Southeast Asia
Strengthening Japan-ASEAN Food Security: The MIDORI Plan and ASEAN Identity Renewal
On October 4th, 2023, during the 1st Meeting of AJMAF (ASEAN-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry) in Malaysia, Japan adopted MIDORI, a cooperation plan...
Trump Raised Fire, Xi Plays Cool, Anwar Ought to Act Smart
Xi’s second visit to Malaysia, which took place on 16 April 2025, since 2013, was accepted with many applauses from Putra Jaya. It shows...
Japan-ASEAN Cooperation on Plastic Waste in the Sea
This article will highlight the long aftermath of the issue of plastic waste in the Indo-Pacific region, where in 2016 six countries in the...
The Buddha and the Sword: Myanmar’s Identity After Disaster
The challenges Myanmar society and statehood now face are truly enormous. A horrific 7.7 magnitude earthquake—scientists compare its power to the simultaneous detonation of...
Can Southeast Asia’s Digital Boom Leave No One Behind?
Southeast Asia is experiencing a digital renaissance. From Jakarta and Manila to Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur, the region is witnessing a...
Between the Tides: Traditional Fishing Rights and the Philippines–China Maritime Tensions
As geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea (SCS) deepen, international headlines largely focus on legal or sovereignty claims, naval deployment, and freedom of...
Revision of Indonesia’s Military Law Potentially Weakens Indonesia’s Soft Power
The Indonesian government has faced several waves of mass protests since the inauguration of President Prabowo in October 2024. This began when the government...
Geopolitics meet Digital Security in ASEAN’s Maritime Domain
The seas of the ASEAN region are a geostrategic domain where geopolitics and digital security intersect. Maritime cybersecurity threats and disruptions to critical underwater...
Vietnam at a Crossroads: Responding to the 2025 U.S. Tariff Shock with Strategic Resilience
Introduction: Trade Wars in a Fragmented World
In today’s fragmented global landscape, trade has become a strategic battlefield. From tariffs and sanctions to supply chain...
Balancing Giants: Indonesia’s Defense Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific Through MNEK 2025
Amid the ongoing tensions, Indonesia beat the odds by involving the United States (US), China, and Russia in the 5th Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo...