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Category Archives: Commentaries

Vietnam’s State Reshuffles: Subtle Appointments

Then Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh takes part in a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in Hanoi on 16 October, 2020. Pham is now the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, and is the only Politburo member among the deputy prime ministers. (Photo: Nhac NGUYEN/ AFP)

The 11th plenary session of Vietnam’s 14th National Assembly has largely re-affirmed the outcomes of the 13th Party Congress. There are, however, subtle appointments that are worthy of note.

Posted byblackbox9 Apr 20212 Oct 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnamese Politics

Singapore Businesses In Myanmar: Navigating the Choppy Waters of Political Turmoil

A partner-farmer of Golden Sunland, a Singapore-based company, is pictured here from the Sar Ma Lauk Village, Labutta, Myanmar. (Photo: Golden Sunland, Facebook)

The coup in Myanmar has compounded problems for Singapore firms operating there. But they appear to be battening down the hatches to ride out the political storm.

Posted byblackbox8 Apr 20212 Sep 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:Myanmar, Myanmar Economy, Myanmar Politics, Myanmar-Singapore

Free Falling, Myanmar’s Post-coup Economy

Protesters hold up signs supporting the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) at a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on 14 February, 2021. (Photo: Ye Aung THU/ AFP)

Myanmar’s military presented the 1 February coup as good for business, but the opposite is true.

Posted byblackbox8 Apr 20218 Aug 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:Myanmar, Myanmar Economy, Myanmar Politics

Bon Voyage, Maybe: An ASEAN Digital Vaccine Passport

A man wearing a face mask walks past the blank departures screen at Singapore Changi Airport's terminal 2 on 30 April, 2020. (Photo: Roslan RAHMAN/ AFP)

ASEAN plans for a digital vaccine passport will likely fall flat without institutional adjustment, while sub-regional alternatives could hurt ASEAN unity.

Posted byblackbox7 Apr 20219 Dec 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:ASEAN, COVID-19, Southeast Asia

Facing the Ire of 1.4 Billion Chinese Consumers: Cottoning on to Supply Chain Risks

H&M has been under fire in China after Chinese social media dug up an old statement in which the company said it would not source cotton from Xinjiang over alleged forced labour in the far west region. (Photo by Nicolas ASFOURI/ AFP)

Chinese consumers’ boycott of Western fashion brands for their position on cotton sourced from Xinjiang is a sequel to a long-running series of actions against foreign companies. Southeast Asian firms should take note, and act accordingly.

Posted byblackbox7 Apr 20215 Aug 2024Posted inCommentaries, Editor PicksTags:ASEAN-China Relations, China, Human Rights

International Law Matters in the South China Sea

A satellite aerial view of Chinese fishing vessels

China is trying to rewrite international law in the South China Sea.

Posted byblackbox6 Apr 202120 Apr 2023Posted inCommentaries, Editor PicksTags:ASEAN-China Relations, China, South China Sea

Myanmar’s Armed Groups and the Military Coup: Involvement or Not?

KNU military members follow the Karen Youth General Strike at Thanlwin West side, Hpa-an Township, on 5 March, 2021. (Photo: Karen Army/ Facebook)

Despite calls for them to get involved in a wider resistance against the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups are not casting their lots in yet. They have ample reasons for not doing so.

Posted byblackbox6 Apr 202120 Apr 2023Posted inCommentariesTags:Myanmar, Myanmar Politics

Covid-19 and ASEAN: Facilitating Trade in Perishable Goods

Workers inspecting the quality of durians at a collecting centre in Raub in Malaysia's Pahang state on 8 February, 2021. (Photo: Mohd RASFAN/ AFP)

Fulfilling their WTO obligations will expedite perishable goods trade among ASEAN member states.

Posted byblackbox5 Apr 20215 Aug 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:ASEAN, Asean Trade, COVID-19

Jokowi Speaks Out on Myanmar

The foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia meets to discuss on the crisis in Myanmar.

In response to Myanmar’s coup, the Jokowi administration is reverting to Indonesia’s traditional leadership role in ASEAN.

Posted byblackbox5 Apr 202112 Aug 2024Posted inCommentariesTags:ASEAN, ASEAN Unity, Indonesia, Myanmar

UMNO Unites While Bersatu Prevaricates

President of UMNO, Zahid Hamidi, addresses members at the UMNO General Assembly, held from 27-28 March 2021. (Photo: Zahid Hamidi/ Facebook)

UMNO’s bid to rally the party ranks at its recent general assembly belies deeper problems ahead of the next general election.

Posted byblackbox31 Mar 202120 Apr 2023Posted inCommentariesTags:Bersatu, Malaysia, Malaysian Politics, UMNO

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