Food system decarbonisation is one of the main pathways chosen by ASEAN Member States to meet their obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. Concurrent with this is the transformation of food systems from high-emission, carbon energy-intensive systems to low-carbon emission systems with improved resilience, farmer livelihoods and environmental health.
Category Archives: Long Reads
Thailand’s Deterrence Failure Against Cambodia: A Focus on Structural Hindrances
The border confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia stems from the former’s failure to deter the latter. There is a resolve gap on the part of the Thai elite; in addition, the lack of resolve stems from structural pressures such as the imperative of a limited war and Thailand’s long borders. Changing these entrenched structures will be difficult, if not impossible.
Islamic Soft Power: Malaysia Well-Positioned to Consolidate its Global Leadership on Halal Branding and Governance
Malaysia has successfully transformed halal governance from religious compliance into a strategic tool of soft power. Through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), halal became both a moral brand and an economic driver across food, finance, tourism, cosmetics, and logistics.
ASEAN’S Evolving Climate Governance Framework
ASEAN’s climate governance architecture has evolved to match the urgency to align regional ambition with Paris Agreement goals, with growing recognition that regional coordination is vital in accelerating the green transition and attracting international climate finance.
Competition among Thailand’s Three Largest Parties Deepens the Country’s Political Uncertainties
People’s Party, Pheu Thai, and Bhumjaithai, Thailand’s three largest parties, have been intensifying their competition in preparation for an early general election. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai Party have the best chance of winning political advantage and gaining more popularity.
Pax Americana Is Over: What Comes Next and How Will It Impact Southeast Asia?
The world is transitioning out of a U.S.-led international order, but there is not yet clarity on the attributes of the next international order that will take its place. This Long Read argues that the period of transition could be turbulent, but it need not be destructive to the upward growth prospects of Southeast Asia.
East of Where? The Future of UK’s Asia Policy
UK domestic politics has shifted towards a more populist orientation, and this has generated shifts in its foreign policy. Liberal internationalism is out of fashion and hard-nosed realism is gaining dominance.
Recalibrating Southeast Asia’s Climate and Energy Strategies Amid US Policy Shifts
The US government has withdrawn globally from climate and clean energy engagement, undermining prospects for clean energy and climate collaboration with Southeast Asia. On the flipside, China’s historic climate-related finance in the region has far outpaced that of the US, particularly in infrastructure-heavy projects. While the loss of US climate finance may not be detrimental in the near-term, it does undermine the region’s support of environmental governance, and civil society and institutional capacity to pursue its climate efforts.
To Lam’s Foreign Policy Leadership in the “Era of National Rise”
Since assuming power in August 2024, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam has pursued bold reforms with urgency. Economic diplomacy has been a central focus, aimed at mobilising international resources for economic restructuring and technological upgrading. He has also engaged Washington, traditional partners China and Russia, and other major powers with equal vigour, pursuing pragmatic multi-alignment to advance national interests.
The AI-Robotics Revolution, China-US Rivalry and Southeast Asia
China is best positioned to achieve mass implementation of ‘embodied AI’, i.e., the integration of AI with robotics. This provides significant opportunities for Southeast Asian economies keen to develop real-world applications of AI. However, how far countries will go in adopting China’s AI technology stack will be shaped by US-China strategic competition, which is increasingly being played out in the AI and robotics sectors.