How Social Media Fuelled Dedi Mulyadi’s Rise and Prospects for Indonesia’s 2029 Elections
Burhanuddin Muhtadi
While it is early days yet, might West Java’s highly popular new governor feature in Indonesia’s next presidential race?
Articles
The Elusive Code: Why ASEAN Needs a New Playbook for the South China Sea
Joanne Lin|Pou Sothirak
The Code of Conduct (COC) negotiations between ASEAN and China have reached an impasse, hindered by legal ambiguities, strategic divergences, and ASEAN’s internal divisions. ASEAN must move away from a binary approach that equates success with legal binds, and instead explore more pragmatic alternatives.
The Vietnam War and US Security Policy on the Asia-Pacific
Daljit Singh
The region’s security architecture is evolving in the wake of the Trump Administration’s pressure tactics on US allies and partners. An articulation of doctrine would be helpful but may not be forthcoming.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s 80th Birthday: In the Shadow of Repression
Surachanee Sriyai
A recent online campaign for Aung San Suu Kyi has underscored the junta’s long arm of the law — via digital repression.
Rethinking Thailand’s University Admissions System
Panarat Anamwathana
Thailand’s university admissions system needs a proper fix.
Vietnam’s Nuclear Power Revival: Ambition or Overreach?
Nguyen Khac Giang
Vietnam’s renewed ambition of developing nuclear power plants to fuel its industrialisation drive and meet its climate obligations faces several obstacles, including an unrealistic timeline and financial challenges.
Bridging ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council: Why People-to-People Connectivity Matters
Melinda Martinus
Cooperation between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council should be seen not only from the lens of trade investments, but also people-to-people connections.
Thorny Issue: The Durian Economy and Land Tussle in Pahang
Wong Sook Wei
There has been an ongoing dispute between the Pahang state government and farmers cultivating durians on encroached state land. With a new player in the fray, however, the dispute looks closer to a settlement.
Malaysia’s Metadata Controversy: Surveillance in the Guise of Statistics
Nuurrianti Jalli
The Malaysian government's directive to collect mobile phone metadata from telecom providers has sparked much unease. It should implement stronger safeguards to demonstrate accountability.
Roundtable on the Future of Global Trade
Jayant Menon|Priyanka Kishore|Alex Capri|Julia Tijaja|Runchana Pongsaparn|Nick Marro
On 2 April 2025, the Trump 2.0 administration announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs aimed at eliminating the US trade deficit with individual countries – in a move hailed by US President Donald Trump as “Liberation Day”. Southeast Asian countries have not been spared, with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar among the hardest hit. Some countries, including China, have responded with retaliatory measures, raising the risk of further escalation from the US. While a temporary 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs offers a brief respite, this period is set to expire in early July.