Sino-Indian relations have languished in a state of suspended animation for four years. A return to stability in the relationship would require, at the least, sustained high-level engagement.
Author Archives: lwongiseas
COP28: Enhanced Food Security in Southeast Asia?
In line with their climate change plans, Southeast Asian countries need to mitigate carbon emissions in their agrifood systems.
Rhetorical Sympathy for the Palestinian Struggle in Malaysia and the Poignant Misuse of ‘Zionism’
Malaysia’s online and offline support for Palestine in light of the 7 October 2023 attacks seems to indicate a dualism in solidarity— voluble support for the Palestinian cause juxtaposed with opposition to taking in Palestinian refugees and asylum seekers.
Unemployment, Poverty and Corruption: Young Indonesian Voters’ Top Economic Concerns
Indonesian Millennials and Gen-Z would like their next president to create jobs, eradicate poverty and combat corruption. While personality dominates the Indonesian election, policy platforms will impact the country’s future – and may tilt the election outcome.
Indonesian Voters’ Preferences in 2024: Less Determined, More Diverse
A December 2023 ISEAS-Premise survey on Indonesian voters’ reasons for liking and disliking the presidential candidates sheds more light on what voters want to see in their next president. Strength, intelligence and independence, not cuteness, are the keys to their ballot.
Migrant Worker Policies after One Year of Anwar Ibrahim’s Government: An Indonesian Perspective
The Anwar government has taken some steps toward improving the migrant worker situation, but has not addressed the underlying structural problems. More comprehensive policies and effective implementation are needed to protect migrant workers from Indonesia and all source countries.
Policy Possibilities after Indonesia’s Presidential Election 2024
Campaign rhetoric from all the candidates aside, the developmental challenges awaiting Indonesia’s next president need fresh thinking and brave action. Will the right people get in?
The Myanmar Junta’s Unhappy New Year
Things are not going well for the ruling junta in Myanmar, no matter how hard it tries to ignore the bad news on the battlefield.
China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) in Southeast Asia: Progress and Challenges
China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative has made significant strides in Southeast Asia. All countries in the region have received DSR investments, with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia taking the lion’s share. However, China faces multiple challenges in pushing the DSR forward, including the growing tensions between the state and private tech companies domestically as well as intensifying US-China technological rivalry and risks of tech bifurcation.
Making the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Work
To fully harness the benefits of bilateral cooperation on both sides, the recent signing of the memorandum of understanding for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone needs to be followed up by the relevant agencies doing the real spade work after the initial hype is over.