As vote counts stream in from Sunday’s general elections, the expectation is that the majority of voters have chosen the incumbent party. This is a reflection of their desire for slow and gradual change in the country’s development.
Category Archives: Commentaries
China-US Competition: Southeast Asia Can Decide What’s Best
Southeast Asian countries prefer a healthy balance of power between major powers in the region. This is often overlooked by China and the United States, which want them to take a stand on issues of concern.
Myanmar May See More Violence After the Polls
There is a heightened risk of violence after the national polls this Sunday. This stems from two structural factors: inter-party clashes and the problems in Rakhine state.
Will China Exploit America’s Domestic Distractions for Strategic Gains in Asia?
The India-China land border, more than the South China Sea, is the regional flashpoint that could flare.
South Korea‘s Southeast Asian Potential
South Korea is well-positioned to become a more important power for Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
The 2020 Regional Elections in Indonesia: The Use and Abuse of Religion
Indonesia has laws that seek to deter the politicisation of religion. This will prove to be challenging, especially with the regional elections round the corner.
Prime Minister Suga Goes to Jakarta
Prime Minister Suga’s first trip shows that an “independent and active” Indonesia is not an easy partner for Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy.
Hope Over Fear: The 2020 Student-led Protests in Thailand
Similar goals link the current protests in Thailand with earlier ones. Their different tactics make them harder for authorities to quell.
Vietnam’s Ambitious Politicians: In Facebook We Trust
Facebook poses a challenge to American lawmakers seeking to rein it in. In authoritarian countries such as Vietnam, however, the social media giant has become a handy accomplice and even a springboard for ambitious politicians.
Desperation Debases Democracy in Malaysia
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has not got the emergency powers he had asked for. His government has lived to fight another day. Still, the constant horse-trading and bickering among the country’s political class has only subverted the country’s democracy.