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Who Can Actually Stop the Machine? The Institutional Test for AI Governance in Southeast Asia

The credibility of AI governance in Southeast Asia will be decided not by the volume of frameworks that exist, but by whether some identifiable institution has the authority to stop a deployment, the independence to use it, and the technical capacity to justify it, and whether its decisions can be reconstructed afterwards.

US Midterm Elections Serve as Bellwether for Southeast Asia

The Democrats are poised to gain control of the two houses of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. If this happens, there could be a glimmer of hope for Southeast Asian countries dependent on exporting to the vast US market.

Southeast Asia Should Double Down on the AI Supply Chain

AI-related exports are a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy global economy. This represents an opportunity for Southeast Asia.

Expanding the Diplomatic Toolbox: Southeast Asia at the New Delhi BRICS Summit

Four ASEAN members attended the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, in different capacities. This shows the region preserving strategic autonomy, avoiding binary choices and expanding options.

Myanmar’s Emerging Governance Mosaic

This Long Read presents a broad overview of a mosaic of governance building efforts from many discrete groups across Myanmar. Whether this mosaic, when complete, will demonstrate a less discordant pattern that truly represents the voices of heterogeneous communities remains to be seen.

Vietnam’s Growth Ambitions Are Outrunning Its Capital

Vietnam’s ambitious GDP growth target is premised on the building of infrastructure. But it is struggling to mobilise sufficient capital to finance such a goal.

Thailand’s Data Centre Rush: From First-Mover Advantage to Sustained Development?

Thailand needs to go beyond attracting big-ticket data centre investments. It should consider building domestic capabilities around such facilities.

Why an Unofficial Claim to Batanes Still Matters

Some Chinese scholars have argued that Batanes in the northern Philippines belongs to China via Taiwan. The claim is weak, but over time it can be politically useful.