25 March, 2013
Political Security

• Singapore is expected to announce plans to buy its first squadron of Lockheed Martin’s F-35Bs, further bolstering what had been the flagging fortunes of the world’s most expensive conventional weapon system
• The fact that American allies in the Pacific are the ones committing to the controversial and over-budget aircraft suggests a move to contain China, which to countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Australia is the primary long-term threat
• The Singaporeans’ decision will eventually leave China facing 50 to 100 Australian F-35As, 42 F-35As in Japan, 75Bs in Singapore and however many of the three versions built and fielded by the America’s allies in the Pacific

26 March, 2013
Political Security

• Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said a Vietnamese boat was chased and shot at by a Chinese vessel near the contested Paracel Islands, causing a fire in the cabin
• Chinese officials promptly replied that the action was “necessary and legitimate” and instead accused Vietnam of illegally entering Chinese waters
• China also recently conducted a “high-sea training mission” right at the Philippines’ northern back-door near the Babuyan Islands
• China’s decision to conduct its training in the area was seen as Beijing’s way of sending a strong message to the claimants in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, which had repeatedly rejected Beijing’s “excessive claims” of the disputed territories

25 March, 2013
Trade and Investment

• The appointment of veteran diplomat, Wang Yi, as the new foreign minister of China to Asia was well received by leaders in ASEAN member states with hopes that overall tension in the region would be better managed
• Senior officials from Asean and China are scheduled to meet in Beijing next week to consult and discuss overall relations with both sides expected the issue of the South China Sea
• Foreign academics, Yangon businessmen and former military officials said anti-China sentiment has been building for years where citizens believed that Myanmar was being exploited by its larger neighbour
• Thuta Aung, head of a business development firm in Yangon, said as Myanmar becomes increasingly open, public protests have heightened over China’s role in its affairs

1 April, 2013
Politics
Myanmar has restored order in six riot-torn townships in Bago region. There have been 163 incidents of violence in 15 townships since the sectarian riots started on 20 March. A total of 43 people lost their lives in the riots and 86 others were injured. Close to 13,000 people have been displaced by the unrest, and more than 1,300 homes and other buildings have been destroyed, according to the UN.

1 April, 2013
Politics
Sixteen private newspapers were given licenses by authorities to publish daily, after 50 years of state monopoly of daily news, but only four daily newspapers hit the newsstands. Distribution, poor infrastructure, outmoded printing equipment and staffing issues are some of the stumbling blocks for media organizations wanting to expand to dailies.

26 March, 2013
Politics

The Associated Press (AP) on Saturday became the first international news agency to open a bureau in Myanmar since the government decided to relax media restrictions. Japanese broadcaster NHK was also granted permission to open an office.

27 March, 2013
Economy

Garment exports are on track to exceed US$1 billion for the fiscal year ending at the end of March. The garment industry is expected to grow even more when the European Union’s generalised system of preferences, which gives duty-free access to exports from least developed countries, is reinstated for Myanmar in June. “We expect that there will be about 2,000 garment factories soon and these factories will create about 1.2 million jobs,” Khin Maung Aye, managing director of Lat War garment factory, said. When the US imposed sanctions on Myanmar imports in 2003, textile exports fell from US$800 million a year to US$300 million a year and more than 80.000 workers lost their jobs.

28 March, 2013
Economy

Gas exports have already surpassed last year’s record of US$3.5 billion and are on track to total nearly US$4 billion when the fiscal year ends at the end of March, a commerce ministry official said. Next year is expected to see the value of gas exports surge again as the Shwe Gas project is expected to begin exporting in May and the Zawtika project by December.

31 March, 2013
Business and Investment

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore will hold a Singapore-Myanmar Business Forum on 4 April in Yangon, to further promote business and economic collaboration between the countries. The forum will provide a platform for more than 100 government and business leaders from both countries to connect and explore collaboration opportunities across industries including infrastructure development, telecommunications, financial services and hospitality. A highlight of the event is the opening of IE Singapore’s Overseas Centre in Yangon, which will be opened by Singapore’s President Tony Tan.

29 March, 2013
Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced on Friday that Mark McDowell, a veteran Canadian diplomat, will be Canada’s ambassador in Myanmar but Canada will soon be opening an embassy in Yangon.