Dr Chheang Vannarith is President of Asian Vision Institute. He was previously Visiting Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
CONTRIBUTORS
Chheang Vannarith
Articles by Chheang Vannarith (8)
Changing Political Landscapes and Leadership Transitions in Southeast Asia
Alexander R. Arifianto|Aries A. Arugay|Chheang Vannarith|Le Hong Hiep|Francis E. Hutchinson|Napon Jatusripitak|Eugene Tan
Electoral politics have been heating up in Southeast Asia after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines and Malaysia elected new leaders in 2022. Vietnam underwent a major leadership change after President Nguyen Xuan Phuc tendered his resignation. Voters in Thailand and Cambodia, headed to the ballot box to elect their representatives, while Singapore voted for a new president this year. 2024 will be a fascinating year for Indonesia as the largest democracy in the region will hold its presidential election. ASEANFocus invites experts to assess the changing political landscape and leadership transitions in Southeast Asia, and its implications for society and regional stability.
Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement: A Cambodian Perspective
Chheang Vannarith
This Long Read examines the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), which came into force in January 2022. It argues that in order to promote industrialisation and export diversification, developing countries need to adopt an integrated industrial-trade-investment strategy. China, as a global trading power, can play a significant role in this process.
Hun Sen’s Visit to Myanmar: A Cambodian View
Chheang Vannarith
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to Myanmar has sparked controversy. The Cambodian view is that fostering a conducive environment for dialogue with the military junta would pave the way for the implementation of ASEAN's five-point consensus.
BRI Projects in Cambodia and Laos Roll On Despite Covid-19
Chheang Vannarith
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the implementation of BRI projects. However, China has swiftly taken measures to keep BRI projects going, notably in Cambodia and Laos, by ensuring financial flow and supply of materials.
Fighting Covid-19: China’s Soft Power Opportunities in Mainland Southeast Asia
Chheang Vannarith
In mainland Southeast Asia, the Chinese government’s effective measures to curb the pandemic outbreak at home and the provision of Covid-19 assistance to regional countries have enhanced China’s soft power. Most of the mainland Southeast Asian countries, except Vietnam, have been receptive to China’s Covid-19 diplomacy.