The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone provides attractive investment opportunities in several sectors. The focus on private healthcare is warranted as Malaysia’s healthcare sector is one of the fastest-growing in the region.
Category Archives: Long Reads
RedNote’s Success and Beijing’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia
The Chinese social media app RedNote has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia, making the region its second-largest market outside mainland China. RedNote, which only has a single global version for both domestic and foreign users, is subject to greater content regulation from the Chinese government than platforms like TikTok and WeChat. Ultimately, RedNote’s ability to grow its regional influence depends on its ability to address regional concerns over whether the app will be exploited by Beijing to propagate its political narratives and influence Southeast Asian netizens.
Decarbonising Food Systems: Opportunities for a Concerned ASEAN
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.
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.