Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar has sparked controversy. The Cambodian view is that fostering a conducive environment for dialogue with the military junta would pave the way for the implementation of ASEAN’s five-point consensus.
Author Archives: blackbox
Hun Sen’s Cowboy Diplomacy: Quick Draw or Firing Blanks?
By visiting Myanmar, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has demonstrated some derring-do in trying to resolve the crisis in the country. That said, it could be argued that the trip has not moved the needle much.
Cambodia and Myanmar: The Need to Balance Pressure and Diplomacy
Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar has provoked some controversy. As ASEAN chair, it behoves Cambodia to operationalise the grouping’s five-point consensus on Myanmar.
Vietnam’s High Vaccination Rates: So What?
The Vietnamese government can rightly be proud of the great strides made in its vaccine rollout, but needs to do better in addressing the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Paperless Trade in ASEAN: A Long Way To Go
Digitalising paperless trade across ASEAN will help the grouping strengthen supply chains amid the Covid-19 pandemic. But ASEAN has a long way to go.
Myanmar’s National Unity Consultative Council: A Vision of Myanmar’s Federal Future
The National Unity Consultative Council has built on earlier models to map out a vision for Myanmar’s federal future. A key challenge would be to gain the trust of ethnic armed groups and political parties towards Bamar-dominated processes.
Myanmar’s Submarines: The Race Is on Between China and Russia
Last month Myanmar became the first Southeast Asian country to take delivery of a made-in-China submarine. In doing so, China has upped the stakes in its competition with Russia to supply Myanmar with a new fleet of submarines. Price and geopolitics will decide which country wins.
‘Adapting to Nature’: A Preliminary Assessment of Vietnam’s Mekong Water Diplomacy since 2017
Vietnam’s water diplomacy since November 2017 reflects the country’s concerns over the Mekong Delta Region’s sustainable development prospects. Treating Mekong issues as a national security matter, Vietnam has mobilised resources for the development of the region and promoted regional cooperation towards a sustainable Mekong River Basin.
The President Versus the Cleric: Managing Conservatives From Within
A recent public spat between President Joko Widodo and a prominent cleric underscores how the former is facing challenges in reining in conservatives in his inner circle.
High Vaccination Rates Bring Hope to Vietnam’s 2022 Economic Outlook
High vaccination rates have given Vietnam some latitude in opening up its economy — and some optimism for better GDP growth in 2022.