COMMENTARIES

21 Feb 2022

Polite Wolves: China’s Soft Twitter Diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Darren Cheong

China's diplomats have gained fame on Western social media platforms for their strident 'wolf warrior' discourse. But the strategy is not applied uniformly across all countries. In fact, they have taken a more polite tone towards Southeast Asian countries.

ASEAN-China Relations China

18 Feb 2022

The Biden Administration and Southeast Asia: One Year in Review

Hoang Thi Ha|Ian Storey

The Biden administration’s engagement with Southeast Asia in 2021 gained momentum in the second half of the year after a slow start. In 2022, the US will be assessed on the value of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a clearer articulation of its Indo-Pacific strategy and the extent to which it demonstrates genuine efforts to upgrade relations with ASEAN.

ASEAN-U.S. Relations U.S.

18 Feb 2022

The CLMV Countries and RCEP: Will They Grasp the Opportunities?

Jayant Menon

Like all members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam will enjoy preferential access to the expansive region’s markets. As the least developed members, however, they will have to undergo the greatest changes in reforming their tariff and non-tariff policies to meet the requirements of this modern agreement.

ASEAN CLMV RCEP

18 Feb 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

China Should Build Trust Where it Matters

Joanne Lin

The majority of Southeast Asians continue to regard China as the most influential political, strategic and economic power in the region. But wariness of this state of affairs has not gone away.

ASEAN-China Relations China Diplomacy State of Southeast Asia Survey

17 Feb 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Hope Deferred Makes Southeast Asia’s Heart Sick

Sharon Seah

The US has gained brownie points among Southeast Asians, who put great store in Washington championing free trade and upholding the rules-based order. But Washington has its work cut out for it in deepening economic linkages to Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific.

ASEAN-U.S. Relations Diplomacy International Trade Security State of Southeast Asia Survey

16 Feb 2022

Myanmar Crisis: A Humanitarian Stalemate or Fresh Opportunities?

Adelina Kamal

The upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers retreat affords an opportunity to consider fresh approaches to break the current humanitarian stalemate in Myanmar.

ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Myanmar

16 Feb 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey: Diverse Perspectives and Hard Realities

Terence Chong

The US has gained ground against China in the contest for regional influence in Southeast Asia, according to the latest State of Southeast Asia Survey. ASEAN continues to be seen as ineffective in the eyes of respondents; at the same time, they are willing to give it credit when it is due.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations Climate Change COVID-19 State of Southeast Asia Survey

15 Feb 2022

Harnessing RCEP to Harvest ASEAN’s Unicorns

Tham Siew Yean

Can regional free trade agreements facilitate further development of start-ups and unicorns in ASEAN? The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement does just that by providing an expanded regional market, bolstering protection of intellectual property and enhancing rules in services and e-commerce.

Asean Trade RCEP Technology

15 Feb 2022

Philippines Presidential Polls: Economic Recovery at Stake

JC Punongbayan

There is a lot at stake in the Philippines' 2022 presidential polls, especially where the economy is concerned. The new president faces the formidable challenge of putting the economy on a steady course to recovery.

Philippine Philippine Elections Philippine Politics