Cambodia’s economic aspirations must be girded by strenuous efforts to overcome its constraints, internal and external, through diversification and reform.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Peace and Friendship-2023: Will It Reduce China’s Trust Deficit?
A recent land and maritime exercise among China and five Southeast Asian countries highlights some emerging trends but breaks little new ground.
Thailand’s Carbon Offset Policies May Undermine Climate Action
Thailand’s plans to tackle climate change need a serious rethink where carbon offsets are concerned.
Time to Collect: The SAC’s Actions Come to Bite Myanmar’s Economy
Myanmar’s civil war is showing up the clumsiness of the junta’s economic policies. The poorest households and workers will be the hardest hit.
Anwar’s First Year: Performative and Underperforming
Anwar Ibrahim’s ascent to the country’s highest office last year was accompanied by a surge of expectations in his reformist government. One year on, however, his administration has lost some of its shine.
The Puzzle of Rodrigo Duterte’s Popularity during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Rodrigo Duterte registered high approval ratings throughout his presidency. However, survey research conducted in early 2021 revealed that his popularity was significantly inflated due to preference falsification among survey respondents.
Turning the Tide: Vietnam’s War Against Plastic Waste
Vietnam has ambitious targets to tackle the challenge posed by plastic waste. But the key here is effective enforcement and implementation.
Human Capital Development Programmes in Indonesia: Electoral Gimmicks or Achievable Promises?
A clear-eyed look at the various candidates’ proposals for improving Indonesia’s human capital development suggests that the devil will be in the implementation, not the targets per se.
Myanmar Military Losing Control: A Culmination of Past Policy Errors?
Years of shifting resources away from the Myanmar army and changing requirements for its senior ranks have led to its current weaknesses on the battlefield. Are the junta fielding men of straw?
The Philippines-Japan Security Relationship: A New Golden Age?
While Japanese PM Kishida’s recent visit to Manila points to the upward momentum of the Japan-Philippines Strategic Partnership, it will also be a litmus test of Japan’s strategic goals in the rest of Southeast Asia.