ARTICLES

5 Aug 2022

On the United States, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and US Freedom of Navigation Operations

Robert Beckman

The US has not become a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) despite the overwhelming support for US accession by all American government agencies, major interest groups. This has been a serious impediment to the US’ credibility in promoting and enforcing a rules-based maritime order.

26 Jul 2022

The U.S.-China Strategic Competition in the Pacific: Something ASEAN Needs to Watch

Daljit Singh

Beijing’s recent moves to establish security cooperation with Pacific Island states have riled the U.S. and Australia. ASEAN needs to watch the ongoing great power competition there closely to draw lessons for its own security.

ASEAN AUKUS Australia China Maritime Security Pacific Islands Quad Security U.S.

8 Jul 2022

Climate Change Calls for Less U.S.-China Rivalry and More Renewables

Prapimphan Chiengkul

As climate change threatens to reshape global politics and domestic agendas, Southeast Asian governments would do well to court both Washington and Beijing in their quest for a green transition.

China China-U.S. Relations Climate Change Environment Sustainable Development U.S.

29 Mar 2022

Russia, Ukraine and ASEAN: Reading the Geo-political Tea Leaves

Elina Noor|Huong Le Thu|Sharon Seah

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to three scholars about the 2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy.

ASEAN China Dialogues at Fulcrum Russia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. Ukraine

18 Feb 2022

The Biden Administration and Southeast Asia: One Year in Review

Hoang Thi Ha|Ian Storey

The Biden administration’s engagement with Southeast Asia in 2021 gained momentum in the second half of the year after a slow start. In 2022, the US will be assessed on the value of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a clearer articulation of its Indo-Pacific strategy and the extent to which it demonstrates genuine efforts to upgrade relations with ASEAN.

ASEAN-U.S. Relations U.S.

6 Jan 2022

Policymakers’ View

Whatever Happened to the Middle Way?

Teo Chee Hean

In an increasingly fractious world, Singapore and like-minded countries can reclaim the middle ground and build greater consensus and cooperation. Speaking at ISEAS’ 25th Regional Outlook Forum today, Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, spoke of how this can be achieved. The full text of the speech at the online forum is below.

ASEAN China Policymakers’ View Southeast Asia U.S.

14 Dec 2021

ASEAN and the Group of 7: Same Bed, Different Dreams

Joanne Lin

The Group of 7 is courting ASEAN in a bid to increase its profile in the Indo-Pacific. It is easy to list the convergences in approaches between the two groupings. But the divergences are more significant.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality China U.K. U.S. UNCLOS

23 Nov 2021

US-China Relations: Guardrails and Third Rails

William Choong

There is much virtue for smaller states, particularly those in Southeast Asia, in upholding high principles and expressing a desire for a rules-based regional order. These elements, however, are premised on continued stability in Sino-US relations, which is not guaranteed.

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

9 Nov 2021

Southeast Asia and the Major Powers: Climate Change and the Need For Shrewdness

Melinda Martinus|Sharon Seah

Although geopolitics is encroaching onto climate change discussions, a poll shows that Southeast Asians remain objective and pragmatic. Achieving climate goals in the region depends on realpolitik and ASEAN leaders’ shrewdness in tapping resources from all major powers.

China Climate Change E.U. Environment Southeast Asia Sustainable Development U.S.

8 Nov 2021

Why US Rivalry with China Will Endure: Implications for Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

Despite the Biden government’s efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asia, considerable domestic constraints hinder Washington from joining multilateral economic groups or de-emphasising human rights concerns to compete more effectively with China in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Cold War South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.