Ketuanan Melayu: What’s in a Name?
Synopsis
The idea of Malay primacy or Ketuanan Melayu in Malaysian politics tends to reverberate whenever its traditional advocate, UMNO, comes under siege. There is a need to better understand this concept.
Malaysia and the South China Sea: Will KL Abandon its Hedging Policy?
Synopsis
While Malaysia remains fully committed to a “common ASEAN position” in terms of engaging China on the South China Sea disputes, it does not want this to affect its good bilateral relations with Beijing – as do several other ASEAN states. It is unlikely that KL will change its hedging policy.
Falling Oil Price: An Opportunity for Asia?
Synopsis
In the past three months, the price of crude oil has fallen dramatically, from higher than US$100 per barrel to below US$60 per barrel. The plunge in oil prices has significant influence on our daily lives, but how will the low price affect Asian countries?
Modi’s Foreign Policy: Nuanced Non-Alignment?
Synopsis
India signed a nuclear and defence deal with Russia during the President Putin’s recent visit to New Delhi. India also concluded agreements with Japan, the US and China in an important display of its traditional diplomacy undergoing nuanced change under Prime Minister Modi.
China’s Peaceful Rise: Till When?
Synopsis
China begins the New Year as the world’s largest economic power. Has China risen? Amidst never-ending talks and discussion about a rising China, what are the indicators of a risen China?
Global Threat Forecast 2015
Synopsis
The al Qaeda-centric threat landscape has been eclipsed by an Islamic State (IS) insurgency. Today, an al Qaeda-IS hybrid influences and shapes the global threat landscape of political violence. IS will expand its international footprint in 2015.
Indonesia’s Trajectory 2014-2019: An Insider’s Forecast
Synopsis
The release of the book ‘Toward 2014-2019: Strengthening Indonesia in a Changing World’, published by the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency (BIN), provides an interesting and important insider’s look at how Indonesia sees its role in the ASEAN region and the world stage.
ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit 2014: Towards an “Asian Community”?
Synopsis
ASEAN and South Korea recently held a summit to mark 25 years of partnership. President Park Geun-hye spoke confidently of ASEAN and South Korea working together to build a multilateral “Asian Community”.
Energy Still Turns the Wheels of Geopolitics
The world is about to discover that the substantial and totally unexpected drop in the price of crude oil may be as disruptive as the shock of oil price hikes in 1974.
Shaping U.S. Energy Policy For an Era of Energy Abundance
Subcommittee Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush, distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today to examine the Energy Policy Conservation Act of 1975 in an era of energy transition. - Deborah Gordan