Politics
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Competition in the Ocean: China’s Vertical Expansion and India’s Horizontal Dominance
As China deepens its strategic footprint through vertical port development and energy corridors, India counters with a horizontally expansive maritime network rooted in historical connectivity. Both powers have increasingly prioritized the Indian Ocean as a geopolitical landscape, where ancient trade routes meet modern rivalries. In their ancient maritime treatises, “Bahr…
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Environmental Governance in ASEAN: Still Too Exclusive?
In light of ongoing global threats posed by climate change, ASEAN aspires to be a regional organization capable of advancing environmental sustainability through Vision 2040 and its four-pillar ASEAN Community Strategic Plans. To realize this vision, it has made progress in involving non-state actors including NGOs and the business and…
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Can a Mediation Court Rebrand a Repressed City? China’s Soft-Power Gamble in Hong Kong
In May 2025, China launched the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong, branding it as an alternative to Western dispute resolution forums like the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). While analysts have focused on its legal structure and geopolitical goals, less attention has been paid…
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Drama in Manila: Duterte vs Marcos Feud Determines Future of the Philippines
The escalating rivalry between former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has evolved into a defining moment for Philippine politics and foreign policy. As the country grapples with the fallout of Duterte’s arrest and deepening political polarization ahead of the 2028 presidential race, the contest between the…
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The Strategic Relations of ASEAN and the EU: Trade, Green Economy, Geopolitics
Guest Article by Jit Soon Aw Once colonial, now collaborative: the EU and ASEAN are evolving history’s imbalance into a mutually lucrative partnership. The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) are undoubtedly two of the most successful regional blocs with the shared aim of enhancing…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 