COVID-19 PANDEMIC in the INDO-PACIFIC How the Countries Are Dealing Amidst Changing Geopolitics
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M. Mayilvaganan Editor COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE INDO-PACIFIC How The Countries Are Dealing Amidst Changing Geopolitics Research Report NIAS/CSS/ISSSP/U/RR/15/2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE INDO-PACIFIC How The Countries Are Dealing Amidst Changing Geopolitics M. Mayilvaganan Editor National Institute of Advanced Studies Bengaluru, India 2020 © National Institute of Advanced Studies, 2020 Published by National Institute of Advanced Studies Indian Institute of Science Campus Bengaluru – 560012 Tel: 22185000, Fax: 22185028 Email: [email protected] NIAS Report: NIAS/CSS/ISSSP/U/RR/15/2020 ISBN 978-93-83566-41-6 Content PREFACE.........................................................................................................1 AUSTRALIA...................................................................................................2 Ashok Sharma, Australian National University BANGLADESH..............................................................................................7 M Ashique Rahman, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies BRUNEI...........................................................................................................15 V. Srilatha, Osmania University CAMBODIA...................................................................................................21 Uma Purushothaman, Central University of Kerala CHINA.............................................................................................................25 Rajiv Ranjan, Shanghai University INDONESIA...................................................................................................29 S. Y. Surendra Kumar, Bangalore University JAPAN..............................................................................................................35 Prakash Panneerselvam, National Institute of Advanced Studies LAOS................................................................................................................41 Samatha Mallempati, Indian Council of World Affairs MALAYSIA.....................................................................................................45 Hanafi Hussin, University of Malaya MALDIVES.....................................................................................................52 T.C. Karthikheyan, Independent Research Scholar MYANMAR....................................................................................................58 K. Yhome, Observer Research Foundation NEW ZEALAND............................................................................................62 M. Mayilvaganan, National Institute of Advanced Studies PHILIPPINES.................................................................................................70 Amit Mukherjee, National Institute of Advanced Studies SINGAPORE...................................................................................................75 Dharish David, Singapore Institute of Management–Global Education SOUTH KOREA.............................................................................................85 Jojin V. John, Indian Council of World Affairs SRI LANKA.....................................................................................................90 Asantha Senevirathna, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University TAIWAN..........................................................................................................94 Sana Hashmi, National Chengchi University THAILAND....................................................................................................100 Nanda Kishor M.S., Manipal Academy of Higher Education VIETNAM......................................................................................................105 Le Thi Hang Nga, Vietnam Academy of Social Science PREFACE The COVID-19 or novel coronavirus pandemic is defining global response to the greatest challenge we faced since World War Two. It has significant bearing on social, economic, political and security of the nations as well global. People have lost jobs and income, with no way of knowing when normality will return, migrants within the country and the expatriates are forced to return to the home. The nations, those are heavily dependent on consumer economy, manufacturing, and tourism, etc. have nearly insolvent. Since its emergence in China late last year, the virus has spread to almost every country except few island nations. Still cases are rising daily from the US to Asia in spite of travel limitation, quarantining citizens, testing, contact tracing, and lockdown extensions. Every country prepares to reopen and hoping to recover as much as possible. But there are multiple challenges. Apart from containing the spread of the virus and treating infected patients, there are related economy, political and security issues, and questions about the future regional and world order. This special report on COVID 19 pandemic in Indo-Pacific and how the countries are dealing amidst changing geopolitics is aimed to provide a brief analysis of specific countries in the Indo-Pacific, from Maldives to New Zealand. This informed analysis by the scholars who works on the region may help to know, even for the intelligent layman, how the countries in the region are coping up with the pandemic. The views expressed are those of the author(s); and not necessarily those of the National Institute of Advanced Studies. The dissemination of contemporary developments in the region is an important part of the entire effort of ISSSP, NIAS. M. Mayilvaganan Editor Indo-Pacific Research Group ISSSP, NIAS 1 COVID- 19 AND AUSTRALIA: CONTAINMENT STRATEGY, IMPACT ON ECONOMY AND GEOPOLITICS ASHOK SHARMA Throughout history, pandemics have occurred with a severe impact on human lives, economy and geopolitics. Pandemics continue to severely affect humankind in modern times as evident in the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 has emerged as the biggest catastrophe since the Second World War. Recent trends show a spike in the COVID-19 cases in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Governments across the world have imposed lockdown, social distancing measures, and state of emergency to contain the disease. The governments have also come out with economic stimulus packages to protect the economy. Many parts of the world are still struggling to contain the disease. COVID-19 is also impacting the geopolitics and global order, and the questions are being raised on the over-reliance on the global supply chain and the functioning of the World Health Organization (WHO). But Australia with 7,260 infected cases and just 102 deaths and almost zero cases in the last four weeks in the majority of the states and single-digit new cases nationwide, Australia has emerged as one of the leading nations in successfully containing the disease, and is now back to the business. Against this background, this article examines Australia’s COVID-19 containment strategy, and the impact of COVID-19 on economy and geopolitics. Australia’s COVID-19 Containment Strategy Australia is in an enviable position when compared with many countries across the world, which are still struggling to contain the disease. After its first case reported on 22 January 2020, Australia enforced lockdown measures, restriction on movements of people and social distancing measures. Within six weeks of lockdown, Australia contained the curve. Over the past four weeks, Australia has 2 witnessed zero cases or almost negligible cases in the majority of the states except returning Australians from overseas with the COVID-19 infection. With no human to human transmission case, Australia has lifted the lockdown and eased the restrictions with the continuation of social distancing measures and monitoring of the inter-state travel to stop the re-emergence of the pandemic. A combination of factors has contributed to Australia’s successful containment of the pandemic. Australia’s COVID-19 containment strategy largely focused on restrictions on public gatherings, conducting large-scale testing and contact tracing, closing its state and international borders, and Australians returning home were quarantined for two weeks. The Government’s COVID-Safe contact-tracing app was downloaded by almost 40 percent of the Australians, though its effectiveness has been questioned. The government’s timely response to contain the disease and measures were followed by the people by adhering to the rules of social distancing and avoiding the non- essential travels. Chief medical officers, health workers, and law enforcement agencies across Australia were crucial in formulating and enforcing the COVID-19 containment strategy. Moreover, Australia’s highly advanced healthcare system was accessible to all the citizens and residents of Australia which is in contrast to the case in other developed countries such as the United States. The government’s containment strategies at the federal and state-level governments received bipartisan support. The Australian government's capability, willingness, and executive competency were the key to the successful containment of the disease. Impact on the Australian Economy The COVID-19 has severely impacted the economies across the world and Australia is no exception. The Australian government’s economic package of $259 billion in fiscal and balance sheet support equivalent to 13.3 percent of annual GDP aimed to support households, affected workers and to keep businesses in business. However, despite the stimulus package, Australia has registered a negative