Myanmar coup


Myanmar  / Southeast Asia  / United States
Interpreting Myanmar’s conspicuous absence from the U.S. – ASEAN Summit
Posted On May 17, 2022
The decision by ASEAN leaders and the Biden Administration to put out an empty chair to represent the ousted civilian-led government during last week’s U.S.-ASEAN Summit was conspicuous. While the Americans suggested that the topic of the Myanmar crisis⁠—which as gone unabated for more than 15 months⁠—would be a“subject of intense deliberation” throughout the course of the conference, it also stood as a symbol of American and ASEAN inability to drive home a political and diplomatic solution. Given the complexity of issues facing ASEAN leaders, given American preoccupation with a rising and aggressive China and the intricacies of regional trade, Myanmar was still an urgent topic, with the U.S. and a few ASEAN leaders instead choosing to meet with National Unity Government (NUG) Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung. However, the decision to set out an empty chair reeks of ASEAN’s inability to form consensus.
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Myanmar  / Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Thailand’s silence on Myanmar comes at a price
February 9, 2022

As the calendar turned to February, it brought the solemn first anniversary of the 1 February 2021 military coup d’état in Myanmar, which saw the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) ousted from power.  Since then, the human toll has been severe. More than 14 million people are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance, more than 8,800 remain locked behind bars under weak or false pretenses and more than 1,500 have been killed. 


Myanmar  / Southeast Asia
Three takeaways following the ASEAN Summit on Myanmar
April 26, 2021

Myanmar’s military chief and leader of the February 1 coup d’état met with leaders from across ASEAN for three hours on Saturday, coming to a fragile and controversial five-point consensus on how to de-escalate tensions in Myanmar. While it remains too early to predict real-world changes on the ground, there are a number of key takeaways from ASEAN’s weekend meeting to consider.


Myanmar  / Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Can Thailand still impact the ASEAN Summit on Myanmar?
April 22, 2021

When Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha decided to opt out of the ASEAN Summit on Myanmar in Jakarta, perhaps the writing was on the wall. By sending Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai in place of Prayut, Thailand appeared to have forfeited the chance to steer any of the potential outcomes of the gathering, which seeks to find diplomatic and political solutions to the crisis in Myanmar, which has claimed more than 730 lives since the Tatmadaw launched a coup d’état on February 1.


India  / Myanmar  / Southeast Asia
On Myanmar, a deliberate poise
March 6, 2021

India’s neighbourhood policy is being tested like never before, thanks to an ongoing border stand-off with China, a faltering relationship with Nepal over an unusual assertion of sovereignty by the Oli government, and perpetual high tensions with Pakistan. The February 1 coup in Myanmar has only compounded matters.


China  / Myanmar  / Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Thailand’s rising tension between public and state relations with China
February 22, 2021

Historically, there has been both animosity and brotherhood between China and Thailand. Famously quoted from a song written by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the relationship has been characterised as that of “brothers, which will last thousands of years and beyond”.