The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Australia sends a strong signal of Australia’s commitment to ASEAN and support for the grouping’s central role in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is focused on working with ASEAN to deliver substance under the CSP, including through a new ‘Australia for ASEAN’ package of scholarships, joint projects and a digital transformation and future skills initiative.
Author Archives: blackbox
Sexism in the 2022 Philippine Elections: A Problem with No Name
Vice President Leni Robredo and Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, are running for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, respectively. Though both are under different tickets, their candidacies underscore the complex journey of women in Philippine politics.
Al-Najah’s Arrest: Time for MUI to Come Clean
A member of the Council of Ulama Indonesia (MUI) was arrested recently for his involvement in Jemaah Islamiah. MUI should make amends by explaining how such an association came about, and effect a more rigorous recruitment regime.
Indonesia and China’s Maritime Grey Zone Strategy: In Denial
China has subjected Indonesia to maritime grey zone tactics in the South China Sea, much like how Beijing treats disputant states in the South China Sea. While Jakarta is technically not a disputant state, it is in denial about Beijing’s increasingly assertive actions.
State Administration Council vs Aung San Suu Kyi: Who Really Wins?
The State Administration Council’s attempts to render Aung San Suu Kyi politically irrelevant might well have an obverse effect.
Russia’s Maritime Exercise With ASEAN: Punching Below Its Weight
The recent ASEAN-Russia Naval Exercise served up a rich dose of symbolism and a signal of Moscow’s resolve to up its profile in the region. The fact remains that Russia’s presence in Southeast Asia should not be exaggerated.
Myanmar: Recognition is the Name of the Game
Myanmar’s State Administration Council and the National Unity Government are battling to win international recognition. Which party triumphs in the end depends on both external factors and internal dynamics.
The ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership What’s in a Name
ASEAN’s decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with both China and Australia demonstrates its desire to maintain equilibrium in its relations with all major powers and foster an inclusive multi-polar regional order.
The USS Connecticut Incident: Silent Service, Turbulent Clash?
A recent incident involving a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine underscores the danger of an increasingly congested underwater environment in the South China Sea.
Growing Shariatisation in Indonesia: The Ulama Council of Indonesia (MUI) Moment?
The Ulama Council of Indonesia (MUI) has evolved from a state “lackey” to an organisation with significant influence. With the shariatisation project becoming more mainstream in Indonesia today, this could be MUI’s biggest window of opportunity to further assert its influence.