June 07, 2020
By Aye Thandar Soe (MOFA)
The COVID19 pandemic has brought about a turning point in the history of diplomacy and international relations. It has caused changes in people’s behaviour and the nature of their mode of communication and engagement. Around the world, it has also become savvier in the use of the internet and technology as leverage for better engagement. The impact of COVID-19 has the tendency to shift the core interests and aspects of the Foreign Service staff as well as the leaders across the globe on diplomacy and international relations. In light of this, the genesis of the concept of the “New Normal” surfaces. How do we come back to our normal daily lives in a new trend in post COVID19? How well can people adapt to this new change? Will they be able to adjust their normal daily lives to the ‘New Normal’ after COVID19? These are the questions we all need to ponder.
The situation is still volatile and it is beyond our reach to predict when this pandemic is going to an end. New confirmed cases are still growing in some countries. Borders and cities are in lockdown, airlines are suspended and people are following ‘stay at home’ order. Nonetheless, the flow of engagement and cooperation between and among the countries is neither stopped nor significantly disrupted.
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 forces people to refrain from travelling, impossible for physical interaction and in-person meetings and to follow stay at home order, pragmatic ways-out and sensible solutions are being designed by the various organizations including the United Nations and the ASEAN in order to have constructive and informative engagement between and among the world leaders by means of virtual meetings, taking into the advantage of the present-day technology amidst the crisis of pandemic.
This clearly demonstrates the willingness and efforts of the States to uphold the bilateral, regional, international and global responsibilities and to support each other, individually or multilaterally, in times of crisis.
E-diplomacy was introduced to the people in 1992 where the civil society activists used e-mails and mailing lists for the purpose to lobby and for negotiation. Following this, the diplomatic services and international organizations included in the e-diplomacy the use of websites to reach out to the people across the world in a time with the necessary information.
At present, the nature and dynamic of diplomacy and international relations is shifting to a new trend. Thousands of online meetings are happening in teleconferencing rooms, webinars, zoom, skype or other internet platforms on a daily basis.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed about the “Cloud Diplomacy” (during the press conference on China’s Foreign Policy and Foreign Relations on the sidelines of the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 24 May 2020). Wang Yi stated that China’s diplomacy has not paused for a moment despite COVID-19, instead embarked on “Cloud Diplomacy”. Wang Yi refers to “Cloud Diplomacy” as the forms of phone calls, exchanges of correspondence and video conferences for engagement purpose.
The expression of Wang Yi is supported by the fact that a range of virtual meetings has been successfully held globally and the engagement and diplomacy have remained connected – the G20 leaders met on 26 March 2020 through teleconference to discuss the situation of COVID19 and its impact on the global economy. It was the first virtual summit in the history of G20. Even the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conducted the virtual meeting for the first time on 30 March 2020 to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Likewise, ASEAN also convened a series of Summit meetings, Foreign Ministers’ meetings, SOM meetings and Working Group meetings within the member states and with its Dialogue Partners. EU, IMF, World Bank and other regional and international organizations also adopted the same modus operandi.
Against this backdrop, are we in the position to say that we have already entered into the era of so-called “New Normal”? The answer is probably ‘Yes’ to some extent. People are trying to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic and to accomplish their routines in new ways by leveraging on the advancement of technology. This is how people are getting back to their normal lives in a new trend – what people alternatively call ‘The New Lifestyle’.
As mentioned earlier, the world leaders are now exercising new practices in diplomacy and the advance in technology is the key components of this new landscape. Without making a State visit, the leaders can now meet and discuss the matters of mutual concern or benefit over telephone conversations or video conferences. Surprisingly, we have even witnessed that some countries have signed the MoU(s) and bolstered their diplomatic relationship during the time the COVID19 pandemic hindered face to face meets. To give an example, the Singapore and Australian leaders held a virtual bilateral meeting on 23 March 2020 and during that virtual meeting, the two countries signed a treaty on military training and two MoUs on Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation. It is a good sign that countries are strengthening their relationship and enhancing their cooperation despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. Developing countries can also learn how countries across the world are strengthening and deepening their relationships through new model diplomacy being conceptualized as a result of the challenges created by the COVID19 pandemic. Although they cannot meet in a place or sit at the same table to discuss, the diplomatic relationship is maintained and moving forward. The key element, as stated earlier, is the technology which bridges and keeping them connected despite the vast distance between countries. On top of that, they are also exercising flexibility to adapt to the new environment in a timely fashion instead of wasting their time for the old factions of communication to come back.
In the domestic front, the behaviours of public engagement and management of the governments are also changing. Let’s take Myanmar as a case study. In comparison to the past, people from the government sectors become relatively aware of the advantages of technology and adaptable to the Internet of Things (IoT). They are now familiar with the use of internet Apps, especially in the fight against the COVID19. Engagement among the central government, local governments and communities get improved through video conferences, Apps and social media. People are also participating in the process of government efforts. Sometimes, instructions from the central government go directly to the state and regional governments through those virtual interactions, if needed and upon circumstances, which could lead to quick and necessary actions. Such kinds of behavioural changes can be considered to be feasible, effective, practical and realistic to a large extent. Furthermore, it is a definite cost and time effective. The most important thing to bear in mind is that this is just the beginning of transitioning into a new trend and it does not seem to stop any time soon. It is likely to go on beyond the COVID19 pandemic. Therefore, we need to be prepared to be more flexible and adaptable to those behavioural transitions in our New Normal or New Life Style so as not to be left behind.
Nonetheless, security concerns should not be compromised in any way and under any circumstances. In the New Normal, it is paramount important for the foreign services and ministries to ensure the security and confidentiality when they are using internet platforms since some internet platforms are weak and not up to the standard in security protocol against possible hacking. Therefore, the traditional diplomacy of meeting in person with proper social distancing for some highly confidential and sensitive matters must remain as a preference even in the critical moment of the pandemic.
Echoing what the Foreign Minister Wang said, diplomacy should not pause even for a moment despite the challenges of COVID19. “Cloud Diplomacy” is the new model which many countries are putting in place as an emerging trend. We are just in a new chapter which demands new and innovative ways. To enhance the competency of our diplomats and Foreign Service personnel, up-skilling and reskilling are definitely required. It is needless to say and an obligatory requirement that all foreign service staff must have the ability to understand and uphold the degree of confidentiality. With the emergence of new trends in diplomacy and international relations, cybersecurity is also a companion that automatically comes together with the newborn diplomacy in the digital age. When the time in which the diplomats and leaders of the countries are embracing the new emerging trends, the security awareness should not be compromised but rather upgraded to a higher level.
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