Politics
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Power Without Commitment: China’s Geopolitical Constraints in the Middle East
In recent years, China has sought to portray itself in the Middle East as a power fundamentally different from the West—one that emphasizes trade, investment, diplomacy, and respect for state sovereignty rather than military intervention. This image was reinforced following Beijing’s mediation of the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement. Yet the security crises…
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How the Iran War is Revealing Southeast Asia’s Energy Vulnerabilities: Singapore and Cambodia
The recent escalation of the conflict in Iran has sent shockwaves throughout global energy markets, but few regions have felt the structural impacts more intensely than Southeast Asia. Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Singapore and Cambodia have been especially affected. Energy vulnerabilities revealed in these countries, one…
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On the Offensive: China’s K-Visa and the Global Race for Talent
Historically, China experienced a sustained exodus of its brightest minds, as students, researchers, and entrepreneurs left for countries offering greater academic freedom and professional opportunity. For decades, Beijing focused on internal reform aimed at stemming its persistent brain drain. On October 1st, 2025, China introduced the K-visa, joining the ranks…
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ASEAN’s Data Governance Strategy
The ASEAN Digital Masterplan aims to triple the size of the regional digital economy by 2030. To build effective technological infrastructure against the backdrop of bipolar competition, ASEAN states must pursue a standardized data governance approach to protect citizens, information, and economic viability. Background: Expansive Digital Economy ASEAN states have…
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Has Indonesia’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund Stumbled Before It Could Run?
Danantara’s governance has raised many concerns throughout its first half-year in existence. While much will need to be ironed out as the fund is in its infancy, the current governance and structure raises many flags that need to be resolved if Indonesia truly and seriously wants its very own Temasek.…
