Articles

2 Aug 2019

Anwar’s “Needs-Based Affirmative Action” Has Noble Intentions but Flawed Perspectives

Lee Hwok-Aun

The system-wide change to needs-based policies proposed by Anwar is lacking in details and rooted in nebulous rhetoric, making them likely to fail. Reforms should be pursued sector by sector, and thought through systematically in order to succeed.

22 Jul 2019

Stand-off at Vanguard Bank: A Test of Vietnam – China Relations

Ha Hoang Hop|Lye Liang Fook

China's increasingly aggressive and threatening actions off Vietnam's coast has been testing the bilateral relationship between the two countries. While both Beijing and Hanoi have expressed their desire to maintain good relations, the situation is only one accidental collision away from escalation.

China China-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

28 Jun 2019

Revised Title ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’ Hints at Ambivalence

Hoang Thi Ha|Glenn Ong

A shift in semantics in ASEAN's official response to new and emerging Indo-Pacific concepts shows that the grouping has yet to fully internalise the region as part of its strategic culture.

ASEAN Indo-Pacfic

25 Jun 2019

ASEAN, Myanmar, and the Rohingya Issue

Moe Thuzar

Marred by criticisms of being too lenient or too slow, ASEAN's ability to credibly engage Myanmar on the Rohingya issue was discussed at length during the 34th ASEAN Summit. Unfortunately, this decades-long problem is one that needs time and patience to resolve in a meaningful and lasting manner.

ASEAN Myanmar Politics Rohingya

3 Jun 2019

Women MPs in the 2019 Thai Parliament

Punchada Sirivunnabood

Thailand scores well when it comes to female leadership in the corporate realm, but this is not replicated in the political realm. While female representation is still low in Thai politics, it has been improving with every election - a promising sign of progress.

Thai Politics Thailand

27 May 2019

Vietnam Extends Anti-corruption Drive Ahead of CPV Congress

Le Hong Hiep

Characterised by its slow but sure approach, Vietnam's anti-corruption campaign has led to the prosecution of an unprecedented number of high-ranking officials. The campaign is set to intensify in the coming years leading up to the Party's 13th national congress in 2021.

Corruption Vietnam Vietnamese Politics

16 May 2019

Singapore is Currently the Biggest Foreign Investor in Myanmar

Su-Ann Oh

In the past five years, Singapore has overtaken China as the largest investor in Myanmar. While Myanmar stands to benefit from this, it will need to maintain legal, regulatory and political stability in order to maintain Singapore's enthusiasm for investing in the country.

FDI Myanmar Myanmar-Singapore

2 May 2019

Why does Vietnam Shy Away from Huawei’s 5G Technologies?

Le Hong Hiep

The absence of Huawei from Vietnam's 5G mobile network rollout is rooted in three key reasons: cybersecurity concerns over Chinese equipment, a desire to develop its own high tech industries, and the need to strengthen the country's security and defence ties with the United States.

China U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

22 Mar 2019

Coalition Scenarios in Thailand after the Polls

Termsak Chalermpalanupap

None of three strongest parties will be able to win a majority of the seats in the coming elections. In the end, a coalition of parties will be needed for these parties to gather the votes necessary to appoint their preferred Prime Minister candidate.

Thai Politics Thailand

20 Mar 2019

Thailand’s 2019 Elections: Regime Change or Prolonging Junta Rule?

Prajak Kongkirati

Coming 5 years after the military coup that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's 2019 elections will likely mark the start of a new round of struggles to set the terms of a political order that is still in flux .

Thai Politics Thailand