Southeast Asia
Is Prabowo leaving ASEAN in the haze?
For the last few weeks, Indonesia has been struggling to contain the land and forest fires on its territory. The disaster leads to a...
What To Lam’s Russia Visit Means for Vietnam’s Strategic Future
General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Russia from September 7 to 9, 2026, was significant not because it reaffirmed a familiar...
The Malacca Dilemma and China’s Response
The idea of the Malacca Dilemma was first presented in 2003 by Hu Jintao, then China's president, to illustrate a major strategic issue facing...
Military Ambitions Challenge Paracel Islands Sovereignty
The eerie silence of the ocean
When people think of the South China Sea, they usually picture deep blue waters, peaceful waves over beautiful coral...
Can Malaysia Safely Return Myanmar Refugees Amid Ongoing Conflict?
Malaysia is preparing to repatriate 1,476 Myanmar refugees on September 29 under a programme the government describes as voluntary. The move comes amid growing...
Beyond Sovereignty: How International Accountability Can Strengthen Southeast Asia
In view of the recent debate between Thailand and the United Nations regarding the conclusions drawn by UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews after the...
Between Trade and Threat: Southeast Asia’s Difficult Balance Between China and the U.S.
Rivalry between the United States and China plays a pivotal role in the geopolitical dynamics of Southeast Asia. There are many challenging decisions to...
Vietnam’s Strategic Balancing Act: How It Navigates US-China Rivalry
Vietnam is considered one of the few countries that have successfully maintained a balance between the competition for influence between the US and China...
Two Navies, Two Ports: How Vietnam Is Hedging Between Great Powers
In the final days of July 2026, Vietnam’s coastline hosted an unusual sequence of guests. On 26 July, a Russian Navy flotilla – including...
US aircraft carrier USS George Washington visits Vietnam: A commitment to the Indo-Pacific region
On July 30, 2026, international and domestic news sources simultaneously reported on the official visit of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to Vietnam....