As Southeast Asian countries ponder the use of nuclear power, China looks set to be a key player.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The Negeri Sembilan Saga Exposes Political Fault Lines
The latest political crisis in Negri Sembilan has exposed fragility in the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition at the federal level.
A Very Stable Summit: Southeast Asia’s Best Hope for the Trump-Xi Meeting
The US and China will prioritise stability amid internal economic pressures and global volatility — presenting more opportunity for Southeast Asia to diversify trade and investment beyond the superpowers.
The Silver Lining in the Demographic Deficit
Policymakers have sought to mitigate the negative effects of aging by addressing labour shortages. A better way would be to look at total factor productivity
India’s Engagement with ASEAN: Outreach Does Translate into Positive Perceptions
India’s diplomatic outreach to key Southeast Asian countries belie the fact that many of the same countries view New Delhi with low confidence.
MUDA’s Next Phase: Leadership Transition and GE16 Strategy
Some observers have written off MUDA’s electoral prospects ahead of the next general elections in Malaysia. This might be a tad premature.
Southeast Asia: Not Choosing Sides but Options
Dealt a tough deck of geopolitical cards, Southeast Asia wagers on flexibility and plurilateralism.
BT or Not BT: Vietnam’s Infrastructure Development Dilemma
Vietnam has revived Build-Transfer projects five years after banishing them for corruption risks. The efficiency and development reasons are clear — as are the perils that demand stronger institutions.
Why Not All Indonesian Muslims Support Iran
Most Indonesian Muslims are against the US-Israeli war against Iran. But some of them evince anti-Iran sentiment stemming from their belief that Shi’a Islam is a heretical sect.
Sino-Philippine Energy Cooperation in the South China Sea: A Chimera
Faced with an energy crisis at home, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has broached the idea of joint energy cooperation with China. The idea will not fly, for a variety of reasons.