Commentaries | FULCRUM

South Korea and America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: Yes, But Not Quite

Joe Biden (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in

Like many ASEAN member states, South Korea has sought to avoid “choosing sides” between China and the United States. It has adopted an uneasy equidistance between the two great powers and their respective Indo-Pacific Strategy and Belt and Road Initiative power plays.

Muhyiddin Needs to Unite UMNO’s Factions Behind Him

Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

Prime Minister Muhyiddin’s clock is ticking, and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is holding it.

Mind the Gap: Biden’s Opportunity to Reengage Southeast Asia

The Biden administration will need to get both its words and actions right to rebuild trust in the USA in Southeast Asia.

Biden and Southeast Asia: When Foreign Policy Begins at Home

President-elect Biden will restore a more traditional style of diplomacy to the United States, but domestic considerations will weigh heavily on American foreign policy – and Washington’s approach to Southeast Asia.

Fulcrum: Putting the Spotlight on Southeast Asia

fulcrum /ˈfʊlkrə/, /ˈfʌlkrə/ ) (physics) the point on which a lever turns or is supported. [usually singular] the most important part of an activity or a situation.

Thai Political Protests: Drifting into Uncharted Waters

The political temperature in Thailand is set to raise, as protest leaders up the ante and demand the reform of the monarchy. A separate process of constitutional amendment in Parliament will skirt the contentious issue.

Affirming ASEAN’s East Asian Centrality

The signing of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is significant, and not only due to the fact that the trade deal will cover a third of the world’s population and GDP. The RCEP also affirms the power of the East Asia concept and ASEAN’s centrality within it.