ASEAN plans for a digital vaccine passport will likely fall flat without institutional adjustment, while sub-regional alternatives could hurt ASEAN unity.
Author Archives: blackbox
Facing the Ire of 1.4 Billion Chinese Consumers: Cottoning on to Supply Chain Risks
Chinese consumers’ boycott of Western fashion brands for their position on cotton sourced from Xinjiang is a sequel to a long-running series of actions against foreign companies. Southeast Asian firms should take note, and act accordingly.
International Law Matters in the South China Sea
China is trying to rewrite international law in the South China Sea.
Myanmar’s Armed Groups and the Military Coup: Involvement or Not?
Despite calls for them to get involved in a wider resistance against the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups are not casting their lots in yet. They have ample reasons for not doing so.
Covid-19 and ASEAN: Facilitating Trade in Perishable Goods
Fulfilling their WTO obligations will expedite perishable goods trade among ASEAN member states.
Jokowi Speaks Out on Myanmar
In response to Myanmar’s coup, the Jokowi administration is reverting to Indonesia’s traditional leadership role in ASEAN.
UMNO Unites While Bersatu Prevaricates
UMNO’s bid to rally the party ranks at its recent general assembly belies deeper problems ahead of the next general election.
The Philippines’ Vexed Vaccine Rollout
The Philippines’ battle against the Covid-19 pandemic is plagued by supply and demand-side problems
Vietnam’s Frontrunner for Prime Minister: Bold Leader With Bold Plans
Pham Minh Chinh is the surprise frontrunner to be Vietnam’s next prime minister. He has big shoes to fill.
The Allah Controversy in Malaysia: More Than Semantics
The recent High Court ruling permitting the use of four previously-prohibited words in non-Muslim publications is more than a contention about semantics. It concerns the issue of religious rights versus the preserving the exclusivity of Malay-Muslims.