Opinion

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Not only has Russia withdrawn from the Black Sea grain agreement, but India’s recent announcement of a ban on the export of various rice varieties has also contributed to the current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 …

The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, has an electricity cable network that spans more than 80,000 kilometres—enough to circumnavigate the globe. This astounding length increases the intricacy of an already convoluted web of wires, further exacerbated by the city’s rapid population development and adoption of digital technologies. Unfortunately, the country is underestimating and not taking this problem seriously, which has dangerous …

The UK has embarked on a historic journey joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that promises to transform the country’s landscape. As the UK forges ahead with its post-Brexit global strategy, this landmark trade agreement presents a myriad of opportunities and challenges.  In this article, we will explore how the UK stands to benefit from the CPTPP and …

Media analysts have raised exciting questions following Pita Limjaroenrat and his Move Forward Party’s surprising victory over Thaksin Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party in recent elections. It has been questioned whether Move Forward’s election-related ideas, such as their suggestion to amend Article 112, were only a gimmick to win support or if they wanted to carry out their agenda. Pita and …

As Taiwan gears for the island nation’s 2024 Presidential Election, China has opened to people-to-people exchanges. This was initiated by former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou who was in mainland China for a 12-day private visit with 30 Taiwanese students.  This has been reciprocated by 36 students and faculty members from China’s universities upon Ma Ying-jeou Foundation for a nine-day visit. …

NATO summits and gatherings have drawn more attention since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the most recent summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, was no exception. The presence of four Asian-Pacific leaders—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol—is noteworthy, even though the focus is still on NATO’s military …

Despite a warm and cordial reception of Antony Blinken in Beijing, the U.S. continues with its business-as-usual of “China-bashing”. The U.S Secretary of State said a realistic goal for American policy toward China is “finding a way to coexist peacefully” with the country it seeks to compete with from a position of strength.  Blinken explained this is more about getting …