COMMENTARIES

12 Apr 2023

The Geopolitics of Energy Transition in ASEAN

Mirza Sadaqat Huda

Mirza Sadaqat Huda discusses the rising demand for critical minerals and cross-border energy trade and their geopolitical implications to ASEAN.

11 Apr 2023

Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain: Tax Reforms for Timor-Leste’s Trade Integration with ASEAN

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy|Pham Thi Phuong Thao

Timor-Leste’s prospective ASEAN membership will potentially deliver both the benefits of expanded trade and losses in trade tax revenues. The latter can be avoided through a clear-cut strategy of tax reforms along with a trade-related adjustment programme.

ASEAN Timor-Leste

11 Apr 2023

Can Piety be Classy? Symbols and Societal Tensions Underlying “Branded” Hijabs

Siti Mazidah Mohamad|Norshahril Saat

Malay/Muslim women in fashionable headscarves are influencing Islamic fashion trends across the globe and the trend can make a statement personally, politically, and piously.

Islam Malaysia

10 Apr 2023

If At First You Don’t Succeed: Australia Woos the Indo-Pacific on AUKUS

Blake Herzinger|Alice Nason

Australia made extensive diplomatic overtures to Asia prior to its March update about the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine arrangement with the United Kingdom and the United States. Canberra appears to have gained some traction in the region, but it should not rest on its laurels.

ASEAN-Australia Relations AUKUS Australia Indo-Pacfic

10 Apr 2023

Indonesia 2024: Coalition Manoeuvres Heading for A Single Presidential Candidate?

Max Lane

More elaborate politicking for the 2024 presidential race in Indonesia has not thrown up a clear frontrunner; watch this space.

Indonesia Indonesian Elections Indonesian Politics

6 Apr 2023

The Curious Case of Cagayan: Localisation of U.S.-China Rivalry in the Philippines

Aries A. Arugay

The locus of superpower rivalry in the Indo-Pacific has gone down to the subnational level. The United States and China are engaged in a power competition for influence within local governments in the Philippines.

Philippine Philippine-U.S. Relations

6 Apr 2023

PDI-P’s Own Goal? Controversy over Indonesia’s Loss as U-20 FIFA World Cup Host

Burhanuddin Muhtadi

The political machinations behind the scenes that eventually led to Indonesia’s loss of its U-20 FIFA World Cup host rights might have serious repercussions for the frontrunner of not just the country’s 2024 presidential but also general elections.

Indonesia International Relations

6 Apr 2023

Political Dealmaking Will Determine the Winner and Twist Policy Outcomes in Thailand’s Election

Napon Jatusripitak|Mathis Lohatepanont

The policy trajectory of the next Thai government will depend on post-election coalitional configurations, not policy pledges.

Thai Elections Thai Politics Thailand

5 Apr 2023

Obstacles to Decarbonisation in Southeast Asia

Sharon Seah

Sharon Seah looks at decarbonisation challenges in Southeast Asia’s electricity generation, transportation and agriculture sectors, as well as other factors hampering such efforts.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Climate Change Renewable Energy Sustainable Development