COMMENTARIES

3 Aug 2021

Team Biden: A Southeast Asia Reset

Victor Ha

Compared to China, the Biden Administration has been slow off the blocks in the game of winning friends and influencing people in Southeast Asia. It has its work cut out for it.

2 Aug 2021

Between Religious Rituals and Safety Protocols in the Time of a Pandemic

Sharifah Afra Alatas|Nur Syafiqah Mohd Taufek

Religious leaders have an important role to play, in word and deed, to safeguard the physical and spiritual well-being of their flock during this pandemic.

COVID-19 Health Malaysia Malaysian Politics Religion

30 Jul 2021

BRI Projects in Cambodia and Laos Roll On Despite Covid-19

Chheang Vannarith

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the implementation of BRI projects. However, China has swiftly taken measures to keep BRI projects going, notably in Cambodia and Laos, by ensuring financial flow and supply of materials.

Belt and Road Initiative China-Cambodia Relations COVID-19

28 Jul 2021

Why is Vietnam’s Military Modernisation Slowing?

Nguyen The Phuong

Security challenges presented by the South China Sea dispute led to Vietnam’s efforts to modernise its armed forces over the past two decades. However, after the fall of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2016, the procurement of major military assets has virtually ground to a halt.

Security South China Sea Vietnam Vietnamese Military

28 Jul 2021

Thailand’s No Sa-lim Shopping List: Taking Aim at Big Business

Wichuta Teeratanabodee

Thai pro-democracy protestors have started to boycott big businesses deemed as pro-regime. While the sheer pervasiveness of these companies makes effective boycott difficult, it has not deterred protestors from exercising their power as consumers.

Thai Economy Thai Politics Thailand

28 Jul 2021

Secretary Austin’s Visit to Vietnam: Building Trust to Strengthen Defence Ties

Le Hong Hiep

The expected signing of a memorandum of understanding to resolve war legacy issues during US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to Vietnam will go a long way in developing bilateral defence ties.

U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

27 Jul 2021

Congress and America’s Negative Turn Against China: Strategic Ballast

Robert Sutter

In recent years, the US Congress has played a major role in America’s unprecedented turn against China.

China-U.S. Relations U.S. Foreign Policy

27 Jul 2021

The United States’ “Mini” Shangri-La Dialogue: Stand and Deliver

William Choong

When Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, speaks at the 40th Fullerton Lecture in Singapore tonight, he will need to go beyond speaking about esoteric concepts such as the “rules-based international order” and promise that Washington will provide tangible deliverables in the form of pandemic assistance, economic growth and trade.

China-U.S. Relations Quad Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. Foreign Policy

26 Jul 2021

ASEAN and the Problem of Legitimacy

Sharon Seah

ASEAN needs to decide whether Myanmar’s State Administration Council has the legal capacity to engage in international relations that has direct impact on ASEAN’s own legal capacity as an inter-governmental organisation.

ASEAN ASEAN Unity Myanmar