The agreement builds on a rapidly strengthening economic relationship, with potential benefits for the UAE’s diversification and Malaysia’s trade and investment.
Author Archives: blackbox
US Aid Cuts and Travel Ban Will Impact Laos
The US has reduced its overseas assistance to Laos significantly. At a time when other countries are following suit, Vientiane will be hard-pressed to find alternatives.
Trump’s Tariff Reversal: An Opportunity for Trade Realignment in Southeast Asia
As trade policy takes a volatile turn under the US leader, ASEAN can seize the moment to diversify global partnerships and assert a stronger voice in the international trade order.
From Resistance to Survival: Myanmar’s Free Press Battles US Aid Cuts
The repercussions of the US’ funding freeze on foreign assistance resonate deeply in Southeast Asia, including in one of the countries where press freedom and independent reportage are most threatened.
Xi’s Southeast Asia Tour: China Needs More Than a Charm Offensive
China has embarked on a charm offensive in Southeast Asia in the wake of the US’ “Liberation Day” tariffs. This is unlikely to allay concerns about its regional behaviour.
Will Trump Maintain the East Asian Power Balance?
Interpreting the US’ intentions for East and Southeast Asia, given the uncertainty unleashed by the present American leadership, is challenging but necessary. At stake is nothing less than the region’s strategic balance.
Vietnam Navigates Trump’s Trade Headwinds: Making Virtue Out of Necessity
Vietnam has been navigating the potential trade headwinds from the second Trump administration with pragmatism and opportunism, aligning with Trump’s transactional approach. The focus has been on fostering corporate partnerships, framing Vietnam-US economic ties as win-win instead of virtue-signalling on free trade.
Vietnam’s New Revolution: Will Provincial Mergers Bring Disruptions or Opportunities?
If all goes well, Vietnam’s bold administrative reform to trim its local and provincial bureaucracy and governments could unleash more power in the country’s socioeconomic engines and secure its leader’s legacy. Teething problems can be expected, nonetheless.
US Tariffs and ASEAN Food Security: Turning Short-Term Pain into Long-Term Gain
Southeast Asia could use this disruption in food trade to strengthen collaboration, reduce dependency, and create a truly integrated regional market.
China’s Open-Source Revolution in Generative AI: Policy and Business Implications for Southeast Asia
China has led the way in providing ‘open weight’ large language models (LLMs) such as DeepSeek-R1. This means that governments and companies in Southeast Asia can access them more easily and cheaply.