Could BRICS redefine Asia’s power balance?

For Asian countries outside the current BRICS framework, the stakes are high. Membership could mean enhanced access to financial resources, a larger voice in global institutions, and strengthened ties with emerging powers.

Malaysia’s chip sector navigates tariff turmoil and rising regional competition

The Southeast Asian nation, the world’s sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, faces mounting pressure to retain investment and relevance in a fast-evolving global tech landscape.

South Korea, ASEAN launch first joint economic think-tank talks

ASEAN, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, has become an increasingly vital partner for Korea in recent years.

COMMENT: China’s quiet power play in Southeast Asia

Brazil poised to challenge China's rare earth dominance

Brazil could emerge as a major competitor to China in the strategically critical rare earths market amid escalating global trade tensions and surging demand for these essential elements in high-tech manufacturing.

COMMENT: Why Asia should not follow the failed European model

Over the past 15 years, Europe’s trade frameworks have faltered, integration has stalled, and a number of its core political and economic ideas have failed under real-world pressure.

ASIA BLOG: Beijing’s South China Sea strategy is about Taiwan — and the world needs to sit up and take notice

Even as Taiwan is described as potentially the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia, it is actually the fulcrum upon which the future of the Indo-Pacific — and by extension the global balance of power — may pivot.

Indonesia’s data centre industry: huge market, limited infrastructure

Under President Prabowo’s administration, the government has pledged support for the development of the data centre sector to accelerate digital transformation and drive a technology-based economy.

HALLIGAN: Power struggle in OPEC+ is pulling oil prices down

The oil market has entered choppy waters once again. Crude prices fell by a dramatic 18% in April y/y – the sharpest monthly drop since November 2021 – partly due to a global slowdown, but more due to a power struggle within OPEC+.

ASEAN aligns with Japan, China and South Korea in warning against protectionist risks

Meeting on the sidelines of the recent Asian Development Bank’s annual gathering in Milan, Italy, the officials reiterated their support for a rules-based, free and fair multilateral trading system.

Japanese official warns of wider Asian security impact of Trump tariffs

Former defence minister Itsunori Onodera, speaking in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Southeast Asia.

India moves to cut reliance on Chinese solar modules and PV cells

India has taken significant strides when it comes to reducing import dependency for solar modules and PV cells, which is a result of expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities.

China doubles down on Cambodia ties amid global trade tensions

Amid economic uncertainty, the world is redirecting investments toward Southeast Asia as countries increasingly recognise the strength of regional cooperation.

China to boost Russian LNG imports in 2025, ambassador confirms

China is poised to expand its intake of Russian liquefied natural gas in the coming year, according to its ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui.

ASIA BLOG: Is China preparing to poke the paper tiger in the White House?

The US intimidates certain countries. But America is just a paper tiger. Don’t believe its bluff. One poke and it’ll burst!

Asian giants thrive in Russia despite sanctions

Maintaining a complex balance between profit, geopolitical alignment and risk management, the presence of Asian nations in Russia reveals a divergence between Western corporate exodus and Eastern mercantile strategy.

ASIA BLOG: China suddenly recognises need for community, in a region Beijing has long polarised

President Xi made no mention of long-standing territorial issues with China’s closest neighbours including Japan, South Korea and the self-governing country long claimed as an integral part of China by Beijing: Taiwan.

Southeast Asia's leading economies ponder possible US tariffs as 90-day pause takes effect

When the US administration under President Donald Trump announced sweeping import tariffs on ASEAN nations, it triggered an immediate ripple across Southeast Asia’s export-dependent economies.

Thailand joins over 50 nations in US tariff negotiations amid rising trade tensions

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on April 6 that Thailand would seek talks with Washington following the imposition of tariffs on Thai exports with Deputy PM and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira set to travel to the US.

Survivors pulled from the rubble in Myanmar as the death toll rises following M7.7 earthquake

More people have been rescued from the rubble over two days after a powerful earthquake struck in neighbouring Myanmar, where the death toll in the country now exceeds 1,700 with some indicators that it may rise further.