The new EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (FTA) shows the EU will look past human rights violations to push a trade agenda. But as FTAs with ASEAN states don’t offer the EU the same economic benefits, it’s unlikely the bloc will pen more in the near future.
Rice merchants in Myanmar are struggling to adapt to a new barter trade deal with China. The barter deal aims to stabilise border trade but risks depriving Myanmar’s rice industry of much-needed income.
Japan and South Korea’s escalating trade war threatens regional growth. At a diplomatic meeting in Bangkok, ASEAN struggled to make a significant impact towards its resolution.
More young Indonesian Muslims are going online for their religious education. In a landscape where rage and inflammation are rewarded, these young Muslims are facing an increased risk of radicalisation.
To continue attracting the top regional tech talent, Singaporean companies need to go beyond free dress codes and on-site baristas. Firms must revisit the relationship between employees and the workplace.
The Chinese Communist Party seeks to shape public opinion and national identity in Singapore. The city-state’s citizens represent the strongest line of defence.
Singapore’s road to water security holds one major lesson to other nations: technology alone is not enough.
Spurred by fintech’s success in consumer markets and stronger regulatory frameworks, more businesses are turning to fintech products to meet their financial demands.
Southeast Asia’s drug trade is booming—seizures of meth in ASEAN have tripled in the last five years. The region’s drug problem is shaped by ineffective law enforcement and wealth inequality and now threatens sustainable development.
A recent Wall Street Journal report uncovered a secret agreement between China and Cambodia which would see Beijing assume partial control of Ream naval base. The road to this critical juncture is littered with missed diplomatic opportunities.