ARTICLES

28 Jul 2021

Why is Vietnam’s Military Modernisation Slowing?

Nguyen The Phuong

Security challenges presented by the South China Sea dispute led to Vietnam’s efforts to modernise its armed forces over the past two decades. However, after the fall of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2016, the procurement of major military assets has virtually ground to a halt.

7 Jul 2021

Why the New Indonesia-US Maritime Training Centre is Strategically Important

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan

A new maritime training centre established by Indonesia and the United States is emblematic of sustained bilateral cooperation in the maritime domain, and the ASEAN member state’s independent and active foreign policy.

Indo-Pacfic Indonesia South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy

2 Jul 2021

After Black Sea Encounter, British FONOP in the South China Sea Quite Possible

Ian Storey

As a British Carrier Strike Group heads towards Southeast Asia, speculation is rife that a Royal Navy warship will conduct a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea. A recent incident in the Black Sea may shorten the odds of that happening.

China Russia South China Sea U.K. U.S.

30 Jun 2021

PLA Overflight near Malaysian Airspace: A Precarious Provocation

Abdul Razak Ahmad|Kuik Cheng-Chwee|Lai Yew Meng

China’s deployment of People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft near Malaysia’s air space last month smacks of hypocrisy and creeping hegemony. Beijing may not be as benevolent as it wants smaller states to believe.

China China-Malaysia Relations Malaysia South China Sea

11 Jun 2021

A New Height of ASEAN-China Relations? Not Quite, Not Yet

Hoang Thi Ha

China and ASEAN had a fairly successful meeting in Chongqing recently. But the conclusion that Beijing has orchestrated a win over Washington in Southeast Asia is premature.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations South China Sea

4 Jun 2021

Chinese Aircraft Approaching! An Opportunity for Malaysian Airpower

Wu Shang-Su

Malaysia’s airpower capabilities may not be enough to respond to stepped-up Chinese activities above Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.

China China-Malaysia Relations Malaysia South China Sea

21 May 2021

Philippine-US Cooperation on Whitsun Reef: A “Win” for the Biden Team in Southeast Asia?

Robert Sutter

Southeast Asian views of the United States declined during the Trump administration, and persisted into the Biden administration early on in the year. But Washington’s sustained support for Manila amid the latter’s recent confrontation with China in the South China Sea has helped to offset negative perceptions of Uncle Sam in the region.

China-U.S. Relations Philippine Politics Philippine-U.S. Relations South China Sea

14 Apr 2021

US Indo-Pacific Strategy: Digging in For the Long Game

Daljit Singh

It is easy to find fault with the recently-declassified version of the United States’ strategic framework for the Indo-Pacific. The fact remains, however, that the US is making strategic adjustments to steel itself for years, if not decades, of strategic competition with China.

China-U.S. Relations South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy U.S. Pacific Fleet