November 20, 2019 | Written By - Caroline Davies '22
Singapore is a modern day economic powerhouse, studded with grand towers and a tropical environment. Once part of China, this country south of Malaysia is home to the second most “free economy” in the region, after Hong Kong. The Singaporean economy is also quite prosperous. The taxes are lower and the GDP is higher than most local countries, offering for technological advancements and a higher quality of life.
Formerly Burma, Myanmar is filled with internal chaos revolving around the discrimination of Rohingya Muslims. Today, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee Myanmar and seek refuge in countries like Bangladesh. Rohingya are stateless people who have been subject to persecution due to their religious beliefs of Islam rather than the nation’s predominant religion, Buddhism. Because this hostility and ill-treatment come not only from regular citizens, but from government and military officials, it is challenging to prevent the discrimination. Hate crimes towards Rohingya people occur frequently and are considered a current genocide by the United Nations. Although a beautiful country, Myanmar does not lack disorder and violence.
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country on the South China Sea most known for its Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. Today, Vietnam is one country, but not without division. The North and South have economic and cultural differences and currently house their own individual equity markets. Now, Vietnamese communist lawmakers are creating drafts to merge the two very different economic systems into a single Vietnam Stock Exchange. A concern of this merger is that the North has more governmental power and will create a financial system that revolves around their world, doing little to support the South. However, this move could inevitably push for further economic globalization, as Vietnam would be functioning as a less divided nation, strengthening their presence in the international community. That could be seen as beneficial to both the North and South.
Known for its displays of the Buddha, stunning ancient ruins, and tropical weather, Thailand is a country that seems to have everything going for it. However, its restive South’s biggest act of violence in years occurred last week, with 15 dead and 4 injured. Locals are concerned that they may be caught in the crossfire. This attack is presumed to have been carried out by the Malay-Muslims of the South, who target symbols of the Thai state. Congregating in the chaos-ridden south, these rebels often find themselves shooting people in the crossfire of their governmental symbol targets. This conflict may see no end as more than 7,000 people have been killed over the last 15 years. We can only hope for a more peaceful future.
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