Senior Analyst, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
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The election of a Labor government in May brought an expectation that Australia would do more in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. But what will that look like and what new approaches should the government take? The region has changed since Labor was last in power, and so has Australia. A policy that relies on more of the same will not suffice in today’s intense environment, writes Huong Le Thu.
ASEAN's historic commitment to neutrality prompted a muted response to Russia's attack on Ukraine. Huong Le Thu argues trying to remain impartial when one country is "bombing unarmed civilians of another country" does nothing to preserve the principle of neutrality.
Faced with growing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, and unprecedented health and economic crises this year, ASEAN might have struggled to retain its ability to bring the region together. But strategic analyst Huong Le Thu argues Vietnam’s artful chairmanship has ensured ASEAN has, for now, retained its ability to effectively channel regional cooperation.
Tomorrow, Singaporeans will be among the first citizens to vote in a national election during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
As nations around the world struggle to deal with COVID-19, some of the most effective responses may be found in the least expected corners.