COMMENTARIES

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.

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

8 Aug 2022

Indonesia Versus Malaysia: Ruffled Feathers in Chicken Export Competition?

Siwage Dharma Negara|Peh Ko Hsu

Malaysia’s ban on chicken exports to Singapore has allowed Indonesia to join the competitive poultry export market.

Agri-Trade Asean Trade Indonesian Economy Malaysian Economy Singapore

5 Aug 2022

Pelosi Visit to Taiwan: Lasting Impact on Southeast Asia

David Arase

Following Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has sought to bully the island with a series of import bans and a de facto blockade. Southeast Asian countries should take this to heart.

China-U.S. Relations South China Sea Taiwan U.S. Foreign Policy US

5 Aug 2022

On the United States, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and US Freedom of Navigation Operations

Robert Beckman

The US has not become a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) despite the overwhelming support for US accession by all American government agencies, major interest groups. This has been a serious impediment to the US’ credibility in promoting and enforcing a rules-based maritime order.

South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy UNCLOS US

4 Aug 2022

Malaysia’s GE15: Not All Youth Votes Are Equal

James Chai

Malaysia’s Undi18, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, was supposed to empower a new generation of voters. As it turns out, however, not all youth votes have the same weight.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

4 Aug 2022

Bangkok’s Flawed Plan to Allow Foreign Land Ownership

Prem Singh Gill|Ratana Boy

Bangkok’s recent proposal to allow foreigners to buy land in Thailand is poorly thought out and will not be the panacea for the Thai economy that the government envisages.

investment Thai Economy Thai Politics Thailand