East Asia Forum

To Lam is now both General Secretary and President of Vietnam, but the Communist Party’s collective decision-making code ensures he remains a strong leader, not a strongman, writes Carlyle Thayer.

Vietnam is not China in the making To Lam is now both General Secretary and President of Vietnam, but the Communist Party’s collective decision-making code ensures he remains a strong leader, not a strongman.

Japan’s anti-piracy cooperation in Southeast Asia offers a model of regional order-building beyond military deterrence, though questions emerge over its sustainability as Japan’s defence profile expands, writes Nguyen Truong Giang.

Japan’s maritime strategy quietly reshapes Southeast Asia’s security Japan’s anti-piracy cooperation in Southeast Asia offers a model of regional order-building beyond military deterrence, though questions emerge over its sustainability as Japan’s defence profile expands.

Seoul’s middle power diplomacy stands at an inflection point between caution and creativity, with bold statecraft necessary to widen diplomatic autonomy amid constraints, writes Sang Yoon Ma.

South Korea’s middle power diplomacy at an inflection point Seoul’s middle power diplomacy stands at an inflection point between caution and creativity, with bold statecraft necessary to widen diplomatic autonomy amid constraints.

Vietnam’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 hinges on whether Hanoi can sustain double digit growth through innovation and infrastructure while managing unprecedented external shocks, writes Hai Hong Nguyen.

Vietnam’s lofty vision for prosperity amid volatility Vietnam’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 hinges on whether Hanoi can sustain double digit growth through innovation and infrastructure while managing unprecedented external shocks.

Myanmar’s post-coup higher education crisis is giving rise to alternative, resistance-driven institutions that are reshaping how the country’s education system and federal futures are imagined, writes Licia Proserpio.

Rebuilding Myanmar’s universities from the borderlands in resistance Myanmar’s post-coup higher education crisis is giving rise to alternative, resistance-driven institutions that are reshaping how the country’s education system and federal futures are imagined.

LGBTQ+ safety is collateral damage in Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's fight for political survival, write Vilashini Somiah and Indramalar Satkunasingam.

Anwar government joins in the scapegoating of q***r Malaysians LGBTQ+ safety is collateral damage in Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's fight for political survival.

By charging renminbi and cryptocurrency tolls at the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has become the first state to pair control of a physical chokepoint with an operational demand to transact outside the dollar system, writes Oorja Tapan.

The Hormuz tollbooth is a precedent, not a de-dollarisation revolution By charging renminbi and cryptocurrency tolls at the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has become the first state to pair control of a physical chokepoint with an operational demand to transact outside the dollar system.

China is making its climate commitments more enforceable domestically, but has yet to turn its economic weight into a global strategy for climate leadership, writes Patrick Xue.

China’s climate toolkit in search of a strategy China is making its climate commitments more enforceable domestically, but has yet to turn its economic weight into a global strategy for climate leadership.

Indonesia's economic agenda may undermine the growth and international credibility needed to achieve President Prabowo Subianto's vision of a sovereign and globally respected power, writes our editorial board.

Indonesia’s interventionist presidency and its looming crisis of confidence Indonesia's economic agenda may undermine the growth and international credibility needed to achieve President Prabowo Subianto's vision of a sovereign and globally respected power

Prabowo’s establishment of Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia signals a new phase of resource nationalism in Indonesia, writes Eve Warburton.

Prabowo’s new brand of resource nationalism Prabowo’s establishment of Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia signals a new phase of resource nationalism in Indonesia