Thailand’s export trends suggest the economy faces structural problems, but the macro data do not capture the full picture. The country’s export challenges and opportunities, and policy responses, are more complex.
Author Archives: blackbox
Engaging Southeast Asia: The EU’s role as a Resilient and Reliable Middle Power?
The European Union (EU) is consistently seen in Southeast Asia as the preferred and trusted “third party” in hedging against the uncertainties of US-China rivalry and in its reputation for “doing the right thing” in the wider interests of the global community. But it needs to recognise the practical limitations Southeast Asian countries have in complying with its regulations and can do more to support capacity building programmes in the region.
NewJeansNim’s Controversial Popularity: New Progress in Buddhism?
A disc jockey performing chants clothed in Buddhist garb has stoked controversy in Singapore and Malaysia, highlighting the social and religious sensitivities in the two countries.
Election Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Lessons from Indonesia
Indonesia’s 2024 election showed the ways Artificial Intelligence can corrode the integrity of future elections. Countries should regulate AI-generated political content across the entire information supply chain and devise strategies for combating disinformation and manipulation.
Policies to Increase the Inclusiveness, Resilience and Sustainability of Economic Growth in Cambodia
To realise its aspirations to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, Cambodia has to pursue inclusive growth that is also sustainable and resilient.
The Pentagon’s Disinformation War: Undermining Health and Alliances in Southeast Asia
Recent revelations that the US’ Pentagon waged a disinformation campaign against Chinese COVID-19 vaccines in Southeast Asia should shake the region out of any naïve assumptions that the great powers would protect anyone else’s interests but their own as they fight for supremacy.
Southeast Asia’s Poor Showing at the Ukraine Peace Summit
The uneven responses of Southeast Asian nation-states to the recent summit in Switzerland on peace for Ukraine shows that other geopolitical preoccupations loom larger in the region.
How Singapore’s Cross-Border Power Trade Can Catalyse a Greener ASEAN Power Grid
Expanding power trade in ASEAN will be key to meeting the region’s climate action pledges. Singapore can lead by showing that renewables are increasingly affordable, reliable, and a good return on investment domestically — and when traded regionally.
The Suzhou Industrial Park: Singapore’s Evolving Role 30 Years On
Singapore continues to contribute to the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) by working with its Chinese counterparts to identify new areas of cooperation, helping Chinese companies go overseas to Singapore and facilitating Singapore-based companies to expand their businesses in China.
New Zealand’s Tilt Towards Southeast Asia: More than Rhetoric?
The new New Zealand government has grand plans to step up engagement with Southeast Asia. The question is whether the rhetoric will be matched by actual investments.