The Pandemic Has Given Armies in Southeast Asia a Boost

TED ALJIBE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES (via Foreign Policy)

Some governments in Southeast Asia, slow to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, are now using their militaries to make up for initial inaction. Indonesia and the Philippines in particular have treated the coronavirus not as a public health matter but rather as a security issue—a development that could undermine democracy in a region with a history of autocratic rule.

In both Jakarta and Manila, retired or senior army officers lead the governments’ COVID-19 task forces instead of health experts. The approach contrasts with those of other countries such as Singapore and Vietnam, which placed civilian leaders and health officials in leadership. Both countries were praised for extensive testing, policy coordination, and transparency, though they had mixed results: Vietnam hasn’t recorded a single COVID-19 death, while Singapore now has one of Asia’s highest infection rates. Meanwhile, Myanmar and Thailand also have army leaders in charge, but the military already significantly influences both administrations.

Click here to keep reading. Nyshka Chandran writes for Foreign Policy.