The South China Sea poses a stress test in Russia-China relations, pitting China’s excessive claims against Russian energy interests.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Biden or Trump? Southeast Asia’s Stakes in the US Election
A check list of the differences Southeast Asia can expect if Joe Biden wins the US presidential election or Donald Trump is returned to the White House.
Covid-19 or Not, Myanmar Will Go to the Polls as Scheduled
Despite a wave of Covid-19 infections in the country, in particular in Yangon, the authorities are determined that the 8 November polls will be conducted as scheduled.
Japan and Southeast Asia: Kindred Spirits in the era of Trump
Richard Armitage, a veteran Republican official, has called for an Indo-Pacific that is inclusionary and not directed at any country. His view is markedly different from that of many Trump officials, and is similar to that of Japan and many countries in Southeast Asia.
Act East or Acting? India and ASEAN
China is taking action to deepen economic engagement with Southeast Asia. India, despite Prime Minister Modi’s Act East rhetoric, is not.
Revenge of the Asia-Pacific?
The much-ballyhooed “Indo-Pacific” term has gained much traction in the region in recent years. The new Democratic Party platform, however, pointedly excludes the use of the term, and touts the older “Asia-Pacific” instead. Is this Biden’s attempt at getting at Trump?
The Anti-Royalist Possibility: Thailand’s 2020 Student Movement
The current protest movement in Thailand is breaking new political ground while acknowledging their predecessors.
Biden “Re-pivot” to Asia Cannot Be Obama 2.0
If elected the president of the United States, Joe Biden will not necessarily gain traction in Southeast Asia by simply not being Trump. He will have to bring tangible economic and political options to the table, and harness the intrinsic power of America’s network of allies and partners.
Populations and Politics: The Demography of Thai Student Protests
Demographic factors are driving Thailand’s current political protests. They will be hard to quell without major political reforms.
Will China Establish Military Bases in Southeast Asia?
The US Department of Defense has asserted that Beijing has “likely considered” logistics and basing infrastructure in five Southeast Asian countries. It is worth noting that such arrangements are predicated on a host nation’s inclination to support such a presence. At the moment, such willingness appears to be in short supply, except in the case of Cambodia.