This article reviews the complex drivers of post-coup business performance and the factors that have contributed to business survival under Myanmar’s State Administrative Council. Not all of the reasons stem from having close links with the military regime.
Category Archives: Long Reads
Re-ordering the World: China’s Global South Focus versus the Ally-centric Approach of the US
Institutional balancing has become a key strategy in US-China strategic competition, with both powers taking different approaches in leveraging their institutional networks to advance their strategic agenda. Southeast Asian countries have straddled both institutional realms advocated respectively by China and the US, while continuing to leverage ASEAN-led mechanisms to advance their interests.
Has China Changed its Policy Towards Chinese Overseas?
In 2024, senior Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao made a clear distinction between Huaqiao and Huaren, emphasising that they possess different political loyalties. Huaren’s political loyalty, he noted, is tied only to the country of citizenship. In substance, however, Beijing’s policy of blurring the distinction between Huaqiao and Huaren remains unchanged.
Trump 2.0 Presidency: What Is in Store for Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asia is unlikely to be a priority in Trump’s foreign policy agenda, but the region will need to strategise its response to the President-elect’s trade and security stances, and his transactional approach.
An Accommodative Transitional 2025 Budget for Indonesia
Indonesia’s 2025 budget is a negotiated outcome accommodating both Joko Widodo’s legacy and some of Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes. While the formation of this “transition” budget was driven by the Jokowi administration, the new administration may still revise the budget in accordance with Prabowo’s policy priorities.
Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election: How Personas and Policy Platforms Influenced Swing Voters
A nationwide poll conducted during the 2024 Indonesian presidential election campaign period shows that swing voters shifted their voting preferences as the election campaigning proceeded, due to their changing perceptions of candidates’ personalities and policy platforms.
Securing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor: Navigating Conflicts and Public Scepticism
The persistent conflict in Myanmar does not seem to have deterred China’s determination to realise its CMEC priorities. Despite significant military setbacks for the Myanmar military, China continues to urge the SAC to accelerate the implementation of key China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) projects.
Fortifying the Ballot: Addressing Disinformation and Electoral Integrity in Malaysia
Malaysia’s democratic foundations face critical challenges in the digital age, with racially charged polarisation and the proliferation of disinformation during election campaigns posing significant threats to electoral integrity. This Long Read proposes policy recommendations, including establishing an independent fact-checking body, investing in AI-powered fact-checking tools, developing country-specific AI governance guidelines, and introducing comprehensive media and information literacy education.
The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement: Complementing and Cementing the Hub-and-Spokes System
Signed in July 2024, the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and the Philippines facilitates regular exchanges and activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF). This should be seen as an act of strategic autonomy on the part of both countries to address shared security interests in the maritime domain.
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s Visit to Moscow: Laying the Groundwork for Enhanced Ties with Russia
Defence Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Russia on 31 July 2024 was a signal that his administration intends to pursue a balanced foreign policy vis-à-vis the major powers, and one that envisages a bigger role for Russia.