Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56222987 The military rulers that recently overthrew the democratic government in Myanmar have fired Kyaw Moe Tun, the ambassador to the United Nations, after he spoke out against the military. He had urged the international community to do whatever is necessary to restore power to the democratically elected government. Kyaw Moe Tun’s removal was announced with the statement that… Read more »
Article: https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2021/02/26/vietnam-strengthens-fortifications-in-disputed-south-china-sea-satellite-images-reveal/ Steadily over the past two years, Vietnam has been improving infrastructure and fortifications on their outposts in the disputed South China Sea. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative has reported recent improvements. The most drastic changes have been to the West Reef and Sin Cowe Islands, but there have been smaller updates to Pearson Reef, Namyit, and Spratly as… Read more »
Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56147309 India and China are in the process of withdrawing their troops from a section of the disputed Himalayan border. The states expect to see all troops removed from Pangong Lake by this Saturday. The states are insisting that the intention is to decrease tension on the shared border known as the Line of Actual Control. The border has… Read more »
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-usa/south-koreas-moon-pledges-to-upgrade-alliance-with-u-s-in-call-with-biden-idUSKBN2A4028 South Korean president Moon Jae-in has pledged to maintain close relations with the United States under the Biden administration. The two countries’ aim to create a coordinated strategy regarding North Korea. Moon has offered to act as mediation between the US and North Korea as they attempt to restore previously stalled discussions. Biden and Moon’s primary focus moving forward… Read more »
https://japantoday.com/category/politics/thousands-protest-myanmar-coup-in-tokyo-demand-japan-take-tougher-action Due to the recent coup in Myanmar, Bermese citizens of Tokyo have taken to the streets to protest, and demand that their government becomes more involved in helping the crisis. Myanmar and Japan have always been close in their relations, through military and democratic rule. After the coup this past week, the Japanese government has failed to make a… Read more »
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-vaccine-rollout/disaster-indonesias-vaccine-campaign-lags-rampaging-pandemic-idUSKBN2A50O3 Indonesia’s COVID-19 infection and death rate is rising drastically, and the disease is spreading faster than the government can vaccinate their citizens. With 270 million people in their country, including on tropical islands with nowhere to store vaccines at a cool temperature, the country’s vaccination efforts are being viewed as a “disaster” as an Indonesian doctor commented. The government… Read more »
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55902070 On February 1st, the Myanmar military began a coup on the citizen elected government. This government was only put into place in the past six years, as Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the citizen elected government, was only able to host a free, democratic election in the country in 2015. With allegations of voter fraud, the military… Read more »
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/3/myanmar-police-file-charges-against-suu-kyi-says-document Following a military coup, Myanmar police have detained the overthrown leader Aung San Suu Kyi for illegally imported radios. The charges against Aung San Suu Kyi were filed under the Disaster Management Law, a law which is known to be ‘notoriously vague’ and has been used to imprison political prisoners under the former military regime. The military justified its… Read more »
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/28/china-warns-taiwan-independence-means-war Following an increase in military activity in the South China Sea surrounding the democratic island of Taiwan, China warns that a movement towards independence will be taken as an act of war. Believing that Taiwan’s actions are a result of foreign provocation, China has in turn increased their own military presence in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese officials cited such… Read more »
Article: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/02/03/national/china-senkakus-east-china-sea-katsunobu-kato/ After a video meeting to discuss maritime issues, Japanese officials expressed their concerns to Chinese officials in regards to the new legislation that allows the Chinese coast guard to use military force in their shared waters. China claims that the uninhabited Senkaku Islands located in the East China Sea are part of their territory; however, Japan currently holds… Read more »