28 May 2025 Will Contradictions within the Indonesian Labour Movement Sharpen? Max Lane From two different May Day events in Jakarta, divergent approaches in negotiating workers’ aims and rights in Indonesia can be discerned. Indonesia Indonesian Politics Labour Rights
27 May 2025 The Strategic Calculations Behind To Lam’s Eurasian Tour Nguyen Khac Giang Vietnamese leader To Lam's recent tour of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan was aimed at diversifying Hanoi’s strategic partnerships and securing Moscow’s backing for its military needs and South China Sea claims. Vietnam Vietnam-Russia relations
27 May 2025 From Cell to Suite: Genuine Illness or Special Favour? Termsak Chalermpalanupap Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faces probes to determine whether his six-month stay in hospital in lieu of prison was justified on medical and legal grounds. Thai Politics Thailand
26 May 2025 A Malaysian Minister’s Clarion Call to Save the Planet Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun converses with Minister Nik Nazmi about the urgent challenges of sustainability and climate change from Malaysian and ASEAN perspectives. Recorded on 28 April 2025. Climate Change Dialogues at Fulcrum Malaysia Sustainable Development
26 May 2025 Key Takeaways for Southeast Asia from US-UK Trade Deal: It Will Be a Hard Slog Stephen Olson As they negotiate with the US for new trade deals, Southeast Asian countries are hoping for at least some relief from the US’ reciprocal tariffs. With the recent US-UK trade deal in mind, these countries should do so with much circumspection. Southeast Asia Tariffs Trade UK US
26 May 2025 ASEAN’s Trade in Services with the US and China: A Hidden Casualty of Trump’s 2.0 Tariffs Tham Siew Yean|Maria Monica Wihardja In services trade, ASEAN has maintained a deficit with the US and a surplus with China. The Trump tariff fixation with goods has omitted services, to the detriment of all sides. Donald Trump Economy U.S. U.S.-ASEAN Relations
23 May 2025 PKR Party Elections Will Shape Malaysia’s Political Future Tricia Yeoh The upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat elections will influence Malaysia’s political future. Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics
23 May 2025 Medical Care: Vietnam’s Underleveraged ‘Soft Power’ in Cambodia Sovinda Po|Kuch Sonika Bun Although Cambodians are still wary of the Vietnamese, they have faith in Vietnam’s medical services — an asset that the government has not yet fully taken advantage of. Cambodia Cambodia-Vietnam Relations Health Vietnam
23 May 2025 The Inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit: Economic Aspirations Amid Strategic Ambiguity Sufian Jusoh|Joanne Lin Sufian Jusoh and Joanne Lin assess Malaysia’s bold initiative to host the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, exploring its strategic rationale, economic potential, and the implications for ASEAN’s centrality in a shifting global order. ASEAN ASEANFocus China Middle East
22 May 2025 Vietnam’s Response to Controversial Mekong Projects in China, Laos, and Cambodia Phan Xuan Dung Vietnam is anxious about the geostrategic implications of upstream Mekong projects in China, Laos, and Cambodia. It faces the dilemma of protecting its vital interests in the Mekong while maintaining stable and cooperative relations with its three neighbours. Cambodia China Laos Mekong River Vietnam
