Insight topics
COVID-19
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Fighting COVID-19: China's soft power opportunities in mainland Southeast Asia
In mainland Southeast Asia, the Chinese government’s effective measures to curb the pandemic outbreak at home and the provision of COVID-19 assistance to regional countries have enhanced China’s soft power. And as Dr Chheang Vannarith, Visiting Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, writes, most of the mainland Southeast Asian countries, except Vietnam, have been receptive to China’s COVID-19 diplomacy.
Lesson learnt: Indonesia’s second Eid al-Fitri under COVID-19
In 2020, Eid-al-Fitri was a national superspreader event in Indonesia. But, as Syafiq Hasyim, Visiting Fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute points out, this year the government and Muslim organisations were thankfully better prepared.
Australia needs to act now for compulsory licencing of the COVID-19 vaccine
Australia’s neighbours are struggling with serious COVID-19 outbreaks. Which means, as Samuel Berhanu Woldemariam and Professor Lisa Toohey write, Australia needs to take seriously its obligations as a good neighbour in helping to secure COVID-19 vaccines for the region.
Our responsibility to South Asia
With almost one quarter of humanity living on the Indian subcontinent the COVID-19 pandemic there is each day exacting a devastating toll. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd argues developed economies need to do more to help as a deadly second wave of the coronavirus spreads to rural areas, where the scarcity of medical care will add to this humanitarian tragedy.
India's COVID tsunami
India's COVID case numbers and fatality rates have hit critical levels, prompting Australia to suspend all passenger flights from India for two weeks. In the midst of this unfolding crisis, politician and former UN official Shashi Tharoor asks how did India's COVID fight go so wrong.