The lack of Western representation at the recent Belt and Road Forum has strengthened China’s resolve to push ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing is using the Forum as a vehicle to engage the developing world in a more concerted manner.
Author Archives: blackbox
China-U.S. High-Level Dialogues: A Welcome Uptick but a Long Road Ahead
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent meeting with U.S. President Joseph R. Biden in Washington indicates that high-level exchanges between the two powers are gaining momentum. But there is still a long way to go.
Indonesia’s EV Transformation: A Work in Progress
The Indonesian government is seeking to ramp up the adoption of electric vehicles on the country’s road. But several challenges remain.
Diversifying from Rice to Alternative Crops in Southeast Asia
It will be a tall order to effectively switch from rice to substitute grains but Southeast Asia owes it to its future generations to build up food security and crop resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Thailand’s Exposure to Northeast Asia’s Slowdowns
World events have not been kind to Thailand’s economic plans. Besides high oil prices and U.S. interest rates, Thailand faces prolonged slowdowns in its Northeast Asian economic partners. The challenges and opportunities are many, and ultimately hinge on stable democratic leadership.
Thailand’s Marooned Submarine Deal: Some Questions Need Answers
Thailand’s long-drawn saga to acquire Chinese-built submarines is dead in the water. The kingdom’s newly-appointed defence minister should be asking the Royal Thai Navy some serious questions.
The Digital Transformation of Indonesia’s Banking Sector: Current Trends and Future Prospects
This Long Read examines the trends and developments in the digital transformation of Indonesia’s banking landscape. These look set to benefit a large swathe of Indonesia’s 270 million population which remains unbanked and underbanked.
The Challenge for PAS: Going Mainstream
The recent annual general assembly by Parti Islam SeMalaysia was relatively uneventful, with key leaders including Abdul Hadi Awang retaining their positions. If the party is eyeing federal power in Putrajaya, however, it would need to prove its governance credentials.
Nguyen Phu Trong’s ‘Bamboo Diplomacy’: Legacy in the Making?
Vietnam’s General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is actively promoting “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy” as his foreign policy legacy. The concept is not altogether new but it has been riding upon Trong’s political ascendency and Vietnam’s geopolitical fortunes.
The President and His Political Party: An Impending Collision
There is a widening rift between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle which endorsed his candidacy in the country’s two previous presidential elections.