Southeast Asia
ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the maritime archipelagos. Ten very different countries, one region.
US Seed Oil Backlash Could Boost Asian Palm and Coconut Exports
A US health movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is driving consumers away from seed oils like soybean and canola. This could boost demand
Indonesia's Competitiveness Slump: Structural Woes Undermine Growth
Indonesia fell to 48th in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, down from 27th in 2024. The decline reflects unresolved weaknesses in gover
Vietnam's Demographic Time Bomb: Too Slow, Too Timid to Defuse
Vietnam's total fertility rate fell to 1.91 in 2024, below replacement for the third year. The country risks getting old before getting rich
Trump Golf Resort Rises on Exhumed Vietnamese Graveyard as US Ties Deepen
Vietnam is exhuming over 3,500 graves in Hung Yen province to build a $1.5 billion Trump International golf resort. The project reflects Han
Indonesia Needs China's Know-How, Not Just Its Cash and Contracts
Indonesia has drawn billions in Chinese investment for nickel processing and EV batteries, but the key question is whether it is absorbing t
Why Indonesia's Coal Wealth Fails to Prevent Power Outages
Indonesia, the world's top coal exporter, faces power outages due to a mismatch between coal grades produced and those needed by power plant
Philippine Sea Strategy Must Prioritize Tangible Gains Over Symbolic Wins
The Philippines lags behind Malaysia and Vietnam in developing contested waters. Manila must shift from optics to concrete outcomes like oil
Why Bangladesh Belongs in ASEAN: A Strategic Reckoning
Bangladesh is recalibrating its foreign policy eastward, seeking ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner status. Its demographic dividend, strategic
Myanmar's SCEF: A Resistance Body That Demands to Be Taken Seriously
Myanmar's Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF) has established a unified military command and diplomatic
BYD's Nickel-Free Battery Undermines Indonesia's EV Supply Chain Ambitions
BYD's Datang SUV, powered by a nickel-free LMFP battery, has set a pre-order record in China. This technological shift threatens Indonesia's
Philippines Risks Losing Its Nickel Advantage to Short-Term Exports
The Philippines is at a crossroads with its nickel reserves. Without a disciplined strategy, the country could export its raw ore to feed fo
China Tests Scarborough as Manila Seeks Alternatives to US Support
A makeshift Chinese platform at Scarborough Shoal, removed after Manila's discovery, reveals Beijing's ongoing 'salami-slicing' tactics. The