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Smoke billows from an explosion in central Tehran on June 15 following an Israeli strike. Photo: AFP
Israel-Iran conflict

Opinion | Decoding Israel, Iran and China’s collision of interests in the Middle East

The conflict exposed a harsh reality for Iran: strategic alliances with China and Russia do not guarantee military backing.

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Asean

Asian Angle | Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?

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Japan

My Take | Who are these ‘like-minded countries’ politicians are talking about?

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Indonesia

Asian Angle | Not-so-rich kid: meet Bobby Saputra, a viral parody of privilege

More than just a viral sensation, Bobby Saputra exposes deep-seated frustrations among Southeast Asian youth with corruption and inequality.

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Ben Sumadiwiria as uber-rich playboy Bobby Saputra. Photo: Ben Sumadiwiria
Ben Sumadiwiria as uber-rich playboy Bobby Saputra. Photo: Ben Sumadiwiria
Israel-Iran conflict

Opinion | Flying into the storm: how Middle East conflict reshapes global air routes

The airline industry has been re-routing routes and avoiding conflict zones in the Middle East while keeping an eye on rising costs.

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Malaysia

My Take | Caught in the chip war, Malaysia must rethink its US–China balancing act

Allegations of Chinese chip access via Malaysia highlight the growing costs of staying neutral.

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Asean

Asian Angle | Trump tariffs challenge Asean’s unity and economic stability

As Trump’s tariff policies threaten Asean solidarity, the bloc should focus on regional trade to maintain stability and prevent division amid divergent responses.

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An Asean logo is displayed at the venue, ahead of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Langkawi Island, state of Kedah, Malaysia, on January 17. Photo: EPA-EFE
An Asean logo is displayed at the venue, ahead of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Langkawi Island, state of Kedah, Malaysia, on January 17. Photo: EPA-EFE
War and conflict

Opinion | Israel’s interception of Madleen raises legal concerns over aid blockade

International law outlines strict conditions for blockades, highlighting potential violations in the recent interception of a humanitarian aid vessel.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | China as a global conflict mediator: from ambition to action

From Saudi-Iran rapprochement to Myanmar ceasefires, China’s conflict diplomacy also aims to protect its own interests.

US-Asean relations

Asian Angle | Trump, Hegseth, Rubio: a triple threat to global stability – and Asia

The Trump administration has abandoned diplomacy for tariffs and threats, fracturing alliances and leaving Asean caught in the crossfire.

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US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 14. Photo: Reuters
Asean

My Take | Can Southeast Asia contain growing threat of cyber scams?

An unprecedented level of coordination is required to tackle such crimes as Southeast Asian economies become more digitalised.

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A recent UN report estimated that cyber-enabled fraud cost East and Southeast Asia nearly US$40 billion in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock
A recent UN report estimated that cyber-enabled fraud cost East and Southeast Asia nearly US$40 billion in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

Opinion | Will South Korea’s next president be able to heal a fractured nation?

High levels of support for front runner Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire to repudiate Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration.

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United States

Opinion | Why US exceptionalism, export of crassness are losing their shallow appeal

America’s inevitable decline proves that nations thrive by prioritising their needs and working with others, not seeking economic dominance.

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India

My Take | Is India poised to rival US universities in a global academic shift?

As US visa changes worry Asian students, India sees a chance to boost education, research, and economic growth amid shifting global academic dynamics.

Students walking together with backpacks at a university campus. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

Asian Angle | Preparing Malaysia’s toolkit to weather Trump’s tariff storm

Malaysia should push out relief measures to mitigate possible fallout from Trump’s tariffs even as trade talks continue.

A ship coming into berth at the container terminal at sunset in port Klang near Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s exports to the US bear the blanket 10 per cent levy. Photo: Shutterstock
A ship coming into berth at the container terminal at sunset in port Klang near Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s exports to the US bear the blanket 10 per cent levy. Photo: Shutterstock
Asean

Asian Angle | In Southeast Asia’s climate battle, AI could prove a double-edged sword

AI has the potential to be a new engine of growth but should not be a panacea for the region’s climate problems.

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Malaysia

My Take | From Russia with love: Anwar’s geopolitical play leaves a confusing trail

Recent diplomatic overtures have raised concern that Anwar is leaning too close to Russia and China in his bid to diversify Malaysia’s trade ties.

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Asean

Opinion | How the Indo-Pacific got its name – and what China has to do with it

Dating back to a German geographer favoured by Hitler and popularised by a former Japanese PM, the term was a strategic Western rebrand.

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Japan’s former prime minister, the late Shinzo Abe, shakes hands with US President Donald Trump at the White House in 2017. Abe helped give political voice to the Indo-Pacific concept. Photo: Reuters
Japan’s former prime minister, the late Shinzo Abe, shakes hands with US President Donald Trump at the White House in 2017. Abe helped give political voice to the Indo-Pacific concept. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Asian Angle | Seeking the silver lining in Trump’s tariff turmoil

Trump’s tariffs could encourage governments to confront entrenched vested interests, but success requires a genuine commitment to reform.

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Myanmar

Opinion | How Myanmar’s devastating earthquake threatens to leave a lasting economic scar

The earthquake in central Myanmar poses serious risks to its fragile economy, with damages disrupting agriculture, trade and infrastructure.

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Malaysia

Asian Angle | Will Malaysia gravitate further towards China in ‘new golden era’ of ties?

A flurry of agreements signed during the Chinese president’s visit last month signals Malaysia’s economic pivot towards Beijing.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 16. Photo: Pool via AP
Donald Trump

My Take | Facing US tariffs, Asia can transform to lead the world in innovation

Asia should move beyond its low-cost assembly model and scale up the value chain, such as in green technology.

An industrial drone flies over a green field and sprays useful pesticides to increase productivity and destroys harmful insects. If Asian economies leverage their strengths, they could be at the forefront of a new economic paradigm. Photo: Shutterstock
An industrial drone flies over a green field and sprays useful pesticides to increase productivity and destroys harmful insects. If Asian economies leverage their strengths, they could be at the forefront of a new economic paradigm. Photo: Shutterstock
Thailand

Asian Angle | Trump’s tariffs: can Thailand escape the US trade trap after 90 days?

Thailand is seeking to boost imports from the US to address the challenges of Trump’s tariffs, but this is unlikely to improve its economic position.

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Asean

Asian Angle | The end of ‘Chimerica’ and what that means for Southeast Asia

The breakdown of US-China economic symbiosis leaves Southeast Asian nations bracing for unpredictable shocks.

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US-China trade war

My Take | Why China’s ‘Never Kneel Down’ video fails to change US trade war narrative

China’s ‘Never Kneel Down’ video employs nationalistic rhetoric to resonate with a Chinese audience, but is unlikely to influence the global narrative on tariffs.

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China released a viral video to emphasise its stance in the US tariff war, but it lacks fresh insights. Photo: Shutterstock
Open Questions series

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

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4
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

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31
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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