ARTICLES

15 Mar 2022

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Southeast Asian Responses and Why the Conflict Matters to the Region

Ian Storey|William Choong

ASEAN’s official response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was relatively mild, reflecting the lowest common denominator of the varied positions taken by ASEAN member states. But the grouping needs to be mindful of the dangerous precedents set by Russia’s actions.

14 Mar 2022

Tourism in Southeast Asia: Building Forward Better

Sanchita Basu Das

Countries need to mutually recognize each other’s vaccination certificates, harmonize rules on travel procedures, and safeguard public health to manage the pandemic. This will enable the countries to capture new source markets, thus compensating for the revenue loss due to the decrease in Chinese tourists.

ASEAN Tourism

11 Mar 2022

The Intractable Challenges Facing Energy Trade in Southeast Asia

Ryan Wong|Lee Poh Onn

A cross-border power grid offers Southeast Asian countries the potential of greater energy security, affordability and sustainability. But thus far, the lack of urgency in sharing energy to achieve long-term security across the region is palpable.

ASEAN Asean Trade Energy

11 Mar 2022

School Closures and Child Labour: The Pandemic’s Social Cost

Thai Long|Phi Minh Hong

The disruption of face-to-face education and internet inaccessibility may cause children to drop out of school permanently. Children who leave school and start working face greater difficulty resuming their education in the future.

ASEAN Child Labour COVID-19 Education

1 Mar 2022

Is ASEAN a Toothless Tiger in the Face of Ukraine Crisis?

Joanne Lin|William Choong

ASEAN says that it is ‘deeply concerned’ about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but it has stopped short of condemning Moscow. The statement by the grouping reflects varied perspectives among member states. But it is important for smaller states in ASEAN to uphold the aegis of international law.

ASEAN ASEAN-Russia Relations Russia Ukraine

23 Feb 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Southeast Asians’ View of Quad and AUKUS: Some Thaw, But Not Yet Warm

William Choong

In recent years, the United States has sought to involve its middle-power friends and allies in various regional initiatives to counter a rising China. Southeast Asia continues to have mixed feelings about this.

ASEAN AUKUS Quad

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

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

31 Jan 2022

A Regional Digital Vaccine Certificate in ASEAN, Posthaste

Melinda Martinus

ASEAN needs to work on a common standard for the certification of vaccination statuses. This would facilitate safe and unrestrained movement as borders open up again.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity