Vietnam’s 8th Party Plenum underscores Hanoi’s two-pronged bid to maintain solid relations with external powers in the West and tightening the screws on civil society at home.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Children in Myanmar: Caught in the Crossfire
The junta in Myanmar has adopted a new tactic against resistance forces by arresting and detaining children in lieu of their family members.
Climate Action in Southeast Asia: Lagging Leadership, Passive People
Climate action initiatives have been rolled out in Southeast Asia, while a climate awareness survey has found that most Southeast Asians perceive governments as not doing enough. Few respondents are involved in active advocacy. The region has a long way to go.
Pheu Thai’s 10,000 Baht Gambit: A Political Promise That Spells Possible Economic Peril
The Pheu Thai Party’s plan to provide 10,000 baht gift to Thai adults serves a dual purpose: stimulating the economy and reconsolidating its political position. However, it remains uncertain whether it will achieve success in either of these goals.
India’s Expanding Global Influence Has Limited Reach in ASEAN
India is seizing strategic opportunities to emerge as a new global power but its influence in Southeast Asia is not keenly felt yet.
Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Haze and Climate Change in Southeast Asia
Transboundary haze has reared its ugly head again, no thanks to peatland burning and the compounding effects of the El Nino phenomenon and climate change. It is high time to break the vicious cycle of haze and climate change.
Southeast Asia’s Need to Bridge the Climate Financing Gap
As COP 28 approaches, Southeast Asia policymakers see the need for climate adaptation as well as mitigation. But there is an urgent need to encourage multiple sources of finance in this arena.
Preventing Indonesia’s “Digitalised” Democracy from Backsliding
Digital technology has played a vital role in empowering political participation and shaping political discourse in Indonesia, but more must be done to curb divisive rhetoric and disinformation — and to safeguard democracy.
Johor By-elections: A Cautionary Tale For The Unity Government
The recent by-elections in Johor are a shot across the bow for the Unity Government.
Perceptions of Energy Transition in Southeast Asia: Between Hope and Fear
The latest Southeast Asian Climate Outlook shows that people in the region generally have positive perceptions about the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. But they are wary of the potential impacts of such a transition on bread and butter issues.