Will a Biden presidency shake up U.S.-Myanmar relations?
This week, the United States swore in President Joe Biden. On the same day, President U Win Myint formally accepted the credentials of incoming U.S. ambassador Thomas Laszlo Vajda. Meanwhile, Biden’s newly-nominated intelligence director Avril
Ahead of Biden takeover, China affirms support in ethnic conflict
One week before the U.S. presidential inauguration, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Myanmar in its handling of ethnic conflicts. In a meeting with President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
With new China deal, vaccines in sight
The country’s first COVID-19 vaccinations are on the horizon. Following a deal to buy vaccine doses from India, China this week offered Myanmar some of its approved vaccine for free. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Sports said it will s
Bangladesh relocates refugees to remote island
Bangladesh moved a second wave of Rakhine Muslim refugees from Cox’s Bazar to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal. The new wave of around 1800 people has increased the number of people relocated to the island — called Bhasan Char — to more
COVID rates drop, first vaccines in sight
The rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to decline into the new year, with daily case counts dipping to between 500 and 700 this week. The number is a huge drop from a mere month ago, when daily confirmed cases ranged between 1000 and 1500. Fu
