Southeast Asia
ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the maritime archipelagos. Ten very different countries, one region.
Singapore's Quiet AI Strategy: Winning the Race Nobody Is Watching
Singapore is not trying to build the world's most powerful AI. Instead, it is creating the governance frameworks, testing toolkits, and assu
Indonesia's State Commodity Monopoly Risks Repeating Past Failures
President Prabowo Subianto has announced a radical restructuring of Indonesia's commodity export system, funneling coal, palm oil, and ferro
Why Vietnam's To Lam Won't Dominate the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue
To Lam will be the first Vietnamese leader to keynote the Shangri-La Dialogue, signaling Hanoi's rising security profile. Yet his message of
Indonesia's Risky Return to State-Controlled Commodity Trade
Indonesia's new export gateway aims to curb fraud but centralizes power in a state entity, risking cronyism and investor flight. The move ec
Indonesia's $80 Billion Giant Sea Wall Plan Faces Feasibility and Ecological Hurdles
Indonesia plans a 500-km giant sea wall costing at least $80 billion to shield Java's north coast from rising seas. Critics fear it will wor
MSCI's Indonesia Purge Signals Deep Market Structure Crisis
MSCI removed 19 Indonesian companies from its global indices in May 2026, the largest such purge in the country's history. The move triggere
Trump-Xi Reset Raises Alarm in Jakarta Over Southeast Asia's Marginalization
The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing produced a diplomatic reset that prioritizes great-power stability over regional disputes. Indonesia fears it
Vietnam's Power Bill Exposes the Contradiction in Its Market Economy Bid
Vietnam's proposal to shift nearly 45 trillion dong in state-owned EVN losses onto households and businesses highlights a fundamental tensio
Europe Must Not Fall for Myanmar Junta's Suu Kyi Ruse Again
Myanmar's junta has transferred Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to a designated residence, but she remains a political prisoner. European gover
Indonesia's Rupiah Plunge Tests Central Bank Credibility Amid Global Pressures
The rupiah fell to 17,513 per US dollar in mid-May, its weakest level ever. Capital outflows, geopolitical tensions, and domestic economic f
MSCI's Indonesia Stock Purge Tests Jakarta's Reform Credibility
MSCI deleted 18 Indonesian stocks in May, far exceeding the Financial Services Authority's forecast of two to three. The move highlights sev
London Metal Exchange Should Embrace Indonesia's Aluminum Rise
Indonesia's aluminum production is surging, driven by Chinese-backed smelters like Tsingshan's Hua Chin venture in Sulawesi. The London Meta