COMMENTARIES

28 Jul 2026

Melaka State Government: What DAP’s Departure Portends for Federal Government

Tricia Yeoh

DAP’s departure from the Melaka state assembly will have repercussions for the PH-BN unity government at the federal level.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

27 Jul 2026

ASEAN’s Convening Power Meets Its Delivery Test: Lessons From the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Huynh Trung Dung|Joanne Lin|Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Huynh Trung Dung, Joanne Lin and Kristina Fong examine whether ASEAN can convert its convening power and shared commitments into tangible regional outcomes.

27 Jul 2026

Quietly, not Silently: How Vietnam Deals with China on the South China Sea

Huynh Trung Dung

Vietnam did not sign the joint statement on the Tribunal Award invalidating China’s claims on the South China Sea. Hanoi’s consistent "speak less, do more" approach combines public restraint with a range of quieter policy tools.

China South China Sea Vietnam

24 Jul 2026

Redirecting Crypto Exchanges to Fight — Rather than Facilitate — Crypto Scams in Southeast Asia

David Lam

Southeast Asian countries can significantly amplify their anti-scam efforts by compelling crypto exchanges to proactively join the fight. Exchanges are not merely the primary gateways through which scam funds flow — they are also the custodians of valuable on-chain and platform intelligence needed to detect and disrupt those flows.

Cryptocurrency Digital Economy Scam

23 Jul 2026

Thailand’s Defence Budget: Money and Materiel

Paul Chambers

Amid growing fiscal austerity, the Thai government has approved a defence budget largely unchanged from the previous year. This highlights the civilian government’s growing inclination to cater to the inclinations of the military.

Thai Military Thai Politics Thailand

22 Jul 2026

Vietnam’s Ambition for Double-Digit Growth: Rationale and Challenges

Ho Quoc Tuan

Vietnam sees double-digit growth in 2026 and beyond as a political imperative. To achieve this, the government needs to adopt an economic model that aggressively leverages domestic stimulus while managing inflation and asset prices.

Economy Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

21 Jul 2026

When the Indonesian Middle Class Takes to the Streets

Chatib Basri|Maria Monica Wihardja|Abror Tegar Pradana

Empirical evidence shows that a shrinking middle class in Indonesia has led to a growing number of protests. This is pertinent not only to Indonesia, but for other countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy

20 Jul 2026

Negeri Sembilan State Polls Will Shape National Politics

Tricia Yeoh

The inter-party dynamics in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state polls provide some indicators of how they could pan out at the national level.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

17 Jul 2026

ASEAN Oil Stockpile Ambition: Destined for the Same Old Fate?

Elbinsar Purba

There is revived interest in developing an ASEAN oil stockpile, a decades-old concept. The rationale is clear, but the hurdles remain high.

ASEAN Energy

16 Jul 2026

The Grey Capital Malaise Infecting Thailand

Gregory Raymond

Thailand has not been immune to the sweep of ‘grey capital’ afflicting Laos and Myanmar. Given the authorities’ weak-willed approach to fighting the problem, it will continue to fester.

China Laos Myanmar Thai Economy Thailand