Cambodia’s Crackdown on Scams Needs a Concrete and Durable Strategy
Chheang Vannarith
Cambodia has stepped up efforts to eradicate scam operations. The key challenge is overcoming structural impediments.
Articles
Neutrality by Sector: Malaysia’s Geoeconomic Alignment under Anwar
Amalina Anuar
Malaysia is trying to preserve neutrality between the US and China, but that space is narrowing as rivalry intensifies in trade, technology, and security. This Long Read argues that neutrality should not be judged only by aggregate trade and investment flows, because sector-level dependencies reveal hidden alignments that reduce real policy freedom.
Fast-Tracking “National Rise”: How Vietnam Is Learning from China
Hoang Thi Ha|Pham Thi Phuong Thao
Despite a history of distrust, Vietnam is increasingly drawing lessons from China’s experience of a strong state driving economic transformation.
The US-China AI Chip War: Southeast Asia’s Compliance Dilemma
Gerald Mako
Southeast Asian countries face two dilemmas in the Sino-US AI chip war: aligning their technology stacks with either of the great powers and preventing the illegal diversion of restricted chips.
Singapore’s Trade Agreements Show How Small States Shape Global Legal Norms
Tristan Eng
From digital trade to essential supply chains, Singapore’s recent plurilateral trade agreements are reshaping how states sustain trade cooperation and build resilience within a rules-based order.
Thailand’s Blue Regime: Giving No Quarter?
Duncan McCargo
The ruling Bhumjaithai Party has de facto control over most senators in the Upper House and cemented its dominance of both houses of Parliament.
The 2026 Johor Election: Advantage Barisan Nasional?
Francis E. Hutchinson
Barisan Nasional has had the audacity to call state polls in Johor a year early. While it enjoys some wind in its sails, BN’s electoral gambit engenders some degree of risk.
Did GE2022 Change Malaysia for Good?
Howard Lee|Nuurrianti Jalli|Shahril Hamdan|Danesh Chacko
Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun unpacks Malaysia’s previous general election – and the next one – with four contributors of the just-published book Malaysia’s 2022 General Election: Crafting Power in a Crowded Arena: Howard Lee, Nuurrianti Jalli, Shahril Hamdan, and Danesh Chacko.
Is Thailand’s Latest Co-Payment Scheme Justifiable?
Archanun Kohpaiboon
Thailand’s new co-payment scheme seeks to help Thais buffeted by the impacts of the crisis in the Middle East. But the reach of the scheme might be too broad.
Türkiye and ASEAN: Turning a Side Story into a Strategy
Mehmet Enes Beşer
In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, Mehmet Enes Beşer argues that Türkiye and ASEAN should move beyond purely trade-based engagements towards a strategic economic partnership, with deeper cooperation in supply chains, energy, the digital economy, industry and the halal sector.