ASEAN has found itself in a battle of narratives between China and the United States, as they seek to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The question is how long the grouping can continue to get the best of both worlds when it comes to major power attention.
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Long Reads
The Mekong River Ecosystem in Crisis: ASEAN Cannot be a Bystander
Despite being the premier regional organisation in Southeast Asia, ASEAN remains a bystander in the imminent collapse of the Mekong River ecosystem. The successful mainstreaming of transboundary haze pollution in ASEAN’s legal and institutional frameworks are instructive for invigorating ASEAN’s engagement in the Mekong issues.
Long Reads
Fighting Covid-19: China’s Soft Power Opportunities in Mainland Southeast Asia
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.
Long Reads
Tracking the Swelling COVID-19 Vaccine Chatter on TikTok in Indonesia
On Indonesian TikTok, anti-vaccine messages are often mixed with global Covid-19 conspiracy theories and merged with domestic anti-government and anti-Chinese sentiments. They are also typically couched in religious discourse and spread by religious micro-influencers.
Long Reads
The Russia-China Strategic Partnership and Southeast Asia: Alignments and Divergences
The Sino-Russian nexus has been strengthening against the backdrop of heightening US-Russia and US-China strategic rivalry. This has some implications for Southeast Asia as Russia and China continue to oppose US hegemony and work to undermine America’s alliances and partnerships.
Long Reads
Covid-19 Economic Recovery: ASEAN’s Mixed Pattern
Half of the ASEAN members have contained the Covid-19 pandemic, but not Indonesia and The Philippines. Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand are dealing with new waves of infection. For countries that have controlled local transmission of the virus, a V-shaped recovery looks likely. For the others, the possibility of a delayed or W-shaped recovery increases the longer reintroduced containment measures stay in place.
Thailand’s New Security Plan Highlights Threats to the Throne
Years of political turmoil and ingrained problems such as inequality, corruption and and inefficient administration have led to declining faith in the monarchy. This has widened political divisions in Thailand – an issue so serious that it has become the focus of Thailand’s latest security plan.
Why is Malaysia Slow to Ratify the CPTPP?
Despite becoming a signatory to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Malaysia has yet to ratify the agreement, citing concerns over the required governance reform that will impact their preferential Bumiputera policies.
Women MPs in the 2019 Thai Parliament
Thailand scores well when it comes to female leadership in the corporate realm, but this is not replicated in the political realm. While female representation is still low in Thai politics, it has been improving with every election – a promising sign of progress.
Huang Jing Case a Test of Nation Building
Singapore’s revocation of the permanent resident status of Huang Jing, a prominent Chinese-American academic, signals the government’s principle in standing up for its core interests. It is a stark reminder of the challenges of nation-building and coherence amid a battle for influence between great powers.
