COMMENTARIES

11 Nov 2021

State of Southeast Asia Survey 2022

State of Southeast Asia Survey Survey

10 Nov 2021

How Much Longer Can Thailand’s Prime Minister Rule Before Reaching the Eight-year Limit?

Termsak Chalermpalanupap

A dispute has emerged over when Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha’s premiership will reach the constitutional limit.

Thai Politics Thailand

10 Nov 2021

Cambodia’s Chairing of ASEAN: The Heat is On

Joanne Lin

As the chair of ASEAN in 2022, Cambodia will have a lot to prove, be it on issues such as Myanmar, the South China Sea, and the grouping’s external relations.

ASEAN ASEAN Summit ASEAN Unity Cambodia

9 Nov 2021

Southeast Asia and the Major Powers: Climate Change and the Need For Shrewdness

Melinda Martinus|Sharon Seah

Although geopolitics is encroaching onto climate change discussions, a poll shows that Southeast Asians remain objective and pragmatic. Achieving climate goals in the region depends on realpolitik and ASEAN leaders’ shrewdness in tapping resources from all major powers.

China Climate Change E.U. Environment Southeast Asia Sustainable Development U.S.

8 Nov 2021

Political Coalitions in Malaysia: Fluid, Fleeting and Fickle

Francis E. Hutchinson

Despite being part of the same coalition as the United Malays National Organisation at the national level, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia is contesting against the grand old party in the upcoming state elections in Malacca. This might well reflect a new normal in the country’s politics.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

8 Nov 2021

Standing Up to Be Counted

Michael Schaper

The lack of common and comparable ASEAN-wide business statistics is an impediment to realising the vision of an ASEAN Economic Community.

ASEAN Asean Trade Economic Planning

8 Nov 2021

Why US Rivalry with China Will Endure: Implications for Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

Despite the Biden government’s efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asia, considerable domestic constraints hinder Washington from joining multilateral economic groups or de-emphasising human rights concerns to compete more effectively with China in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Cold War South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

5 Nov 2021

Malaysia’s National Trade Blueprint: Mind the Gap

Tham Siew Yean

Malaysia’s newly unveiled National Trade Blueprint seeks to arrest the country’s downward slide in global export rankings. But its prescriptions may fall short of what is needed in today’s environment.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Non-Tariff Barriers

5 Nov 2021

Is Cambodia’s Endemic Covid-19 Approach Sensible?

Jayant Menon

With high vaccination rates, Cambodia has decided to reopen. Learning to live with the virus may be the right decision but ending random testing could pose risks.

Cambodia COVID-19 Open Borders

5 Nov 2021

ASEAN Summits: Be Like Water

Sharon Seah|Moe Thuzar

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to ISEAS researchers Moe Thuzar and Sharon Seah about the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits. They discuss the key highlights of the meetings, ASEAN’s continued engagement with external powers such as Australia, China and the United States, and Cambodia’s chairing of ASEAN in 2022.

ASEAN ASEAN Summit ASEAN Unity Dialogues at Fulcrum Myanmar Regional Cooperation