Russia has been the largest exporter of arms to Southeast Asia over the past two decades but the value of its defence sales to the region has fallen sharply since its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will only exacerbate this downward trend.
Category Archives: Long Reads
Hydropower Development in Sarawak: Sensitivities over Sustainability and China’s Involvement
China has become the most significant foreign partner in Sarawak’s hydropower development, as its extensive knowledge and experience in this domain dovetails with Sarawak’s ambitious programme to develop hydropower for its own needs and for export to the region.
Social Media Discourse in Malaysia on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Rationales for Pro-Russia Sentiments
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Malaysia’s social media has been abuzz with discussions on the conflict, with different groups expressing both condemnation and support for Russia. This paper examines pro-Russian sentiments and unpacks them for possible explanations for why such views prevail amongst Malaysians.
Labelling Fake News: The Politics of Regulating Disinformation in Thailand
In Thailand, determining what news is true or fake appears to be a political matter. This article argues that political misuse of regulatory measures not only sows censorship and autocratic propensities, but also reinforce public mistrust in official mechanisms to curb disinformation.
Stronger Social Media Influence in the 2022 Philippine Elections
Social media will play a prominent role in the campaign strategy of candidates in the upcoming 2022 elections due to the increasing reliance of Filipinos on social media and the face-to-face restrictions associated with the pandemic.
Greenwashing: A Market Distortion Needing Serious Attention in Southeast Asia
Greenwashing is more than just a quirky marketing practice; it has the potential to seriously distort the effective expression of consumer and social concerns about environmental issues. This Long Read argues that consumers and investors can drive change through their purchasing and spending power. But this requires honest and accurate information to be made freely available so that properly informed decisions can be made.
New Chinese Migrants in Chiang Mai: Parallel Paths for Social Interaction and Cultural Adjustment
While descendants of older Chinese migrants in Thailand consider themselves Thai, new Chinese migrants tend to struggle with assimilating, due partly to negative stereotypes about foreign Chinese. This Long Read explores the parallel communities these new Chinese migrants have forged to address their needs for social integration.
The Race to Produce Covid-19 Vaccines in Southeast Asia
Several Southeast Asian countries are racing to produce home-grown Covid-19 vaccines, to reduce dependence on the vagaries of external sources. Local vaccine manufacturers face significant challenges as well as stiff competition. Nonetheless, the technology acquired and lessons learnt are helpful to prepare the region for future pandemics.
How to Solve the South China Sea Disputes
This Long Read argues that Southeast Asian states have an interest in recognising each other’s de facto occupation of specific features and then presenting a united position to China. The historical evidence of physical acts of administration suggests that, with some important exceptions, the current occupiers of each feature have the best claim to sovereignty over it.
China and Chinese Overseas: A Softer Soft Policy Needed?
This Long Read describes China’s soft power in relation to Chinese overseas who as a whole constitute a potentially important resource for it.