TikTok Live’s anticipatory suspension during nationwide protests in Indonesia last month shows the influence of Jakarta’s interventionist digital governance. Such suspensions hurt small businesses and can fuel misinformation.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Can Filipinos Transcend Polarised Politics to Protest Against Grand Corruption?
The Philippines has remained divided in reaction to a massive corruption scandal. Filipinos must overcome differences and cohesively apply public pressure.
The New Anutin Government Should Reset Thailand’s Trump Tariff Response
Thailand’s previous administration massively allocated funds for infrastructure. The new government needs to prioritise strategic industries and adopt a coherent long-term plan to address the adverse impacts of Trump’s tariffs.
How Vietnam Turns a Celebrity’s Misstep into a Cautionary Tale of Patriotism
The coordinated pushback against a Vietnamese influencer who had lamented the passing of a cultural icon shows that the state values displays of patriotism, but only if such displays toe the party line.
Indonesia’s Politics of Colours: Why Movements Turn to Hues as Symbols of Resistance
In a country long rich with visual symbolism, the use of colour to express one’s dissatisfaction with the government seems to be gaining popularity.
Will Trump Revolutionise American Foreign Policy?
Post Trump 2.0, US foreign policy will not likely continue on its current trajectory. That said, however, it also will not likely revert to the foreign policy before Trump’s ascent to power.
Should Southeast Asian Regulators be Awed by the GENIUS Act?
A new US law mandating a one-to-one exchange rate for stablecoins should give Southeast Asian governments some cause for circumspection as to how they regulate such new cryptocurrencies.
ASEAN-ROK Security Cooperation in a Dual Contingency
There is a possibility of a dual contingency in the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula. ASEAN and the Republic of Korea need to consider modes of cooperation in such difficult times.
Thai Politics Gets the Blues
Thaksin’s fall, and the People’s Party’s gambit, propelled Anutin’s rise to prime minister. Thailand’s desolate political landscape holds out uncertainty — and opportunity — for Anutin and his Bumjaithai Party.
Myanmar’s Fake Election Is a Trap, Not a Transition
The junta in Myanmar has announced elections starting in December 2025. The reality is that it has gamed the system in its favour.