From Exporting Workers to Importing Them: Vietnam’s New Labour Reality
Le Hong Hiep
Vietnam is transitioning from being a source of labour exports to an economy that imports unskilled foreign workers. This is becoming a long-term trend.
Articles
Prabowo’s Nutrition Agency Shake-Up Reveals Deeper Structural Problems
Made Supriatma
Rent-seeking plagues Indonesia’s politically charged free nutritious meals, but there is no clear way forward.
Should Southeast Asia Fear the Second China Shock?
Roland Rajah
The second China shock fundamentally differs from the first. Southeast Asia should strategically optimise the growth of capital imports and investment from China.
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.
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.