Asia
Economic diplomacy: ASEAN bound, but words are not enough
Legacy land
One of the curiosities of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s memoir of his time in office is that he makes very little of the 2018 gathering of Southeast…
More than just rice: Asia’s food supply anxieties
Rice shortage fears are intensifying across Asia – a region where 90% of the world’s rice is produced and consumed – due to an ill-fated combination of rice production shortfall,…
ASEAN maritime security and what next week’s navy exercises mean
Next week, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will commence joint military exercises, officially called ASEAN Solidarity Exercise Natuna (ASEX 01–Natuna),…
The machinery of India’s industrial policy is MIA
With India’s recent ban on the import of personal computers, laptops and other assorted computer peripherals, a pattern is becoming evident. Rising tariffs on a majority of goods…
Sea robbery in the Singapore Strait
Since the beginning of 2023, sea robbery in the Singapore Strait has increased at an alarming rate. The 113-km long, 19-km wide strait that connects the Indian Ocean with the…
Amid great power visits, don’t underestimate middle power cooperation
This week, US President Joe Biden visited Vietnam as part of a trip “to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability”. One widely reported outcome is the…
ASEAN, China and the trust deficit
Trust (or the lack of it) seems to be the central theme in describing relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. Several ASEAN leaders emphasised this…
India pushes China to the margins of the G20
Chairing a forum as unwieldy as the Group of 20 (G20) is not easy at the best of times. The grouping has no headquarters or secretariat. The G20 chair rotates between the members,…
In Australia’s big play in Southeast Asia, mobilising the private sector is critical
There is an unmistakable disconnect between Australia’s trade and investment flows and the geo-economic importance of Southeast Asia.
The combined economies of the Association…
Malaysia at 60: One country, three visions
On 16 September, the Federation of Malaysia – a country widely regarded as a Southeast Asia success story – will celebrate its 60th anniversary. While neighbours such as Indonesia…