FROM October 2011, senior US officials launched a “pivot” to the East Asia and Pacific maritime region.

Whenever Myanmar lurches towards a promise of change, the realities suggest otherwise – and the latest flurry of seeming change seems hardly any different.

At least as important as the disputes over East Asian waters are the blossoming relations and plans on mainland Europe and Asia.

Despite their many differences, China and the US are also very much alike – and it’s no help to all other countries.

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign had always been expected to crash, but these pundits continue to be stumped and such predictions have proven wrong before.

It is tempting to consider what Asean would be like in another 50 years, even though some may still not understand it in its first 50.

Critics of the Iran nuclear deal cite many reasons against it, but they forget it is more than just about Iran or nuclear issues.

Instead of choosing win-win opportunities, some countries are still opting for lose-lose situations against international terrorist threats.

AS another year comes to a close and the next one begins, official bean counters will again be aggregating the policy gains alongside the losses.

No effort against terrorism can work when it refuses to understand the root causes, especially when it actually encourages more widespread and endless violence.

As an informal coalition against terrorism in Syria began to build, a single act suddenly transforms the situation to benefit regime change and more chaos.

Far from Myanmar’s election last weekend being the end of a long struggle for democracy and development, it is only the beginning for all concerned.