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.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Fall of Singapore 80 Years On: Lessons Transcend Time and Place
The local lessons from the dramatic defeat of British and Commonwealth forces at the hands of the Japanese in 1942 have been well learned and internalised. Eighty years on, there are still wider lessons to be gleaned that transcend time and place.
What Indonesians Want Most in their President
Polls on voter preferences consistently suggest that Indonesians value ‘honesty’ and ‘care for the people’ as the two most important traits that Indonesia’s President should have.
Will America Greenlight the Sale of F-35s to Thailand?
The chief of Thailand’s air force wants to buy eight American-built F-35 fighter jets. While the sale would be a shot in the arm for the US-Thailand alliance, Washington may be reluctant to approve the sale because of Thailand’s growing military ties with China.
30 Years of ASEAN-India Relations: Taking Stock
As ASEAN and India commemorate the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations this year, the two parties have little to show in terms of functional collaboration. A reassessment of the relationship should focus on three areas: connectivity, trade and public health.
Chinese Students in Thailand: Cash Cow, At a Cost
Thailand is reaping the benefits of a steady stream of Chinese students being enrolled in its universities. The trend, however, is not cost-free.
‘We Apologise, But We Don’t Regret’: Thailand’s Frazzled Conservatives
Thailand’s conservatives see new threats to their conception of political order, in the form of a politicised youth movement and the ruling government led by the Phalang Pracharat Party.
Myanmar’s Dry Zone: The History of a Tinderbox
The Dry Zone has traditionally not suffered violence at the hands of the Myanmar military. But decades of mismanagement and strained living conditions have fueled anti-junta resistance in the military’s Buddhist-Bamar heartland.
Facing the Music with Methane
Apart from carbon dioxide, methane has been identified as one of the main contributors to global warming. In Southeast Asia, efforts to reduce methane emissions should focus on the agriculture and oil and gas sectors.
Will Green Parties Rise in Southeast Asia?
Greens often prosper in federal systems, in richer countries with service-based economies, in situations where environmental issues are part of mainstream political debates, and in electorates with large numbers of young, highly-educated members drawn from the middle class. If this is the case, then Southeast Asia may eventually see the rise of its own green movement.