COMMENTARIES

10 Jun 2022

Assessing the Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia amid the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021-2022)

Wang Zheng

Data analysis from an original dataset tracking major China-financed projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia since January 2021 shows that China remains committed to boosting BRI projects’ progress.

ASEAN-China Relations Belt and Road Initiative

10 Jun 2022

Bigger Constituencies, Lesser Political Clout

James Chai

An opposition MP’s decision not to contest in his mega-sized constituency come the next general election has thrown up a longstanding irony in Malaysian politics: bigger seats are increasingly disenfranchised.

9 Jun 2022

#LeaveNoOneBehind: Ensuring Universal Energy Access in SEA’s Transition

Prapimphan Chiengkul

ASEAN is unlikely to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 as it transitions to cleaner energy. While some encouraging steps have been taken to assure the region’s citizens of energy access, much more needs to be done to bring the entire region on an equal footing.

ASEAN Energy Renewable Energy Sustainable Development

8 Jun 2022

It Takes Two to Tango: Vietnam-US Relations in the New Context

Hong-Kong Nguyen|Pham-Muoi Nguyen

Vietnam’s delicate balancing act between major powers suggests that it is unlikely to advance a relationship with one power at the expense of another. Instead, it will try to maintain an independent position and promote ties with all powers, where possible.

International Relations U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

8 Jun 2022

Fresh From Latest Win, Thai PM Will Still Run The Gauntlet

Termsak Chalermpalanupap

Thai premier Prayut Chan-ocha has steered through the successful passing of a budget bill. But he has other political minefields to cross before his term in office ends in March 2023.

Thai Economy Thai Politics Thailand

8 Jun 2022

Brother Can You Spare a Kyat? Currency Woes in Myanmar

Ye Khaung Oo

The Central Bank of Myanmar has miscalculated badly in inadvertently creating the conditions for a more unstable economy with its latest announcements.

Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

7 Jun 2022

Conflict Mismanagement: Beijing and Naypyidaw’s Counter-Effective Moves in Shan State

Drake Avila

Supporting Myanmar’s military junta while backing certain ethnic armed groups in Shan State is proving to be a riskier move for Beijing. The stakes will get higher if the spill-over from local conflicts paves the way for increased resistance to Naypyitaw.

China-Myanmar Relations Myanmar Myanmar Military

7 Jun 2022

Scaling the Shangri-La Dialogue

James Crabtree

In this episode, William Choong, managing editor of Fulcrum, talks to James Crabtree, executive director of International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), the London-headquartered think tank which runs the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

China Defence Dialogues at Fulcrum Diplomacy Indo-Pacfic U.S. Foreign Policy

6 Jun 2022

App-based Drivers in Vietnam: More Workers than Contractors

Joe Buckley

There has been a vigorous debate in Vietnam as to whether drivers for digital platforms are workers or contractors. They should be classified as the former.

Digitalisation Labour Exploitation Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

6 Jun 2022

ASEAN Cooperation Post-2025: A Vision for Collaborative Governance

Sanchita Basu Das

As ASEAN emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an opportunity for collaborative governance to boost the region’s capacity to meet future challenges in the economy, geopolitics, and the environment.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity Asean Trade Digitalisation Security