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Southeast Asia links: Obama in Asia, Myanmar elections, Vietnam peacekeepers and more

Elliot Brennan

Published 22 Apr 2014 Follow @elliotbrennan

Obama’s visit to Malaysia (26 April) and the Philippines (28 April) is on all Southeast Asia watchers' lists this week. The Trans-Pacific Partnership and regional security are likely to be high on the agenda. For the embattled Malaysian government, his visit will be a boon internationally, but for Obama it may be difficult. He will require a similar diplomatic dexterity in the Philippines, according to the Brookings Institution.
Aung Din gives us a succinct look at Myanmar’s 2015 elections, and why the ruling USDP may support a change to the constitution.
Carl Thayer looks at why Vietnam chose to commit forces to UN peacekeeping after two decades of deliberation.
In an insightful ISEAS paper, Lo Hong Hiep asks: will development lead to democratisation in Vietnam and China?
The Lower Mekong could be ‘the next South China Sea’, argues CSIS's Phuong Nguyen.
Vietnam has withdrawn from hosting the 2019 Asian Games citing a lack of financial resources and experience. The Indonesian Olympic Committee has said it would be ‘proud’ to hold the games.
The 20^th China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation is meeting this week (21-22 April) to discuss relations and regional issues. High on the agenda will be the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.
Malaysia and Turkey signed a FTA last week that will bolster trade and KL’s bid to be a key hub of the global Islamic economy.
Vietnamese border guards opened fire on Chinese migrants in a scuffle on the border last week. Five Chinese migrants and two Vietnamese border guards were killed.
Earlier this month, an LSE Asia Forum in Kuala Lumpur looked at the topic of ‘ASEAN leadership in a leaderless world’. Here’s the plenary discussion:

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