Notwithstanding an ongoing high-profile naval deployment, the UK cannot be considered a credible power in the Indo-Pacific as long as it tiptoes around the security challenges from China.
Author Archives: Isabelle Chua
How China Might Retaliate Against Southeast Asia’s US Trade Deals
Southeast Asia has more clarity on US tariffs and trade conditions, but China’s reaction looms on the horizon. The region’s position is particularly precarious because China wields substantial leverage across lending, investment, and trade.
Thai-Cambodian Crisis Has Given the Thai Military a Boost
The latest Thai-Cambodian border dispute has given the Thai military the upper hand as it pertains to civil-military relations.
Information as Ammunition: How the Thai-Cambodian Border Clash Became a Cyber War
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute has seen the use of information warfare on both sides.
Musa Aman Redux: Disquiet and Apathy in East Sabah
The return of Musa Aman to Sabah’s politics underscores the fact that, as time moves on, little has changed in the state’s political culture of patronage and corruption.
Vietnam Should Keep its Credit Caps and Carry on Structural Reforms
Vietnam’s rapid credit growth in the first half of 2025, and Prime Minister Chinh’s call to further open the floodgates, are concerning. The government must not gamble hard-earned stability for ephemeral monetary expansion.
The Thailand-Cambodia Border Crisis is ASEAN’s Moment of Truth
Inaction on the Thailand-Cambodia conflict undermines ASEAN’s raison d’être by the day. There is still time to salvage the situation.
China’s Global Security Initiative: Not About Picking Sides
China has sought to promote its Global Security Initiative in Southeast Asia by implementing tangible projects in regional countries.
Trump’s Tariff Deals With Southeast Asia: It’s Complicated
Given current information available regarding the US’ tariff regime towards countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia, it is hard to assess which regional countries will come up tops in the ongoing saga.
Mining Row Exposes Ideological and Generational Split Within Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama
Within Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), there is a deepening ideological and generational split over the elites’ decision to defend controversial mining activities.