Author: Huw Pohlner, Asialink
Over the last two decades, Chinese governments have approved the construction of a cascade of large dams on the stretches of the Mekong River that lie within its borders, prompting disquiet amongst downstream riparian states.
Those states — Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam — are now set to wage their own battle for control of precious water resources, with China looming large through its role as a willing creditor. Read more…
Author: Micha’el Tanchum, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Myanmar’s abundant energy resources and key geostrategic location between India and China has seen a miniature ‘Great Game’ develop since its recent democratic opening and re-entry into the international community.
While several countries have become players in Myanmar’s development, India and China have taken the lead with the construction of multi-billion dollar deepwater ports and energy projects. Read more…
Author: Tobias Harris, Cambridge, Massachusetts
With the yen falling to below JPY100/US$1 for the first time since 2009 and the Nikkei posting five-year highs, analysts have begun declaring victory for the Abe administration’s campaign against deflation and slow growth.
But it is far too early to draw conclusions about the success of Abenomics — given that deflation continues — and Read more…
Author: Alicia Mollaun, ANU
The lead-up to Pakistan’s historic 11 May elections was bloody. From the beginning of April to polling day more than 120 people were killed in election-related violence and many parties were severely restricted in their ability to campaign due to threats of brutality, primarily from the Taliban.
On election day, more than 600,000 security personnel were deployed Read more…
Author: Vannarith Chheang, CICP
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China–ASEAN strategic partnership.
Early this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the ASEAN Secretariat and four ASEAN member countries to strengthen mutual understanding and strategic trust, and show support for ASEAN community building. Read more…
Author: Anwar Nasution, University of Indonesia
Earlier this year, Bank Indonesia (BI) issued a package of nine regulations that indicate the Indonesian government is taking a new nationalistic approach to the financial sector.
The package provides more protection to domestic banks, particularly public sector banks, by imposing more restrictions on foreign banks. But will the new regulations help Indonesia? Read more…
Author: Adam P MacDonald, Halifax
An important aspect of the current reform era in Myanmar is the retreat of the Tatmadaw (the Myanmar Armed Forces) from the day to day workings of government.
This is the case despite (or perhaps because) the current Union of Solidarity and Development Party government is comprised primarily of serving or retired military officers. Read more…
Author: Aurelia George Mulgan, UNSW Canberra
Japan’s Prime Minister Abe and the ruling LDP are capitalising on their popularity and the deterioration in Japan’s regional security environment to launch a reinvigorated campaign to amend the Japanese Constitution. In April 2012, the LDP released new draft proposals for revising the document, the most important legacy of the US Occupation of Japan.
Despite the Abe cabinet’s 65 per cent approval rating, Read more…
Authors: Melissa Conley Tyler and Samantha Shearman, AIIA
With the release of the Defence White Paper 2013 on 3 May, Australia officially has a new region, the ‘Indo-Pacific’: a strategic arc ‘connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans through Southeast Asia’.
Given the long history of linking Australian foreign policy to the ‘Asia-Pacific’, this is a significant change in terminology. How did we get to this point and what are the implications? Read more…
Author: Sajjad Ashraf, NUS
After a better-than-expected win by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Saturday’s (11 May) Pakistani elections, the country awaits the change of government with a lot of hope.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s volatile 66-year-old history a democratic dispensation will replace another. Read more…
Author: Peter Drysdale, Editor, East Asia Forum
Li Keqiang is today in New Delhi on his first visit to India as China’s new premier, an unprecedentedly early high-level exchange between the two great emerging Asian powers. The visit comes only a week or two after resolution of what seemed to be a stand-off between the two in the Ladakh Himalayas on the Sino–Indian border. Read more…
Author: Sourabh Gupta, Samuels International
It is remarkable the sort of anxiety that a handful of lightly armed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers and their dog can educe on a disputed frontier.
On 15 April three dozen or so such soldiers, many miles removed from reinforcement or logistical support, pitched their tents in a demonstrative assertion Read more…
Author: Huy Duong, South East Asian Sea Foundation
On 25 April 2013, Shunji Yanai, president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, appointed the final three of the five arbitrators to the tribunal adjudicating legal proceedings that the Philippines has brought against China relating to some of the disputes in the South China Sea.
Read more…
Author: Ashwini K Swain, Delhi
After the global financial crisis governments were asked to support industrial activities, and eventually many states decided to restructure their industrial policy.
After all, there is a new reason for industrial policy — the problem of climate change. Read more…
Author: Le Hong Hiep, Vietnam National University and UNSW Canberra
Since 1991, comprehensive Vietnam–China relations have developed but remain constrained by the South China Sea (SCS) disputes.
What makes the disputes highly relevant for future bilateral relations is that they have proven intractable, leaving the possibility of an eventual solution a matter of almost infinite uncertainty. Read more…
