Myanmar

U.S. President Joe Biden sits at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office at the White House. He has threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar if democratic progress is reversed.
Biden's Asia policy

Myanmar poses early test for Biden's 'diplomacy with allies'

Naypyitaw junta looks to pivot to China as Indo-Pacific rivalry intensifies

2 February 2021
A screen grab from Myanmar state television footage on Feb. 1 shows Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing reading a statement: the Tatmadaw will not want to be dependent on China.
Opinion

Myanmar coup will reverberate far beyond Southeast Asia

Crisis is first high stakes test for Biden's relationship with ASEAN

2 February 2021
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The leaders aim to advance democratic ideals in the Indo-Pacific through the Quad framework with the U.S. (Source photos by Reuters)
Myanmar Crisis

Japan slow to join global chorus denouncing Myanmar coup

PM Suga conspicuously silent as Quad leaders speak out

2 February 2021
Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling party have been detained in an early morning raid. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar military ousts Aung San Suu Kyi in apparent coup

Army pledges new elections and declares a one-year state of emergency

1 February 2021
Suzuki Thilawa Motor's plant on the outskirts of Yangon: Japanese manufacturers were quick to ramp up investment in Myanmar after the country's transition to democracy. 
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's apparent coup rattles companies that bet on democracy

From Grab to Kirin, foreign business braces for disruption and uncertainty

1 February 2021
Rohingya refugees sit on wooden benches on the deck of a navy vessel sailing to the Bhasan Char island, Noakhali district, Bangladesh, on Dec. 20, 2020.
Politics

Bangladesh sends more Rohingya to remote island

More than 1,400 Myanmar refugees set sail for vulnerable Bay of Bengal isle

30 January 2021
The rift between Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, left, and commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing seems to be deeper than ever. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Politics

Myanmar military-Suu Kyi rift widens amid coup fears

Army claims vote fraud and threatens 'action' in country without civilian control

29 January 2021
State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is on hand as medical workers receive shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Naypyitaw on Jan. 27.
Coronavirus

Myanmar starts India-made COVID jabs, but China vaccine on hold

Yangon puts 1.5m doses from Serum Institute to use as it awaits 300k from Beijing

27 January 2021
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing salutes during an military exercise at Ayeyarwaddy in February 2018: the commander in chief will need to make concessions to show he is sincere about the cease-fire,
Opinion

Myanmar's Rakhine problem is a domestic and international challenge

National leaders must end toxic rivalry to sustain cease-fire with Arakan Army

25 January 2021
A sign showing the road leading to Thailand is seen near Dawei in southern Myanmar, close the site of a planned special economic zone and deep sea port.
Economy

Myanmar removes Thai builder from Indo-Pacific economic-zone project

Italian-Thai Development's funding issues had slowed construction of Dawei

13 January 2021
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, meets with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Jan. 11. Wang also will visit Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.
International relations

China backs Myanmar on Rohingya response with eye on Biden

Foreign Minister Wang woos Southeast Asia with vaccines and economic aid

13 January 2021
Grammatophyllum speciosum, also known as the Tiger Orchid, in bloom on Penang Hill, on the Malaysian island of Penang. (Courtesy of Rexy Prakash Chacko)
Life

Online orchid fever raises alarm in Southeast Asia

Malaysian research sheds light on illegal plant trading on social media

8 January 2021
Myanmar Brewery, a joint venture between Kirin and Myanma Economic Holdings, is the dominant beer company in the southeast Asian country and widely known for its flagship brand, Myanmar Beer.
Food & Beverage

Kirin fails to dispel doubts on military-linked Myanmar partner

Reputational risk casts shadow over beer joint ventures in emerging market

7 January 2021
As urbanization and industrialization moved forward in Myanmar, hydroelectric power, which had previously been the main domestic power source, could no longer keep up with surging demand.
Energy

Thai PTTEP set to invest $2bn in Myanmar gas fields and power plant

State-owned explorer to ramp up operations to address neighbor's energy shortages

4 January 2021
Myanmar authorities began strengthening their grip over the nation's cyberspace in March, with directives to mobile operators to block certain websites.
Politics

Myanmar conflict zones kept offline despite Suu Kyi digital push

Portions of ethnic states remain in internet blackout as criticism grows

2 January 2021
The head of the giant Buddha image at Bangkok's Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen Temple. Construction began in 2017, with costs reaching the equivalent of about $3.3 million. (Courtesy of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen)
Life

Bangkok's Big Buddha joins Asia's giants

From Thailand to China, giant religious images bring devotees and tourists

30 December 2020
The 225-hectare Korea-Myanmar Industrial Complex north of Yangon will cost around $110 million. (Concept drawing courtesy of KMIC Development) 
Business trends

Myanmar industrial parks offer precious infrastructure to investors

South Korean, Thai and Singaporean developers build business zones around Yangon

24 December 2020
Sanitation workers pick up garbage in Yangon, Myanmar. The nation's crowded commercial capital is looking for the most efficient way to collect trash. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Technology

Trash pickup takes a quantum spin in Myanmar's biggest city

Nippon Koei and big-data startup will crunch combinations for shortest truck routes

23 December 2020
In his latest book, Sebastian Strangio illuminates the unique challenges facing the countries that are close to China, and exactly what is at stake for each. (Courtesy of Sebastian Strangio)
Arts

BOOKS: 'In the Dragon's Shadow,' by Sebastian Strangio

Southeast Asia's foreign policy challenges in the 'Chinese Century'

16 December 2020
A Myanmar National Airlines' jet sits on the tarmac at Yangon International Airport: The government will allow the carrier to fly domestically to kick-start the economy. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Transportation

Myanmar airline to fly again domestically after 3-month pause

Suu Kyi talks of 'return to normal' with eye on international routes

15 December 2020
Buddhist devotees take a selfie with a mobile phone at a pagoda in Yangon. Irrawaddy Green Towers serves all major mobile network operators in Myanmar.
Business deals

CVC buys Myanmar's largest telecom tower company for $700m

PE fund to acquire Irrawaddy Green Towers in country's second biggest deal

14 December 2020
Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp. will deliver new train cars that will shorten journeys on the Yangon Circular Railway and between Yangon and Mandalay. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Transportation

Mitsubishi Corp. wins $663m train car contract in Myanmar

Japan firm to deliver 246 cars for Yangon Circular and Mandalay routes

9 December 2020
Yohei Sasakawa, Japan's special envoy to Myanmar,  told Nikkei Asia in an interview on Thursday that he urged Aung San Suu Kyi to hold early by-elections in Rakhine State. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Myanmar election

Japan urges Suu Kyi to hold by-elections in Myanmar ethnic state

Armed group and military agree to cease-fire for possible vote in Rakhine

4 December 2020
Myanmar voters have signaled unwavering support for Aung San Suu Kyi, but the country's powerful military continues to stand in the way of resolving three major issues. (Nikkei montage/Reuters and Yuichi Nitta)
Comment

Suu Kyi's Myanmar election victory not enough to budge military

Powerful obstacle to amending charter and ending strife remains firmly in place

30 November 2020
Myanmar is home to over 18 million active social media users. (Getty Images)
36Kr/KrASIA

Xiaomi and other China smartphone titans dominate Myanmar

Companies take nearly 66% of fast-developing nation's market

30 November 2020