Southeast Asia
Strategic Trust and the Limits of Personal Politics in Southeast Asian International Relations
In the international relations structures in Southeast Asia, “strategic trust” acts as a glue between countries that are diverse in terms of institutions, histories,...
Waves of Change: The Philippines, Domestic Politics, and the China Challenge
In May 2025, at the oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard Officers (PCG), Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his...
Post-Conflict Sensitivities and the Politics of Mapping: Lessons from the Aceh Island Dispute
In April 2025, the Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs issued a decree under Kepmendagri No. 300.2.2-2138/2025 that sparked controversy in the province of Aceh....
Vietnam and China’s Railway Diplomacy: High-Speed Projects, Not Small Risks
In recent years, Vietnam has been promoting railway infrastructure development projects as an essential part of its strategy to modernize the economy and integrate...
Military Clashes, Private Conversation and the Ongoing Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute
On May 28, 2025, Cambodian and Thai soldiers clashed in a brief gunfight along the disputed border in Northern Cambodia/Northeast Thailand along the Chong...
Vietnam between two strategic lines: Maintaining autonomy after Shangri-La Dialogue 2025
The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, held in late May 2025 in Singapore, continued to clearly reflect the escalating strategic tensions between the United States and...
Myanmar Earthquake: A Potential Opening for Engagement?
In late March, a devastating earthquake hit Myanmar’s Mandalay region, claiming thousands of lives and worsening an already severe humanitarian and political crisis. Since...
The End of Strategic Ambiguity: Australia’s ASEAN Moment and the Case for Ecological Sovereignty
Australia is approaching a moment of strategic reckoning in Asia. For years, it has maintained a posture of alliance loyalty to the United States...
Vietnam and China Should Resist Being Pawns in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy
As the United States continues to expand its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Vietnam and China—two neighbors with deep historical, cultural, and economic ties—must remain vigilant against...
Thai-Cambodia Border Conflict and Colonial Legacies
Recently, Cambodia is planning to file a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border issue with Thailand following the military...