Posts From Laura Southgate
Malaysian prime minister weathers ‘people power’ movement — for now
Malaysia’s prime minister has so far weathered anti-government protests calling for his removal. Without political stability and a strengthened economy, his long-term prospects of survival seem uncertain. The Malaysian capital
Japan’s Southeast Asia charm offensive
Japan has increasingly enhanced its cooperation with Southeast Asian states in a bid to counter China’s growing regional influence. Regional states will benefit from this, so long as they can
Economic turbulence ahead: Aviation safety in Southeast Asia
Indonesia’s recent Trigana Air plane crash is evidence of the region’s failure to grapple with a number of aviation safety challenges. Without a move to remedy this failure, it is
The legacy of Philippines President Benigno Aquino
As Philippines’ President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino winds down his term as President, we consider whether he has lived up to the promises he made in his 2010 election campaign. On
The rise of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia
Support for the Islamic State is increasing among Muslim extremists in Southeast Asia. Unless regional states cooperate to tackle extremism, this is likely to pose a significant future security threat.
David Cameron Seeks Business Opportunities in Southeast Asia
Seeking to develop new business opportunities with a growing ASEAN market, David Cameron launched a trade delegation consisting of representatives from every region of the United Kingdom and is indicative
Are businesses ready for the ASEAN Economic Community?
As the deadline for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) nears, large corporate companies seem ready to take advantage of the coming changes. Yet, with small and medium-sized businesses less prepared,
US-Vietnam economic ties to increase after historic visit
This July, the Secretary-General of the Vietnam Communist Party (VCP) made a five-day visit to the United States. A Joint Vision Statement was released during the visit, emphasizing enhanced economic and security
Can the Malaysian PM survive the 1MDB Scandal?
An anti-corruption probe has uncovered documents that appear to link Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds. The allegations have helped push the Malaysian ringgit to
Southeast Asia: The new piracy capital
Southeast Asia has recently regained the reputation as the world’s worst region for piracy. With one third of world shipping going through the regions’ waters, the costs to trade and
