Myanmar is using bilateral diplomacy to establish a semblance of normality with ASEAN member states, even as the bloc’s collective restrictions remain formally in place.
Category Archives: Commentaries
For Southeast Asia, the AI Race Is About Access, Not Supremacy
The region’s stake in AI is not simply which great power builds the most capable model. The key is to ensure that AI remains affordable, locally relevant, continuously available and politically accessible.
How Cambodia Can Maintain Strategic Trust with China
As Sino-US competition intensifies, Cambodia’s room for manoeuvre is shrinking. Phnom Penh needs to step up in its communications and engagement.
When State Responsiveness Is Not Enough for Vietnam’s Generation Z
An incident involving a tree and roadside death underscores how official responses to youth grievances can fail to mollify.
Realising Malaysia’s High-Income Aspiration: The Last Mile of Reforms
Wide-ranging reforms and within-sector specialisation are needed for Malaysia to become a productivity-driven, high-income economy.
Why the Upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections Matter
The upcoming elections in Bangsamoro in the Philippines will mark a critical turning point in the region’s journey towards self-determination.
Malaysia’s Progressive Islamic Party: Can Amanah Still Be Pakatan Harapan’s Counterweight to PAS?
More than a decade since its formation, how far has Amanah challenged the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, PAS, as a mass-party alternative?
From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs: Embedding High Integrity into ASEAN Carbon Markets
Southeast Asia leaves swathes of potential carbon credits stranded and unrealised. ASEAN should embrace the Core Carbon Principles to bolster integrity and growth of its carbon markets.
Bersama’s ‘Kamikaze Mission’ Might Bomb Out
Parti Bersama Malaysia aims to attract disenchanted voters. But it might be hindered by the country’s first-past-the-post system.
The Quiet Rise of China’s Soft Power Among Vietnam’s Youth
Young Vietnamese are increasingly drawn to Chinese culture and opportunity, even as long-standing sensitivities endure.