Congress and America’s Negative Turn Against China: Strategic Ballast
Robert Sutter
In recent years, the US Congress has played a major role in America’s unprecedented turn against China.
Articles
The United States’ “Mini” Shangri-La Dialogue: Stand and Deliver
William Choong
When Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, speaks at the 40th Fullerton Lecture in Singapore tonight, he will need to go beyond speaking about esoteric concepts such as the “rules-based international order” and promise that Washington will provide tangible deliverables in the form of pandemic assistance, economic growth and trade.
ASEAN and the Problem of Legitimacy
Sharon Seah
ASEAN needs to decide whether Myanmar’s State Administration Council has the legal capacity to engage in international relations that has direct impact on ASEAN’s own legal capacity as an inter-governmental organisation.
The Religious Challenges Behind Enforcing Emergency Covid-19 Restrictions
Syafiq Hasyim
Although the mainstream Muslim organisations had supported closing mosques during Indonesia’s current round of emergency Covid-19 restrictions, the government subsequently compromised. This is another indication of the growing influence of conservative Muslim voices on Muslim issues.
Indonesia Suspends Paid Vaccination Programme: Signs of Growing Political Pressure
Max Lane
In Indonesia, a paid vaccination programme bombed out in a span of days. Putting economics above health priorities had added to the negative political climate for the government.
Managing Moral Authority: Thai King’s Revived Devotion to Buddhism
Katewadee Kulabkaew
King Vajiralongkorn’s recent enthusiasm in religious matters could be a game-changer in Thailand’s cultural politics.
Indonesia’s Defence Procurement Strategy: Diversification but at What Cost?
Ian Storey
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has been on an accelerated drive to modernise the TNI. But there are significant drawbacks to his procurement strategy of diversification.
Unpacking China’s Merchandise Trade with ASEAN during the Global Pandemic
Xiaojun Li
While the global merchandise trade shrank by 5.3% as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN increased in the meantime by 6.7%, thanks not only to a steady increase in bilateral trade but also to the relative decline of trade between China with its other major trading partners.
Sandboxes Amidst a Rising Tide
Kevin S.Y. Tan|Kevin Zhang
Thailand’s so-called “sandbox” schemes to jumpstart the country’s tourism sector is laudable. But they might be achieved at a cost.
Revisit Two-Coalition System in Malaysia
Khoo Boo Teik
The recent jolts to Malaysia’s political landscape show that there is a strong basis for a return to a pluralistic and accountable two-coalition system.