ARTICLES

8 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Beijing Retains Considerable Weight in Regional Perceptions

Sharon Seah|Eugene R.L. Tan

Despite some apprehension about its actions, Beijing continues to retain considerable weight among Southeast Asian elites. This should improve if China learns to temper its assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea.

14 Mar 2025

Indonesia’s Probable Foreign Policy Shift from the West under a Prabowo Administration

Melinda Martinus

Under Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia is expected to further distance itself from traditional Western alliances — a trend initiated during Jokowi’s administration — by prioritising partnerships within Asia, particularly with China for trade and investment, and strengthening regional cooperation through ASEAN and BRICS.

China Indonesia Indonesia Foreign Policy US

11 Mar 2025

COMAC’s C919 in Southeast Asia: Needs More than Price to Take Flight

Tang Meng Kit

China’s COMAC is touting its C919 aircraft as a cost-effective alternative to the Airbus-Boeing duopoly. Success, however, depends on overcoming significant challenges such as certification and establishing reliable maintenance networks.

China China-Southeast Asia relations Southeast Asia

7 Feb 2025

Chinese EVs in Southeast Asia: More Sustainable Approach Needed

Shi Youwei

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) firms have made inroads into the Southeast Asian market. But they cannot take their current position for granted.

China China-Southeast Asia relations EV Cars Southeast Asia

4 Feb 2025

Chinese Streaming Content in Southeast Asia: Opportunities for Thailand

Kornphanat Tungkeunkunt

China is using popular drama series to expand its soft power in Southeast Asia, and in particular, Thailand.

China China-Thai Relations Media Thailand

22 Jan 2025

Will Southeast Asian Countries Pass the US’ Heightened Export Controls?

Maria Monica Wihardja|George Tan

Tightened controls on exports of advanced technologies with US-origin components or technologies will affect key semiconductor-related manufacturing sectors. Southeast Asia can respond with short, medium, and long-run strategies.

China International Trade Southeast Asia Tariffs US

2 Jan 2025

Outlook 2025

The South China Sea in 2025: More of the Same, Possibly Worse

Ian Storey

The prognosis for tensions in the South China Sea dispute this year is pretty straightforward: what has been and is will continue to be so, and perhaps even worse.

China Indonesia Outlook 2025 Philippine South China Sea Vietnam

31 Dec 2024

2024 Top 10

Chinese in Malaysia: Proud of China’s Rise, Yet Fiercely Malaysian

Peter T. C. Chang

Chinese Malaysians are proud of China’s rise as a great power. But they have also forged a separate cultural identity quite apart from China’s efforts.

2024 Top 10 China China-Malaysia Relations Ethnic Malaysia