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Category Archives: Commentaries
Road to Carbon Zero in Southeast Asia: Spur Innovation and Price Carbon
Southeast Asia needs to take a two-track approach to attain the target of halving carbon emissions.
Malaysia’s Identity Politics Will Perpetuate Exclusivity If Left Unchecked
Perikatan Nasional’s growing popularity among Malaysian Malay voters portends a potential path towards increasing polarisation in society if the sitting government does not do more to engage with right-wing rhetoric and convince all Malaysians to respect diversity.
The Postings of My Father: Tradeoff Between Privacy and Misinformation
End-to-end messaging apps in Thailand present a dilemma to policymakers. The use of encryption raises the level of security but at the same time exposes users to information maladies.
ASEAN-Japan Relations at 50: Taking a Harder Edge
With five decades of cooperation with ASEAN under its belt, Japan has the chance to now play a stronger role as balancer instead of passive price-taker in a region awash with anxiety over great power rivalry.
Xi Jinping in Hanoi: Courting for a Common Destiny?
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Hanoi presented an opportunity for Beijing to draw Vietnam closer into its sphere of influence, especially since Vietnam has recently upgraded ties with the U.S. and Japan. However, Vietnam’s foreign policy will continue to strike a delicate balance between China and the West.
Is the Establishment of a Spiritual Area on the Gadjah Mada Campus Linked to Joko Widodo?
Universitas Gadjah Mada, one of Indonesia’s top campuses and alma mater of the current president as well as four of the six candidates vying for the 2024 presidency and vice presidency, is constructing worship facilities for all six of Indonesia’s recognised religions.
The First Debate Unveils the Character of Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Campaign
The first debate among the three presidential candidates for 2024 underscores a shift in tenor in Indonesia’s politics. Whether this more amicable front lasts as campaign season wears on will depend on the ratings game.
Carbon Border Adjustment, Trade and Climate Change: Emerging Issues at COP28
What has been overlooked amid the furore over the recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai is the World Trade Organization’s emphasis on the interconnection between trade and climate change.
A Tale of Two (or More) Prime Ministers
Judging from Srettha Thavisin’s recent off-the-cuff comments, Thailand might have more than one prime minister at the moment.