Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing
Some good news from the Pacific this week as World Health Organization figures show a dramatic slowing in the number of new cases across the… Read More
April, 2020
Vanuatu elects new prime minister as country reels from devastating cyclone
Bob Loughman, an MP from the island of Tanna, will become the next prime minister of the south Pacific nation Read More
Weekly Pacific Bulletin
TESS NEWTON CAIN | Vanuatu has a new government Vanuatu has a new government. The Parliament sat on April 20th, a month after… Read More
WHO and China: Compounding politics and policy
The World Health Organization has been heavily criticised for appeasing China instead of leading the Covid-19 fight. Read More
Unpacking governance and democracy in the Asia Pacific
The recently published book Governance and Democracy in the Asia-Pacific: Political and Civil Society, explores the theoretical and empirical relationship between democracy and governance in the Asia-Pacific region. The book addresses a major theoretical problem and a gap in the academic and policy related literature on governance and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. Multilateral institutions, international NGOs, and many in the academic community have operated with some doubtful assumptions. Read More
COVID-19 and South East Asia: the week that was
UN criticises Cambodia's new state of emergency legislation | Indonesia sells bonds to finance virus relief measures | Laos reports no cases in 7 consecutive days | Malaysia denies entry of 200 Rohingya refugees due to COVID-19 fears | Myanmar releases 24,000+ prisoners in New Year amnesty | Coronavirus presents challenges for the Philippines' call centre industry | COVID-19 clusters in Singapore's migrant worker dormitories | Social media spat between Thailand and China from coronavirus post | Rice ATMs provide relief for Vietnam's poor Read More
Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing
Infection figures remain low for the Pacific, but they have more than doubled since last week. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 215 positive cases in the Pacific, excluding Australia and New Zealand. Northern Marianas Islands have reported two more cases “under investigation”. Two people have died there. Read More
25 years of the Mekong River Commission: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Last week marked the 25th anniversary since Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam signed the Mekong Agreement to develop and protect the Southeast Asia’s most important river, the mighty yet troubled Mekong River. This provides an opportunity to review the historical developments of the inter-governmental organisation, its key challenges and achievements, and look ahead. Read More
China’s COVID-19 charm offensive isn’t fooling India
China is cranking up the charm offensive. But that’s not to say that India is buying into the Chinese narrative or that it’s ignorant of Beijing’s real motives. Read More
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 15 April
TESS NEWTON CAIN | Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Harold The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Harold are being felt in four countries across the… Read More
