China and ASEAN had a fairly successful meeting in Chongqing recently. But the conclusion that Beijing has orchestrated a win over Washington in Southeast Asia is premature.
Author Archives: blackbox
ASEAN’s Climate Cooperation with China and the US: Challenges and Prospects
The US is back in the international climate cooperation game, but it has a lot to catch up on to make up for the last four years when it chose not to play.
The Other Face of PAS: Eschewing Narrow Sectarianism for Global Revivalism
PAS, under the leadership of Hadi Awang, has championed Sunni-Shi’a conciliation. But it is highly uncertain whether this will remain true under the younger generation of PAS leaders.
Thailand’s Third Pandemic Wave: Felled by Infighting
As the kingdom grapples with a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the political parties in the ruling coalition appear to be focused more on gaining political mileage than fighting the virus.
Malaysia’s Long Overdue Defence Reforms: Jettisoning the Age of Innocence
The age of innocence that has dominated Malaysia’s attitude towards defence matters in the past three decades needs to be jettisoned. Given mounting threats in its external environment, Malaysia needs to accelerate defence reforms centred on the concept of jointness across multiple domains.
Political Parties’ Manoeuvring after the Jokowi-Prabowo Rapprochement
The rapprochement of Jokowi and Prabowo has resulted in the unusual absence of a polarising rivalry among the main political parties. Nor have there been fundamental differences among parties over major policy questions. Instead, their manoeuvres have been concerned with positioning their choice of presidential candidates for the 2024 elections.
Challenges Facing Vietnam’s Covid-19 Vaccination Drive
Vietnam is accelerating efforts to secure adequate vaccine supplies amidst a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in the country.
Scholarly or Trendy? The Declining Influence of Malaysian Muftis and the Emergence of Popular Preachers
The growing popularity of media savvy celebrity preachers – not all of whom are theologically well-trained – could erode the quality of Islamic discourse in the longer term.
Muslim Leaders and Preachers Fighting Vaccine Hesitancy: A Shot in the Arm
As Malaysia battles a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslim leaders and preachers have been instrumental in fighting vaccine hesitancy among their followers.
Chinese Aircraft Approaching! An Opportunity for Malaysian Airpower
Malaysia’s airpower capabilities may not be enough to respond to stepped-up Chinese activities above Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.