A year after mass protests forced the resignation of the government, Sri Lanka is making some progress on its economic and debt crises. But the country is not out of danger. Its humanitarian crisis is far from over, and some of the forces that helped create the catastrophe are still embedded in the country’s centers of power.
Asia-Pacific
In the past year, Laos has witnessed more popular unrest than it has in decades. Under normal circumstances, the regime would typically respond to any public displays of dissent by cracking down on protesters and circling its wagons. But amid severe economic distress, many citizens are increasingly undaunted by the fear of repression.
After decades of insufficient funding, misguided investments and poor strategic planning, the U.S. has allowed its position of maritime superiority in the Indo-Pacific to slip away. As a result, China has seized the initiative to threaten not only the United States’ military position in the region, but its economic status as well.