Notwithstanding an ongoing high-profile naval deployment, the UK cannot be considered a credible power in the Indo-Pacific as long as it tiptoes around the security challenges from China.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Southeast Asia Should Be Clear-Eyed As It Navigates Trump’s Tariff Fog
With the tariff regime announced on 31 July, Trump has upended the global trade system that has benefited Southeast Asia tremendously.
How China Might Retaliate Against Southeast Asia’s US Trade Deals
Southeast Asia has more clarity on US tariffs and trade conditions, but China’s reaction looms on the horizon. The region’s position is particularly precarious because China wields substantial leverage across lending, investment, and trade.
Saving Malaysia’s AI Dream Amid Shifting US Tech and Trade Policies
Malaysia must urgently pursue AI chip supply diversification and supply chain vigilance to mitigate the detriments of potential export curbs and tariff hikes.
Where Does Southeast Asia Fit Within the MAGA Worldview?
US President Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement behind him will overlap uneasily with Southeast Asia’s foreign policy orientation.
Thai-Cambodian Crisis Has Given the Thai Military a Boost
The latest Thai-Cambodian border dispute has given the Thai military the upper hand as it pertains to civil-military relations.
Does Indonesia’s New Capital City, Nusantara, Fit into the President’s Long-Term Vision?
Concerns exist over the Prabowo administration’s commitment to Nusantara’s development, given its other priorities, unmet investment targets, and uncertainties surrounding coordination, transparency, and long-term vision.
Indonesia’s Sound Horeg Economy: Freedom of Expression Versus Public Health and Order
How do you solve a problem like loud music?
Information as Ammunition: How the Thai-Cambodian Border Clash Became a Cyber War
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute has seen the use of information warfare on both sides.
What the Weak Must Suffer: Indonesia’s High-Cost Trade Deal with the US
A fast deal is not necessarily a good deal if Indonesia strikes an unequal trade bargain to avoid higher tariffs.