The Year of the Caliphate: What Lies Ahead?
Synopsis
A year ago today, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or simply IS) formally declared the establishment of a worldwide Caliphate, with its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as the new Caliph. What has the year of the Caliphate taught us? What are the real threats? How has IS changed? How should we?
Southeast Asia’s Arms Market: Growing ‘Commoditisation’?
Synopsis
If arms sales are increasingly a commodity business, governed mainly by price, it could increase regional militaries’ access to advanced military equipment and technologies. Still, other factors affect any true “commoditisation” of the regional arms market.
Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Testing Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship
Synopsis
The Rohingya refugee crisis is a test of Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN. Kuala Lumpur’s response is an attempt to balance its foreign policy commitment to ASEAN and allay domestic concerns over the Rohingya humanitarian problem.
Smart Nation & Its Implications: The State in a Hyper-connected Singapore
Synopsis
As Singapore transforms itself into a Smart Nation, challenges will emerge. Instead of being decentred, the State will in fact become more important in terms of strengthening the nation against the challenges that follow.
Middle East and North Africa: Forcing China to Revisit Long-standing Policies
Synopsis
The fractious Middle East and North Africa is compelling China to rethink its long-standing principle of non-interventionism to protect its economic interests. It is also prompting it to articulate a Middle East policy that serves China’s interests without putting it at loggerheads with the United States.
Checking Human Smuggling: The Bangladesh-Myanmar Borderland
Synopsis
Human smuggling from the Bangladesh-Myanmar borderland cannot be effectively tackled by short-term quick-fixes. For a sustainable solution, both Bangladesh and Myanmar have to take effective action against human trafficking through building their institutional capacity and addressing the socio-economic causes behind human smuggling.
Rohingya Refugees: Turks to the Rescue
Synopsis
Turkey’s decision to send a ship to rescue Rohingya at sea is another instance of Turkish soft power at work. Turkey has been playing an increasingly visible role in relief operations in other parts of the world, projecting itself as a benevolent Muslim power and earning the trust of non-Turkish Muslim communities.
United States Ambassador Nina Hachigian Presents Credentials to ASEAN
Jakarta – In a ceremony today at the ASEAN Secretariat, the United States Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Honorable Nina Hachigian, presented her credentials to ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh.
South China Sea: Turning Reefs into Artificial Islands?
Synopsis
Large-scale reclamation work in the South China Sea using living coral reefs as building material is causing severe environmental damage. It is also against international law.
China’s Silk Road Economic Belt: Geopolitical Challenges in Central Asia
Synopsis
The Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) initiative faces huge geopolitical challenges in Central Asia. How will China respond to reduce the concerns of the Central Asia states as well as Russia?