Resilient, Inclusive, and Free: Towards a Post-Pandemic Indo-Pacific Region
Introduction
Since the first cases were reported from the Hubei province of the People’s Republic of China in late 2019, COVID-19 has spread to almost every country in the world.[1] The pandemic has taken over 4 million lives and shattered livelihoods, and has had ramifications on political and economic structures across the globe. The massive disruptions associated with lockdowns and restrictions on movement have pushed many countries into recession, and the global economic fallout has been on par with the impact of the 2008 financial crisis.
It comes at a time of trade tensions brewing in many parts of the world, especially between the United States (US) and China. Most analysts agree that behind the strain in US-China trade relations are questions regarding the methods behind China’s emergence as a global manufacturing, technological and economic power, and its consequences.
Together, these factors have precipitated, in many…
