The 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea has subtly shifted claimant states’ practices, a decade on.
Author Archives: blackbox
To Lam’s Visit to China: Charting a ‘New Era’ in Sino-Vietnam Ties
To Lam’s recent visit to China helps Vietnam to realise its national ambitions. Hanoi is mindful of the risks of such an engagement, which will need to be managed carefully.
Corporal Punishment in Thai Schools
Legal changes have not meaningfully changed long-standing attitudes towards the corporal punishment of school children in Thailand, even among those who teach them.
Danantara’s Patriot Bond and the Unchanged Role of Chinese-Indonesian Conglomerates
The Patriot Bond issued by Danantara shows that Indonesia’s economic nationalism under Prabowo is a repackaging of long-standing state–business ties using new financial instruments. The dominance of Chinese Indonesian conglomerates among Patriot Bond subscribers highlights their enduring role in Indonesia’s political economy.
The Economic Fallout from the Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict
The Thai-Cambodian conflict has exacerbated economic losses on both sides.
Piloting Pragmatism: Vietnam’s Aircraft Diplomacy through the COMAC Deal
Vietnam’s tilt towards the use of Chinese-made COMAC aircraft represents more a calculated experiment than a strategic pivot.
The Philippines’ Engagement with Japan: A Steady and Deepening Strategic Partnership
As the Philippines faces a more complex strategic environment, security cooperation with like-minded countries is critical. This Long Read examines the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, particularly under the Marcos Jr administration.
Malaysia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Tariffs: Calm Before Another Storm?
Malaysia has declared the ART null and void while the US is deploying new tariff instruments, creating uncertainty over new agreements. Malaysia should rebalance lopsided terms – and reduce its exposure to the US market.
Indonesia’s ‘In-Between’ Foreign Policy
Indonesia has sound reasons for consistently staking out a diplomatic middle ground, but not taking sides on all issues could leave no one impressed.
Sarawak’s Delineation: A Test for the Election Commission’s Credibility
Leveraging its growing political clout, Sarawak is pushing for a re-delineation of state seats. This could result in boundary changes to federal parliamentary seats and alter the balance of power.