Actions speak louder than words. Ratifying UNCLOS would strengthen the US’ stabilising role in the Indo-Pacific.
Category Archives: Commentaries
A Year into the Pandemic, ASEAN Copes – And Hopes
Still very much top of mind, a majority in the State of Southeast Asia 2021 survey think their governments have managed the pandemic well.
The US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement: The Duterte Punchbag That Will Probably Survive the Blows
A long-standing Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States will probably survive despite threats from President Rodrigo Duterte to see the end of it.
Japan and Southeast Asia – Power and Propinquity
The latest State of Southeast Asia Survey is a ringing endorsement of Japan’s decades-long involvement and investment in the region.
Indonesia’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund: Professionals Provide Some Comfort, But Challenges Remain
Indonesia has appointed a blue-ribbon slate of professionals to head its new sovereign wealth fund. There will be several challenges ahead, including concerns about investor protection and the Covid-19 pandemic.
America is Back – For Now At Least
The advent of the new Biden Administration has sparked high hopes for US engagement by Southeast Asians. Still, Uncle Sam has a mountain to climb.
Gus Baha: Rising Star Challenging Islam’s Conservative Establishment
His style might appeal less to social media users, but Ahmad Bahauddin Nursalim has gained a following in Indonesia for his intellectual capacity.
The Hijab in Indonesian Public Schools: Individual Rights vs. Identity Politics
Regulating the hijab has long been a tool for both sides in Indonesia’s identity politics struggle.
How Successful Will the Protests in Myanmar Be?
The ongoing anti-coup protests are qualitatively different and pose a bigger challenge to Myanmar’s military rulers than earlier protest movements.
Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year or “China’s New Year”? The Rise of (China’s) Identity Politics
In multi-ethnic Southeast Asia, the term “Lunar New Year” is more befitting than “Chinese New Year”. The traditional celebration has always transcended ethnicity and national identity.