South-east Asia lacks unified riposte to Islamic State

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Civil Liberties ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Counter Terrorism ◽  
Legal Frameworks

Subject South-east Asia's regional response to Islamic State. Significance South-east Asian countries face security risks from Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants. States are seeking to coordinate action at a region-wide level, with the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit last month including a parallel Counter-Terrorism Conference. Impacts Washington will likely use support for counterterrorism to develop defence relations in South-east Asia. Tougher legal frameworks to combat terrorism could result in laws that constrain civil liberties. For Australia, stronger ties with ASEAN could encourage a more conciliatory approach to the region’s autocratic regimes.

Parts of South-east Asia may adopt nuclear post-2030

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Renewable Energy Development

Significance It is the only country in South-east Asia with a large-scale nuclear plant, although this was never loaded with fuel. Other countries in the region have tentative plans to develop nuclear power programmes. Impacts The current absence of nuclear power programmes will help avert the diversion of capital from renewable energy development in the region. South-east Asian countries with small, non-power reactors, built for research, will try to maintain these facilities. Across the region, the need for electricity grid investment will increase as more decentralised generation sources are deployed.

ASEAN-India naval ties are symbolic, for now

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Role

Subject The outlook for Indian naval engagement with South-east Asian countries and ASEAN. Significance At the ASEAN summit in mid-November, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined India's 'Look East' policy, pledging to cultivate diplomatic, economic and security relationships with South-east Asia. One manifestation of Delhi's willingness to undertake a more strategic regional role is the Indian navy's growing portfolio of partnerships with South-east Asian navies. Amid concerns over China's maritime assertiveness, India's navy has been welcomed in the region as a security partner. Impacts India will avoid South-east Asian undertakings that may provoke China. Delhi will need to define 'Look East' policies concretely to convince South-east Asia fully of Indian strategic utility. Modi will expand bilateral naval exercises, humanitarian aid and counter-piracy/smuggling efforts in South-east Asia.

Online extremism poses new threats to South-east Asia

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suicide Bombings ◽  
The Military

Subject Online radicalisation. Significance On May 25, the Indonesian parliament unanimously passed stringent anti-terrorism laws allowing the military to be directly involved in counterterrorism operations. The vote followed a string of suicide bombings attributed to local jihadist networks that have pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS). Jakarta joins other South-east Asian governments -- notably those of Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore -- in attempting to counter a new push in the region by IS, as it loses territory in Iraq and Syria. Impacts Rising anti-Shia sentiment in the region, a by-product of increased Saudi influence, will likely give IS new issues to exploit. The Rohingya crisis gives IS a regional boost, especially in terms of operations in Myanmar and more likely in Yangon than Rakhine State. Non-ideological, low-wage overseas workers, particularly from the Philippines and Indonesia, are most susceptible to IS.

South-east Asia coastguard growth could see friction

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Territorial Claims

Subject Development of South-east Asian coastguards and their geopolitical implications. Significance Senior coastguard officers from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States will meet later this year to discuss cooperation and capacity-building -- and the assertive actions of China's coastguard in littoral waters. With external partners' support, South-east Asian states are developing their coastguards to fight crime and assert maritime territorial claims. Impacts Fishing activities will probably trigger spats between South-east Asian and China's coastguards. Gradually, inter-operability between South-east Asian coastguards will expand. Tokyo and Washington will use coastguards to deepen ties with South-east Asian countries. There could be frictions between Indonesia's and Malaysia's coastguards over waters around Ambalat.

Uighur militants complicate China-South-east Asia ties

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Refugee Status ◽  
Suicide Bomber ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Security ◽  
Political Risks ◽  
State Group

Subject Some Uighurs have developed links to Islamic State group and travelled to South-east Asia with terrorist intent Significance In December, Indonesia's counterterrorism force arrested eleven men on suspicion of having links to Islamic State group (ISG) and planning terrorist attacks against Indonesia. One of the suspects was a Chinese Uighur who had allegedly been trained as a suicide bomber, while two other Uighur suspects escaped. These developments question South-east Asian governments' assumption about the threat of 'home grown' terrorism by South-east Asian ISG fighters returning from the Middle East. The presence of Uighurs in potential attacks on South-east Asian targets underscores the region's particular vulnerability to ISG. Impacts Anti-Uighur measures carry limited political risks for South-east Asian leaders. China will demand the return of Uighur migrants even if they have applied for, or been granted, refugee status. South-east Asian regional governments will be uneasy with greater Chinese intrusion into their domestic security.

South-east Asia-US trade preferences debates beckon

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Trade Preferences ◽  
Trump Administration

Significance The preferential US trade programme faces renewal or lapse by December 31. South-east Asia’s economies are structured to take advantage of the GSP and many of the products exported to the United States under GSP (such as light manufactures and seafood) are important for South-east Asia’s supply chains. Impacts Vietnam may make another application for inclusion in the US GSP programme. The more authoritarian South-east Asian countries could find it easier to gain US GSP preferences under Trump. The Trump administration could use the GSP as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations or renegotiations.

South-east Asian microfinance will grow despite risks

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Recession ◽  
Monetary Authorities ◽  
Forced Labour

Subject Microfinance in Cambodia and other South-east Asian countries. Significance A report published last month by two human rights groups in Cambodia said microfinance debts have increased hardship for borrowers in the country. Meanwhile, a global economic slowdown is prompting monetary authorities in South-east Asia and beyond to cut interest rates. Impacts Debts associated with microfinance could make borrowers more vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labour. With their limited resources, micro-borrowers will be more exposed than most in the event of a global recession. Countries in South-east Asia and beyond will come under pressure to increase oversight of their microfinance sectors.

Russia will try to expand influence in South-east Asia

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South China ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Strategic Alignment ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type

Subject South-east Asia's relations with Russia. Significance Russia’s ties with the West are deteriorating. South-east Asia offers Moscow important diplomatic and economic opportunities. Impacts As Russia-China strategic alignment strengthens, Moscow and Beijing will increase coordination and cooperation in South-east Asia. Advanced Russian defence technology will further strengthen Beijing against South-east Asian claimants in the South China Sea dispute. Washington will try to encourage South-east Asian countries to buy US rather than Russian weapons.

Southern Thai insurgency may become internationalised

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Southern Thailand

Subject Risks associated with Thailand's southern insurgency. Significance Late last month, Malay-Muslim separatist insurgents in southern Thailand launched coordinated attacks across four provinces. Thailand’s southern insurgency, which was renewed in 2004, has to date been a local conflict, disassociated from international Islamist militancy. Countries across South-east Asia are facing security risks from Islamic State (IS)-affiliated groups. Impacts Signs of the insurgency becoming internationalised would raise the pressure on ASEAN to develop a coherent counterterrorism strategy. Thailand’s military-led government will be preoccupied with curbing anti-junta protests ahead of the elections. Violence in southern Thailand would not be a major threat to tourism in the country, with most tourist centres located elsewhere.

South-east Asia needs external help to handle COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergency Powers

Subject COVID-19 situation in South-east Asia. Significance South-east Asia has less than 12,000 active cases of COVID-19 and less than 600 deaths have been recorded from the disease in the region. These numbers appear relatively small, but they probably reflect a lack of testing in most of the region’s countries. Many South-east Asian governments are bracing for intensifying outbreaks. Impacts Some of South-east Asia’s state-owned enterprises face insolvency. The region’s supply chains and labour flows will likely remain paralysed for months. Emergency powers could remain in place in certain South-east Asian countries for over a year and be exploited by authoritarian governments.

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