Legal changes have not meaningfully changed long-standing attitudes towards the corporal punishment of school children in Thailand, even among those who teach them.
Author Archives: chahaewon
Danantara’s Patriot Bond and the Unchanged Role of Chinese-Indonesian Conglomerates
The Patriot Bond issued by Danantara shows that Indonesia’s economic nationalism under Prabowo is a repackaging of long-standing state–business ties using new financial instruments. The dominance of Chinese Indonesian conglomerates among Patriot Bond subscribers highlights their enduring role in Indonesia’s political economy.
The Economic Fallout from the Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict
The Thai-Cambodian conflict has exacerbated economic losses on both sides.
Piloting Pragmatism: Vietnam’s Aircraft Diplomacy through the COMAC Deal
Vietnam’s tilt towards the use of Chinese-made COMAC aircraft represents more a calculated experiment than a strategic pivot.
The Philippines’ Engagement with Japan: A Steady and Deepening Strategic Partnership
As the Philippines faces a more complex strategic environment, security cooperation with like-minded countries is critical. This Long Read examines the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, particularly under the Marcos Jr administration.
Indonesia’s ‘In-Between’ Foreign Policy
Indonesia has sound reasons for consistently staking out a diplomatic middle ground, but not taking sides on all issues could leave no one impressed.
Sarawak’s Delineation: A Test for the Election Commission’s Credibility
Leveraging its growing political clout, Sarawak is pushing for a re-delineation of state seats. This could result in boundary changes to federal parliamentary seats and alter the balance of power.
Media Literacy in Malaysia: A Vital Reliance on Network Confirmation
This Long Read reports findings from a study investigating how Malaysians practise media literacy in a fast-moving and often untrustworthy media landscape. A key finding is that respondents with busy schedules who still want to verify the information they come across, turn to leveraging trusted social networks.
The Energy Crisis is Hitting Myanmar Hard
Rising fuel, fertiliser and logistics prices are squeezing the Myanmar economy — a dire state compounded by conflict and political risks.
When War Hits the Poor Hardest: What Needs to be Done
The poor in Southeast Asia are bearing the brunt of the economic impacts from the war in the Middle East. Governments will need to refocus priorities to limit harm.