Or will a region that fears innovation inevitably fall behind?

This was seen as a way to mollify smaller Asian nations that fear China' s power and its influence on the U.S.

Some people said they were struggling to balance their concern over the virus with what they saw as media exaggeration of the threat.

Yet profound suspicion of China in Myanmar, which dates back to before independence from the British in 1948, has not changed despite Beijing's overt support in the past 20 years or so.

India's government is facing elections next year, and Pakistan's civilian regime must be mindful of its country's powerful Army.