The ASEAN-Russia summit does not mean that Southeast Asia is drifting into Russia’s camp. Its significance lies in the grouping’s desire to preserve room for manoeuvre.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Perikatan Nasional’s Dramatic Denouement: Where to for Bersatu?
The two key parties in the Perikatan Nasional coalition have parted ways. Bereft of resources, this consigns Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to the skid row of Malaysian politics.
Malaysia Should Channel US Trade Representative Section 301 Pressure Into Forced Labour Compliance
Malaysia should take decisive action in response to the US’ tariff threat for failing to prohibit imports made with forced labour. Eliminating such imports is in everyone’s best interest.
Minority Education, Major Controversy: Malaysia’s Lose-Lose Reform on Chinese Independent Schools
A storm in a teacup is brewing over the issue of Malaysia’s Chinese schools, not helped by the government’s mixed signals.
Heeding the Call for Collective Resilience in Regional Food Security
How can the region’s policymakers and leaders ensure that we can meaningfully feed ourselves?
Havana in the Crossfire, Hanoi in a Bind
Vietnam has a chance to prevent a potential disaster in Cuba, given its unique position.
What Do the US Forced Labour Tariffs Mean for Southeast Asia?
Faced with possible US forced labour tariffs, Southeast Asian countries should remember that the Trump administration’s underlying objectives are to reconstitute the reciprocal tariff regime, discourage economic linkages with China and reduce trade surpluses with the US.
Indonesia’s Democratic Transition and Stalled Military Reform
Deepening political constraints and narrowing space for civil society are stalling the Indonesian Armed Forces’ already limited reform agenda.
Myanmar’s Overvalued Exchange Rates Are a Recipe for Economic Deterioration
Myanmar’s people will continue to suffer under the ‘new’ government’s vague economic direction.
Prabowo’s Nickel State: Indonesia’s Search for Power
Will the Prabowo administration’s agenda of centralisation and state control over the nickel sector build lasting industrial capacity, or be even more extractive?