Malaysia postpones fighter jet deal though defence needs are pressing
Malaysia puts plan to purchase new fighter jets from France on hold even while regional dangers leave the country in a vulnerable position.
regional security
ASEAN’s new arms race: nations scramble to rearm as concerns over security grow
As national leaders wobble over how to approach shifting tensions and allegiances over the South China Sea the most direct response has been billions of dollars of spending on fighter jets, boats, weapons and submarines.
Nowhere to turn: Why Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership is doomed to fail
Aung San Suu Kyi’s reputation as a human rights defender lies in tatters as the ordeal of the so-called Rohingya Muslim group plays out on the borders of Myanmar. She is hopelessly tied between the need to placate the military and the demands of the outside world, leaving her to dance straight towards a dark and dangerous failure.
Singapore’s big balancing act: the US vs China
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0The waters of the China-Singapore relationship have been muddied by a recent spat, but there is no reason to think that the nation’s decades-long balancing…
Who can face up to China? Vietnam cast adrift on the South China Sea
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0Growing tensions threaten ASEAN unity as China is increasing its military capacity while Singapore tries to protect its interests and remain neutral. Editorial As tensions…
Singapore gets what it wants: keeping powerful friends on the South China Sea
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0The South China Sea issue plays heavy on the minds of diplomats across the ASEAN region, but Singapore plays a clever game to achieve its…
Why the great wall of Southeast Asia would not stop terrorism
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0Prime ministers Najib and Prayuth are discussing a 640km wall along the Thai-Malaysian border to keep a lid on the illegal flow of goods and…
ASEAN continues to avoid the South China Sea: time to change the consensus?
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0The latest ASEAN summit closed with a statement that, yet again, avoided the difficult issue of the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Instead,…
Modi’s first visit to Vietnam brings new defence deals that challenge China
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0India’s leader was in Vietnam this week to discuss defence cooperation and agree on a deal that will bring both finance and weaponry into Vietnam’s…
How will the Philippines’ “most popular president” perform overseas?
LinkedinTwitterFacebook0Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte flies to Laos this week to take part in his first ASEAN Summit. Issues on the agenda include security, regional agreements,…