Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 01, 2020 • 7 min read
In Partnership with 1

The balancing act: How Vietnam should manage the superpowers

By Alex Shykov • Jul 01, 2020
For decades, Vietnam has been a geopolitically significant theatre of competition for the superpowers. Today, leaders in Hanoi must navigate and leverage the competing interests of China, the US and Russia to protect its citizens, national integrity and economy

Politics • May 07, 2020 • 4 min read
Opinion

‘Duterte’s dictatorship is complete with closure of major news network’

With the closure of the Philippines largest television network ABS-CBN this week, press freedom looks at its weakest since the Marcos era. Dr Tom Smith argues that the move has merely cemented what many suspected – Rodrigo Duterte has embraced dictatorship
By Tom Smith • May 07, 2020

Politics • May 06, 2020 • 6 min read
Opinion

Singapore, ASEAN and non-alignment in the South China Sea: Time to choose

The South China Sea territorial dispute has pitted Southeast Asian nations against China in a heated standoff for decades. Singaporean defence analyst Andy Wong argues that the city-state should lead ASEAN in aligning with the US on the issue, warding off Beijing's growing influence
By Andy Wong • May 06, 2020

Politics • Apr 30, 2020 • 8 min read
The US-Vietnam War

Remembering the Fall of Saigon, 45 years on

April 30 marks 45 years since communist troops entered the city of Saigon, reuniting North and South Vietnam. Eye witness accounts from that day paint a picture of the scenes in what became Ho Chi Minh City, as Vietnam finally found peace after three decades
By James Springer • Apr 30, 2020

Politics • Apr 23, 2020 • 13 min read
Mekong river

‘Us’ vs ‘them’: The politics dictating the rise and fall of the Mekong

Dams, economic interests and political power are just some of the factors contributing to the over-exploitation of the mighty Mekong. With several competing transnational bodies established to oversee its development, will any of them halt the river’s decline?
By Andrew Haffner • Apr 23, 2020

Politics • Apr 21, 2020 • 9 min read
Thai monarchy

Online criticism of Thai king goes viral during pandemic

In Thailand, the ruling monarchy has long been protected by some of the harshest lèse-majesté laws in the world. But the behaviour of the controversial King Maha Vajiralongkorn during the pandemic has opened him up to a flurry of online backlash
By Sarah Kim • Apr 21, 2020

Politics • Apr 10, 2020 • 7 min read
Covid-19

‘Indonesia’s politicisation of the virus is stopping effective response’

Covid-19 is perhaps the most politicised virus in human history, and in Indonesia it's no different. Political analyst Yohanes Sulaiman explains how President Jokowi's economic aspirations, combined with opposition scheming, have resulted in a weak response to the crisis
By Yohanes Sulaiman • Apr 10, 2020

Politics • Mar 27, 2020 • 5 min read
COVID-19

Cambodia’s COVID-19 “fake news” crackdown

The Cambodian government has undertaken a recent spate of arrests, charging people with spreading "fake news" regarding COVID-19. Rights groups have expressed concern that this is merely a pretext for a clampdown on political dissent
By Miriam Deprez • Mar 27, 2020