Numerous protests against proposed legislation governing special economic zones show that Vietnamese anti-Chinese nationalism remains a potent political force, posing a risk to Chinese investments in the country, as well as the long-term stability of the Vietnamese government, writes Rob Attwell.
With President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly referred to as the Iran Deal, and summit with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, in Singapore, the US leader has shown a significant lack of consistency on the issue of nuclear proliferation. The president’s apparent preference for “going it alone” has…
Following the kidnapping of six Indian contractors in May, Saif Islam highlights some of the common sense security measures organisations should employ when operating in Afghanistan.
Malaysia’s shock election result hinged on Mahathir’s revival as an unlikely reformer, but is he all bark and no bite? Rebecca Lawrence examines whether Mahathir can really deliver on the promises that paved the way to his stunning victory, and what it means for investors going forwards.
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (‘BRI’) raises significant concerns for India and Japan, especially regarding maritime security. In response, New Delhi and Tokyo are jointly planning their own infrastructure projects which, while smaller in scale than BRI, will nevertheless offer significant economic opportunities in the coming years, writes…
Kidnappings in the region highlight the complex links between poverty, crime, militancy, and terrorist financing.
The murder of a Korean businessman shines a light on abuses of power by Philippine police.
July's ASEAN summit provided a rare opportunity to reflect on the recent Hague ruling on the Philippines' dispute with China in the South China Sea. However, the summit concluded without a clear response from the region, allowing China to continue with belligerent actions in the region, writes Mandira Bagwandeen.
Thousands of ransomware attacks across the globe in May 2017 were allegedly tied to a North Korea-affiliated group of cyber-criminals. As US-led calls for tougher economic sanctions gain traction internationally, the North Korean government is likely to stage further cyber-attacks as a form of asymmetric warfare and as a means of generating revenue,…
From Hong Kong to Mexico City, there has been a notable increase in scams involving hoax kidnappings in recent years. Virtual kidnapping involves attempts to extort a ransom from individuals by perpetrators falsely claiming they have abducted a loved one. S-RM Latin America and Asia Pacific analysts, Rufus Kleinwort and Rob Attwell, highlight some recent…
Threats to an international beer festival and religious minority places of worship, as well as a dramatic increase in terrorism-related arrests in recent years, highlight the increasing threat of Islamist militancy in Malaysia and the commercial impact this can have, writes Rob Attwell.