Vietnam’s Geopolitical Anxiety Over Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal
Chansambath Bong
Vietnam’s concerns about a China-backed canal project in Cambodia are making some waves. Cambodia’s new leader has a chance to calm the waters.
Articles
A Tightening Noose Heightens Risks to Investors in Myanmar’s Economy
Romain Caillaud
The continued fallout of Operation 1027 and the military regime’s rollout of conscription raise the stakes for Myanmar’s ailing economy.
Possibilities in Malaysia’s Difficult Path to a Low-Carbon Economy
Vinod Thomas
Malaysia’s climate action commitments are vital, but difficult to achieve. A three-pronged approach opens possibilities to be a low-carbon economy.
Japan and Southeast Asia Set to Co-Create an Interwoven Future
Hoang Thi Ha|Pham Thi Phuong Thao
Japan’s decades of cultivating relations with Southeast Asia have not only strengthened their diplomatic and economic ties but also deepened interpersonal and societal interactions, ultimately shifting postwar animosity towards Japan into a prevailing positive sentiment today.
Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election in North Sumatra: The End of a Long-Established Religious Binarism?
Deasy Simandjuntak
In February’s presidential race, the use of religion as a motivator to get votes seemingly declined in North Sumatra. This shift echoed the national propensity to focus on pragmatism in politics, rather than piety.
Southeast Asia and the Chip Wars: Navigating a Decoupling World
John Lee
The race for some Southeast Asian countries to anchor themselves in the global semiconductor industry is open and evolving, even as it is complicated by factors like great power rivalry.
Malaysia Must Seize the Pivotal Developments in Myanmar
Saifuddin Abdullah
Malaysia’s former foreign minister outlines a possible roadmap for Malaysia as 2025 ASEAN Chair, Myanmar, and ASEAN to forge a realistic way out of the Myanmar crisis. There is a lot of work to be done. This article builds on the author's press statement of 9 April 2024.
Throwing Multiple Blows: “Eksil” (The Exiles) and Indonesia’s Fight against Political Taboo
Taufiq Hanafi
Mr Hanafi is responding to Max Lane’s Fulcrum, published on 18 March 2024, on the success of “Eksil”, the documentary about ten exiled Indonesians discussing Suharto’s purge of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the ensuing violence in the mid-1960s.
Bersatu’s Unending Crisis: No End in Sight
James Chai
Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu is going through a vulnerable period, with defections by members and leadership tussles.
The Case for Vietnam’s Mekong Energy Diplomacy
Phan Xuan Dung
Vietnam needs to complement water diplomacy with energy diplomacy to curb the unsustainable exploitation of the Mekong for hydropower. Hanoi should promote the development and cross-country trade of non-hydro renewables, especially wind and solar power.