Myanmar’s State Administration Council has stressed its ability to stabilise and revive the country’s economy. There are five reasons why the SAC’s confidence is misplaced.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Indonesian Police and Vigilante Groups: An Implicit Double Standard
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called on police officers to stop visits to patrons of vigilante groups. The problem, however, is that there is a double-standard here in how different groups are treated.
A Game of Musical Thrones: Candidate Substitutions and Withdrawals in the 2022 Philippine Elections
Last-minute substitutions of presidential and vice-presidential candidates have become the new norm in Philippine electoral politics, exposing an abuse of electoral laws and a lack of transparency in candidate selection.
The Grim Future of the Democrat Party in Thailand’s Upper South
As Thailand readies itself for the coming elections, its oldest political party, the Democrat Party, faces an uphill battle in even coming close to regaining its former lustre.
Extending TNI Officers’ Retirement Age: More Harm than Good?
Raising the retirement age for Indonesian Defence Force officers could worsen logjams for mid- and high-ranking officers, and as well as undermine Indonesia’s broader interests in the Indo-Pacific.
ASEAN and the Group of 7: Same Bed, Different Dreams
The Group of 7 is courting ASEAN in a bid to increase its profile in the Indo-Pacific. It is easy to list the convergences in approaches between the two groupings. But the divergences are more significant.
Regional Outlook Forum 2022: Regional Disruptions Amidst Global Recovery
Omicron: Threat to ASEAN’s Trade Recovery
The new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus could impact trade in goods and services in ASEAN economies due to increased travel restrictions and the risk of more lockdowns.
The Ones to Watch: Chinese Investors in Thailand, Trends and Opportunities
China has been accelerating its foreign direct investments into the kingdom, even as other investors have pulled out. Thai officials are hopeful that this trend will continue.
ASEAN and Australia: Advancing Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
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.