Russia’s war in Ukraine has undermined a long-held assumption of naval warfare: that the bigger fleet wins. Ukraine has no navy capable of matching Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Yet, with home-built missiles, uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and off-the-shelf commercial technology, it has inflicted heavy costs on a far stronger adversary.
Category: Opinion
Beyond Firefighting: Why Regional Pressure, Not National Reform, Will Stop the Haze
In the annual dry season, Indonesia faces a cyclical crisis: forests and peatlands burn, haze crosses national borders and, ultimately, neighbouring countries brace for the consequences. The recurrence of these fires raises a question that emergency responses alone cannot answer.
Can Indonesia Grow Its Palm Oil Sector Without Consuming Its Future?
The future of Indonesian palm oil should not be reduced to a choice between economic development and environmental protection. The more difficult question is whether one of the world’s most productive agricultural industries can continue creating “values” for both livelihoods and trade, without making ecological loss the hidden cost of growth.
China’s Monopoly Over Rare Earths, What’s at Stake for BRICS?
On September 12-13, the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi brought together leaders from China, India, Iran, Russia and South Africa, joined by Southeast Asian delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with the Philippines attending as ASEAN chair.
Who Protects the Public’s Right to Know?
The Malacca Strait has long been a passage for ships, goods, people and ideas, but in September 2026 it also became an appropriate setting for a more urgent discussion: whether the flow of credible public information in Southeast Asia remains sufficiently free from political pressure, legal intimidation, economic dependency and digital manipulation.
What Does Indonesia Really Get from Japan’s Natuna Port Upgrade Plan?
Japan-Indonesia defence cooperation has strengthened significantly over the past year. Numerous ministerial visits culminated in the signing of a defence cooperation agreement in Jakarta in May 2026.
Can Indonesia’s Village Cooperatives Mine Without Losing Their Purpose?
Imagine a village cooperative with a straightforward purpose: to manage a village pharmacy, open a community clinic, provide savings and lending services, operate cold storage for agricultural produce and help farmers reduce their dependence on middlemen.
Beyond the Emergency, Rethinking Disaster Resilience in Indonesia
Disaster resilience in this economy depends not only on emergency preparedness and institutional capacity, but also on its accuracy, integration and reliability. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how essential these are when responding to large-scale crises and ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.
Malaysia’s AUKU Replacement Must Guarantee Academic Freedom and Student Voice
The Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971), or known locally with its abbreviation AUKU, has been in operation for over half a century in Malaysia. It was enacted with the purpose of providing a legal mechanism for the establishment, administration and governance for public universities, but gradually became intertwined with a larger debate on student activism, political participation, freedom of expression and academic freedom.
If Myanmar Cannot Be Isolated, ASEAN Should Make Engagement Conditional
Myanmar has entered a new chapter in its civil war. Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s armed forces, or known locally as the Tatmadaw, has faced sustained armed resistance across the country, triggering a civil war that has claimed the lives of over 100,000 people and displaced millions more.