ARTICLES

16 Aug 2024

China’s Overcapacity and Southeast Asian Economies: A Blessing Despite Concerns

Maria Monica Wihardja|Sherry Tao Kong

China’s purported industrial overcapacity is a double-edged sword for Southeast Asian economies.

15 Aug 2024

The Philippines and West Philippine Sea: Bringing Deterrence Into the Picture

Maria Gabriela Alano|Deryk Baladjay

The Philippines needs to start investing in a credible deterrence strategy if it wants to secure its interests in the West Philippine Sea.

China China-Philippine Relations Philippines South China Sea

7 Aug 2024

China’s Environmental Focus in South China Sea: Questionable Motivations

Lye Liang Fook

China has filed reports on environmental protection in the South China Sea to counter the Philippines’ claim of severe damage to the marine ecosystem at Scarborough Shoal and thwart Manila’s effort to file a legal case against China. But Beijing’s efforts provoke some serious questions about its motivations.

China Philippine South China Sea

2 Aug 2024

Regional Responses to China’s Community of Shared Future for Mankind

In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the concept of building a “community with a shared future for mankind” as a central tenet of his “Thought on Diplomacy” with Chinese characteristics. This ambitious vision encompasses more recent programmes such as the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). To date, seven ASEAN countries, excluding Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines, have endorsed the initiative.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations ASEANFocus China

30 Jul 2024

ASEAN’s Unity Under the Microscope

Joanne Lin|Sharon Seah

Laos, the current chair of ASEAN, has found that it has to grapple with increasingly contentious geopolitical issues.

ASEAN China Laos Philippine South China Sea

26 Jul 2024

Southeast Asian Perceptions of China: Beijing’s Growing Power is Recognised, but Feared

Lee Sue-Ann|William Choong

Data from a multi-year trend analysis of Southeast Asian perceptions of China suggest that the region remains apprehensive about China’s growing power and influence. Yet in the face of greater uncertainty over the future of the United States’ leadership role in the region, the preference has been to try to keep the peace with China.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations China U.S.

26 Jul 2024

Time to Rebalance the Wheels in Thailand’s Green Automotive Policy

Archanun Kohpaiboon

Chinese EV makers are thriving in Thailand due to the country’s tariffs and incentives, but industry incumbents are struggling. Its automotive policy should reconsider how it incentivises consumer choice while fostering industrial transformation.

China EV Cars Thailand transport

24 Jul 2024

Southeast Asia and the Global South: Rhetoric and Reality

Hoang Thi Ha|Cha Hae Won

This article contextualises Southeast Asian countries within the Global South discourse, examining where they align with the characteristics generally associated with the Global South and where they diverge.

China China-Southeast Asia relations International Relations Southeast Asia

19 Jul 2024

China-Philippines Talks: A Sliver of Hope to Reduce Tensions?

Lye Liang Fook

Although China and the Philippines have resumed bilateral talks, they are far from addressing their differences over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

China China-Philippine Relations International Relations Philippine South China Sea