate offered to solar farms has deterred investors, according to Jakarta-based Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR). All power plants and solar farms must sell their generated electricity through PLN, the state power utility. But things are changing, especially as solar and wind are now cheaper than fossil fuels, plus the lure of investment and jobs in renewable energy product manufacturing. Worries over coal plants' air pollution, health costs and their planet-warming emissions are also pressuring the government. Indonesia, which lies on the equator, and Singapore are also discussing possible terms of agreement on a planned sale of solar power from Batam to Singapore via an undersea cable. Earlier talks have revealed the possible sale size would be 2 GW annually, as part of the Republic's biggest effort so far to import low-carbon electricity, ST reported in November 2024. The plan is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between the two neighbours signed in March 2023 during the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat held in Singapore . 'Very soon. It won't be long. Signs started to emerge that we would have an agreement (with Singapore),' energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia said at the May 26 RUPTL press briefing, referring to the Singapore-Indonesia MoU. Analysts and industrialists have offered mixed views about the new RUPTL, with some of them seeing it as the government striking a balance between the interest to promote green investment and to accommodate coal proponents. 'In terms of energy mix (proportion between renewable and fossil energy), it looks OK because the renewable energy portion increased, but we are seeing new coal-fired power plants being planned. 'This is against an earlier commitment,' the chief executive of a Jakarta-based business group that seeks renewable energy projects told ST in a text message. He did not want to be named when commenting on government policies. Of the additional 69.5 GW in power capacity outlined in Indonesia's new 10-year power procurement plan , 42.6 GW would come from renewable energy: 17.1 GW from solar, 11.7 GW from hydroelectricity, 7.2 GW from wind power, 5.2 GW from geothermal, 0.9 GW from bioenergy and 0.5 GW from nuclear. On top of that, it also includes: 10.3 GW of battery and pumped (hydroelectricity) storage; and 16.6 GW of fossil -based electricity production from coal (6.3 GW) and gas (10.3 GW). Ms Mutya Yustika, who covers economics, finance and politics of the Indonesian electricity market for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Ieefa), noted the 16.6 GW of additional fossil fuel power capacity would require multi-billion dollar investment costs. 'Obtaining the necessary finan cing will be challenging, considering the strict ESG (environmental, social and governance) guidelines from banks or other financial institutions,' Ms Mutya told ST. Many foreign banks, for example, will no longer fund new coal or gas power plants. 'This condition might tip the balance towards the acceleration of renewable energy power plants,' she added. Ieefa is a US-based think-tank. Still, the plan now expects coal power to be part of the energy mix until 2063 – well beyond 2057 in the previous plan and challenging the government's net-zero 2060 pledge. New coal plants typically have an average life of 30 years. But overall, the RUPTL represents an important step in the right direction, said Mr Dody Setiawan, senior analyst for climate and energy at London-based energy think-tank Ember. 'It aims to ensure that Indonesia's 8 per cent economy target has the energy it needs to support industrial development while also beginning to address decarbonisation,' Mr Dody told ST. President Prabowo Subianto has set an 8 per cent annual growth target for the latter part of his five-year term that started in October 2024. South-east Asia's largest economy has grown about 5 per cent annually in the past decade. Mr Dody said that while the RUPTL gives encouraging signals, there needs to be clear regulatory support. Jakarta-based foundation Sustain's Mr Tata said the government needs to introduce incentives to help bring down the costs of building renewable energy power plants, which typically require heavy capital investment upfront, although they typically have low operating costs. This is especially the case for solar power plants, he added . 'A bold incentive the government could offer investors would be a large-scale competitive bidding auction at one go – combining several projects into one package – to build solar farms,' Mr Tata said, arguing this would create economies of scale. Under the revised investment plan, 47,758 km of new transmission lines will be built, connecting Java island with Sumatra and Kalimantan, moving the nation a step closer towards a single power grid. At present, Indonesia's main power grid only links Java, Bali and Madura islands, with other islands operating independently. 'Expanding transmission lines is necessary to connect new power plants, particularly renewables, to demand centres to strengthen the grid reliability and flexibility,' Ember's Mr Dody said. Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja has been Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times since 2008, and is based in Jakarta. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Barnama
7 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: May 28, 2025
Russia and Cambodia agreed to strengthen bilateral ties by focusing on a wide range of areas, mainly cybercrime, law enforcement and countering cross-border crimes. Both countries also strengthened their judicial collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding. During a meeting with the Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, Cambodia Senate President Hun Sen proposed Russia launch a direct flight between the two countries. The air connectivity will help to improve tourism and people-to-people relations and spur bilateral ties. ASEAN member states aim to negotiate with the United States as a single trade bloc while deepening ties with China, as Washington's unilateral levies imperil the growth of their trade dependent economies. 2. SWEDEN HELPS INDONESIA TREAT CANCER WITH US$940,360 GRANT-- JAKARTA GLOBE Sweden announced Tuesday a grant worth approximately 9 million Swedish krona (around US$940,360) to help Indonesia treat cancer by assisting a Jakarta-based hospital in setting up a radiotherapy center. MYANMAR 1. CHARTING PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The second coordination meeting of the Industrial Development Commission was held yesterday to discuss the promotion of sustainable development of local industries. The meeting aimed to establish new industrial projects and public and private sector partnerships to produce quality industrial products. 2. CHINESE DEMAND FOR ARECA NUTS ON THE RISE -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The rising demand for areca nuts from Chinese buyers is boosting sales for local producers in Myanmar. The processed nuts are used to make snacks in China and are also chewed together with slaked lime and betel leaves. SINGAPORE 1. ASEAN FACES 'MOMENT OF TRUTH'; IT MUST STEP UP OR RISK LOSING RELEVANCE, SAYS PM WONG -- THE STRAITS TIMES ASEAN must step up and define a clear, purposeful role for itself in a changed world, or risk losing relevance, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 27. 2. US SUSPENDS STUDENT VISA PROCESSING AS TRUMP, RUBIO RAMP UP SOCIAL MEDIA VETTING -- CNA/AFP US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (May 27) ordered a suspension of student visa processing as President Donald Trump's administration ramps up vetting of their social media, according to an internal cable. THAILAND 1. THAILAND'S IMPORTS FROM CHINA HIT RECORD HIGH AMID TRADE UNCERTAINTY AND 90-DAY TARIFF TRUCE -- THE NATION Thailand's trade deficit with China has surged to a historic high, with imports soaring during the first four months of 2025 as businesses rush to secure raw materials amid global trade uncertainties, particularly ahead of potential U.S. tariff changes. 2. MINISTER CALLS FOR TOUGHER LAW ON NOMINEE FIRMS -- BANGKOK POST Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisanpang is pushing for a new law to further crack down on businesses that use Thai nominees, with such entities expected to be wiped out within six months. VIETNAM 1. SOUTHERN CAN THO CITY INVITES AMERICAN INVESTMENTS -- VIETNAMPLUS Can Tho City in southern Vietnam is welcoming American investors to invest in agricultural processing, the green economy and the digital economy. In the first quarter of this year, Can Tho exported steel, garments, farm produce, processed goods and handicraft to the United States. 2. MARITIME SECTOR GROWTH ON ROBUST MOOD -- VIETNAMPLUS Vietnam's maritime and inland waterway transport sectors are enjoying robust growth this year. Officials said total cargo via ports reached 370.5 million metric tonnes, up 11 per cent compared to the same period last year. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
Malaysia Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Chance for change or more of the same?
People pass the logo of the 46th ASEAN Summit displayed near the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Malaysia, May 26, 2025. /CFP Editor's note: Andrew W. Mantong, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a researcher at the Department of International Relations under the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Indonesia. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. The ongoing 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is vital for continuing the discussions on ASEAN's centrality since in an era of geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, the bloc's relevance as an anchor of regional diplomacy cannot be overstated. The looming threat of U.S. tariffs has combined with broader geopolitical shifts and natural crises to underscore the urgency of reinforcing ASEAN's ability to act decisively. These crises, while highlighting the group's institutional limitations, also emphasize the need for it to maintain its central role in defusing regional tensions. The question is not whether ASEAN is still central, but whether it can continue to deliver results in the face of a fragmenting geopolitical order. On the economic front, U.S. tariffs threaten ASEAN's major trade relations. The impact of the Trump administration's unilateral imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods has already begun to ripple through the region due to its reliance on Chinese supply chains. Yet ASEAN's response to external pressures has been inconsistent, largely due to its divided economic interests. While some of its members advocate collective action against tariffs, others have prioritized bilateral trade agreements with China and the U.S. This fragmentation has led to a lack of coherent regional strategies, with ASEAN members often opting for national-level responses rather than unified, multilateral solutions. This scenario underscores the urgent need to adopt more effective institutional mechanisms to handle global economic challenges. However, there are glimpses of promise. Malaysia called for ASEAN to "stand firm together" in the wake of Trump's so-called Liberation Day, April 2, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced his "reciprocal tariff" strategy. Also, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, whose signatories consist of ASEAN nations along with China, Japan and South Korea, remains one of ASEAN's greatest successes. This trade pact, which aims to create the world's largest free trade area, underscores ASEAN's potential to drive economic integration across the region. A billboard in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 22, 2025. /CFP However, these positive signs are overshadowed by internal divisions and external pressures. For example, while ASEAN maintains strong economic ties with China, the China-U.S. competition increasingly complicates the group's ability to act as an impartial mediator in regional issues. As ASEAN has limited resources to tackle its existing challenges, it still needs dialogue partners to maintain its existing level of operations. But today ASEAN dialogue partners are increasingly engaging in a more intensified competition and mini-lateral platforms like the Quad may challenge ASEAN's role as the leading diplomatic body in the Asia-Pacific region. There are formidable internal problems as well. Apart from the Myanmar humanitarian and natural crisis, online fraud continues to wreak havoc on ASEAN integration, including the tourism sector, hitting hard the region's digital economy. Online scams targeting tourists have created urgent concerns about the lack of cross-border cooperation and weak law enforcement mechanisms across ASEAN member states. While the bloc has discussed the issue within various frameworks, including its economic community pillar, no concrete actions have emerged. ASEAN's traditional diplomatic engagement often falls short of addressing transnational issues like online fraud, despite the potential of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime to combat it. Effective action requires collaboration across multiple sectors, from law enforcement to cybersecurity measures. However, ASEAN's institutional constraints - including weak cross-pillar coordination - continue to limit its ability to tackle these threats effectively. ASEAN faces an inflection point where it must decide whether to remain entrenched in its current structures and practices or take bold steps to address its inherent weaknesses. The region is at a crossroads with escalating internal crises, rising geopolitical pressures and the shifting role of major powers - all demanding urgent action. At the Malaysia summit, the challenge for ASEAN leaders is whether they can evolve to meet these challenges, or whether they will allow the status quo to persist, potentially diminishing ASEAN's relevance on the global stage. Finally, as ASEAN moves forward, the question remains: Can the bloc's centrality be maintained? If so, at what cost? The importance of ASEAN's centrality to regional powers like China, Japan and the U.S. cannot be overstated. They, while increasingly focusing on bilateral relations, still have much to gain from ASEAN's central role in regional stability. The neutrality of ASEAN provides its ability to facilitate dialogue and its potential as a unified economic bloc. In this way, ASEAN's continued centrality must be seen as a valuable strategic asset for its dialogue partners. (If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@ Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.) Source: CGTN
