Sharon Seah

Jan 24, 2025 | asia-pacificresearch.com | Sharon Seah

As 2025 ASEAN Chair, Malaysia faces significant challenges, including Myanmar’s crisis, South China Sea tensions and geopolitical shocks from the US–China rivalry. To ensure ASEAN makes it through the year not only unscathed but even stronger, Malaysia should use its chairmanship to drive deeper regional economic integration, further develop economic instruments like the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement 3.0 and promote diplomatic solutions to ASEAN members states’ deep divisions.

Jan 20, 2025 | eastasiaforum.org | Sharon Seah

The new normal for any ASEAN Chair is the expectation of having to manage a crisis, if not multiple crises, amid an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment. The Myanmar conflict and South China Sea crisis will have repercussions for ASEAN throughout 2025. The Myanmar crisis is the most severe test of ASEAN’s internal unity to date.

Jan 17, 2025 | fulcrum.sg | Sharon Seah

Former Fox News host turned presidential nominee for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s inability to name any ASEAN country in his Senate confirmation hearing was concerning but frankly, not surprising. General awareness about Southeast Asia — compared to Northeast Asia — in Washington DC is low. More significantly, given the strength of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) narrative under Trump 2.0, the ASEAN Chair’s job just got a lot harder.

Jul 9, 2024 | fulcrum.sg | Sharon Seah

There has been much talk about ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Thailand joining BRICS – an intergovernmental organisation comprising major developing economies. The original members of BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — have now expanded to ten members to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.  Reportedly, more than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the grouping.

Apr 1, 2024 | fulcrum.sg | Sharon Seah

When confronted with a hypothetical question of which strategic partner to align with, Southeast Asian opinion leaders chose the United States during the Biden administration’s first three years. This year, the region’s sentiments have shifted ever so perceptibly towards China.