China’s Global Security Initiative: Not About Picking Sides
Qian Yuming
China has sought to promote its Global Security Initiative in Southeast Asia by implementing tangible projects in regional countries.
Articles
Trump’s Tariff Deal With the Philippines: All Praise, Little Gain
JC Punongbayan|Aries A. Arugay
For all the praise that US President Trump lavished on his Philippine counterpart, Marcos Jr. had little to account for from his high-profile visit to the US.
Nusantara: Policy Continuity and Institutional Readiness in Indonesia’s Capital City Relocation
Yanuar Nugroho
Fulcrum editor Julia Lau talks to Dr Yanuar Nugroho about the progress of and myriad challenges facing Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara.
Trump’s Tariff Deals With Southeast Asia: It’s Complicated
Stephen Olson
Given current information available regarding the US’ tariff regime towards countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia, it is hard to assess which regional countries will come up tops in the ongoing saga.
Mining Row Exposes Ideological and Generational Split Within Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama
Ary Hermawan
Within Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), there is a deepening ideological and generational split over the elites’ decision to defend controversial mining activities.
Malaysia’s Push for the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit: Connecting Past and Present
Kuik Cheng-Chwee
Malaysia’s initiative to establish the ASEAN-GCC-China summit underscores a long-standing desire to connect past and present.
Rethinking GenAI Visuals in Government Communications
Brandon Tan Jun Wen
Governments are turning to generative AI to assist in public communications, sparking backlash from the public over the quality and intent of such visuals. A better approach would be to pair GenAI with human expertise.
Global Inequality and Digital Vulnerability: Unpacking Online Scams and Human Trafficking
Surachanee Sriyai
Online scams and digital-enabled human trafficking have escalated into complex transnational operations. An estimated 220,000 people were coerced into scam compounds in Cambodia and Myanmar in 2023 alone. A holistic, people-centred strategy is urgently needed. Solutions must include economic inclusion, social safety nets, digital literacy, and international cooperation to tackle root vulnerabilities.
The Missing Link in Philippine Infrastructure: Local Governments
Camille Bismonte
To realise its ambitions to build better infrastructure across the country, the Philippines needs to empower government units at the local level.
Will Vietnam’s Tariff Deal with the US Make Its Exports More Competitive?
Juthathip Jongwanich|Archanun Kohpaiboon
On the surface, it appears that Vietnam’s securing of lower tariffs from the US could make it more competitive than its regional rivals. A deeper examination shows that this might not be the case.