28 Apr 2025 Indonesia’s Food Estates: Why Poor Public Policy Persists Fannesa Adisty Laksmita Indonesia’s presidents keep trying to make food estates work but the scheme will fall short without engaging the true stakeholders and honestly assessing the project’s merits. Food Security Indonesia Indonesian Politics
25 Apr 2025 The Significance of the Malaysia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Tham Siew Yean The agreement builds on a rapidly strengthening economic relationship, with potential benefits for the UAE’s diversification and Malaysia’s trade and investment. Malaysia Malaysian Economy
25 Apr 2025 US Aid Cuts and Travel Ban Will Impact Laos Nick J. Freeman The US has reduced its overseas assistance to Laos significantly. At a time when other countries are following suit, Vientiane will be hard-pressed to find alternatives. Foreign Aid Laos US
24 Apr 2025 Trump’s Tariff Reversal: An Opportunity for Trade Realignment in Southeast Asia Deasy Pane|Siwage Dharma Negara As trade policy takes a volatile turn under the US leader, ASEAN can seize the moment to diversify global partnerships and assert a stronger voice in the international trade order. Donald Trump Southeast Asia Tariffs US
24 Apr 2025 From Resistance to Survival: Myanmar’s Free Press Battles US Aid Cuts Surachanee Sriyai The repercussions of the US’ funding freeze on foreign assistance resonate deeply in Southeast Asia, including in one of the countries where press freedom and independent reportage are most threatened. Foreign Aid Myanmar Press Freedom US
23 Apr 2025 Xi’s Southeast Asia Tour: China Needs More Than a Charm Offensive Phan Xuan Dung|Nguyen Khac Giang China has embarked on a charm offensive in Southeast Asia in the wake of the US’ “Liberation Day” tariffs. This is unlikely to allay concerns about its regional behaviour. ASEAN-China Relations China
23 Apr 2025 Will Trump Maintain the East Asian Power Balance? Daljit Singh Interpreting the US’ intentions for East and Southeast Asia, given the uncertainty unleashed by the present American leadership, is challenging but necessary. At stake is nothing less than the region’s strategic balance. Donald Trump Southeast Asia Tariffs US
22 Apr 2025 Vietnam Navigates Trump’s Trade Headwinds: Making Virtue Out of Necessity Hoang Thi Ha Vietnam has been navigating the potential trade headwinds from the second Trump administration with pragmatism and opportunism, aligning with Trump’s transactional approach. The focus has been on fostering corporate partnerships, framing Vietnam-US economic ties as win-win instead of virtue-signalling on free trade. U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam Vietnamese Economy Vietnamese Politics
22 Apr 2025 Vietnam’s New Revolution: Will Provincial Mergers Bring Disruptions or Opportunities? Le Hong Hiep If all goes well, Vietnam’s bold administrative reform to trim its local and provincial bureaucracy and governments could unleash more power in the country’s socioeconomic engines and secure its leader’s legacy. Teething problems can be expected, nonetheless. Civil Society Vietnam Vietnamese Politics
22 Apr 2025 US Tariffs and ASEAN Food Security: Turning Short-Term Pain into Long-Term Gain Paul Teng Southeast Asia could use this disruption in food trade to strengthen collaboration, reduce dependency, and create a truly integrated regional market. Agri-Trade Agriculture ASEAN Food Security
