COMMENTARIES

12 Jul 2024

Timor Leste’s First Quarter Century: Opportunities and Challenges

Hal Hill|Brett Inder

Having enjoyed 25 years as an independent entity, Timor Leste has a lot to celebrate. But there are major economic challenges.

Economic Development Timor-Leste

12 Jul 2024

Rise of Chinese Language in Vietnam Hinders Plans to Bring Back Russian

Nguyen Thanh Giang|Le Hong Hiep

There is a Russian-Vietnamese plan to bring the learning of Russian back to Vietnamese schools. But the reality is that English and Chinese are the most popular languages in the country.

11 Jul 2024

Corruption Eradication in Indonesia: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Astrid Meilasari-Sugiana|Gunardi Endro|Siwage Dharma Negara

Public expectations for corruption eradication will never be met unless fundamental reforms are implemented within Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and other law enforcement agencies, including the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office. Also needed are curbs on the cosy relationships between politicians and big business.

Corruption Indonesia Indonesian Politics

11 Jul 2024

Myanmar’s Military Funds Its War through Forex Policy

Jared Bissinger

Myanmar’s military regime is increasingly utilising foreign exchange policy to extract funding, which threatens to hasten economic decline. It is important to find avenues for economic activity outside the system for the benefit of Myanmar’s people.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military

11 Jul 2024

How Much of Vietnam’s Policy Reform is due to FTAs?

Jayant Menon

Vietnam has progressed in embracing market-based reforms, but its reform agenda remains unfinished. Recent free trade agreements have maintained reform momentum, but Vietnam’s earlier accession to ASEAN and the WTO continues to influence the economy.

International Relations International Trade Vietnam Vietnamese Economy Vietnamese Politics

10 Jul 2024

Malaysia has Removed Diesel Subsidies – Now Must Manage the Fallout

Serina Rahman

Malaysia has commenced fuel subsidy rationalisation by shifting from general to targeted diesel subsidies, but there is still some economic fallout. The government needs to do more to help those bearing the cost.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Southeast Asia

10 Jul 2024

Thailand’s Grand Compromise Tested, or Back to Square One?

Napon Jatusripitak

Depending on one’s perspective, the grand political compromise in Thailand is either collapsing or still remains intact.

Southeast Asia Thai Politics Thailand

9 Jul 2024

Southeast Asia and BRICS: Fear of Missing Out

Sharon Seah

The fact that five Southeast Asian countries are seeking to join BRICS should not be seen as an affront to the West and its so-called rules-based order.

China India Malaysia Southeast Asia Thailand

9 Jul 2024

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in Indonesia and Vietnam: Implications for Southeast Asia

Melinda Martinus

JETP implementation in Vietnam and Indonesia faces challenges such as significant financing gaps, criticisms regarding the attractiveness of financing packages, difficulties in aligning donor and recipient countries’ expectations, the complex political-economic landscape of the coal industry, and concerns over the social impacts of energy transitions.

Environment Indonesia Sustainable Development Vietnam