ARTICLES

7 May 2021

Biden Versus Trump in Southeast Asia: Where the Rubber Meets the Road 

Malcolm Cook

Expectations of the Biden Administration’s engagement with Southeast Asia are running high, but, like his predecessor, President Biden did not register any meetings or phone calls with Southeast Asian leaders in his first three months in office.

27 Apr 2021

ASEAN Emergency Summit: In the Hot Seat

Sharon Seah

One can assess ASEAN’s recent emergency meeting in Jakarta in two ways. One scenario is cautiously optimistic; the other would be tantamount to pure fatalism.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality ASEAN-China Relations Myanmar Myanmar Politics U.S. Foreign Policy

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

9 Mar 2021

Why the United States is an Unreliable Partner to Southeast Asia

Shaun Narine

As long as the Republican Party remains a viable political party capable of gaining power, the US will be politically unstable, and as a result, be an unreliable ally in the future.

Asia Pacific Southeast Asia U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

US Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E Daniel J. Kritenbrink

23 Feb 2021

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

America’s Soft Power in Vietnam: From Statecraft to Street Rap

Hoang Thi Ha

A recent rap video dropped by the US envoy to Vietnam highlights the resilience of American soft power in Vietnam.

State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

22 Feb 2021

The USA and UNCLOS: Time to Ratify

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan

Actions speak louder than words. Ratifying UNCLOS would strengthen the US’ stabilising role in the Indo-Pacific.

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

19 Feb 2021

The US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement: The Duterte Punchbag That Will Probably Survive the Blows

Ian Storey

A long-standing Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States will probably survive despite threats from President Rodrigo Duterte to see the end of it.

Philippine Philippine-U.S. Relations South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy

18 Feb 2021

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

America is Back – For Now At Least

Choi Shing Kwok

The advent of the new Biden Administration has sparked high hopes for US engagement by Southeast Asians. Still, Uncle Sam has a mountain to climb.

ASEAN China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. Foreign Policy

9 Feb 2021

Southeast Asia and America: Biding for Biden

William Choong

Some Asian states have gushed over the new Biden Administration’s return to foreign policy normalcy. However, the last “normal” American administration had a mixed bag of outcomes in the region.

China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

1 Feb 2021

The Philippine-US Alliance: Keeping Things on an Even Keel

Renato Cruz De Castro

Given the challenges posed by an assertive China and a changing geopolitical environment, Manila and Washington must work hard to sustain their decades-old alliance.

Philippine Philippine-U.S. Relations South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy