Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Many Western leaders had boycotted the event, in response to Russia’s anti-homosexual law passed last year. Besides holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Abe also had...
Tensions have flared up again between the US and China over the latter’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea. These tensions could dampen US Secretary of State John Kerry’s upcoming talks with China over the air defence zone during his five-day...
Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim is contesting a seat in Kajang in Selangor in order to be eligible to take over the role of chief minister. Selangor, which is run by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) and is Malaysia’s richest state, has seen rising religious...
What lies ahead for Asia in the Year of the Horse? The Singapore Institute of International Affairs asked our members and fellows what issues they will be keeping a close eye on in the coming months. Mr. Manu Bhaskaran, SIIA Council Member and Director of Centennial...
As China reopens for business after the Spring Festival, its financial system is coming under strain. Recently, the government stepped in to rescue the “Credit Equals Gold #1” trust product, which was due to pay out US$495 million ahead of the holiday season. The fund,...
Myanmar’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has begun with promise and even aplomb. The first meeting of foreign ministers held in Bagan this month was a closed-door retreat, expected to be informal and low-key. Yet, a short but significant statement was issued...
Singapore, 24 January 2014 – SINGAPORE’S oldest think tank, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), has topped a list of think tanks in Asia and the Pacific in a global survey. The SIIA improved on its second place ranking in 2012, leapfrogging Australia’s Lowy Institute...
As Myanmar begins its year as ASEAN chair, it will to deal with a whole gamut of issues facing the organisation. Given that this is its first time chairing the regional body, the international community will closely watch its performance. Gearing up for a full year...
The United States’ economic recovery and its debt ceiling topped a survey conducted among 28 Asia experts, business leaders and economists, with more than 60 per cent of respondents voting for the global issue as one they would be keeping the most tabs on in...
The year 2013 has seen more and more devastating environmental disasters in many parts of Asia. The worst haze in history blanketed Southeast Asia in June. Heavy air pollution hit new highs in Shanghai. One of the most powerful typhoons on record struck the Philippines...