Controversial Thai politician Thammanat Prompow is proving his mettle as an adept political fixer and could well emerge as kingmaker at the next elections.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Polite Wolves: China’s Soft Twitter Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
China’s diplomats have gained fame on Western social media platforms for their strident ‘wolf warrior’ discourse. But the strategy is not applied uniformly across all countries. In fact, they have taken a more polite tone towards Southeast Asian countries.
The CLMV Countries and RCEP: Will They Grasp the Opportunities?
Like all members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam will enjoy preferential access to the expansive region’s markets. As the least developed members, however, they will have to undergo the greatest changes in reforming their tariff and non-tariff policies to meet the requirements of this modern agreement.
China Should Build Trust Where it Matters
The majority of Southeast Asians continue to regard China as the most influential political, strategic and economic power in the region. But wariness of this state of affairs has not gone away.
In Southeast Asia, Regulatory Overreach No Silver Bullet to Internet Woes
In some Southeast Asian countries, governments have effected restrictions to the Internet in the name of curbing disinformation and safeguarding national security. The key question here pertains to who should be ones regulating acceptable behaviour online.
Hope Deferred Makes Southeast Asia’s Heart Sick
The US has gained brownie points among Southeast Asians, who put great store in Washington championing free trade and upholding the rules-based order. But Washington has its work cut out for it in deepening economic linkages to Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific.
Myanmar Crisis: A Humanitarian Stalemate or Fresh Opportunities?
The upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers retreat affords an opportunity to consider fresh approaches to break the current humanitarian stalemate in Myanmar.
2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey: Diverse Perspectives and Hard Realities
The US has gained ground against China in the contest for regional influence in Southeast Asia, according to the latest State of Southeast Asia Survey. ASEAN continues to be seen as ineffective in the eyes of respondents; at the same time, they are willing to give it credit when it is due.
Harnessing RCEP to Harvest ASEAN’s Unicorns
Can regional free trade agreements facilitate further development of start-ups and unicorns in ASEAN? The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement does just that by providing an expanded regional market, bolstering protection of intellectual property and enhancing rules in services and e-commerce.
Philippines Presidential Polls: Economic Recovery at Stake
There is a lot at stake in the Philippines’ 2022 presidential polls, especially where the economy is concerned. The new president faces the formidable challenge of putting the economy on a steady course to recovery.