The 2026 Southeast Asia Climate Outlook survey reveals a region anxious about current global crises, yet steadfast in supporting the climate transition.
Category Archives: Commentaries
From Mosques to Motorbikes: Kedah’s Ride Dakwah Anak Muda and Muslim Youth Engagement
Kedah’s recent youth dakwah event suggests the real engine of religious mobilisation is quietly shifting from formal institutions to informal and digital networks.
Can PAS “Sell” Its Technocratic Record?
Parti Islam SeMalaysia is trying to show voters that it has a record of solid governance. Its record, however, has been patchy.
Southeast Asia’s Mixed AI Stacks: Pragmatic but Not Risk-Free
Regional initiatives such as Singapore’s SEA-LION and Indonesia’s Sahabat-AI show that Southeast Asia can combine technologies from American, Chinese, and regional sources. But mixed AI stacks do not automatically reduce dependence.
Thailand’s Passport to AI Controversy
Thailand has bold plans for AI adoption. But the plan is built on shaky foundations.
Cambodia’s Ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and ASEAN’s Maritime Cohesion
Cambodia is late to the party in ratifying the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but better late than never.
Vietnam-Myanmar Relations: Cautious Normalisation Under Constraint
The diplomatic thaw since August springs from Hanoi’s and Naypidaw’s strategic calculations. Both sides are willing to stabilise relations — without making irreversible commitments.
Between Interdependence and Diversification: Southeast Asia’s Room for Manoeuvre in Critical Minerals
China and the US appear to be pressurising countries to choose between their respective critical mineral and technology supply chains. The choice, however, is a false one.
Vietnam’s Aggressive School Mergers Acutely Test To Lam’s Governance Model
Vietnam’s massive school consolidation aims to concentrate resources and streamline a fragmented system through centralised digital management. If classroom quality fails to improve or worsens, that would undermine the rationale for this grand project.
As Trump and Xi Prepare to Meet, What Should Southeast Asia be Watching?
The upcoming Trump-Xi summit will not settle any “Grand Bargain”, but what happens to the year-long US-China trade truce will have implications for Southeast Asia.