COMMENTARIES

17 Jun 2021

Giving Chinese Vaccines A Shot

Khairulanwar Zaini

As Southeast Asian countries look for Covid-19 vaccines to protect their populations, two things matter: reliability and availability. For now, China — rather than Western sources — ticks the correct boxes.

17 Jun 2021

Malaysia’s Pemerkasa+ Package: More Subsidies Might Be Needed

Lee Hwok-Aun

Malaysia’s recently-launched Pemerkasa+ aid package seeks to provide cash handouts to workers and income support to companies. If the economy suffers from financial hits to segments of the economy, rather than mass job losses, Malaysia would be better served with a structured reprise of higher per-worker subsidies for small companies.

COVID-19 Malaysia Malaysian Economy

16 Jun 2021

Ethnic Armed Organisations in Post-Coup Myanmar: New Conversations Needed

Andrew Ong

The widespread attacks on Tatmadaw troops by resistance forces have raised speculation that Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) could serve as a “wild card” that might decide the country’s fate. This is premature and creates a false impression of unity in intent.

Myanmar Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

16 Jun 2021

Post-Coup Myanmar: Alternative Education Models Urgently Needed

Courtney T. Wittekind

Myanmar’s educational sector is turning out to be a new front in an ensuing battle between the country’s Civil Disobedience Movement and the military junta. Outside of the state-run education system, however, the number of viable options for students are few and far between.

Aung San Suu Kyi Education Myanmar

16 Jun 2021

China’s Submarine Salvage Operation for Indonesia: A Double-edged Sword?

Ian Storey

China recently offered assistance to Indonesia in salvaging a stricken submarine. On the surface, the offer could be purely altruistic. But there could be more than meets the eye.

China China-Indonesia Relations Indonesia

15 Jun 2021

China and Indonesia: The Limits of Transactionalism

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan

Indonesia’s transactional approach in its relations with China has its merits. But there are limits, given the need for Jakarta to maintain relationships with other regional powers.

China China-Indonesia Relations Indonesia

15 Jun 2021

Malaysia Needs More Than a “Hammer” to Successfully Combat the Covid-19 Pandemic

Kevin Zhang|Kevin S.Y. Tan

Achieving herd immunity from Covid-19 is likely to remain a distant goal for Malaysia. Other measures beyond strict lockdowns are needed to deal with the pandemic.

COVID-19 Malaysia

14 Jun 2021

The United States and the Myanmar Crisis: Broad Interests, Constricted Responses

Robert Sutter

The United States has leaned heavily on traditional policy instruments, primarily sanctions, to manage the political crisis in Myanmar. Currently, it remains unclear if Washington will go beyond the limited scope of past practice.

Myanmar Myanmar Politics U.S. Foreign Policy

14 Jun 2021

The Myanmar Challenge to ASEAN

Choi Shing Kwok

Recent developments have shown how fragile and tricky ASEAN’s quest to help Myanmar will be.

ASEAN ASEAN Unity Myanmar

11 Jun 2021

A New Height of ASEAN-China Relations? Not Quite, Not Yet

Hoang Thi Ha

China and ASEAN had a fairly successful meeting in Chongqing recently. But the conclusion that Beijing has orchestrated a win over Washington in Southeast Asia is premature.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations South China Sea