Indonesia’s presidents keep trying to make food estates work but the scheme will fall short without engaging the true stakeholders and honestly assessing the project’s merits.
Author Archives: chahaewon
Trump’s Tariff Reversal: An Opportunity for Trade Realignment in Southeast Asia
As trade policy takes a volatile turn under the US leader, ASEAN can seize the moment to diversify global partnerships and assert a stronger voice in the international trade order.
Will Trump Maintain the East Asian Power Balance?
Interpreting the US’ intentions for East and Southeast Asia, given the uncertainty unleashed by the present American leadership, is challenging but necessary. At stake is nothing less than the region’s strategic balance.
Vietnam Navigates Trump’s Trade Headwinds: Making Virtue Out of Necessity
Vietnam has been navigating the potential trade headwinds from the second Trump administration with pragmatism and opportunism, aligning with Trump’s transactional approach. The focus has been on fostering corporate partnerships, framing Vietnam-US economic ties as win-win instead of virtue-signalling on free trade.
ASEAN’s Image Fades but Expectations Remain High
Southeast Asians welcome a strengthening of ASEAN’s political and economic influence, which has relatively declined in the past year. ASEAN must adapt and assert itself to restore confidence.
Myanmar’s Military Regime is Violating its International Economic Obligations
Myanmar’s violations of its international economic obligations contribute to inflation and increasingly impoverish the country’s population. They also threaten to diminish the impact of financial assistance for Myanmar’s recent earthquake.
Migrant Agriculture Workers: Potential Resource for Southeast Asia’s Food-resilient Future
Farm labourers returning from overseas can, if empowered, form a pool of experienced talent that Southeast Asia’s vulnerable agricultural sector can tap into for food security.
The Two-Term Limit on Prime Ministerial Tenures: Timely and Tantalising
PM Anwar Ibrahim supports a term limit on Malaysia’s premiership. Momentum for reform under his administration has been limited, and such a measure would rekindle support among the urban electorate. If Anwar spearheads the change, few may begrudge him a bid for a second term.
Autonomous Driving and Southeast Asia: Will it Hit the Road?
Chinese and American firms are seeking to export their autonomous driving technologies to Southeast Asia. The signal lesson is that their data-driven models require sensitivity and adaptation to the region’s diverse markets.
How Will Vietnam Deal With President Trump’s Shocking Tariffs?
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.