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The scheduled arrival of China's Yuan Wang 3 in Fiji has renewed concerns that Beijing may be preparing another ballistic missile test in the Southwest Pacific. More than research vessels, the Yuan Wang class forms a sophisticated military tracking network that has repeatedly supported PLA missile launches across the region. This report examines the growing pattern of Chinese military activity, its implications for Pacific Island security, and why Fiji's next decision could s

The Middle East conflict is testing the resilience of ASEAN's aviation industry. Although geographically distant from the crisis, Southeast Asian airlines are grappling with rising operating costs, disrupted flight paths, and increased uncertainty across global supply chains. This analysis explores what the conflict means for airlines, businesses, investors, and the future of regional air connectivity.

Russia's unveiling of the Amur-1650 submarine highlights its ambition to remain a major defence supplier in Asia. Yet for ASEAN navies, the decision to acquire advanced submarines increasingly depends on more than technical performance. As sanctions, industrial constraints, and strategic competition reshape the global defence market, reliability, long-term support, and delivery certainty have become just as important as capability.

Saudi Arabia's decision to launch the first overseas edition of LEAP in Hong Kong signals more than the international expansion of its flagship technology conference. It reflects Riyadh's growing focus on Asia, deepening technology cooperation with China, and the strategic importance of the Greater Bay Area as a global innovation hub. Rather than diminishing Singapore's role, the move highlights how governments are increasingly selecting technology partners based on strategic

The India-Indonesia BrahMos missile agreement marks an important step in Southeast Asia's evolving security architecture. Rather than signalling a shift towards military blocs, it reflects ASEAN's broader strategy of strengthening defence capabilities while maintaining balanced relationships with multiple partners. This report explores how the deal could influence regional security, strategic autonomy, and the role of middle powers in the Indo-Pacific.

China's July 6 JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile test marked one of Beijing's most significant strategic demonstrations in the Pacific in decades. Flying across Southeast Asia before landing near Tuvalu, the launch raises new questions about regional security, China's growing military reach, and how ASEAN and Pacific Island nations should respond.

Alternative proteins are becoming increasingly important to the future of global food systems, but ASEAN enters this transition with a distinct advantage. The region's longstanding familiarity with plant-based foods, combined with growing concerns over food security, sustainability, and agricultural resilience, is creating favorable conditions for a new generation of food innovation and investment across Southeast Asia.

Government policy has become one of the defining drivers of ASEAN's electric vehicle revolution. As Southeast Asian countries compete to attract investment through incentives, local manufacturing requirements, and infrastructure development, Chinese automakers are rapidly expanding their regional footprint. This report explores the policies reshaping the EV landscape and the broader economic opportunities emerging across ASEAN.

China’s expanding military and security presence in the Southwest Pacific is raising familiar questions about influence, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy. By comparing the Pacific and the South China Sea, this article argues that ASEAN’s experience offers Pacific Islands an early warning on how economic engagement, regional institutions, and external pressure can reshape strategic choices over time.

ASEAN's workforce is expanding by around 11,000 people every day, creating one of the world's largest emerging talent pools. As global businesses diversify supply chains and invest in Southeast Asia, the region's demographic advantage is becoming a powerful driver of economic growth. This report explores the opportunities, challenges, and policies shaping ASEAN's labour force boom over the coming decades.

For decades, the US dollar has underpinned trade and finance across Southeast Asia. Today, ASEAN is pursuing a quieter transformation. Through local currency settlement arrangements, cross-border payment connectivity, and closer central bank cooperation, the region is gradually reducing its reliance on the US dollar not to replace it, but to build a more resilient, efficient, and flexible financial system.

Climate change is transforming how ASEAN governments think about telecommunications infrastructure. As floods, typhoons, rising sea levels, and extreme weather increasingly disrupt digital networks, policymakers are treating telecommunications not just as a commercial service, but as critical national infrastructure.

The world needs more minerals than ever before, yet mining companies remain trapped in a cycle of volatile commodity prices that undermine investment and long-term planning. From nickel and copper to lithium and rare earths, price swings continue to shape the fortunes of producers, governments, and investors.

The conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to Red Sea shipping routes have exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains, prompting ASEAN economies to reassess how they manage trade risks. While China was already ASEAN's largest trading partner, the crisis has reinforced the importance of regional supply chains, economic diversification, and agreements such as RCEP.

As geopolitical competition and supply chain uncertainty reshape the global economy, ASEAN is quietly expanding its economic relationship with Russia. The 35th Anniversary ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit and new Plan of Action (2026–2030) signal growing cooperation in energy, food security, trade, investment, education, and technology. This report examines why the partnership matters, what opportunities it presents for Southeast Asia.

Could ASEAN's World Cup dream become a catalyst for regional integration or an expensive prestige project? As multi-country hosting becomes the new normal, Southeast Asia may have a unique opportunity to bring football's biggest tournament to the region. This report explores the economic opportunities, hidden costs, and strategic implications of a future ASEAN bid.

Global supply chain disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz are forcing ASEAN businesses to rethink logistics, sourcing, and inventory management. As geopolitical uncertainty reshapes global trade, companies across Southeast Asia are building more resilient supply chains through diversification, technology, and regional partnerships.

Dear Editors, As investors navigate an increasingly uncertain global economic landscape, attention often gravitates toward high-growth emerging markets. Yet Japan, despite receiving less attention than some of its regional peers, continues to offer compelling opportunities for long-term investors seeking stability, innovation, and sustainable returns. As the world's third-largest economy, Japan benefits from strong institutional foundations, advanced infrastructure, and a hig

As companies diversify supply chains beyond China, ASEAN is emerging as a major manufacturing destination. Rising investment in electronics, clean energy, and industrial production is helping position Southeast Asia as a critical hub in the future of global manufacturing.

Illicit firearms in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific are driven less by supply than by demand — rooted in poverty, lack of opportunity, and fragile communities. Sustainable development is not a soft alternative; it is the most practical way to shrink that demand. From Indonesia’s archipelagic realities to conflict-affected areas in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, investing in jobs, education, and resilience can address root causes more effectively than enforceme