South Korea’s Pragmatic, Principled and Prudent Path Between the US and China
INTRODUCTION: THE INTERNATIONAL order is undergoing a profound transformation.
ASEAN Must Get Its House in Order
INTRODUCTION: SINCE US PRESIDENT Donald Trump returned to office, it has not been a question of whether confidence in US commitments to the Indo-Pacific has diminished
ASEAN’s Renewed Engagement with Naypyidaw and the Future of Federal Myanmar
INTRODUCTION: Is ASEAN on the right path as it works to engage Myanmar?
The 48th ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) SUMMIT
INTRODUCTION: The 48th ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) SUMMIT was organized by the Philippines at Mactan Expo in Cebu City, on May 8, 2026.
China Looks to the SCO and BRICS as Key Tools of a Changing Order
INTRODUCTION: SINCE THE FOUNDING of the People’s Republic of China, the country has gradually developed a set of security concepts with Chinese characteristics through its involvement in international security affairs and global security
In an Age of Flux, Asia’s Circles of Friends Are Expanding
INTRODUCTION: WHEN MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the current moment “an age of flux,” he undoubtedly spoke for many in the region.
How Small States Can Survive Big Changes: Laos, Mekong and ASEAN in the Age of Might Makes Right
INTRODUCTION: “Might makes right” is back in form with major powers’ use of tariffs and military actions, leaving small states like Laos with fewer buffers and narrower margins for error than more capable middle powers.
China and the US: Who Will Better Understand Southeast Asia?
INTRODUCTION: The US appears to be losing to China in the race to understand Southeast Asia. The real test, however, centres on whether a country can sustain the institutions to study the region critically.
Neutrality by Sector: Malaysia’s Geoeconomic Alignment under Anwar
INTRODUCTION: In 2025, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan named an elephant in the room: “the space for neutrality… is shrinking, particularly in areas such as trade, technology and regional.
The Lure and Lore of Southeast Asia: Understanding the Dynamics of Soft Power
INTRODUCTION: The strong but varying attractiveness of Southeast Asian countries for their citizens’ work and play provides food for thought on future regional cohesion, identity and development.