economic development — 9DASHLINE

As the Philippines’ 'agency' in West Philippine Sea rises, so too does its infrastructure development

Written by Joshua Bernard Espeña

In the Philippine context, the country’s newfound middle-power position offers the Southeast Asian state the ability to navigate uncertainties based on clearly defined national interests, and doubling down on its commitment to develop its infrastructures in the West Philippine Sea is one of the ways to do it.

Southeast Asia9DLMarch 21, 20249dashline, Joshua Bernard Espeña, Philippines, Philippine sea, maritime infrastructure development, Anti-Access/Area-Denial operations, A2/AD, South China Sea, SCS, drones, imagery intelligence devices, agency, assertive transparency, revisionist moves, middle-power, Southeast Asia, national interests, Philippine Congress, infrastructure development, Martin Romualdez, economic development, resource base, natural resources, Manila, diplomacy, China, Beijing, theory of victory, strategic culture, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos Jr., National Security Policy (NSP) 2023-2028, NSP 2023-2028, multipolar world, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, resupply missions, joint exercises, construction development, John Mearsheimer, foreign policy objectives, informational spheres, like-minded allies, domestic politics, external powers, foreign policy, Philippine-US alliance, Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, EDCA, Northern Luzon, Huang Xilian, Taiwan, Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept, CADC, Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP, Mavulis Island, Basco, Batanes province, American interests, Chinese power, Taiwan Strait, West Philippine Sea, Philippine Department of National Defence, archipelagic security, geostrategic agency, Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine-China relations, Malacañang Palace, Cheloy Serafil, Xi, Pantaleon Alvarez, appeasement, Jonathan Malaya, territory, multi-domain future warfare, warfare, As the Philippines’ 'agency' in West Philippine Sea rises, so too does its infrastructure development

Why the EU should become more pragmatic towards Indonesia

Written by Dr Denis Suarsana

A quick and successful conclusion of trade negotiations with Indonesia would not only significantly strengthen Europe's role in the region but would also be an important step in the European strategy of de-risking from China.

Southeast Asia, Most Popular9DLFebruary 15, 20249DASHLINE, Why the EU should become more pragmatic towards Indonesia, Denis Suarsana, Indonesia, voters, elections, presidential elections, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, autocratic Suharto regime, Suharto, Europe, EU, trade, climate, Non-Aligned Movement, foreign policy, Bebas dan Aktif, mediator, G20 presidency, G20, Russian invasion of Ukraine, ASEAN chairmanship, ASEAN, conflict in Myanmar, Myanmar, Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN in the South China Sea, Code of Conduct, ASEAN-China Code of Conduct, south china sea, neutral, China, United States, economic development, Ganjar Pranowo, Central Java Province, Anies Baswedan, Jakarta, US-China rivalry, great power rivalry, third way, trading partner, State of Southeast Asia Report, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, WTO, nickel export ban, palm oil, trade agreement, Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA), European Union, Indonesian elite, EU-ASEAN Summit, coercion, democracy, shopping, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), free trade zone, free trade, moral arrogance, moral, morality, equal partnerships, geopolitics, strategy of de-risking, de-risking, copper, nickel ore, tin, bauxite, China+1, China+1 efforts, investment, Global Gateway, Global Gateway initiative, EU Global Gateway Initiative, EU’s Global Gateway, Europe’s Global Gateway, OECD, hedging, conditionality, hardliner

Indonesia's election landscape: Dynasty, Islam, and human rights in the spotlight

Written by Aniello Iannone

As Indonesia stands at this pivotal crossroads, the decisions made by its electorate will carry profound consequences not only for the nation's democratic fabric but also for the country's reputation internationally.

Power Politics9DLFebruary 12, 20249dashline, Indonesia's election landscape: Dynasty, Islam, and human rights in the spotlight, Aniello Iannone, ANIELLO IANNONE, Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, election, economic elites, economic development, industrial development, workers' rights, 2020 Omnibus Law, ITE (Electronic Transaction) law, political elite, political dynasty, Griban Rakabuming Raka, ideological divide, Prabowo Subianto, Gerindra, Minister of Defence, opposition parties, majority in parliament, democracy, identity politics, hardline Islamic faction, Soeharto, Soeharto’s regime, voter trust, military regime, political dynasties, civil resistance, Sukarnoputri Megawati, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Megawati Sukarnoputri, PDI-P, Orissa Putri Hapsari, Kaesang Pangarep, PSI, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Democratic Party, democratic standards, vice-presidential candidacy, legislative reform, Anwar Usman, Islamic extremism, human rights abuses, Anies Rasyid Baswedan, PKB, Minister of Education, Jakarta, gubernatorial election, Rizieq Shihab, Muslim Defense Front, extremist Islamic movement, Saudi Wahhabi orientation, Bachtiar Nasir, Action 212 movement, Ahok, Felix Siauw, integrity pact, conservative ulama groups, Ijtima Ulama, radical Muslim constituents, moderate electorate, Ganjar Pranowo, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, PDIP, Puan Mahari, Wadas village, democratic values, political alliances, political stability, democratic trajectory, voters

The US-India partnership after Modi’s visit to Washington

Written by Satvik Pendyala and Nathaniel Sher

As the United States adapts to rising strategic competition with China, it has sought to strengthen ties with New Delhi as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Power Politics9DLJuly 27, 20239dashline, The US-India partnership after Modi’s visit to Washington, Satvik Pendyala, Nathaniel Sher, Modi, US, US-China, Washington DC, Kurt Campbell, Narendra Modi, people-to-people domains, technology, defence, economy, technology sharing deals, US allies, New Delhi, strategic competition, Indo-Pacific, US-India, China-India, Ladakh, Line of Actual Control, LAC, Tsinghua University, India, influence in South Asia, beijing, US security partner, Ashley Tellis, US-China contingency, Western Pacific contingency, zone of conflict, defence cooperation, Galwan border clashes, India-China tensions, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Western Theater Command, Depsang Plains, Tibetan Military District, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Quad, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, IPEF, BRICS, SCO, BRI, Global Security Initiative, threat perception, security cooperation, formal ally, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, military contingency, economic development, security interests, great power aspirations, Indian Ocean, Sino-Indian border, territorial disputes, Chinese pressure, maritime capabilities, PLA Navy, military build-up, Malacca Strait, border conflict, border territories, Brahma Chellaney, deterrence signalling, Major Defense Partner, Strategic Trade Authorization Tier 1, dual-use technologies, military technologies, joint military exercises, intelligence-sharing, critical jet technology, spaceflight, armed drones, semiconductors

2023: The prospect of Pacific Island agency

9DASHLINE asks several experts for their assessment of the prospects for Pacific Island agency in 2023 international politics, especially beyond the 'big power influence' by the US and China that has so often been written about in 2022.

Pacific9DLJanuary 25, 20232023: The prospects of Pacific Island agency, 9DashLine, Pacific Islands, climate action, US-China competition for hegemony, Indo-Pacific security dynamics, big power influence, PRIESTLEY HABRU, heterogeneous, colonial, colonialism, great power competition, China, The Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, United Nations General Assembly, democracy, Taipei, Beijing, economic development, former Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, US President Joe Biden, US-Pacific Partnership Summit, Washington DC, Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, Australian Labor government, Australia, Pacific Island Forum (PIF), Suva, geopolitics, JOANNE WALLIS, UK, strategic competition, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, climate change, Pacific Islands Forum’s ‘Blue Pacific’ narrative, Blue Pacific, ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ (PBP) initiative, New Zealand, Japan, MAIMA KORO, Samoa, US-Pacific Partnership Declaration, HENRIETTA MCNEILL, South Korea, European Union, Cook Islands, Niue, French territories, Micronesian states, 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent

China, transnational organised crime, and Southeast Asia’s SEZs — is this Quid pro quo?

Written by Marco Neveu and Charlie Thame

Xi’s anti-corruption projects in the mainland seem to have sparked a degree of outward mobility by the triads from the authoritarian domestic core towards the more liminal and experimental periphery of Chinese influence.

Faultlines9DLNovember 11, 20229DashLine, China, transnational organised crime, and Southeast Asia’s SEZs: Quid pro quo?, Marco Neveu, Charlie Thame, crime, Southeast Asia, Radio Free Asia, Laos, Malaysian workers, Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ), enclave, Laotian, Chinese, Hong Kong, Kings Roman Group, torture, slavery, Sexual Slavery, online scam, Special Economic Zone, ASEAN, organised crime, transnational organised criminal (TOC), UNODC, global supply chains, trafficking, human trafficking, corruption, Thai, Thailand, neo-colonialist, exploitation, Sexual exploitation, economic development, FDI, Xi Jinping, authoritarian, Cold War, Truman administration, United Nations, UN, Bretton Woods institutions, Asian Development Bank, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Sihanoukville SEZ, Sihanoukville, Cambodia, scam, China’s Ministry of Commerce, Overseas Trade and Cooperation, Myanmar, Belt and Road Initiative, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), state-owned enterprises, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), triad, triads, Han nationalist, secret societies, Qing dynasty, Kuomintang (KMT), Bamboo Union, Chang An-lo, Taiwan, anti-corruption campaign, gangs, spies, Intelligence, patriotism, Americas, Beijing, Chang An-lo (“White Wolf”), Wan Kuok-koi (“Broken Tooth”), Zhao Wei, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, diplomacy, police, crime syndicate, Hun Sen, APEC 2022 forum, APEC

In Conversation: Ramon Pacheco Pardo on 'Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop'

9DASHLINE recently engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo about his fascinating new book ‘Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop’, which charts the incredible rise of South Korea, from colonisation and civil war to the thriving nation it is today.