Myanmar Coup Makers’ Major Challenge is a Failing Economy
Wai Moe
Myanmar’s economy has suffered considerably since the February 2021 coup and the prospects of recovery are dwindling given the ham-handed economic mismanagement of the ruling regime.
Articles
China Dream Keeps Southeast Asia Awake at Night
David Arase
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan highlights his bid to advance his vision of the China Dream. This, however, will require changes in the global balance of power that Southeast Asian countries will find hard to manage.
After 40 Years, UNCLOS Remains Significant to Vietnam
Thu Nguyen Hoang Anh
UNCLOS’s relevance to Vietnam is significant, but the Convention must be updated if Vietnam and other signatories are to succeed in dealing with contemporary challenges in maritime affairs.
ACT’s Scandal Damages Islamic Philanthropy in Indonesia
Syafiq Hasyim
Recent scandal involving one of the largest Islamic charities in Indonesia threatens to damage public trust if the authorities waste the chance to overhaul the poorly regulated sector.
When Environmental Sustainability Masks Unsustainable Employment
Joe Buckley
The drive by food delivery platforms to achieve environmental sustainability through the reduction of plastic use belies the fact that these firms do little to create sustainable employment.
Chinese ‘Debt Traps’ in Southeast Asia: What the Data Say
Darren Cheong
This Long Read argues that while the terms of China’s aid and loans to Southeast Asian countries are less favourable compared to those of the World Bank, the weight of the evidence does not lend credence to the existence of a Chinese “debt trap” strategy in the region.
Putting Up a Front: How Indonesians Feel about Jokowi’s Climate Agenda
Aninda Dewayanti
Indonesians’ responses to the Southeast Asia Climate Change Outlook Survey 2022 show mixed feelings about Jakarta’s ability to push for real green transformation, but a chance exists for change to take root.
Politicised Islam Frays the Fabric of Keluarga Malaysia
Mohd Faizal Musa
Ismail Sabri’s vision for Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) tries to paint the picture of an administration that is more inclusive than its predecessors, or that it is departing from Islam-centric policies. However, upon closer inspection his rhetoric rings hollow.
Environmental and Labour Standards in IPEF: Tough Pill to Swallow for Southeast Asia
Darren Cheong
The U.S. must ensure that it finds the right leverage within its IPEF scheme to make up for its lack of trade benefits or risk turning off prospective participants.
Myanmar and Russia: Vladivostok Meeting Signals a Tighter Embrace
Ian Storey
Russia and Myanmar have been broadening bilateral cooperation in the face of global condemnation.