Infrastructure Development
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Conflicts - Tensions
Internet access, credibility plummet in Myanmar, report finds
FORUM Staff Myanmar, mired in a civil war triggered by a military coup in February 2021, has joined the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the bottom of an annual assessment of internet freedom in 72 nations worldwide. The Freedom House rankings evaluate internet access, content limits and user rights violations in the countries, which comprise about 87% of global…
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Global Commons
Indonesian Army expands clean water, environmental programs
Gusty Da Costa The Indonesian Army is tackling clean water shortages and supporting environmental sustainability through its Manunggal Air program. The initiative, launched in 2022, has established thousands of clean water points across the country, many of them serving rural and remote areas with limited access to basic necessities. Led by Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, the Army’s chief of staff, the…
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Global Commons
Indo-Pacific nations bolstering defense of undersea cables against emerging vulnerabilities
Tom Abke Data is omnipresent, and undersea cables are vital for transmitting everything from voice and video to financial transactions and confidential government communications. Recent incidents have highlighted their vulnerabilities, however, prompting Indo-Pacific nations to launch collaborative efforts such as the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, while also strengthening their individual capacity to monitor, protect and repair the…
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Global Commons
Palau-U.S. defense projects boost air domain awareness, operational flexibility
Tom Abke The island nation of Palau and the United States are partnering to increase air domain awareness and enhance operational flexibility and airpower projection in the Indo-Pacific, officials and analysts say. Collaborative defense infrastructure projects in Palau include construction of an uncrewed tactical multi-mission, over-the-horizon radar (TACMOR) facility on Babeldaob Island, and the restoration and recertification of a military…
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Global Commons
Armed forces initiatives improve quality of life in Indonesia’s Papua
Gusty Da Costa Indonesia’s military is enhancing infrastructure and engagement with residents in the Papua province, an isolated region at the nation’s far eastern end. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) is building a major road to connect the island’s interior cities, improving educational opportunities, supporting health care services and distributing essential supplies. The TNI also had a significant presence during…
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Global Commons
Philippine Armed Forces, partner agencies drive Marawi’s post-siege rehabilitation
Maria T. Reyes The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in Marawi. The initiative began after the 2017 Battle of Marawi, when government forces defeated Islamic State group-affiliated militants who held the southern city under siege for months. The DND, in coordination with government agencies and local leaders, is playing…
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Global Commons
Japan leveraging infrastructure, innovation for strategic engagement
Felix Kim Recognizing the transformative potential of economic growth and technological innovation, Japan is engaging with emerging market countries across the Indo-Pacific to develop infrastructure, enhance business environments and increase sustainability. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) plays a pivotal role in these efforts, supporting projects in sectors critical to sustainable development. Japan’s approach, including incorporating official development assistance (ODA),…
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Global Commons
India key to future of BRICS grouping
FORUM Staff The loosely affiliated group called BRICS, which emerged in the mid-2000s consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and later South Africa, faces mounting challenges as it continues to expand. In addition to an economic slowdown globally, the organization must confront increasing geopolitical tensions and internal pressures, including coordination issues, disagreements and differing priorities…
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Global Commons
Taiwan’s resilience, readiness lauded after major earthquake
FORUM Staff Decades of robust planning and preparedness enabled Taiwan to limit the devastation from a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in April 2024, the most powerful temblor to shake the island in a generation, experts and officials say. The quake, which was centered about 18 kilometers from Hualien on Taiwan’s east coast, was followed by a rippling of aftershocks, including one…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Proposed Chinese-funded canal in Cambodia raises regional concerns
FORUM Staff A proposed Chinese-financed, 180-kilometer canal connecting Phnom Penh with the Gulf of Thailand poses economic, environmental and humanitarian concerns, and has led to speculation that the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal could give Chinese military vessels access to interior Cambodia and the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Cambodians facing potential displacement wonder about compensation. Vietnamese ponder the economic effect of a…
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