The conflict in Iran that erupted in mid-2026 shook the global oil market and forced almost all ASEAN countries to adjust their fuel prices in a short period.
Category: Opinion
Thailand’s Anutinomics: Bringing the 2000s into the 2020s
Thailand has long relied on central economic planning to foster economic growth and address major socio-economic challenges. These policies range from the emergency measures implemented during the 1997 Asian financial crisis (known locally as TomYam Kung), to Thaksin Shinawatra’s ‘Thaksinomics’ reforms in its aftermath, to Prayut Chan-o-cha’s policies aimed at stabilising Thai economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and finally to Prime Minister (PM) Anutin Charnvirakul’s emerging economic agenda.
Southeast Asia Is Not In The World Cup, But It’s Not A Talent Problem
As the world’s attention is currently fixed to the largest ever FIFA World Cup tournament in history where 48 national teams are competing, Southeast Asia is also watching closely. The region is home to one of the biggest fanbases in the world, hosting about 300 million people or roughly 10% of the world’s football supporters.
The West Philippine Sea Must Not Become ASEAN’s Testing Ground for Unchecked Autonomy
When Chinese water cannons shattered the cockpit windscreen of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel and injured crew members in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the incident was reported as another act of maritime harassment. But what made this confrontation different was not just the violence, it was the technology.
ASEAN Energy Security Must Be Driven by Member States’ National Self-Interest
For some time, a question has hung in the air about how ASEAN would be able to translate its political commitment into implementation. The top-down approach may never fit the “ASEAN way” of doing things. By its institutional nature, ASEAN’s energy security and speed of energy transition will largely depend on the national self-interest of its member states.
For ASEAN’s youth climate declaration to work, look at how China turns promises into proof
The ASEAN Declaration on the Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, adopted at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on May 8, is a welcome signal.
Triple Disruption and Urban Transformation in Indonesia
Walk through any major Indonesian city and the contradictions are hard to unsee. Gleaming co-working spaces sit beside waterlogged ‘kampungs’.
Indonesia’s Digital Education Boom Has a Child Safety Gap
On 2 May 2026, Indonesia marked its National Education Day under the theme “Strengthening Universal Participation to Realise Quality Education for All.” It is a theme that carries weight beyond ceremony.
When Policy Signals Shape Market Perception
Across Southeast Asia, governments today are not short of policy ambition. New industrial strategies, investment reforms, digital economy roadmaps and public health interventions continue to emerge across the region.
The Illusion of Insulation: Why the Weak Rupiah Hits Rural Indonesia
On May 16, 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto responded to concerns over the weakening rupiah with a seemingly simple remark: “People in the villages don’t use dollars, do they?” He also assured the public that food and energy supplies were secure.