Negli ultimi 20 anni, a chi si fosse messo, su un molo nel golfo di Persico, a guardare se le petroliere viravano ad est o a ovest, sarebbe stato chiaro che già nel 2000 eravamo all’alba del secolo asiatico.

La Marina filippina si appresta a prendere in consegna parte del cantiere della Hanjin Heavy Industries a Subic Bay per sostenere la ripresa del porto, colpito dalla bancarotta del colosso navale coreano, e assicurarsi che sia tenuto fuori dalle mire della Cina.

Il Primo Ministro indiano Narendra Modi e il Presidente indonesiano Joko Widodo, in un incontro a margine del G20 di Osaka di giugno hanno annunciato l’ambizioso obiettivo di raggiungere un volume di interscambio commerciale di 50 miliardi di dollari entro il 2025.

L’Italia e la Thailandia vantano già 150 anni di relazioni bilaterali e le reciproche visite dei ministri degli esteri a febbraio e marzo di quest’anno hanno celebrato e ravvivato questo rapporto, entrato in crisi dopo la dura presa di posizione dell’Unione Europea nei confronti del colpo di stato militare del 2014.

Le Filippine rappresentano un caso molto particolare nell’area ASEAN. Pur essendo inserite nel contesto del Sud-est asiatico, le Filippine non fanno parte dell’Indocina e neanche dell’Insulindia, quella “virgola rovesciata” che unisce l’Indocina all’Australia. L’arcipelago delle Filippine sembra più un elemento del contrafforte che, partendo dalla Kamčatka e passando per le isole del Giappone e per Taiwan, separa, lungo il Pacifico, l’Oriente dall’Occidente.

As ASEAN has played in South East Asia a role similar to the one played by the European Union in our continent, Western commentators tend to analyze the first using categories applied when commenting on the second. However, this approach should be avoided, as it is misleading and does not allow for understanding the goals and peculiarities of the ASEAN.

Approvato un emendamento per abbassare l’età per acquisire il diritto di voto a 18 anni, rispetto ai 21 precedenti.

Malaysia has scored a high 0.804 on the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) for 2018, placing it in the Very High Human Development category. Malaysia’s ranking rose primarily due to an improved life expectancy and a higher Per Capita Gross National Income.

The European Union imposed five-year tariffs on biodiesel from Indonesia to counter alleged subsidies to producers in the country, a move that could prompt the Indonesian government to retaliate.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is flying to New Delhi next week to meet up with Indian PM Modi, with the aim to convince India to take up the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). After seven years, the negotiations were completed last November in Bangkok.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will set up a fighter training detachment in the US territory of Guam under an agreement inked by Singapore and the US, in a sign of deepening defence ties between the two countries.

As the global trade regime threatens to unravel under the Trump administration’s assault on the WTO dispute settlement disciplines and its tearing up the rules in its trade war with China, ASEAN would seem the most unlikely bloc to spring effectively to its defence.

ASEAN countries are betting that the space industry will provide a new engine of growth, as the global economy sputters and government finances become overstretched. Asian Nikkei provides a focus on Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Indonesia is looking to establish a sovereign wealth fund modelled on Temasek Holdings (Singapore’s state investment vehicle) or Khazanah (the Malaysian equivalent), to support local start-ups and to boost economic growth. Earlier statements from the government on the likely size of any sovereign wealth fund have estimated it at up to $10bn.

Cambodia's own currency only accounts for 20% of money used in the nation: US dollar is estimated to make up more than 80% of the currency circulating. Asian Nikkei Review explains how Cambodia (the fastest growing economy in ASEAN) is starting to seek economic growth based on national currency.

ASEAN continues its impressive growth: according to the latest ASEAN Intregration Report, ASEAN is now the world's fifth largest economy (iif considered as a single entity). Notwithstanding growing uncertainties in the global economy, ASEAN’s overall economic performance remains robust. Thus, the rise of the bloc signals the success of of the regional integration process in South-East Asia.

Thailand’s Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan has outlined plans to improve the country’s vocational education sector. These plans have come following expressed fears that Thailand’s education system is not on par with international standards. This is especially important if Thailand hopes to see its ambitious Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project become a success. The need for a properly trained and cost-effective workforce is emerging as a key concern for demanding prospective investors.

The government will seek the approval of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union) to adopt an international treaty that will compel the country to stop the use of child labour. U Thein Swe, minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, told the assembly about the salient points of the Minimum Age Convention of ILO, which includes the abolition of child labour.

La Banca Mondiale e le Filippine hanno firmato un accordo di finanziamento dal valore di 300 milioni di dollari da allocare al programma condizionale di trasferimento di denaro, 4Ps. Con tale programma, il governo filippino spera di ridurre l'incidenza della povertà del paese sotto il 15% entro il 2022.

South Korea and the Philippines have agreed to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in the first half of 2020.