Indo pacific health security

SINGAPORE: Mario Draghi, the Prime Minister of Italy, recently blocked the export of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from his country to Australia. To many in the international community, this was an act of “vaccine nationalism”. In fact, Mr Draghi’s decision reflected different variants of nationalistic behaviour, spurred on by geopolitical forces and compounded by COVID-19. At the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, for example, China, the US, the EU, India and the UK all imposed export restrictions on personal protective equipment (PPE). Shipments of ventilators and antiseptic chemicals were also blocked as national health services competed for scarce supplies. This behaviour contradicted the norms of international commerce, science and social exchange, which, for decades, have benefitted from a highly interconnected and interdependent global system. Worse, vaccine nationalism may be the precursor to “vaccine diplomacy,” a form of realpolitik that compels nations ... » Learn More about Commentary: How COVID-19 vaccines are being weaponised as countries jostle for influence

SINGAPORE: The run-up to the US-China meeting already foreshadowed the challenges that the actual bilateral discussions in Anchorage would encounter. In fact, the two sides could not agree on how to call it. For the US, it was a meeting to communicate positions to the other side. For China, it was a “high-level strategic dialogue”, a continuation from where the countries had left off before Trump entered the White House. Tensions spilled over in public, in the first session, when under the eye of cameras from all over the world, the US and China had what in diplomatic terms can only be described as frosty . US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened with criticising China for actions that “threaten the rule based order that maintains global stability.” State Council member Yang Yiechi replied: “We believe that it is important for the United States to change its own image and to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world.” READ: Commentary: Joe ... » Learn More about Commentary: After Alaska, age of selective engagement in US-China relations begins

SINGAPORE - South-east Asia's economy as a whole is expected to recover in 2021, and strong consumer sentiments and efforts to diversify in the Middle East provide potential for greater economic engagement between the two regions, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said on Tuesday (Feb 23). Speaking at the Middle East Institute's annual conference held virtually, he said Singaporean companies, for instance, could find opportunities in the food and beverage industry in the Middle East. He pointed out that the disposable incomes of consumers in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are growing at two to three times the global average. They are also becoming increasingly reliant on supermarkets and hypermarkets, instead of small traditional grocery stores. More than 30 Singapore food companies are doing business in the Middle East, and the hope is that more will follow, said Dr Tan, who is also Second Minister for Manpower. Speaking in a pre-recorded video, he ... » Learn More about Potential for greater economic engagement between Middle East and South-east Asia: Tan See Leng

“Our countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years. Our friendship and decades-long health partnership have given us the resilience to address this global health crisis caused by Covid-19.” The message from spokesperson Morgan Ortagus from the US Department of State. In the same statement issued yesterday, the US Embassy sent their good wishes to the people of Thailand during the Thai new year (Songkran), despite the festivities being postponed to lessen the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus. “This collaboration is but one piece of our broad partnership and alliance that includes cooperation on security, law enforcement, business and trade, education and many other areas, As we begin our third century of friendship, we affirm our commitment to the US-Thai alliance as we work together to bring about shared prosperity and well-being to our people and the Indo-Pacific region.” Ortagus also attributes the 40 years of partnership Thailand has with US Centres ... » Learn More about US Embassy passes on message to Thailand from US Department of State

The big infrastructure plan unveiled by President Joe Biden last week is meant to do more than revive America's decaying infrastructure and create jobs. The United States would like to prove that democracies can do big projects and challenge Beijing's all-but-official stance that the West is in a long-term decline. Other countries around the world are also looking to ramp up spending to steal a march on their competitors. The Straits Times takes a look at competitive infrastructure plays around the world and the political and economic calculus driving them. Biden plan challenges US to define its future US President Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan is not only notable for finally attempting an ambitious injection of funds into America's decaying infrastructure. It has an ideological agenda as well - to demonstrate, as China looms in the rearview mirror, that democracies are better than autocracies in renewing themselves and delivering for their people. The plan is ... » Learn More about Infrastructure wars: Competitive plays in US, Asia and what drives them

Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on March 12 discussed ways to ramp up vaccine cooperation between the Philippines and India as well as the dynamic state of Philippines-India cooperation in the areas of maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber-security, space, energy and information and communications technology (ICT). Recalling the telephone conversation between President Rodrigo Duterte and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2020, Secretary Locsin reiterated the country’s interest to secure more supplies of Covid-19 vaccines from manufacturing companies in India. Secretary Locsin also welcomed the burgeoning ties between the Philippines and South Asia’s economic powerhouse and highlighted the recent steps forward in the areas of defense, health and pharmaceutical cooperation, and disaster preparedness. Ambassador Kumaran, meanwhile, underscored the strong complementarities between Prime Minister Modi’s Act East Policy ... » Learn More about Indian Ambassador, Secretary Locsin ramp up vaccine cooperation