This month we explore rising economic tensions in Northeast Asia, as Japan and South Korea respond to a new wave of US tariffs. We also turn to Myanmar, where a devastating earthquake has worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis. Despite urgent calls for aid, the junta is blocking relief efforts while pushing ahead with its plans for elections amid ongoing conflict.
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Read MoreWritten by Hunter Marston
Despite the opportunity presented by American retrenchment, China lacks the soft power to step in as a natural leader and its economic and political influence continue to be met with suspicion by regional elites.
Read MoreWritten by Chetan Rana
Even though Myanmar’s international isolation appears to push it further closer to China, the Sit Tat and the EAOs are simultaneously engaging and contesting with China in different sectors. Beijing will be key in the execution and acceptance of elections planned by the junta.
Read MoreWritten by Thu Nguyen Hoang Anh
Based on estimates from the Vietnam National Plastics Action Partnership, if the country’s current systems are not improved, the volume of plastics in its waterways could double by 2030.
Read MoreThis month, Zsuzsa and Richard are joined by Kristina Kironska, a human rights expert with firsthand experience in Myanmar. Together, they unpack these seismic developments — from the arrest warrant for Duterte to attempts to silence outlets like Radio Free Asia — and examine their implications for international accountability and media freedom.
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Read MoreWritten by Dr Selçuk Çolakoğlu
As the economic centre of gravity shifts from the North Atlantic to the Pacific, Turkey's increasing emphasis on its Asian identity is a strategic move to benefit from the economic rise of East Asian countries and organisations.
Read MoreThis month, alongside our usual roundup of events, we examine how India is balancing oil imports amid geopolitical pressures and the impact of defunding Radio Free Asia on US soft power in the Indo-Pacific.
Both developments underscore the shifting balance of influence, where economic choices and media narratives are shaping global power dynamics.
Read MoreAs Trump's America redefines its global role, Southeast Asia faces uncertainty. Hunter Marston joins us to discuss developments in Washington and their potential impact on the region. We also explore whether Europe can help fill the strategic void—from security to economic ties. And, inspired by the vibrant Art Fair Philippines, Zsuzsa and Richard examine how culture can strengthen connections between Europe and Southeast Asia during this period of profound change.
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Read MoreThis month we examine Berlin’s economic and political challenges, a tough stance on China, and Southeast Asia’s reaction to the arrival of the Trump 2.0 presidency amid US policy uncertainty.
Read MoreThis month we look at how the ongoing Gaza conflict is reshaping global geopolitics, and intensifying the rivalry between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific. Our second brief argues for the (re)inclusion of Kenya — an important regional power strategically located along the Indian Ocean — as a key part of the Indo-Pacific.
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Read MoreWritten by Dr Seohee Park
This crisis represents more than a domestic Korean political drama; it tests the resilience of regional alliances and could accelerate broader geopolitical shifts in an increasingly complex Northeast Asian landscape.
Read MoreAs the year comes to a close, the Indo-Pacific continues to witness dynamic shifts across the political, economic, and strategic landscapes.
This month's brief explores how China may be attempting to connect disputes in the South China Sea with its declared objective of reunification with Taiwan.
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Read MoreThis month we look ahead to 2025. With insights from Manali Kumar and David MacSweeney, we explore how ASEAN might respond to a potential Middle East ceasefire, examine India’s growing role as a key partner in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and hear how the Philippines celebrates Christmas like nowhere else.
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Read MoreThis month has been defined by developments that highlight both challenges and frustrations on the global and regional stage. In this issue, we look at India’s pollution crisis and the evolving landscape of connected vehicles.
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Read MoreThis month we welcome Hunter Marston for a fascinating discussion on the potential global implications of a second Donald Trump presidency. We explore how his return could shape relations across Europe and the Indo-Pacific, examining potential shifts in trade, alliances, and power politics.
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Read MoreWritten by Meghan Murphy and Bryanna Entwistle
Unable to stop a deadly civil war within its member states, halt transnational crime that crosses its borders, deliver solutions on maritime rights, or mitigate superpower relations, the bloc feels to many as an increasingly irrelevant mechanism in which to conduct foreign affairs.
Read MoreThis month, our briefs focus on Fiji’s renewed foreign policy vision and Europe’s evolving stance on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) amid rising geopolitical concerns.
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Read MoreThis month, we explore Sri Lanka’s historic presidential election and the UK’s decision to appoint a special envoy for negotiations on the Chagos Islands, both of which could have significant implications for the region.
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