ARTICLES

10 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

ASEAN’s Image Fades but Expectations Remain High

Melinda Martinus

Southeast Asians welcome a strengthening of ASEAN’s political and economic influence, which has relatively declined in the past year. ASEAN must adapt and assert itself to restore confidence.

ASEAN Southeast Asia

9 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Making the EU a Credible Economic Hedge for ASEAN

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Against a more uncertain global economic backdrop, the European Union and ASEAN face greater urgency to strengthen economic engagement and strategic partnerships.

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.

China Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey US

8 Apr 2025

Migrant Agriculture Workers: Potential Resource for Southeast Asia’s Food-resilient Future

Elyssa Kaur Ludher

Farm labourers returning from overseas can, if empowered, form a pool of experienced talent that Southeast Asia’s vulnerable agricultural sector can tap into for food security.

Agriculture Climate Change Food Security Southeast Asia

7 Apr 2025

Australia Rues “Extreme Strategic Loneliness”

Nick Bisley

Fulcrum editor William Choong discusses Australia’s strategic choices amid intensifying Sino-US rivalry and increased geopolitical flux with Prof Nick Bisley.

AUKUS Australia Dialogues at Fulcrum Southeast Asia US

7 Apr 2025

Autonomous Driving and Southeast Asia: Will it Hit the Road?

Shi Youwei

Chinese and American firms are seeking to export their autonomous driving technologies to Southeast Asia. The signal lesson is that their data-driven models require sensitivity and adaptation to the region’s diverse markets.

EV Cars Southeast Asia Technology

2 Apr 2025

ASEAN Food Security: Climate Adaptation as Urgent as Mitigation

Paul Teng|Elyssa Kaur Ludher

To ensure Southeast Asia’s food security, mitigation or the reduction of emissions only constitutes part of the solution. Adaptation is just as important.

Climate Change Food Security Southeast Asia

12 Mar 2025

Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff Policy: Implications for Southeast Asia

Jayant Menon

The implications of the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policy on Southeast Asia are still unclear, as certain questions need to be answered.

Southeast Asia Tariffs Trade 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 Mar 2025

Challenges of Combating Transnational Drug Trafficking in Southeast Asia

Josiah Patrick P. Bagayas

A long-running saga of a Filipino national convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia underscores the need to address the transnational element of law enforcement against such activities.

Drug Trade Philippine Philippine Politics Southeast Asia