Region
Southeast Asia
Is the US-Philippines Alliance Obsolete?
By Aaron Jed Rabena and Elliot Silverberg
With the unwinding of the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the utility of Washington’s oldest alliance in the Indo-Pacific hangs in the balance.
Explaining Successful (and Unsuccessful) COVID-19 Responses in Southeast Asia
By Zachary Abuza
No government should be blamed for a pandemic, but they should be scrutinized for how they respond.
Thailand’s Lost Youth
By David Hutt
A Thai born in 1990 has now experienced 3 economic crises, 2 military coups, and countless constitutional changes. Small wonder discontent is boiling over.
After Denial, Indonesia Sees Mounting Coronavirus Deaths
By Associated Press
Jokowi acknowledged last month that the government had chosen to keep the public misinformed about the state of the coronavirus in the country.
Singapore COVID–19 Cases Reach Record, Surge Past 8,000
By Associated Press
Low-wage migrant workers account for more than half of Singapore’s confirmed cases.
What Is Bogging Down the Philippines’ COVID-19 Response?
By Mong Palatino
A handful of senators urged Duterte to dismiss Health Secretary Duque and the country’s top economist resigned, citing differences in development philosophy.
Maritime Flashpoints and the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Sumathy Permal
Southeast Asian states like Malaysia are having to both deal with a global health crisis and step up defense of their South China Sea claims.
Will a New Government in Malaysia Reset India Ties?
By Yatharth Kachiar
The Muhyiddin government seems keen to thaw the ice, but there are major pitfalls ahead.
‘In Milk Tea We Trust’: How a Thai-Chinese Meme War Led to a New (Online) Pan-Asia Alliance
By Dan McDevitt
From #MilkTeaAlliance to #StopMekongDam, can an internet meme war translate into real-world action?
The Secret to Vietnam’s COVID-19 Response Success
By Minh Vu and Bich T. Tran
A review of Vietnam’s response to COVID-19 and its implications.
At a Time of Crisis, ASEAN Centrality Really Matters
By Rifki Dermawan
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, multilateral cooperation as seen within ASEAN is necessary to share best practices and provide support.
Cambodia’s Lost Digital Opportunity in the COVID-19 Fight
By Marc Pinol
New restrictions on online speech will be counterproductive for the coronavirus response – and damaging for the country in the long term.