ARTICLES

29 Apr 2020

ASEAN and Covid-19: Sandwiched Between Two Giants

Hoang Thi Ha

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.

ASEAN COVID-19

22 Apr 2020

ASEAN Cities: The Rise of Paradiplomacy

Melinda Martinus

City governments around the world, in particular in Southeast Asia, have been forming multilateral platforms to tackle issues of climate change and income disparity.

20 Apr 2020

Poor Countries and Covid-19: Flattening the Misery Curve

Jayant Menon

Countries have gone all out to flatten the infection curve of Covid-19. But given the economic costs inflicted on the vulnerable poor, it might be time to think about flattening the misery curve.

ASEAN COVID-19

8 Apr 2020

Global Leadership is Flagging. Can ASEAN or ASEAN+3 Step Up?

Jayant Menon

Both ASEAN and its Plus Three partners – China, Japan and Korea – have been ramping up efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. It is time now for the Plus Three to step up to the plate.

ASEAN COVID-19 Regional Cooperation

3 Apr 2020

Tariff Reductions In RCEP: They Still Matter for ASEAN Trade

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

Exporters in ASEAN are likely to face lower demand for their goods under the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as three ASEAN dialogue partners – China, Japan and the Republic of Korea – are likely to intensify trade flows among them. This does not mean there is no room for ASEAN to accrue gains from the trade deal.

ASEAN Asean Trade RCEP

1 Apr 2020

Britain and the Asia-Pacific: Global Interests versus Regional Engagement

James Bosbotinis

Britain has intensified its engagement with Asia-Pacific countries, in particular Southeast Asia. But London’s global interests will limit its ability to project a meaningful presence in the region.

ASEAN Defence

26 Mar 2020

Covid-19 Doesn’t Just Take Lives. It Also Takes Livelihoods

Michael Schaper

The economic storm stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic is taking its toll on businesses. But self-employed workers are taking the brunt of it.

ASEAN COVID-19

1 Nov 2019

US Downgrading of Summit Representations Sets Worrying Precedent for ASEAN

Tang Siew Mun|Glenn Ong

The appointment of National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien as the United States' Special Envoy to the East Asia Summit should have been seen as a sign of encouragement due to his close connection to the President. But it may also be perceived as a snub as he will be the first US delegate who is deemed to be not senior enough in the pecking order.

ASEAN EAS U.S.

28 Jun 2019

Revised Title ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’ Hints at Ambivalence

Hoang Thi Ha|Glenn Ong

A shift in semantics in ASEAN's official response to new and emerging Indo-Pacific concepts shows that the grouping has yet to fully internalise the region as part of its strategic culture.

ASEAN Indo-Pacfic

25 Jun 2019

ASEAN, Myanmar, and the Rohingya Issue

Moe Thuzar

Marred by criticisms of being too lenient or too slow, ASEAN's ability to credibly engage Myanmar on the Rohingya issue was discussed at length during the 34th ASEAN Summit. Unfortunately, this decades-long problem is one that needs time and patience to resolve in a meaningful and lasting manner.

ASEAN Myanmar Politics Rohingya