Why Southeast Asia is Drifting Away from Washington

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The geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia is undergoing a tectonic shift. For decades, the United States was viewed as the indispensable powerthe security guarantor that allowed the region’s tiger economies to flourish. However, recent events, culminating in the devastating economic fallout of the Iran war, have accelerated a trend that many in Washington failed to see coming: Southeast Asia is increasingly looking toward Beijing, not out of ideological love, but out of pragmatic necessity. This shift is not merely a preference for one superpower over another; it is a profound vote of no confidence in the predictability and reliability of Western leadership. The Credibility Gap: From Trade Wars to Kinetic Wars The erosion of trust didn't happen overnight. It began with a series of inconsistent trade policies and sudden tariffs that left regional exportersfrom Malaysia to Vietnamreeling. When global leadership feels like a moving target, Southeast Asian nations, which prioritize...
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South Korea to Compensate Dog Farmers Ahead of 2027 Dog Meat Ban

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In a significant break from South Korea's centuries-old history of eating dog meat, the government said on Thursday that it will compensate dog farmers for leaving the business. This comes as the UK plans to take the unprecedented step of transferring about 500,000 bred for food and closing down firms involved in the trade, thereby implementing a dog meat ban by 2027.

Dogs have long been a feature of South Korean cuisine, with up to a million killed each year for food during peak trade seasons. However, as more people own dogs, dog meat consumption has dropped dramatically in recent years. The younger generation, in particular, regards dogs as friends rather than animals, which contributes to the growing public disapproval of the practice.

The South Korean government approved a historic ban on dog breeding, slaughter, and meat sales in January, marking a watershed moment in the country's approach to animal rights. According to the rule, dog meat merchants will face fines of up to 30 million won ($22,678) or prison sentences of up to three years. According to a notice issued by the Agriculture Ministry on Thursday, farmers who voluntarily discontinue their activities prior to the prohibition would be eligible for a cash reimbursement.

The government has set aside over 100 billion won ($75.2 million) to help close the 5,898 dog farms, slaughterhouses, restaurants, and other enterprises associated with the dog meat industry. Eligible farmers will be paid anywhere between 225,000 won ($169) and 600,000 won ($451), based on a variety of factors such as the dog's size and condition.

"We intend to urge farmers to voluntarily limit breeding," the Agriculture Ministry said, "to actively lower the present population of roughly 466,000 dogs bred for food." The government hopes to reduce the number of dogs treated for meat before the official prohibition takes effect by rewarding early closures.


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