Society

What Happened: Fighting in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has escalated in 2024, especially since the spring, as the Arakan Army captures vast swathes of territory from the military junta. The marginalized Rohingya population is being caught in the middle – and attacked by both sides. Many have followed previous waves of Rohingya refugees and attempted to flee to Bangladesh, but the journey is more perilous (and the reception less welcoming) than before.

Our Focus: Journalist Shafiur Rahman recounts the stories of two Rohingya women, Humaira and Salma Bibi, both of whom are now in Bangladesh after fleeing fighting in their home villages in Rakhine. Humaira and Salma both sought refuge in multiple villages in Myanmar, only to see the conflict spread to their new homes as well. Tragically, both had family members killed in drone attacks they say were conducted by the Arakan Army: Humaira’s 9-year-old son was killed, and Salma lost her husband.

What Comes Next: These two stories reflect a pattern that has played out thousands of times over in recent months: Rohingya people in Myanmar are forced to undertake a desperate journey to escape the fighting in their homeland. Many pay thousands to people-smugglers to cross the border. Both Humaira and Salma reported paying 550,000 kyats per person, only to have the smugglers demand more money en route. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has stepped up efforts to block refugees from entering its territory, and there are few prospects for employment or healthcare in the refugee camps. “People have shared with us that they are afraid to seek assistance as this might put them at risk of being exploited or even returned to Myanmar,” Orla Murphy, Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF) country director in Bangladesh, told The Diplomat.

INTERVIEW

Vince Beiser, author of “Power Metal: The Race for Resources That Will Shape the Future,” on China’s dominance of critical mineral supply chains: “It’s hard to overstate China’s importance in this arena. By leveraging its own natural resources, relatively lax environmental standards, diplomatic clout, and shrewd overseas investments, China has, in recent decades, come to dominate the supply chains for every single one of the metals and finished products we need for the Electro-Digital Age.”

Northeast Asia

Last week, China held massive drills surrounding Taiwan, involving its navy, air force, and coast guard. The exercises weren’t given a formal name, but were described by Taiwan’s military as the biggest since 1996. Many analysts saw the military activity as a message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump – potentially an attempt to signal China’s military readiness despite an ongoing purge in its defense apparatus. Regardless of the intent of this specific drill, China is continuing a long-term process of readying itself for a potential amphibious assault on Taiwan.

South Asia

Bangladesh-India ties have been rocky since Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power. Hasina was doggedly pro-India – to the extent that critics at home accused her of sacrificing Bangladesh’s own interests to secure Delhi’s support. Since her ouster, the new interim government in Bangladesh has expressed a determination to reset ties. However, tensions continue to mount, with a vandalism attack on a Bangladeshi consulate in India in early December. Bangladeshi officials complain of Indian disinformation campaigns spreading “fake news” about attacks on Hindus in the country. Meanwhile Indian-style Hindutva is gaining prominence in Bangladesh in response to persecution.

Southeast Asia

The Thai government will this week host regional talks on the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, at least one of which will involve members of the military junta. Bangkok has confirmed that Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will host two separate regional meetings focusing on Myanmar on December 19 and 20. The first will be an informal consultation on border security and transnational crime, which will be attended by officials from the military junta and representatives from Thailand, China, and other nations bordering Myanmar. The December 20 meeting, which will be open to all “interested members” of ASEAN, will address the country’s conflict more directly, including ASEAN's stalled Five-Point Consensus peace plan.

Central Asia

In a new decree, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirzyoyev has authorized the expansion of the country’s embassy in Moscow to include a representative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to specifically protect the rights of Uzbek citizens as well as facilitate law enforcement cooperation. While Tashkent hasn't delivered sharp words regarding Moscow’s war in Ukraine, Russia’s recruitment of Uzbek citizens to fight has nonetheless motivated these new efforts.

Sources: CAAM, ACEA, Statista, best-selling-cars.com

The market share of foreign automakers in China has plunged over the past five years, yet German companies in particular are still betting big on their business in the country.

Economy

The Thailand government’s stimulus package to hand out over 10,000 bahts (around $290) to 45 million Thais. English is used for the official name; it’s also known in Thai as the โครงการเติมเงิน 10,000 บาท (10,000 baht stimulus project)

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