Asia
Will Malaysia build ASEAN with BRICS?
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s prime minister, is known to be bold.Anwar’s decision to join BRICS, with Malaysia this week formally submitting its application, is in keeping with his…
Nationalism vs globalism: Making the case for Indonesian dual citizenship
Indonesia’s diaspora is estimated at about six million people worldwide, yet it has not historically been seen as a boon for the country. The Indonesian government wants to change…
Long arm of the law: China’s extraterritorial reach
Holding citizens legally accountable for their actions while overseas has been a source of diplomatic tension since ancient times. This is perhaps no more true than in today's…
Why Taiwan should embrace multiculturalism
While defending itself from China is clearly Taiwan’s most pressing concern, increasingly it has also been seeking to differentiate itself from its neighbour. Its democratisation…
Economic diplomacy: Looking beyond a 30-year anomaly
Joining the dotsTim Ayres is a little-known junior minister in the Albanese government. But Ayres nevertheless plays a symbolically significant role in bridging the traditional…
Child marriage in Southeast Asia: When a harmful practice becomes an international crime
Child marriage is a global problem that cuts across countries, cultures, and religions – and the ASEAN region is no exception. Child marriage is considered a form of forced…
Could BIMSTEC be the answer to the Myanmar question?
“BIMSTEC” is one of the many technical and not-quite-pronounceable acronyms that pepper conversation about diplomatic affairs. It stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi…
Don’t expect Trump 2.0 to be so tough on China
No one should have been surprised by Donald Trump’s latest expression of reluctance to defend Taiwan. But many were, including those with skin in the game. Shares in Taiwan…
Analyses
Digitising the social safety net: Lessons from Indonesia
Leapfrogging past the analogue delivery of social assistance is possible. Policy focus and careful design are the keys to success.
ASEAN centrality stands in the way of an Indonesia-Australia alliance
Sam Roggeveen has made the case in The Interpreter for Australia to seek out a defensive military pact with Indonesia to prevent Chinese domination of maritime Southeast Asia…