Southeast Asia

Indonesia
commentary
Why Is China Pressing Indonesia Again Over Its Maritime Claims?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jan 16, 2020
World Politics Review
China sparked a major maritime confrontation with Indonesia near the South China Sea in December when dozens of Chinese fishing vessels, along with a coast guard escort, entered waters off the Natuna Islands. What drove Beijing to stake out its sovereignty claims against Indonesia at this particular time? And what can Indonesia and other regional neighbors expect of Chinese behavior going forward?
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Vietnam
commentary
How to Read Vietnam’s Latest Defense White Paper: A Message to Great Powers
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman, Christopher Sharman
Dec 31, 2019
War on the Rocks
Vietnam's latest defense white paper is full of warnings to China and opportunities for the United States. Washington needs to reassure Vietnam that the United States is committed to the relationship by deepening existing military exchanges, which will give Vietnam greater confidence to stand up to China when the time comes.
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China
commentary
What Taiwan and Vietnam Could Tell Us in 2020
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Dec 30, 2019
South China Morning Post
While many issues warrant attention in 2020, two that should be near the top of Asia-watchers' lists are Taiwan and Vietnam. Both are on the front lines of Chinese coercion, and their ability to respond, either with or without American support, will set the tone in the Indo-Pacific well beyond 2020.
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International Diplomacy
blog
Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2019
Dec 23, 2019
Terrorism. The humanitarian crisis at the border. How to engage friends and foes on the world stage. Here are the top 10 commentaries that readers engaged with most on The RAND Blog in 2019.
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Medicare
blog
Medicare, Climate Change, 'Superbugs': RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 22, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on opening Medicare to Americans at age 50, how to assess climate change plans, antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and more.
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Vietnam
commentary
Vietnam Needs to 'Struggle' More in the South China Sea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Nov 15, 2019
The Diplomat
With the standoff between China and Vietnam at the disputed Vanguard Bank ended, it makes sense to take stock of how Hanoi's security strategy fared in countering Chinese coercion. It may be time for Vietnam to consider a careful recalibration to allow for more “struggle” and less “cooperation.”
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Wildfires
commentary
Uncovering the Links Between Fires and Public Health in Equatorial Asia
Miriam Elizabeth Marlier
Oct 25, 2019
Google Earth and Earth Engine on Medium
Fires in Indonesia, if left unchecked, could cause an average of 36,000 premature deaths annually across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Researchers built a tool that models the effect of the fires on public health.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Southeast Asia Loves ISIS, but Is the Feeling Mutual?
Zachary Abuza, Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Sep 16, 2019
Foreign Affairs
As the ISIS core in Iraq and Syria attempts to rebuild, Baghdadi and his lieutenants will have to make difficult decisions about where to allocate resources. Now that the caliphate is gone and ISIS must transform into an insurgency, the largely untested lands of Southeast Asia may yield rich rewards.
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Environmental Pollution
commentary
We Built an App to Detect Areas Most Vulnerable to Life-Threatening Haze
Tianjia Liu, Miriam Elizabeth Marlier, Jonathan J. Buonocore, Loretta J. Mickley, Ruth S. DeFries
Sep 10, 2019
The Conversation
Forest and land-use fires are ravaging Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. Haze from these fires is life-threatening; inhaling smoke can cause heart and respiratory diseases, leading to premature deaths. We developed a new tool to provide decisionmakers with information to protect people who live downwind.
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Law of the Sea
commentary
Why Vanguard Bank and Why Now? Explaining Chinese Behavior in the South China Sea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Aug 19, 2019
Maritime Issues
What can Vietnam do now to make Chinese assertiveness against it less likely going forward? Although deepening the U.S.-Vietnam defense partnership in the short-term may be contributing to trouble with China, closer cooperation in the long-run could serve to deter China. Enhancing cooperation with Vietnam's other defense partners—namely Australia, Japan, and India—could help to deter Beijing as well.
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North Korea
commentary
Searching for Signs of Doi Moi in North Korea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman, Christian Curriden, Dung Huynh
Aug 12, 2019
38 North
President Trump's second summit with Kim Jong Un prompted voluminous commentary about whether Pyongyang might adopt the “Vietnam model” of economic reform and opening up, known as doi moi. Some version of doi moi is not impossible in North Korea, but it will likely be more difficult than it was in Vietnam and made all the more so by Kim's reluctance to risk losing absolute control.
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Military Facilities
commentary
The Ramifications of China's Reported Naval Base in Cambodia
Timothy R. Heath
Aug 7, 2019
World Politics Review
China and Cambodia have reportedly signed a secret agreement allowing the Chinese navy to use a military facility near Ream, along Cambodia's southern coast, though both countries deny the reports. The installation of a Chinese military facility in Cambodia, if realized, would further complicate an already sensitive and tense situation in the region.
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Postsecondary Education
blog
Iran, Prison College Programs, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
May 24, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on Iran's nonstate partners, lessons from a prison college program, what a fentanyl ban in China means for the U.S. opioid crisis, and more.
Read More »
The Internet
blog
Journalism, U.S.–Iranian Tensions, School Reform: RAND Weekly Recap
May 17, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on how the news has changed in the digital age, rising U.S.–Iranian tensions, how educators feel about school improvement plans, and more.
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China
commentary
Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 15, 2019
The Diplomat
China's last major war experience gave it virtually zero lessons to apply to future armed conflict. At some point the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will need to test its new capabilities and the training it has honed over time. There are at least three reasons why Vietnam is likely in the PLA's crosshairs.
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Indonesia
commentary
What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia
Jonah Blank
Apr 25, 2019
Foreign Affairs
On April 17, Indonesia conducted the largest single-day vote in any nation's history. President Joko Widodo has likely netted a second term. What does that mean for his nation and its place in the world?
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Page 1 of 6

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The Politics of Man-Hunting and the Illusion of Victory

Artificial Intelligence and the Manufacturing of Reality

Built to Last: Planning and Funding Resilient Infrastructure

The Policy Currents Podcast

Helping Children Cope with Trauma: A School-Based Intervention

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Addressing the Invisible Wounds of War

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Southeast Asia

Why Is China Pressing Indonesia Again Over Its Maritime Claims?

How to Read Vietnam’s Latest Defense White Paper: A Message to Great Powers

What Taiwan and Vietnam Could Tell Us in 2020

Most Popular RAND Blog Commentary of 2019

Medicare, Climate Change, 'Superbugs': RAND Weekly Recap

Vietnam Needs to 'Struggle' More in the South China Sea

Uncovering the Links Between Fires and Public Health in Equatorial Asia

Southeast Asia Loves ISIS, but Is the Feeling Mutual?

We Built an App to Detect Areas Most Vulnerable to Life-Threatening Haze

Why Vanguard Bank and Why Now? Explaining Chinese Behavior in the South China Sea

Searching for Signs of Doi Moi in North Korea

The Ramifications of China's Reported Naval Base in Cambodia

Iran, Prison College Programs, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

Journalism, U.S.–Iranian Tensions, School Reform: RAND Weekly Recap

Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight

What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia

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