November 2018
- Vietnam TV interview with Hoang Thi Ha on the outcomes of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings on 17 November 2018.
- RT TV News interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on the 33rd ASEAN Summit and the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ASEAN-Russia Summit and the EAS on 15 November 2018.
- Thai PBS TV interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on the 33rd ASEAN Summit on 15 November 2018.
- Nation TV interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on the 33rd ASEAN Summit on 12 November 2018.
- Channel NewsAsia: “Is ASEAN ready for 4.0” interview with Moe Thuzar on 8 November 2018.
September 2018
- Channel NewsAsia: “Thailand’s Path to Democracy” interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on 27 September 2018.
- Vietnam Television: “RCEP Negotiations” interview with Sanchita Basu Das on 1 September 2018.
July 2018
- MediaCorp Focus 焦点: “文在寅的新南方政策” interview with Tang Siew Mun and Lye Liang Fook on 12 July 2018.
- MediaCorp Focus 焦点 interview with Tang Siew Mun on the Korean Prime Minister’s visit to Singapore on 9 July 2018 at ISEAS.
- Money FM89.3: “Will the AEC ever work towards a single currency?” interview with Sanchita Basu Das on 5 July 2018.
June 2018
- Japanese TBS News interview with Tang Siew Mun on the Trump-Kim Summit on 11 June 2018.
- Thai News Network (Digital TV Channel 16) interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on the Trump-Kim Summit and implications of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula for ASEAN and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone of ASEAN on 11 June 2018.
- NHK: “US-N.Korea Summit Tops Agenda at Security Forum” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 4 June 2018.
May 2018
- Vietnam News Agency TV interview with Hoang Thi Ha on ASEAN on 30 May 2018.
- MediaCorp Focus 焦点 (FY1819) – EP5 interview with Tang Siew Mun on 3 May 2018.
- Channel News Asia: “ASEAN’s Balancing Act” interview with Moe Thuzar on 5 April 2018.
- Channel NewsAsia: “Japan-ASEAN Relations: Where to next?” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 12 March 2018.
April 2018
- Channel News Asia: “ASEAN’s Balancing Act (Part 2)” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 12 April 2018.
- Channel News Asia: “ASEAN’s Balancing Act (Part 2)” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 12 April 2018.
- Channel NewsAsia: “Japan-ASEAN Relations: Where to next?” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 12 March 2018.
March 2018
- Global Review Politik und Kritik weltweit interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on ASEAN and regional affairs on 14 March 2018.
- Channel NewsAsia: “Japan-ASEAN Relations: Where to next?” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 12 March 2018.
February 2018
- Channel NewsAsia: “ASEAN’s Balancing Act” interview with Tang Siew Mun on 23 February 2018.
- Vietnam News Agency interview with Hoang Thi Ha on ASEAN on 12 February 2018.
- MediaCorp Focus interview with Tang Siew Mun on the outcomes of ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat on 7 February 2018 at ISEAS. This episode (FY1718) – EP36 was broadcasted by Mediacorp Channel 8 on 8 February 2018.
January 2018
November 2017
- Vietnam News Agency Television interview with Hoang Thi Ha on ASEAN on 14 and 17 November 2017.
- Vietnam News Agency Television interview with Hoang Thi Ha on ASEAN on 10 and 12 November 2017.
August 2017
- Vietnam Television interview with Hoang Thi Ha on 13 August 2017.
- Nation Multi Media Group in Bangkok interview with Termsak Chalermpalanupap on ASEAN 50 on 8 August 2017.
- Phoenix TV Hong Kong interview with Tang Siew Mun on ASEAN 50 on 7 August 2017 at ISEAS.
- Channel News Asia Insight: “ASEAN at 50” interview with Tang Siew Mun. The programme was first aired by CNA on 3 August 2017.
July 2017
June 2017
- VOA (Cambodia) interview with Tang Siew Mun on the ASEAN-China COC framework on 21 June 2017.
- Vietnam News Agency interview with Hoang Thi Ha on the Shangri-La Dialogue, South China Sea, ASEAN and North Korea on 1 June 2017.
May 2017
- Bloomberg Philippines interview with Hoang Thi Ha on 19 May 2017.
- Vietnam News Agency interview with Hoang Thi Ha on the South China Sea and the COC process on 3 May 2017.
April 2017
- Asia Business Daily interview with 4. Sanchita Basu Das on regional economic integration on 20 April 2017 at ISEAS.
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on the ASEAN 50 against the ASEAN Summit background on 19 April 2017 at ISEAS.
- Deutsche Presse Agentur (Manila) interview with Tang Siew Mun on the ASEAN Summit on 19 April 2017.
November 2016
September 2016
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on 13 September 2016 on ASEAN Summit and China and the US race for influence in the region and the prospect of the Philippines as ASEAN’s chair next year
- Vietnam Television interview with Hoang Thi Ha on ASEAN’s principle of consensus on 10 September 2016
- Radio 938 Live interview with Tang Siew Mun on 9 September 2016 on “the Role of the ASEAN Chair”
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on 8 September 2016 on “ASEAN, US and the Philippines”
- Moe Thuzar spoke on the ASEAN measures for managing migration at the Channel NewsAsia Think Tank session which aired on 7 September 2016
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on 6 September 2016 on US and ASEAN relations
August 2016
- A panel discussion programme featuring Sanchita Basu Das on “Think Tank” Panel Discussion Programme: Episode 4 – “Will There Be An ASEAN – 5 Years From Now?” by RSIS and Channel NewsAsia on 31 August 2016
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Sanchita Basu Das on the implication of Brexit on ASEAN in the episode of Between the Lines on 17 August
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Sanchita Basu Das on “Brexit and its impact on Singapore; and ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region” on 4 August 2016 at the British High Commissioner at Eden Hall, Singapore
July 2016
- Radio 938 Live interview with Tang Siew Mun on the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 25 July 2016
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on 25 July for the “News coverage on the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting”
- Channel NewsAsia interview with Tang Siew Mun on the US Elections and how it would impact ASEAN on 5 July 2016 (it was featured in the Episode on “US Next President: An ASEAN Perspective” on Channel NewsAsia on 28 July 2016).
- TODAY Commentary: In trying to win over America, Trump risks losing Asia by ASC Research Officer Jason Salim
- The Diplomat: Five Decades of ASEAN: The History of a Political Miracle by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- TODAY Commentary: What can ASEAN do about the Rohingya crisis? by ISEAS Fellow Hoang Thi Ha
- The Diplomat: Myanmar’s Rohingya Crisis is ASEAN’s Responsibility by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- The Straits Times Opinion: South-east Asia needs a reset on trade deals by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das
- Mizzima: Myanmar, ASEAN and the United States: New Directions under a Trump Presidency? by Lead Researcher (Socio-Cultural Affairs) Moe Thuzar
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN-US Relations: Can the Momentum be Maintained? by ISEAS Fellow Hoang Thi Ha
- The Straits Times Opinion: Obama’s legacy in South-east Asia by ASC Head Tang Siew Mun along with other scholars in ISEAS share their viewpoints on Obama’s legacy in South-east Asia
- Project Syndicate: Unshackling ASEAN by ISEAS Fellow Le Hong Hiep
- The Straits Times Opinion: The Duterte challenge for ASEAN by ASC Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Op-ed: Duterte’s personal game could lead to choppier waters for Asean by ISEAS Senior Fellow Malcolm Cook
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN needs some serious soul-searching on its ties with a friend showing signs of increasing assertiveness by ASC Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Commentary: When Duterte meets ASEAN by ASC Head Tang Siew Mun and ISEAS Senior Fellow, Dr Malcolm Cook
- TODAY Commentary: Strategic trust crucial in China-ASEAN ties by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Commentary: Making the Cues code work in the South China Sea by ASC’s Fellow Hoang Thi Ha
- TODAY Op-ed: Navigating the South China Sea issue at the ASEAN Summits by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- Nikkei Asian Review: Building a better bloc requires a stronger nerve center by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Socio-Cultural Affairs) Moe Thuzar
- TODAY Commentary: At 49, what’s next for ASEAN? by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN should highlight more of its efforts on economic cooperation by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das
- TODAY Commentary:ASEAN must reassess its ‘one voice’ decision-making by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Op-ed: M’sia faces dilemma with cautious approach to S China Sea disputes by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Op-ed: South China Sea ruling: An opportunity to mend ties by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- TODAY Op-ed: How ASEAN should respond to tribunal ruling on S China Sea by Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- The Straits Times Opinion: Brexit Has Profound Lessons for ASEAN Integration by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das
- The Straits Times Opinion: No Brexit Repeat in ASEAN by Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- East Asia Forum: The human challenges of an ASEAN Community by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Socio-Cultural Affairs) Moe Thuzar
- TODAY Commentary: China shoots itself in the foot with divide and rule tactics in ASEAN by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: ASEAN and Russia look to achieve their full potential by Dr Ian Storey, Senior ISEAS Fellow
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: Hang together or hang separately? by ASC Head Tang Siew Mun
- Op-Ed: “Southeast Asia’s Three Level Game” by ISEAS Senior Fellow, Dr Malcolm Cook on Japan Up Close
- The Diplomat: Will New Faces Test ASEAN Unity at the Ministers’ Meeting? by Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- Asia Pacific Bulletin of the East-West Center: Can the US-ASEAN Connect Initiative Create Stronger US-ASEAN Economic Relations? by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das
- TODAY Op-ed: A reality check, and tests for China, ASEAN by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun and Lead Researcher (Political & Security Affairs) Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
- Asia Matters for America Online: US-ASEAN Connect Holds Promise of Deepening ASEAN-US Relations by ASC Senior Fellow Dr Tham Siew Yean
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: What US-ASEAN Connect means for the region by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das for The Straits Times
- TODAY Commentary: Turning the US-ASEAN strategic partnership into a lasting one by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun in an op-ed piece on TODAY on 3 March 2016
- TODAY Commentary: Why US should stay engaged with ASEAN by ASC Senior Fellow Dr Tham Siew Yean
- Chatham House [Research Paper]: ASEAN’s Regional Role and Relations with Japan: The Challenges of Deeper Integration
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: Restoring investors’ confidence in ASEAN by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das
- East Asia Forum: Trade agreements are in ASEAN’s best interests – ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das shares her thoughts in an article in the East Asia Forum on 6 February 2016 on the importance of trade agreements for ASEAN countries.
- TODAY Op-ed: ASEAN deserves credit for standing up to China and US by ASC’s Head Tang Siew Mun
- The Straits Times Opinion: A balance sheet of Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN by ASC’s Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) Sanchita Basu Das on Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN
- TODAY Op-ed: Why ASEAN’s integration is through the economic route by Deputy Director of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Ooi Kee Beng
- E-International Relations: ASEAN Regional Institutions: Remaining Relevant amidst External Power Rivalries by ASC’s Moe Thuzar
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: ASEAN Must Speak Up More on South China Sea Matters by ISEAS Senior Fellow Tang Siew Mun
- The Straits Times S.E.A Views: What AIIB means for ASEAN Connectivity, by ASC’s Sanchita Basu Das
- Kyoto Review: China’s Three-Pronged Strategy on Regional Connectivity, by ASC’s Sanchita Basu Das for the Kyoto Review on Southeast Asia’s Young Academic’s Voice edition of 1 June 2015
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN Peacekeeping Force? Points to ponder, by ISEAS Senior Fellow Tang Siew Mun
- The Business Times: AEC should be seen as a work in progress by Sanchita Basu Das
- The Business Times: ASEAN Economic Community Needs Higher Transparency by ASC’s Sanchita Basu Das
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN’s strongest rebuke to China on reclamation by ISEAS Senior Fellow Tang Siew Mun
- Singapore’s Economic Development Board on Unlocking ASEAN’s Manufacturing Potential, including a contribution by ASC’s Sanchita Basu Das. Click here for the EDB report.
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN’s missing links need to be bridged, by ASC’s Moe Thuzar
- Asia Matters for America: The Missing Statistic Revealing Strong US-ASEAN Ties, by ISEAS Senior Fellow Malcolm Cook for East-West Center’s Asia Matters for America
- The Straits Times Opinion: Keeping the momentum of Asean’s community-building by Senior Fellow Tang Siew Mun
- East Asia Forum: AEC not just about the economics, by ASC’s Sanchita Basu Das for the East Asia Forum, carried online on 31 January 2015
- The Straits Times Opinion: ASEAN Way Lights Path Ahead for Region by ISEAS Deputy Director Ooi Kee Beng
Special issue of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies addressing a key task ahead for ASEAN economies. Co-editors are ASC’s own Sanchita Basu Das and Prof Tham Siew Yean of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Click here to purchase the book.
The ten Southeast Asian economies reached a milestone on 31 December 2015, when they announced the formation of an ASEAN Community. Although this includes three pillars – ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community – it is the economic pillar that generates immense debate, due to its expected quantifiable benefits to member countries. This book focuses on the ASEAN Economic Community and seeks to explain the need for building domestic consensus within the member countries. It includes six country chapters – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – that examine sources of domestic conflict/s in greater detail and depth. Ex-Secretary General of ASEAN, Mr Rodolfo Severino, co-authored a regional chapter that highlights the political nature of ASEAN economic cooperation since its inception in 1976. For ASEAN beyond 2015, the book articulates the need to obtain a strong domestic consensus that supports the integration initiatives of the AEC. This can be viewed as a way forward to accelerate and deepen integration within ASEAN..
Click here to purchase the book.
Asia has witnessed a proliferation of free trade agreements (FTAs) since the turn of the millennium. The first regional agreement — the ASEAN FTA — was transformed into the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015. In the meantime, ASEAN forged five ASEAN+1 FTAs and began to negotiate a sixteen-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. In parallel, the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), supporting U.S. foreign policy of “Pivot to Asia”, was broadly agreed in October 2015. This book ruminates on these regional agreements, their economic and strategic rationales and challenges during negotiations and afterwards. The book brings together eminent scholars and experts to deepen our understanding of the complex nature of the mega-regional trade agreements and their implications. It is useful both for the academic and research community and for policymakers who focus on trade and economic cooperation issues.
Click here to purchase the book.
In 2007, a survey — the first of its kind — was carried out to gauge young people’s awareness of and attitudes towards ASEAN. An update to the 2007 survey was carried out in 2014–15 among the same target population but with an expanded scope of twenty-two universities and institutes of higher learning across the ten member states. In the updated survey, we found that there are more ASEAN-positive attitudes region-wide, but there are also increases in ASEAN-ambivalent attitudes at country-level in some ASEAN members. This book details the key findings of the updated survey compared to the earlier survey. These include nation-by-nation results and a summary of region-wide trends, as well as what they suggest for the prospects of ASEAN integration beyond 2015.
Click here to purchase the book.
ASEAN Studies Centre
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Author: Sanchita Basu Das
The year 2015 has special significance for regional economic integration. The ASEAN Community, integrating the political, economic and social aspects of regional cooperation, will complete its first milestone by December 2015. Expectations of tangible benefits under an ASEAN Economic Community have attracted much attention though many of the initiatives will be realized post-2015.The Southeast Asian economies are also involved in two other regional initiatives. First is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), initiated by the United States. Second, the discussions on regional connectivity have broadened; China has emerged as a recent lead proponent with its proposals for “One Belt, One Road” and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. All these together have implications not only for individual Southeast Asian countries but also for regional trading architecture. To aid in understanding the beginnings, development, and potential of these grand plans, this collection of 22 essays offers a rich analysis of ASEAN’s own economic integration and other related initiatives proliferating in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
The year 2015 has special significance for regional economic integration. The ASEAN Community, integrating the political, economic and social aspects of regional cooperation, will complete its first milestone by December 2015. Expectations of tangible benefits under an ASEAN Economic Community have attracted much attention though many of the initiatives will be realized post-2015.The Southeast Asian economies are also involved in two other regional initiatives. First is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), initiated by the United States. Second, the discussions on regional connectivity have broadened; China has emerged as a recent lead proponent with its proposals for “One Belt, One Road” and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. All these together have implications not only for individual Southeast Asian countries but also for regional trading architecture. To aid in understanding the beginnings, development, and potential of these grand plans, this collection of 22 essays offers a rich analysis of ASEAN’s own economic integration and other related initiatives proliferating in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
To purchase the book, click here.
The ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute organised a seminar on 24 August 2015 to share the findings from an update of a survey on undergraduates’ awareness of and attitudes towards ASEAN. The survey update, which builds on findings of an earlier survey in 2007, was carried out in 2014-15 among 4623 students from 22 universities across the region. The 2014 survey findings highlight that region-wide, ASEAN-positive attitudes have remained consistent among young educated citizens in the region. Students displayed more knowledge about ASEAN, and consider themselves “citizens of ASEAN”. They also ranked people-related priorities higher as important aspects of regional cooperation.
The seminar was held in conjunction with the 48th ASEAN Day reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore. In his speech, Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam referred to the survey results and noted that regional economic integration must be complemented by efforts for a stronger regional identity. Citing the survey results, Mr Shanmugam observed that “We are on the right track when our youths see themselves as part of the ASEAN community and feel a shared sense of responsibility for ASEAN’s future”.
A fact-sheet of the key findings from the 2014 Survey is available here.
Editor: Sanchita Basu Das
ASEAN has been active in the formation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) since the early 1990s. Besides its own integration initiatives like the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN has also enacted five plus 1 FTAs with China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand, making ASEAN an FTA hub for broader Asian region. A decision was reached in November 2011 to establish a comprehensive RTA, covering the five ASEAN+1 FTAs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework. Another RTA that has attracted lot of attention lately is the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), led by the United States.
Despite the similar objective of increasing economic cooperation, the two RTAs differ from each other. RCEP is expected to accommodate the development differences of the member countries, while TPP is said to have a more demanding set of commitments. Both RCEP and TPP are perceived to have strategic roles in the AsiaPacific region. TPP is a component of the U.S.’s Asian ‘pivot’ strategy , in reaction to Asia’s economic rise and integration efforts. TPP also can be viewed as a consequence of the limited integration progress under APEC. In addition many have argued that TPP is a containment strategy aimed at China. RCEP is expected to reinforce ASEAN ‘centrality’ in the wider AsiaPacific regional architecture. The ongoing negotiations for both RCEP and TPP face complex challenges, and are expected to encounter difficulties to conclude.