US/CHINA: Tianjin meeting yields no progress but may prevent deterioration
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the northern port city of Tianjin on 26 July. As with the meeting of top diplomats in Anchorage in March, the meeting yielded no policy outcomes, only statements from both sides reiterating familiar grieva… Become a member to read the rest […]
MYANMAR: Further down the rabbit hole
The military-appointed electoral commission yesterday formally nullified the outcome of the 8 November 2020 election that was won overwhelmingly by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). Two weeks ago, the commission said it had found evidence of wides… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTHEAST ASIA: What to watch over the next two weeks
Indonesia is showing signs of epidemiological improvement, but the data nationally are uneven and there is a risk that the gradual easing of community restrictions planned for 26 July may be too early. Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are in roughly the same situation of st… Become a member to read the rest of this […]
INDIA: Pegasus scandal unlikely to hinder Modi’s ability to govern
Much of the business in the lower house (Lok Sabha) of India’s parliament has remained suspended for the third day running following outrage over the revelation that many public leaders, including some who have recently become ministers, were targets of phone tapping. These figur… Become a member to read the rest of this article
INDONESIA: Next week could be key in effort to bring down cases
The government is expected to extend the emergency restrictions on public activities (PPKM Emergency), which are scheduled to end on 20 July, by another 14 to 21 days. The measures cover Java and Bali, as well as 15 other regencies and cities. National Covid-19 weekly case growth… Become a member to read the rest […]
ASIA: Weekly politics update
Below is the weekly update of political developments across East Asia. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned in more detail. CHINA: Xi’s coal message signals willingness to make tough choices Chinese President Xi Jinping said… Become a member to read the rest of […]
US/CHINA: Warnings on Xinjiang and Hong Kong are more persuasion than threat
The US government issued a “supply chain advisory” warning about reputational and legal risks in Xinjiang and is reportedly preparing a similar advisory about operational risks in Hong Kong. Both warnings look like efforts at moral suasion, where the administration has dec… Become a member to read the rest of this article
MYANMAR: Could the generals’ pariah status lead to a humanitarian crisis?
By the numbers alone, Myanmar is not among the worst hit by the pandemic in Southeast Asia; averaging daily numbers of 70 new cases per million and 1.1 deaths per million, it is faring better than Malaysia and Indonesia but worse than Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Howeve… Become a member to read the […]
TAIWAN: Will vaccine problems weaken support for Tsai and the DPP?
A shortage of vaccines amid a recent Coviid-19 outbreak presents a political challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In August, four ballot referenda will be viewed as a proxy for the public’s view of DPP rule and the strength of the… Become a member to read the rest of […]
SOUTHEAST ASIA: Changes in tactics as Covid-19 cases spike
New Covid-19 case and fatality numbers continue to set daily records in Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, despite restrictions throughout the region generally being tightened during the past month. Malaysia may also soon exceed its previous peaks. And, more broadly, the… Become a member to read the rest of this article