As a snapshot of technology-focused news looking at the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, we’ve gathered a month-end news recap of the more informative items from February 2024, below.
Indo-Pacific tech news in February captured, for instance, items on: ASEAN and artificial intelligence, with Microsoft and Google both making moves; updates on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework; South Korea’s moves for a fibre-optic cable network connecting key Indo-Pacific nations; Pacific Island Samoa’s issues with StarLink; and more.
For more technology news from across Asia and the Indo-Pacific, you should take a look at our daily editions and weekly newsletters.
Indo-Pacific Security in 2030-2035: Links in the chain
- ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft launch ‘AI TEACH for ASEAN’ program to help to prepare the region’s workforce for the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence
- Google published ‘AI Opportunity Agenda for ASEAN’, a whitepaper outlining policy recommendations to ASEAN member states with suggestions on how to make the most of artificial intelligence
- ASEAN to create submarine cables network to boost region-wide, and global, connectivity; alongside resolution to develop interoperable member government digital infrastructure in regional ecosystem bid
Australia: National Quantum Strategy
- StormWall publishes analysis of DDoS cyber-attacks in Asia-Pacific across 2023, seeing 118% increase in multi-vector attacks targeting several infrastructure elements simultaneously
- US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework came into effect Feb 24 with 13 countries participating to mitigate supply chain disruptions, ensuring each can access critical items and minerals
“The U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework deal will allow the countries, including Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand, to work more closely in dealing with supply chain disruptions, such as in the event of a pandemic, by helping each other secure critical industrial items and minerals.”
“The economic initiative, known as IPEF, was launched by U.S. President Joe Biden in Tokyo in May 2022 to create high-level common standards for commercial activities. China is not part of the framework, and it is seen as a tool to reduce reliance on the Asian power for semiconductors and other key materials.”
- ‘Bolstering cooperation among Quad and Pacific Islands countries’ webinar took place February 28th, a discussion on boosting collaborations with Australia, India, Japan, the US and Pacific Island nations
- Online now: ‘Regional Integration in the Indo-Pacific – Connectivity, Cooperation, and New Supply-Chain Linkages’ from India’s Observer Research Foundation
“…the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy includes $78M of investment in submarine cables in the Pacific through the AIFFP [Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific]…”
- Samoa: Starlink ordered to halt services and installations by gov’t regulator claiming ‘a risk to public safety, national security, and the integrity of Samoa’s telecommunications infrastructure’
- Samoa to gain $16M in grant aid to improve National University of Samoa facilities, boosting connections with the Pacific Islands nation
- Japan to run cyber-defense drills with Pacific Islands nations Palau, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati
Critical technologies, globally: February 2024
- Korea Telecom and partners to build out fiber-optic cable network connecting Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam
- Japan and Italy to step up defense and economic ties as Rome positions for a greater Indo-Pacific role, shortly after Italy’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Taiwan: “I understand that SpaceX is possibly withholding broadband internet services in and around Taiwan — possibly in breach of SpaceX’s contractual obligations with the U.S. government…”
- Online now: ‘Fixing Cyber Vulnerabilities – An Agenda for the Quad’ from India’s Observer Research Foundation
- January 2024 tech summaries for Australia, China, India, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and more
StormWall: Analysis of DDoS cyber-attacks in 2023 in Asia Pacific
Asia’s tech news: Other editions
Deloitte: Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook in 2024
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