https://www.scmp.com/rss/507113/feed Richard Borsuk has worked as a reporter and news editor in Southeast Asia for more than 40 years, including 11 years in Jakarta (1987-1998) as The Wall Street Journal’s Indonesia correspondent. He co-authored a book on Indonesian history, “Liem Sioe Liong’s Salim Group: The Business Pillar of Suharto’s Indonesia”, published in 2014. Borsuk currently is an adjunct senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com In November 2011, US president Barack Obama announced that United States foreign policy would make a “pivot” to Asia. But then in January 2017, a key part of that pivot – greater economic interaction – was reversed, as just-inaugurated president Donald Trump launched his “America First” agenda by yanking the US out of what he labelled the “job-killing” Trans-Pacific Partnership. Damage from the abandonment of the TPP was hefty. The prospects for the US to seriously boost trade with Asia were... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3224310/why-us-must-look-beyond-its-rivalry-china-and-engage-southeast-asia-its-own-merits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3224310/why-us-must-look-beyond-its-rivalry-china-and-engage-southeast-asia-its-own-merits?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:30:09 +0000 There has been much scepticism about whether Indonesia’s plan for a sovereign wealth fund will get off the ground, but the unveiling on Tuesday of its management team, led by a well-respected banker, should reduce the doubts by giving the fund the one thing it needs most – credibility. President Joko Widodo announced that the fund, called the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), will be helmed by former Bank Permata chief Ridha Wirakusumah, who gets high marks for integrity and capability. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3122076/indonesias-sovereign-wealth-fund-widodos-choice-managers-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3122076/indonesias-sovereign-wealth-fund-widodos-choice-managers-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:30:05 +0000 Back in 1988, the prime minister of Cambodia denounced China, describing it as “the root of everything that is evil” in his country. Hun Sen, still the Cambodian leader, is singing a vastly different tune now, praising China as Phnom Penh’s “most trusted friend”. That isn’t the only example of a big pendulum swing from decades ago for China’s relations with Southeast Asia. With some countries, ties were frosty at best; China supported insurgents in at least three countries (Thailand, Malaysia... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3100331/bully-or-benefactor-new-book-explores-chinas-relationship-asean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3100331/bully-or-benefactor-new-book-explores-chinas-relationship-asean?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2020 10:30:17 +0000