ARTICLES

2 Oct 2026

ASEAN@60 Special Edition

ASEAN-EU at 50: Turning Goodwill into Strategic Tech Cooperation

Matej Šimalčík|Filip Šebok

Matej Šimalčík and Filip Šebok argue that as the international order fragments, deeper ASEAN-EU cooperation in critical technologies can turn political goodwill into strategic capital. This can be done by simultaneously advancing mutual economic development and reducing both sides' external dependencies.

18 Sep 2026

The Return of the Trump Tariffs: How Will Southeast Asian Firms Respond?

Jayant Menon

The Trump administration’s dogged determination to reintroduce tariffs on Southeast Asia should spur long-run measures to diversify markets and reduce reliance on the US.

ASEAN Economy Tariffs US

17 Sep 2026

Regional Haze Casts a Pall on ASEAN’s Influence

Melinda Martinus

The return of smoke haze underscores a sobering reality: while ASEAN has policies designed to combat it, the problem continues to occur.

ASEAN Climate Change Environment Haze Southeast Asia

16 Sep 2026

The Diplomatic Limits of Cambodia’s Engagement with Myanmar

Chhay Lim|Joanne Lin

Myanmar is using bilateral diplomacy to establish a semblance of normality with ASEAN member states, even as the bloc’s collective restrictions remain formally in place.

ASEAN Cambodia Myanmar

9 Sep 2026

From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs: Embedding High Integrity into ASEAN Carbon Markets

Renard Siew

Southeast Asia leaves swathes of potential carbon credits stranded and unrealised. ASEAN should embrace the Core Carbon Principles to bolster integrity and growth of its carbon markets.

ASEAN Carbon Markets Climate Change Environment

3 Sep 2026

The Search for Emerging Middle Powers: ASEAN-Türkiye Relations

Sharon Seah|Ian Storey

For ASEAN, Türkiye’s appeal lies in its exercise of strategic autonomy, burgeoning industrial-defence capabilities and emerging middle-power status.

ASEAN ASEAN-Turkiye Relations Regional Cooperation

2 Sep 2026

After the Gulf Crisis: Rethinking ASEAN Energy Security through Regional Grid Governance

Kaho Yu|Jinseok Sung

Kaho Yu and Jinseok Sung argue that ASEAN’s energy security is moving beyond oil and gas, as deeper power-grid integration creates new geopolitical, climate, supply-chain and cybersecurity risks that will require stronger regional resilience.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Energy

27 Aug 2026

Fostering Talent Fleet of Foot: The Need for Harmony and Depth

Tham Siew Yean

The pursuit of high-value manufacturing and knowledge-based services has compelled ASEAN countries to develop systems to support the movement of skilled labour. There are challenges in implementing a uniform system.

ASEAN Labour Market Regional Cooperation

19 Aug 2026

How Do ASEAN Countries Fare in Managing Global Economic Shocks?

Geopolitical conflict, energy disruptions and shifting global supply chains are testing Southeast Asia’s economic resilience. ASEANFocus+ asked regional experts how individual countries are responding and whether ASEAN has the tools to collectively manage the next shock. Their insights highlight the different challenges facing the region, as well as the need for stronger regional coordination, deeper market integration and greater resilience across energy, trade, food and financial systems.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Economic Development Supply Chains