Economy
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Singapore’s Crypto Clampdown: Can Regulation Build the Next Fintech Hub?
As global regulators scramble to restore trust in digital finance, Singapore is charting a path that few others dare to follow. While much of the crypto world eyes a rebound driven by new capital, token launches, and looser rules, Singapore is moving in the opposite direction—tightening consumer protections, raising compliance…
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The First 15 Years of China’s Reform and Opening-Up: A Critical Restructuring of Incentives
Out of three decades of political and economic volatility came a shift in Chinese economic policy in 1978, bringing about a transition into the market economy China is today. The first 15 years of China’s 1978 reforms is a unique story, achieving fundamental economic changes unseen in its authoritarian hierarchical…
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Crosscurrents in Manila: 2025 Midterms and the New Geopolitical Order
The 2025 Philippine midterm elections, held on May 12, are more than a routine contest for Senate and House seats; the vote is widely seen as a referendum on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. It takes place amid a high-profile rift between Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, former allies…
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The China-Laos Railway and the Price of Connectivity: Unequal Partners in a “Win-Win” Project
Despite its “win-win” branding as a flagship Belt and Road link transforming Laos from “land-locked” to “land-linked,” the China–Laos Railway has deepened asymmetric power dynamics. Thousands of Laotian families have been displaced, Laos’ 30 % ownership stake was financed by onerous Chinese loans that trap it in debt, and both…
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ACFTA at a Crossroads: Balancing Growth and Dependency in ASEAN-China Trade Relations
The strategic partnership between the United States and ASEAN has never fully recovered from the shock of the Trump administration’s 2016 turn away from multilateralism, erratic diplomacy, and rising protectionism. Years of unpredictable US policy have eroded trust, leaving ASEAN leaders doubtful about Washington’s long-term reliability. Into this vacuum steps…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 