COMMENTARIES

15 Dec 2021

A Game of Musical Thrones: Candidate Substitutions and Withdrawals in the 2022 Philippine Elections

Jorge V. Tigno

Last-minute substitutions of presidential and vice-presidential candidates have become the new norm in Philippine electoral politics, exposing an abuse of electoral laws and a lack of transparency in candidate selection.

Philippine Philippine Politics

15 Dec 2021

The Grim Future of the Democrat Party in Thailand’s Upper South

Tita Sanglee

As Thailand readies itself for the coming elections, its oldest political party, the Democrat Party, faces an uphill battle in even coming close to regaining its former lustre.

Thai Politics Thailand

15 Dec 2021

Extending TNI Officers’ Retirement Age: More Harm than Good?

Evan A. Laksmana

Raising the retirement age for Indonesian Defence Force officers could worsen logjams for mid- and high-ranking officers, and as well as undermine Indonesia’s broader interests in the Indo-Pacific.

Defence Indonesia Indonesian Military Indonesian Politics

14 Dec 2021

ASEAN and the Group of 7: Same Bed, Different Dreams

Joanne Lin

The Group of 7 is courting ASEAN in a bid to increase its profile in the Indo-Pacific. It is easy to list the convergences in approaches between the two groupings. But the divergences are more significant.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality China U.K. U.S. UNCLOS

13 Dec 2021

Regional Outlook Forum 2022: Regional Disruptions Amidst Global Recovery

Fulcrum

13 Dec 2021

Omicron: Threat to ASEAN’s Trade Recovery

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

The new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus could impact trade in goods and services in ASEAN economies due to increased travel restrictions and the risk of more lockdowns.

Asean Trade COVID-19 Open Borders RCEP Southeast Asia

10 Dec 2021

The Kunming-Vientiane Railway: A Post-pandemic ‘Deus ex machina’ for the Lao Economy?

Nick J. Freeman

The Lao government has committed considerable sums of money and political capital to make the Kunming-Vientiane railway happen. It now needs to secure a return on that investment.

China Economic Development Laos Laos Economy Technology

10 Dec 2021

The Ones to Watch: Chinese Investors in Thailand, Trends and Opportunities

Aranya Siriphon|Fanzura Banu

China has been accelerating its foreign direct investments into the kingdom, even as other investors have pulled out. Thai officials are hopeful that this trend will continue.

China-Thai Relations Thai Economy Thailand

10 Dec 2021

Policymakers’ View

ASEAN and Australia: Advancing Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Will Nankervis

The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Australia sends a strong signal of Australia’s commitment to ASEAN and support for the grouping’s central role in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is focused on working with ASEAN to deliver substance under the CSP, including through a new ‘Australia for ASEAN’ package of scholarships, joint projects and a digital transformation and future skills initiative.

ASEAN Australia Policymakers’ View

9 Dec 2021

Sexism in the 2022 Philippine Elections: A Problem with No Name

Jean Encinas-Franco

Vice President Leni Robredo and Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, are running for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, respectively. Though both are under different tickets, their candidacies underscore the complex journey of women in Philippine politics.

Philippine Philippine Politics