The race for the leadership of the Conservative Party has thrown up few clues about London’s approach to ASEAN and the wider Indo-Pacific. Whoever wins, there is reason to believe that the United Kingdom will retain its strong institutional ties to the region.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Cutting Methane Emissions: Different Strokes for Different Folks
Many ASEAN countries have adopted ambitious goals to cut their methane emissions. But they might need to use diverse approaches to address the issue.
Najib Razak’s Political Career: The End of the Beginning or the End of the End?
After a span of four years, Najib Razak has exhausted his legal options and is now in jail for, among other things, criminal breach of trust. He still has some legal recourse, but at the moment things are looking good for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Why Vietnamese Private Conglomerates Are Venturing Into Social Housing
Private conglomerates in Vietnam have registered strong interest in Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s plan to build at least one million social housing units by the end of the decade. Attainment of the ambitious goal, however, remains doubtful.
Political Succession in Southeast Asia: When Dynasty Might Mean Destiny
Some of the region’s political scions will be rising through the ranks in future elections, but it is not all smooth sailing in politics even if one is born with a silver spoon.
Will the Thai Military Ever Get Its Submarines and Stealth Fighters?
Thailand’s military is facing a series of practical and political difficulties in its procurement processes to upgrade its air force and navy assets.
Unretweeted Love? #KeluargaMalaysia Overtures Fall Flat
Driving a successful hashtag campaign is more complicated than blitzing social media. An analysis of tweets appending #KeluargaMalaysia suggests that such attempts have backfired because the hashtag has been appropriated by Twitter netizens to express their discontent with the government.
The Implications of EU’s CBAM for Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian countries should carefully weigh the economic and environmental impacts of unilateral climate policies like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Public Officials in Celebrity Podcasts: Dodging the Bullet
Celebrity podcasts have increasingly become the go-to place for Indonesian politicians and high-ranking officials. The problem, however, is that these platforms lack the same level of journalistic integrity and scrutiny.
Indonesia’s 2024 Elections: Party Elite Interest Versus Mass Popularity
Indonesia’s major political parties have started jostling for position for the 2024 elections, where party incumbency may be forced to give way to the people’s demands for the most popular choice.