The 14th National Party Congress in Hanoi has wrapped up, and To Lam has been reaffirmed as general secretary. However, as we look toward Vietnam’s mid-March National Assembly elections, the country may face additional political shifts. In this episode of The Decision Advantage, RANE’s Asia-Pacific Analyst Nate Fischler unpacks the domestic and international implications of … Read more
The Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship will be a test of whether the bloc can preserve unity, manage internal and external crises and remain a credible regional forum amid intensifying great power rivalry, rising intra-ASEAN security risks and a more fractured and transactional global order. On Jan. 1, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship … Read more
France is leveraging diplomacy, along with major defense and energy deals, to expand its role in Southeast Asia, but the longevity of its influence will hinge on maintaining naval and diplomatic engagement, delivering localized defense and maritime security benefits, and aligning with — rather than disrupting — regional strategic priorities. From May 25 to May … Read more
In Myanmar, the junta’s state of emergency extension signals both its failure to stabilize the country as well as its intent to push forward with elections, which will likely be neither free nor fair but could nonetheless serve as a diplomatic tool to maintain international engagement amid growing territorial losses and economic disruption. On Jan. … Read more
Japan’s ongoing diplomatic push in Southeast Asia seeks to counterbalance China by strengthening defense and economic ties, enhancing regional security and reducing trade dependence on China as well as security dependence on the United States by positioning itself as a more proactive security partner. In recent weeks, Japan has significantly intensified its diplomatic outreach to … Read more