State governments’ resistance to the federal government’s decision to lift some Covid-19 movement controls is as much as function of the pandemic’s impacts as political affiliation.
Author Archives: leepohonn
Covid-19 in Myanmar: Conflict, Ceasefire, Conciliation?
A nationwide ceasefire could generate long-term dividends, and even a stable peace.
Covid-19 in Myanmar: From Social Distancing to Political Distancing?
The ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Myanmar means that social distancing measures will continue indefinitely. This means that political distancing in the run-up to upcoming polls might rear its head.
Covid-19 in Thailand: Prayut Tightens Grip on Power
The Thai Prime Minister has extended the country’s state of emergency amid the Covid-19 outbreak. This is more an attempt to consolidate power, rather than a move to buttress the fight against the coronavirus.
Myanmar’s Garment Industry: Hanging by a Thread
Myanmar’s garment sector has been hard hit by the fall in demand, largely from Europe. This is due partly to the fact that the country is now interwoven into the fabric of globalisation.
ASEAN in the RCEP: Diversions and Reversions
Tariff cuts under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will generate import gains for ASEAN as it will reverse the negative trade-diversion effects caused by the existing bilateral and ASEAN+1 free trade agreements. But there will be firms in ASEAN that have to compete with their counterparts from RCEP countries.
ASEAN and Covid-19: Sandwiched Between Two Giants
ASEAN has found itself in a battle of narratives between China and the United States, as they seek to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The question is how long the grouping can continue to get the best of both worlds when it comes to major power attention.