The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Australia sends a strong signal of Australia’s commitment to ASEAN and support for the grouping’s central role in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is focused on working with ASEAN to deliver substance under the CSP, including through a new ‘Australia for ASEAN’ package of scholarships, joint projects and a digital transformation and future skills initiative.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Sexism in the 2022 Philippine Elections: A Problem with No Name
Vice President Leni Robredo and Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, are running for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, respectively. Though both are under different tickets, their candidacies underscore the complex journey of women in Philippine politics.
Al-Najah’s Arrest: Time for MUI to Come Clean
A member of the Council of Ulama Indonesia (MUI) was arrested recently for his involvement in Jemaah Islamiah. MUI should make amends by explaining how such an association came about, and effect a more rigorous recruitment regime.
Indonesia and China’s Maritime Grey Zone Strategy: In Denial
China has subjected Indonesia to maritime grey zone tactics in the South China Sea, much like how Beijing treats disputant states in the South China Sea. While Jakarta is technically not a disputant state, it is in denial about Beijing’s increasingly assertive actions.
State Administration Council vs Aung San Suu Kyi: Who Really Wins?
The State Administration Council’s attempts to render Aung San Suu Kyi politically irrelevant might well have an obverse effect.
Russia’s Maritime Exercise With ASEAN: Punching Below Its Weight
The recent ASEAN-Russia Naval Exercise served up a rich dose of symbolism and a signal of Moscow’s resolve to up its profile in the region. The fact remains that Russia’s presence in Southeast Asia should not be exaggerated.
Myanmar: Recognition is the Name of the Game
Myanmar’s State Administration Council and the National Unity Government are battling to win international recognition. Which party triumphs in the end depends on both external factors and internal dynamics.
The USS Connecticut Incident: Silent Service, Turbulent Clash?
A recent incident involving a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine underscores the danger of an increasingly congested underwater environment in the South China Sea.
Myanmar’s Infrastructure Development: A Dire Future
Myanmar has gnawing gaps in its infrastructure development which will affect its economic development in the years to come. To compound matters, the issue is not a priority for the State Administration Council.
World Trade Organisation Talks: Make or Break
The second postponement of the World Trade Organisation’s 12th Ministerial Conference, may only compound its woes. When they meet, a looming North-South divide and the long-standing consensus rule could stymie progress in many areas.