What Southeast Asia Should Expect from Trump in 2026
Derek Grossman
Trump chalked up some notable wins in Southeast Asia in 2025. But doubts remain over his approach to the region, given his reciprocal tariffs and trademark unpredictability.
Articles
Changing Diets Amid a Changing Climate
Paul Teng
Much attention has been paid to switching from meat-based diets to plant-based ones. Less attention has been paid to the effects of climate change on the quality and quantity of plant foods.
2025 Top10
Thailand Pays the Price for Unregulated Mining Boom
Eugene Mark|Kyi Sin
China is dependent on rare earth supply from parts of Myanmar which have unregulated mining that generates toxic waste. Neighbours like Thailand need to work with China and the US to address the problem.
2025 Top 10
Why Students from China Are Picking Malaysia over Traditional Destinations
Koh Sin Yee
Mainland Chinese student numbers in Malaysian universities have surged recently, driven by affordability, proximity, and cultural familiarity, as well as restrictions in traditional study destinations such as the US.
2025 Top 10
After Langkasuka Project Failure, Sanusi Takes Another Punt at Penang
Amrita Malhi
Kedah’s Chief Minister Sanusi Nor has sought to blame his state’s current financial woes on historical wrongs that need to be righted. But he has other motivations too.
2025 Top 10
Understanding Bobby Saputra, Indonesia’s ‘Professional Son’
Brandon Tan Jun Wen
Bobby’s satirical skewering of nepotism and corruption strongly appeals to Southeast Asians, who share disillusionment and a desire to laugh at a system seen as unfair and ineffective.
2025 Top 10
Artificial Intelligence is Intensifying South China Sea Disputes in the Philippines
Nuurrianti Jalli|Angel Martinez
AI-generated propaganda is being used to distort reality and disinform the public, even gathering support for military escalation in already troubled waters.
2025 Top 10
Johor’s Data Centres: Implications for the Talent Landscape
Sara Loo
Despite Johor’s data centre boom, there are concerns about the number and quality of jobs they can generate. But demand is rising for skilled workers in ancillary industries, notably construction.
2025 Top 10
The Divorce Debate in the Philippines: Why Not a People’s Referendum?
Dennis Blanco
Divorce elicits a multitude of opinions in the devoutly Catholic nation, both supporting and opposing it. Only a definitive public consensus can help resolve the issue.
2025 Top 10
Anutin’s Rise and the People’s Party’s Test
Eugene Mark
By supporting the Bhumjaithai minority government, the People’s Party has embarked on a political gambit: working with the party’s erstwhile enemy in exchange for some degree of reform in the medium term.