Internal Affairs

HEADLINES

China is in dire straits, mirroring Japan’s decline into stagnation; but so are all of us…

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 1, 2025

Paolo ask, in DPA Chat: “Hey Wyatt, Can we get some more info on the Chinese economic slowdown signs? I wish i could read more about it, but as you said there are zero official sources And I’m South American so i can’t speak Chinese to save my life. My girlfriend is Chinese though, but…

What is Authoritarianism (in practise)?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 19, 2025

In a real authoritarian regime – they would basically force you into (doing) things against your rights or at least it messes you in your head about what is okay or not okay… I would say long time ago, Singapore used to be considered authoritarian (under the premiership of Lee Kuan Yew) For example in…

Ukraine 2000–2022 | How to Destroy a Nation: Part 1

By Carlo Peroni | May 16, 2025

The Russo-Ukrainian War is a unique event in human history.It is the only recorded case of a social, political, and military event that happened without causes.It just appeared out of thin air, like magic. And even if a cause exists, it is entirely the result of a man who woke up one day with the…

Indonesia in the Spotlight: A Surge of Strategic Developments Across Sectors

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 16, 2025

Indonesia has been a hive of diplomatic activity, economic progress, and global attention over the past 24 hours, as a wave of news highlights the nation’s growing role on the international stage. From partnerships in green energy and electric vehicles to major geopolitical interactions and domestic development projects, here’s a snapshot of what’s making headlines.…

USTR Section 301 Action’s New Maritime Fee Structure against China

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 19, 2025

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) introduced a new maritime fee structure in April 2025 to counter China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors while promoting U.S. shipbuilding. The initiative stems from a Section 301 investigation, prompted by five U.S. labor unions in March 2024, which concluded that China’s state subsidies and policies unfairly…

DPA:COUNTRY STABILITY INDEX MAP

ARTICLES

[ CNA ] Myanmar’s anti-junta movement shows viral support for Rohingya

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 14, 2021

Activists and civilians took to social media on Sunday to post pictures of themselves wearing black and flashing a three-finger salute of resistance, in posts tagged “#Black4Rohingya”. “Justice must (be) served for each of you and each of us in Myanmar,” said prominent rights activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi on Twitter. By afternoon, the #Black4Rohingya hashtag…

The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar designates State Administration Council (SAC)’s Tatmadaw as terrorists organisation.

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 13, 2021

Accusations by NUG on SAC’s Tatmadaw and affiliated organisation includes: Killing of more than 800 civilians using lethal weapons Arbitrary detentions of over 5000 people Torture and sexual abuse of imprisoned people Decimation of economy Disregard for food crisis Abandonment of COVID CERP program Collapse of healthcare system Massive money laundering operations The designation and…

[ Frontier Myanmar ] ‘Our revolution is starting’: Urban guerrillas prepare to step up killings, bombings

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 13, 2021

“We can’t protest on the street because the army and security forces shoot us with real bullets. But we must revolt against the junta, so we choose armed revolution,” Min Wai told Frontier on May 24, asking not to reveal his real name for safety reasons. That month, he and his friends travelled from Yangon to an…

[ TripSavvy ] Timeline of the U.S. Reopening: A State-by-State Guide

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 12, 2021

Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, the U.S. response to control and contain the spread has mostly been at the state level with state governments (and more locally, those of cities and counties) enforcing closures, social distancing, face masks, and other safety precautions. Some states began reopening their economies as…

[ CNN ] Keystone XL pipeline project canceled by developer

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 12, 2021

The developer of the Keystone XL pipeline announced Wednesday it is pulling the plug on the controversial project after the Biden administration revoked its permit in January. TC Energy, the Canadian company behind the project, said it decided to terminate the project after a comprehensive review of its options and consulting with the government of Alberta, Canada. The company…

[ Daily Mail ] Blocked by Biden: Keystone XL Pipeline is finally AXED five months after President revoked permit: Trump claims 48,000 Americans will lose their jobs

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 10, 2021

Canadian developer TC Energy announced Wednesday it was pulling the plug on the controversial $8 billion pipeline  Biden revoked its permit on his first day in office, undoing Trump’s approval  TC Energy alluded to Biden’s decision in its cancellation announcement  The pipeline would have carried oil from the tar sands of Canada to Texas Environmentalists…

[ AFP ] New fighting in east Myanmar displaces around 100,000: UN

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 10, 2021

An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced by new fighting between Myanmar’s military and rebel groups in the east of the coup-stricken country, the UN said Tuesday. Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February, accusing it of fraud during 2020 elections. Fighting…

[ NZ Herald ] Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi faces bribery charge – with up to 15 years in jail most severe penalty yet

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 10, 2021

The Anti-Corruption Commission in military-ruled Myanmar has found that ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepted bribes and misused her authority to gain advantageous terms in real estate deals, government-controlled media reported Thursday. Suu Kyi’s lawyers already denied the allegations when they were first raised three months ago by the military regime that toppled her…

[ Global News ] Alberta finance minister defends $1.3B loss on Keystone XL pipeline as ‘calculated decision’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 10, 2021

Alberta’s finance minister says the province’s $1.3-billion investment of taxpayers’ money in the now-defunct Keystone XL oil pipeline project was a prudent gamble given the potential payoff in profits and jobs. … Premier Jason Kenney and his United Conservative government, in early 2020, committed $1.5 billion in direct financing and $6 billion more in loan guarantees to…

[ BBC ] Myanmar: The mysterious deaths of the NLD party officials

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 8, 2021

The violence used by Myanmar’s armed forces against unarmed opponents since the coup in February has shocked the world; more than 800 people have been killed, most by military gunfire. But the deaths in custody of two officials from the National League of Democracy – the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi – have…

Wired: Singapore Was Ready for Covid-19—Other Countries, Take Note

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | March 17, 2020

” Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea all share the characteristic of using their experiences with prior outbreaks to build a system—and then sustaining it. None of them had to deal with the fear of being a first-mover, of being the first city or country to institute seemingly severe countermeasures. Their countermeasures were already…

30 Jan: Wuhan Coronavirus future projections and inflection points

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | January 30, 2020

Given the tight timelines we are looking at in regards to the appearance, spread and control of the virus, we are able to make some projections and indicators into what would happen, if its gonna get worse, or get better, in the near future. Timeline:– 8 Dec 2019 : First Reported Case– 9 Jan 2020…

Infected in China to reach 10,000-13,000 cases by end of Jan 2020

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | January 28, 2020

The doubling of infected numbers every 2 days had persisted so far – which means, we are still nowhere close to containment ; its still early days. Infections in China alone: Thu Jan 9 – 41 confirmedFri Jan 20 – 201 confirmed12.00pm Wed Jan 22 – 339 confirmed6:30pm Fri Jan 24 – 887 confirmed8.12pm Sun…

The Republic of China, in brief.

By Jacob Tung | December 4, 2019

Seventy years have passed since the “Great retreat” of the Kuomintang-ruled Republic of China to the island of Taiwan (Formosa). Expelled from the mainland, its rule reduced to Taiwan and a few minor islands off the coast of the mainland. Since then, the Republic of China (ROC) has been politically divided into two camps. The…

The Inevitable Fate of Hong Kong and the Slippery Slope for China

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 20, 2019

As the protest rage on in Hong Kong since it started in March 2019 at the point of writing of this article, its probably nigh time for me to address the grim future that’s to come, which in my opinion, is inevitable. THE HONG KONG PRIDE (OR EGO) Hong Kong returned to China in 1997…

Thai Junta’s Election Victory: What does it mean for the country political future?

By Suttichart Denpruektham | June 11, 2019

The election of General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, for what has essentially become a second term for the Junta’s administration, might have come as a surprise to many. However, given the results of the 2019 national election, the Junta’s return to power was rather obvious. While many news outlets often categorise the winners of the 2019 election…

The perpetual failures of Opposition Parties in Singapore

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | March 31, 2019

Tan Cheng Bock’s announcement to enter Opposition Politics has created all sort of “whirlwinds” in Singapore politics. Right at the back of the “excitement” that surrounds the victory of Pakatan Harapan over the Barisan Nasional next door over in Malaysia – gave Opposition politicians and their supporters much to be excited and hopeful. However, I…

Asia Times: Why Suu Kyi can’t and won’t democratize Myanmar.

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | February 8, 2019

https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/02/article/why-suu-kyi-cant-and-wont-democratize-myanmar/ If you do not understand the fundamentals of Myanmar politics and itsconstitution – then you will never understand why Aung San Suu Kyi do not have real power, and why the Rohingya issue will never be resolved the way you think it should be resolved. This is an article which I personally had wanted…