Choosing to stop sourcing gold from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs) may be the easy option for refiners seeking to de-risk their supply chains, but it is not the responsible option.
The Special Economic Zone of Thilawa epitomizes the essence of Japan’s new ‘infrastructural means for strategic ends’ approach to ODA policy, inaugurated by Abe.
The Tatmadaw may still be satisfied enough with the semi-democratic regime it created and may want to return to it at some point – just after securing a suitable Commander-in-Chief and fixing some issues it is not entirely happy about.
“American actions have provided significant impetus for BRICS and SCO members to draw closer. While Brazil’s and India’s relations with China remain complicated, SCO and BRICS nonetheless offer them platforms to demonstrate that the US is not their only partner of consequence. They can also position themselves as leading actors in advancing a world order less centred on the West.
That said, BRICS and SCO countries remain a highly heterogeneous group with divergent interests and varying relationships with China.”