Opinion

India’s growing geopolitical and economic engagement in Southeast Asia puts it as a major force in the region, potentially acting as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence. This escalating dynamic demonstrates India’s proactive approach to regional geopolitics and determination to develop ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors. India’s expanding influence in Southeast Asia has drawn the attention of global observers …

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim persuaded Elon Musk to locate Tesla’s regional headquarters in Malaysia, shocking the nation’s commercial and political establishments. This ground-breaking action not only marks a significant triumph for Anwar’s campaign to entice foreign investment but also raises the possibility of an impending change in the nation’s economic climate. The exclusion of Tesla from local equity legislation and …

The ongoing India-China border conflict has garnered significant attention from geographical experts and military strategists around the world. As tension persist, it is crucial to dissect the situation and explore the potential lessons that other nations, including Japan, can draw from this conflict to enhance regional security.  The India-China border conflict centers around disputed territories in the Himalayan region, particularly …

Beijing’s assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea have garnered international attention and raised concerns among neighboring countries. If left unchecked, the situation could potentially lead to a full-blown conflict that could disrupt the fragile regional stability.  As China continues to flex its muscles and bully its neighbors out of their rightful sovereignty over parts of the South China …

With the US promoting and anticipating normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia relations, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely look to China. Beijing helped normalize Saudi-Iran relations, and Israel may likely expect the same.  Netanyahu said in June he was invited by China after Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s offer to mediate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. His trip …

In the post-pandemic world, China is making policy adjustments to revive its economy and easing a wide range of social controls, including visas for business people. Beijing is building a new digital economy powered by AI and high-speed broadband, with 2.3 million 5G base stations and download speeds that are double to the United States.  The Ministry of Public Security …

Hun Sen, the current prime minister of Cambodia, is stepping down after nearly 40 years in office so that his eldest son, Hun Manet, can take over. Compared to Cambodia’s stormy history of power transitions, marked by violence and political instability, this leadership transition represents a substantial difference. After the Cambodian People’s Party won the most recent election, Hun Manet …

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has faced many difficulties due to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, which began in February 2021 after the military takeover. Despite several attempts to resolve the issue, a brutal civil war involving the military junta, the civil opposition, and different ethnic groups has broken out, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and …

Not only has Russia withdrawn from the Black Sea grain agreement, but India’s recent announcement of a ban on the export of various rice varieties has also contributed to the current upheaval in the world food markets. This partial pullout from the rice market has caused severe concerns about the likelihood of uncontrollable food inflation, especially in nations of the …

Barbie, a 2023 US fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, was banned in Vietnam, a country in Asia, over the South China Sea issue. Vietnamese authorities have said that the film features images of China’s illegal nine-dash, which violates the maritime sovereignty of Vietnam.  Why has Vietnam banned the film? What is …