Faced with China’s growing economic power and a lack of confidence in President Trump, the United States has suffered sharp declines in opinion polls among policy elites in the region.
Author Archives: blackbox
China’s Emphasis on Ties with Southeast Asia
Beyond strengthening bilateral ties between China and Myanmar, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit is a signal that China is likely to place more emphasis on developing and strengthening ties with Southeast Asia in 2020.
The Future of the Future Forward Party Remains Uncertain
The Future Forward Party has been cleared of various sedition charges. But the party still faces allegations of unlawfully subjecting itself to its leader’s financial domination, putting its future at risk.
China’s Polling Problems
With three recent opinion polls all showing low levels of trust in China as a leading power, it has become undeniable that trust in China isn’t growing in pace with its economic and strategic weight. This is a serious problem for China and Southeast Asia.
Don’t Underestimate Facebook Users in Myanmar
Myanmar’s efforts to combat fake news and hate speech on Facebook are off the mark. They fail to consider the growing digital literacy of Facebook users.
A Tale of Political Walk and Run Rallies in Thailand
A pro-government “Walk to Support Uncle” rally and an anti-government “Run to Oust Uncle” assembly have drawn similar numbers of participants, reflecting the political divide in Thailand.
Can China Actually Broker Ceasefires and Peace in Myanmar?
Despite China’s growing role in brokering peace between Myanmar’s military, government and ethnic armed groups, China faces three major hurdles that make rapid and significant progress unlikely in the near future.
The ‘Fighting Peacock’ in Myanmar Enters 2020 in a Fighting Mode
After a landslide victory in 2015, Myanmar’s ruling NLD party is gearing up for the elections again, with a reaffirmation of the party’s stance that politics should be conducted through negotiations and in the electoral arena rather than armed conflict.
A New Chapter in Thailand’s Politics
As Thailand’s opposition parties weaken from allegations and defections, the ruling coalition government is set to gain strength in the House with little competition – heralding a new era in the country’s politics.
Deadly Clash Brings Vietnam’s Land Disputes into the Spotlight
Fuelled by inconsistent land management and historical ambiguity over land use rights, land disputes remain a persistent problem in Vietnam. While these disputes rarely affect foreign investors, it is a thorny political issue that the CPV will need to resolve.