ARTICLES

11 Feb 2022

Chinese Students in Thailand: Cash Cow, At a Cost

Aranya Siriphon|Fanzura Banu

Thailand is reaping the benefits of a steady stream of Chinese students being enrolled in its universities. The trend, however, is not cost-free.

6 Jan 2022

Policymakers’ View

Whatever Happened to the Middle Way?

Teo Chee Hean

In an increasingly fractious world, Singapore and like-minded countries can reclaim the middle ground and build greater consensus and cooperation. Speaking at ISEAS’ 25th Regional Outlook Forum today, Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, spoke of how this can be achieved. The full text of the speech at the online forum is below.

ASEAN China Policymakers’ View Southeast Asia U.S.

14 Dec 2021

ASEAN and the Group of 7: Same Bed, Different Dreams

Joanne Lin

The Group of 7 is courting ASEAN in a bid to increase its profile in the Indo-Pacific. It is easy to list the convergences in approaches between the two groupings. But the divergences are more significant.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality China U.K. U.S. UNCLOS

10 Dec 2021

The Kunming-Vientiane Railway: A Post-pandemic ‘Deus ex machina’ for the Lao Economy?

Nick J. Freeman

The Lao government has committed considerable sums of money and political capital to make the Kunming-Vientiane railway happen. It now needs to secure a return on that investment.

China Economic Development Laos Laos Economy Technology

9 Nov 2021

Southeast Asia and the Major Powers: Climate Change and the Need For Shrewdness

Melinda Martinus|Sharon Seah

Although geopolitics is encroaching onto climate change discussions, a poll shows that Southeast Asians remain objective and pragmatic. Achieving climate goals in the region depends on realpolitik and ASEAN leaders’ shrewdness in tapping resources from all major powers.

China Climate Change E.U. Environment Southeast Asia Sustainable Development U.S.

8 Nov 2021

Why US Rivalry with China Will Endure: Implications for Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

Despite the Biden government’s efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asia, considerable domestic constraints hinder Washington from joining multilateral economic groups or de-emphasising human rights concerns to compete more effectively with China in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Cold War South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

22 Oct 2021

Southeast Asian Responses to AUKUS: Arms Racing, Non-Proliferation and Regional Stability

William Choong|Ian Storey

AUKUS is a wake-up call to ASEAN that it needs to be more proactive on security issues and cannot take its centrality for granted.

ASEAN Unity AUKUS Australia China Quad South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

6 Oct 2021

The Philippines and the South China Sea Arbitration Award: External Appeasement and Internal Dissension

Jay L. Batongbacal

Since taking office in 2016, Philippine President Duterte has downplayed the South China Sea Arbitration Award in the hope of gaining China’s infrastructure and financial offerings. This hope has so far remained unfulfilled.

China China-Philippine Relations Philippine South China Sea

22 Sep 2021

China’s Recent Foray into the North Natuna Sea is Problematic

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan

A Chinese survey ship was reported to be operating in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea last week. This is not new, but this time the survey ship was reportedly accompanied by at least six Chinese naval vessels. Jakarta should consider a firm response to Beijing.

China China-Indonesia Relations Indonesia South China Sea

22 Sep 2021

China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in Malaysia: Problems and Prospects

Peter T. C. Chang

In Malaysia, Pfizer is the vaccine of choice, anchoring the national immunisation program as China’s boosters are relegated to a supporting role. The downgrading notwithstanding, China’s vaccine diplomacy remains a prime mover in the unfinished worldwide battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

China Malaysia Vaccine Diplomacy