ARTICLES

21 Oct 2026

Southeast Asia Should Double Down on the AI Supply Chain

Robert Walker

AI-related exports are a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy global economy. This represents an opportunity for Southeast Asia.

12 Oct 2026

Thailand’s Car Industry in Transition: Balancing Old and New Technologies

Archanun Kohpaiboon

Thailand’s auto industry is in flux, to the chagrin of the established auto industry. The policy heavily favouring electric vehicles may need to be rebalanced.

Economy EV Cars Supply Chains Thailand

22 Sep 2026

Between Interdependence and Diversification: Southeast Asia’s Room for Manoeuvre in Critical Minerals

Zha Daojiong

China and the US appear to be pressurising countries to choose between their respective critical mineral and technology supply chains. The choice, however, is a false one.

China Mining Supply Chains US

19 Aug 2026

How Do ASEAN Countries Fare in Managing Global Economic Shocks?

Geopolitical conflict, energy disruptions and shifting global supply chains are testing Southeast Asia’s economic resilience. ASEANFocus+ asked regional experts how individual countries are responding and whether ASEAN has the tools to collectively manage the next shock. Their insights highlight the different challenges facing the region, as well as the need for stronger regional coordination, deeper market integration and greater resilience across energy, trade, food and financial systems.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Economic Development Supply Chains

14 May 2026

ASEAN’s Collective Resilience Agenda: Can It Deliver Under Pressure?

Joanne Lin|Kristina Fong Siew Leng|Melinda Martinus

Joanne Lin, Kristina Fong and Melinda Martinus argue that as global crises become increasingly interconnected, ASEAN faces mounting pressure to strengthen energy security, maritime cooperation, and crisis coordination before the next disruption strikes.

ASEAN ASEAN Summit ASEANFocus Energy Supply Chains

31 Dec 2024

2024 Top 10

The ‘Second China Shock’ and its Implications for Southeast Asia

John Lee

China’s progress up the technological ladder will impact Southeast Asian economies.

2024 Top 10 China Economy Southeast Asia Supply Chains

15 Jul 2024

The ‘Second China Shock’ and its Implications for Southeast Asia

John Lee

China’s progress up the technological ladder will impact Southeast Asian economies.

China Economy Southeast Asia Supply Chains

12 Jan 2024

ASEAN Economies in the Tech Supply Chain Sweet Spot?

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Ongoing trade Sino-U.S. tensions and the need to redirect FDI away from China may present a golden opportunity for economies in Southeast Asia.

Foreign Direct Investment Southeast Asia Supply Chains

27 Sep 2023

ASEAN in the Global Semiconductor Race

Lili Yan Ing|Ivana Markus

Lili Yan Ing and Ivana Markus take stock of the current state of the global semiconductor race between China and the United States, and how the ASEAN region should navigate the growing rivalry.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Supply Chains Technology

A worker walking past a steamroller at the site of a Lynas plant in Gebeng, Malaysia.

24 Aug 2023

The Race for Critical Minerals in Malaysia: Upstream, Mid-Stream, or Downstream?

Tham Siew Yean

The global hunt for critical minerals used in clean energy platforms such as electric vehicles has put the spotlight on some Southeast Asian countries, in particular, Malaysia.

Environment Malaysia Supply Chains