There is blood, too much blood, in the streets of Myanmar. A crisis like the one in Myanmar will eventually affect Southeast Asia’s democracies and ASEAN’s stability unless regional members mediate.

Deep in the SEA

Blood in the street of Myanmar - With Marta Nuevo Falguera

After five years of apparent democracy, Myanmar has just gone backwards in only one day. We have tried to understand how the country, under the rule of Aung San Suu Kyi, has arrived at that point and how will be in the future, with the help of Moe Thuzar, fellow at the ISEAS in Singapore.

Myanmar's democracy is teetering on the edge of a cliff - With Moe Thuzar

Paul Podolsky, a former Senior Portfolio Strategist at Bridgewater Associates, has helped us to understand why it is better off to have a financial foot into Southeast Asia.

Having a portfolio of investments in SEA? Absolutely yes! - With Paul Podolsky

American politics is dominating the news today, but the future will be more and more Asian. Here we anticipate times, and it seems to us quite legit to understand why the Indian colossus hasn't joined the most significant free trade agreement in the world, the RCEP. Akshobh Giridharadas has one idea or two about it and he has explained to us in a fantastic podcast.

Why India didn't join the RCEP? - With Akshobh Giridharadas

The EU is definitely the most reliable partner for ASEAN - With Ambassador Driesmans by Mirko Giordani

The EU is definitely the most reliable partner for ASEAN - With Ambassador Driesmans

Italy is in delay, but it is catching up in its relationship with ASEAN - With Valerio Bordonaro by Mirko Giordani

Italy is in delay, but it is catching up in its relationship with ASEAN - With Valerio Bordonaro

As the only Italian and European podcast that deals with SEA and India, I am proud to host Lorenzo Galanti, Ambassador of Italy to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. We have discussed on the importance for Italy, but in general for the Western world, to acknowledge the fundamental strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region.

Italy and the West must pay attention of what's happening in the ASEAN - With Ambassador Galanti

In the post-pandemic world, the attention towards a fair and green transition will grow. ASEAN countries have lifted millions of people out of poverty thanks to cheap energy from coal and oil. The coal trade is rejuvenating, and new refineries are being built in the region. However, Southeast Asia will go green in the future. However, Septia Buntara Supendi, an energy expert, told Deep in the SEA a harsh reality: in the least developed countries in the region, the first and foremost need is to have cheap and reliable electricity. The only way to produce it is from fossil fuels. Full stop. If the West is rushing for the Green Deal, over SEA the situation is slightly different, and only a massive use of geotermal and hydropower can balance the phasing out of coal and other fossil fuels.

ASEAN will go green, but at its schedule - With Septia Buntara Supendi

Can renewables power ASEAN economies? - With Randy Giveans by Mirko Giordani

Can renewables power ASEAN economies? - With Randy Giveans

Business as usual between US and China under Biden - With Joshua Kurlantzick by Mirko Giordani

Business as usual between US and China under Biden - With Joshua Kurlantzick

Japan has established itself to be a leading force in Southeast Asia. Although it is not "showing muscles" like China or the US, Japan is fundamental for the region's capacity building and its economic development. Japan offers a less confrontational approach and it represents a suitable "Third Way" vis-a-vis the turf war between the two superpowers.

Japan might be the "Third Way" that ASEAN is searching between US and China - With Alessio Patalano

ASEAN is at the center of the geopolitical feud between the US and China. Little will change under Biden Administration, but in the meanwhile, it has joined the largest trade agreement in the world, the RCEP. How will this influence ASEAN's relationship with China? Will the US catch up with the geopolitical and economic clout the Dragoon is building on Southeast Asia. Carlyle Thayer, a friend and usual guest of Deep in the SEA, has clear ideas about the matter.

ASEAN is at the center of the RCEP architecture - With Carlyle Thayer

Maybe Mark Esper didn't say precisely that ASEAN need to evolve into a Nato-style alliance, but that was the sense practically. However Douglas Paal, a great friend of this podcast, said that only ignorant American policy makers and analysts can believe in such an alliance. When Dulles tried to dictate security policy in the region, he refused to send air conditioning appliances to the US Embassy in Bangkok because he believed that the city was not so hot in the summer. The Americans that believe in a Nato-style alliance in SEA are making the same clumsy mistake of Dulles.

A Nato-style alliance in Southeast Asia: no way it can happen - With Douglas Paal

This podcast has risen in popularity when we started to discuss whether or not the Belt & Road projects in SEA were facing a political and social backlashes. We have explored the possibilities that provider of more compliant investments, such as the US, Europe or Japan, could step up and oust China as the principal investor in the region. Together with Claire Chu, a senior analyst of RWR Advisory Group, we have explored further the hurdles, delays and problems which China is currently facing in SEA.

In Southeast Asia the Belt & Road is not going pretty well - With Claire Chu

China is a global superpower, but Indonesia is the biggest country in Southeast Asia and the most important economy. Whatever deal China wants to carry on in the region, Indonesia is there and it must be involved in certain ways. Despite Indonesia doesn't have particular clashes over China's 9-dash line, the relationship between the two countries has been tense in the past. The Chinese minority in Indonesia has suffered racism and discrimination. However, the future is out there and together with Dewi Fortuna Anwar - a former advisor to Indonesia's VP - we tried to understand what will be the future outlook of the relationship between the two countries.

Indonesia and China: a tale of a difficult relationship - With Dewi Fortuna Anwar

I have lived my entire life in the West and I love it. I love Europe and I love my country, Italy. However, I am feeling it is time to embark in discovering the most interesting region in the world. Middle East? America? China? No, I want to explore Southeast Asia and India and their diversity, their cultural melting polt, their economic and political experiments that are far away from the attention of western media. In fact, when our media speak about Asia, they mean only China. Mainstream western media are completely forgetting Southeast Asia and India, two of the most young, diverse and driven regions in the world. The western world can’t allow anymore to forget about more than two billion of people.

hubhopper

Deep in the SEA

hubhopper