US-China rivalry
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Vietnam’s Semiconductor Strategy: Between Opportunity and Strategic Constraint
Guest Article by Léane Noirot Vietnam is pushing to move up the semiconductor value chain from assembly into chip design and fabrication, backed by national strategy and rising foreign investment. Its success will depend on managing infrastructure, capital, and geopolitical pressures amid intensifying US–China competition. Vietnam has entered a decisive phase…
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How China’s AI Momentum Reflects the Strength of Its Economic Playbook
China’s rise in artificial intelligence reflects the strength of its state-directed economic playbook, which mobilizes capital, talent, and local governments around national priorities. Unlike the US’ predominantly market-led model, China’s centralized political authority combined with decentralized economic competition enables rapid policy execution and industrial coordination. Though prone to inefficiencies, this…
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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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Malaysia — The Missing Piece in US Indo-Pacific Strategy
Malaysia’s growing tilt toward non-Western partners reflects less a natural alignment with China than the cumulative effects of American neglect, protectionism, and transactional diplomacy. Despite deep security cooperation, shared interests in the South China Sea, and critical economic interdependence, especially in semiconductors, US policy has weakened a partnership that is…
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China’s Quiet Digital Expansion Is Anything but Subtle
China is quietly reshaping the digital landscape. From entertainment and e-commerce platforms including TikTok and Lazada, to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and technological manufacturing, Chinese firms are extending influence across Asia, Europe, and beyond. Although, Western nations have imposed export controls, restrictions, and regulatory barriers, China adapts and innovates within…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 