How Will Vietnam Deal With President Trump’s Shocking Tariffs?
Le Hong Hiep
Faced with 46 per cent US tariffs, Vietnam is unlikely to retaliate in kind. It is likely that Hanoi would avoid confrontation and lean on diplomacy instead.
Articles
Trump’s ‘Liberation’ Day Unlikely to End Well for Southeast Asia — or Anyone
Stephen Olson
Trump’s “Liberation” day tariffs will hit Southeast Asia hard. Countries can hold firm and adopt appropriate countermeasures, or cut “deals” in order to reduce or eliminate the tariffs. Neither option bodes well.
The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025
Betting on the Bulldozer: Why (Most of) Southeast Asia is Warming Up to Trump 2.0
Joanne Lin|William Choong
The US president’s tough leadership, reputation as a dealmaker and expectation that he may pay more attention to the region seems to be winning over ASEAN countries.
The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025
Singapore is Not Buying into Trump 2.0
Joanne Lin
This commentary draws on the perspectives of 242 respondents from Singapore who participated in the State of Southeast Asia 2025 Survey.
The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025
Taking Southeast Asia’s Pulse on Geopolitics
Sharon Seah
Some Southeast Asians appear to have warmed to Trump. This could be based on the assessment that his policies might not harm the region as much.
Humanitarian Aid in Myanmar’s Polycrisis: Navigating Disaster Amid Conflict
Surachanee Sriyai|Moe Thuzar
Rendering immediate aid to Myanmar’s earthquake victims should be a straightforward exercise. However, four years of civil conflict and the potential for politicisation by the ruling junta of humanitarian assistance efforts should put all donors and parties on notice.
Malaysia’s DAP in the Post-Lim Era: Fighting Demographic Realities
Adib Zalkapli
Malaysia’s Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party has made inroads as a multi-racial political party. But demographic and political realities will conscribe progress.
ASEAN Food Security: Climate Adaptation as Urgent as Mitigation
Paul Teng|Elyssa Kaur Ludher
To ensure Southeast Asia’s food security, mitigation or the reduction of emissions only constitutes part of the solution. Adaptation is just as important.
How the ‘Deal to Sell Out the Country’ Paved the Way for Thaksin’s Return as Thailand’s Biggest Red Herring
Napon Jatusripitak
Unsurprisingly, Thai premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence motion in parliament. But the debate over the motion obscured deeper political dilemmas that will continue to bedevil the country.
Batam Struggles to Up the Ante as Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Rises
Francis E. Hutchinson
The JS-SEZ poses deep questions for nearby Batam as its competitive advantage hinges on proximity to Singapore, ready land and labour, and generous incentives for investors — just like Johor. Batam is also hampered by connectivity, jurisdiction, and land procurement woes.