Showing 1 - 10 of 50
Three-way link
Asia focus, Apiradee Treerutkuarkul, Published on 07/02/2022
» Facing an increasingly uncertain strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and one of its key allies -- South Korea -- are pursuing increased cooperation beyond Northeast Asia, a path that is expected to lead them to Southeast Asia.
Asean needs a Middle Path
Asia focus, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 17/01/2022
» Despite the economic downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic, China-sponsored infrastructure, trade and cooperation initiatives with Southeast Asian nations have been moving forward consistently -- amplifying the presence of Beijing in one of the world's fastest growing regions.
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Trade politics get very messy
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 27/09/2021
» Geopolitics in Asia Pacific have become increasingly complex and drawn growing interest from outsiders since the US, the UK and Australia announced a new alliance known as AUKUS to enable Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines.
Four-way street
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 13/09/2021
» 'China versus the Quad" emerged as the theme of a recent panel discussion about the four-nation grouping and how it could shape its relations with other major players in the Indo-Pacific region.
US and China spar on Asean stage
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 30/08/2021
» While all eyes were on Kamala Harris when she visited Southeast Asia last week, China loomed large over the event, partly because the US vice president several times mentioned China in public comments.
Can Myanmar learn from its mistakes?
Asia focus, Mohammad Mushfiqul Haque Mukit, Published on 03/05/2021
» Myanmar is an excellent example of how not to run a country. Given the current state of affairs, a military takeover was inevitable, and the scenario is now a complete disaster.
Why Biden should ditch Trump's China tariffs
Asia focus, Shang-Jin Wei, Published on 05/04/2021
» Over the course of his presidency, Donald Trump raised US tariffs on imports from China several times, from an average of about 3% when he took office in January 2017 to over 20% by the end of 2019.
Trade, trust and Asia's future
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 05/10/2020
» Despite being severely dragged down by the protracted Covid-19 pandemic, many economies in Asia seem to be bulletproof, kind of. One of the top performers has been Vietnam, long one of Asia's fastest growing economies, which expanded by 2.62% in the third quarter.
Supply chain shake-up
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/09/2020
» For decades, low-cost supply with minimal inventory were the key tenets of supply chain management. Lean manufacturing and just-in-time delivery were how companies across the globe achieved cost control and production efficiency.