COMMENTARIES

16 Aug 2022

Indonesia’s 2024 Elections: Party Elite Interest Versus Mass Popularity

Burhanuddin Muhtadi

Indonesia's major political parties have started jostling for position for the 2024 elections, where party incumbency may be forced to give way to the people's demands for the most popular choice.

15 Aug 2022

Piracy and the Pandemic: Maritime Crime in Southeast Asia, 2020-2022

Ian Storey

Contrary to expectations that the Covid-19 pandemic would result in a surge in maritime crime in Southeast Asia due to worsening economic conditions, 2021 saw the frequency of piracy and sea robbery attacks decline to pre-pandemic levels. However, the Singapore Strait remains a black spot.

COVID-19 Maritime Crime Maritime Security South China Sea

15 Aug 2022

Thai Parliamentarians Should Learn from Their Malaysian Counterparts

Termsak Chalermpalanupap

Thailand should take a leaf from Malaysia, which has effected a law to deter party hoppers in the country’s legislature.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Thai Politics Thailand

12 Aug 2022

The G7’s Global Infrastructure and Investment Drive: Not So Attractive For Southeast Asia

Chanrith Ngin

The Group of 7’s new infrastructure and investment drive seeks to provide what Southeast Asia needs, such as financing for hard infrastructure. But the need for multiple stakeholders and financing issues might not garner much buy-in from the region.

ASEAN Belt and Road Initiative G7 Infrastructure

12 Aug 2022

When Lack of Jaw Jaw Might Lead to War War

William Choong

Washington and Beijing’s refusal to talk calmly to each other about the ongoing Taiwan crisis raises the stakes for Southeast Asia, which is already dealing with the repercussions of the chill between the great powers.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations China-U.S. Relations

11 Aug 2022

Is the ASEAN Secretariat Overdue for a Renewed Mandate?

Joanne Lin

As ASEAN marks 55 years of existence, the pressing challenge of strengthening and empowering its Secretariat needs to be faced if the organisation is to remain relevant.

ASEAN International Relations

11 Aug 2022

Hunger, Malnutrition and Climate Change: Challenges Facing Southeast Asia

Prapimphan Chiengkul

Southeast Asian governments must be on guard against worsening food security in the region, lest its effects complicate post-pandemic recovery and exacerbate existing inequalities.

Agriculture Climate Change Environment Food Security

10 Aug 2022

Time for Vietnam to Apply Minimum Wage to Gig Economy Workers

Joe Buckley

On paper, gig workers appear to be paid more than their salaried worker counterparts in Vietnam. But the former have to work for longer hours and do not have access to the same benefits enjoyed by the latter. As such, the proposed raise in minimum wage should be applied to gig workers too.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

10 Aug 2022

China’s Think-Tank Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Idea Exchange or Echo Chamber?

Wang Zheng

China’s intensified efforts to engage with regional think-tanks have not produced the results it has hoped for, mainly because Beijing seems to care more about imposing its own views than a true meeting of the minds.

China Chinese Foreign Policy Diplomacy

8 Aug 2022

55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Much Ado About Everything (or Nothing)?

Sharon Seah|Joanne Lin|Melinda Martinus

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings last week occurred at a time when the region was seeing ructions, be it in the Taiwan Strait, Myanmar or the war in Ukraine. ASEAN can boast that it has retained its convening power, but this in itself might be insufficient.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting China-U.S. Relations Diplomacy Myanmar Ukraine