Indonesia has given control of its new national agricultural plan over to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who stands accused of ordering civilian repression, torture and other crimes. The military’s control of the food estates program has increased opposition to the plan as critics voice concerns about the militarization of agriculture.
Indonesia’s government is working to ensure that the country’s options for COVID-19 vaccines will comply with Islamic law. However, such efforts may end up eroding the public’s trust in the vaccine and undermine the country’s fight against the pandemic.
ASEAN has pushed to keep Southeast Asia out of the nuclear weapons race. However, with growing military interference from international actors, Southeast Asian countries may reconsider the choice in order to ensure their security.
Bali’s economic lifeline was severed when the Indonesian government officially closed borders on March 20. Now, after seven months without tourists, the island is struggling to survive.
As the United States and China compete for influence in Southeast Asia, could Indonesia’s efforts help keep ASEAN neutral?
The Islamic State extremist group has lost significant territory in the Middle East but the group continues to make headlines in Southeast Asia. How does it operate in the region and what impact is it having on local militant groups?
While malaria cases have risen elsewhere in the world, in the Asia-Pacific region, governments have set an example by reducing its spread. However, COVID-19 threatens to undo some of that work, particularly within ASEAN.
A national mapping project in Indonesia aims to use data to find solutions to land conflicts across the country. But indigenous groups say the government refuses to recognize their maps of traditional territory—throwing the land tenure of over a quarter of the country’s population into question.
Chinese cyber spies have been attacking Southeast Asia for a long time. It is high time that ASEAN and Southeast Asian governments find an effective way of plugging the existing technological loophole.
Has Indonesia’s Islamic diplomacy proved effective in the Afghan peace process?