ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, Dr William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to Ambassador Kateryna Zelenko and Prof C. Raja Mohan about the implications of the war against Ukraine on Southeast Asia. Ambassador Zelenko is the Ukrainian ambassador to Singapore and long-serving diplomat with her country’s Foreign Ministry. Prof Mohan is a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi, a contributing editor on International affairs at the Indian Express and a visiting professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:36 – The war in Ukraine has now become a long-drawn war, with neither side gaining the upper hand. How do you see it in the second year? 8:30 – There are heartening stories about ordinary Ukrainians – computer programmers, mums and other civilians – fighting for their country. Is there something that people in Singapore and Southeast Asia can learn from? 17:10 – Why have Southeast Asian countries taken such varied responses to the invasion of Ukraine? Do they not get the full import and implications of the war against Ukraine? 24:10 – What can ASEAN countries do to support Ukraine? 33:33 – The Chinese have taken a nuanced position towards the war against Ukraine. How will the Chinese position evolve? 38:30 – India scored high marks in the recent 2023 State of Southeast Asia Survey published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, but New Delhi has failed to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. How do we interpret the findings?

Dr Deasy Simandjuntak discusses with Fulcrum editor Julia Lau her analysis of Indonesia's foreign policy goals and direction post-G20 in 2022 and in advance of its ASEAN chairmanship in 2023. Other topics they talk about are Indonesia's regional leadership, the planned new capital of Indonesia, and Dr Simandjuntak's future research projects. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 1:07 – Indonesia's foreign policy 4:47 – De-escalating situation in Ukraine and examples of Indonesia's approach 5:18 – Myanmar crisis: ASEAN's reactions and the Five-Point Consensus 7:48 – Options available to ASEAN regarding Myanmar 11:40 – Indonesia as a middle power 17:20 – Planned new capital of Indonesia, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) 27:08 – IKN as a "smart, green" city 28:30 – Potential issues regarding inequalities in IKN and in-migration 35:45 – Dr Simandjuntak's next research goals

Fulcrum editor Julia Lau discusses the significance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) with NUS Assistant Professor of Law, Dr Tara Davenport. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:05 –  What UNCLOS Is 3:03 –  Why do we care about UNCLOS, 40 years on? 5:40 –  UNCLOS establishing law and order for the oceans 6:35 –  Singapore’s role as a major flag state 7:55 –  Singapore’s role in forging UNCLOS 11:44 –  Archipelagic states and regime, with discussion of Indonesia and the Philippines 14:43 –  Article 51 of UNCLOS 17:15 –  International impact and implications of the U.S.’s non-ratification of UNCLOS 22:36 –  Relevance and longevity of UNCLOS

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to Francis Hutchinson and Lee Hwok Aun about the implications of the jailing of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Dr Hutchinson and Dr Lee are the Coordinator and Co-coordinator of ISEAS’ Malaysia Studies Programme respectively. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 1:25 –  Immediate political impacts of Najib serving his jail term 17:00 – Najib’s ability to refashion his political image and the state of Malaysian politics 21:00 – UMNO’s prospects going into the next general elections 25:00 – The impact of the Littoral Combat Ship scandal on UMNO 29:18 – Pakatan Harapan’s priorities going into GE15

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to Drew Thompson about the latest Taiwan Strait crisis and the implications on Southeast Asia. Mr Thompson is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. The discussion centred on the relevance of the crisis to Southeast Asia, the future of Sino-US competition and the roles that Southeast Asian countries can play. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:10 - Why the Latest Taiwan Crisis Matters to Southeast Asia 4:51 - Who (China or the US) Provoked the crisis? 9:40 - Why the Taiwan Crisis Matters to Southeast Asia 18:20 - Sino-US Competition: Are There Any Off-ramps? 24:23 - Explaining the Co-Equal System in America’s Political System 31:08 - A Potential Chinese Blockade of Taiwan and Risks of Miscalculation 37:48 - What Roles Can Southeast Asian Countries Play in a Taiwan Conflict?

In this episode, William Choong, managing editor of Fulcrum, talks to James Crabtree, executive director of International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), the London-headquartered think tank which runs the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. The dialogue is an annual meeting of defence ministers from Asia and beyond, and is covered widely by media from around the world. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dialogue was postponed in 2020 and 2021. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed: 8:39 - Themes that Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, could raise as keynote speaker 13:48 - The United States and the Indo-Pacific 18:18 - China’s run-up to the Shangri-la Dialogue 23:07 - How the return of in-person meetings changes regional diplomacy

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to three scholars about the 2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy. Dr Choong spoke to Ms Elina Noor, Director, Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director of the Washington D.C. office at the Asia Society Policy Institute; Dr Huong Le Thu, a Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and Ms Sharon Seah, Coordinator of the ASEAN Study Centre at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:20 - Impressions of the 2022 State of Southeast Survey Report 8:19 - Increased regional confidence in the Biden Administration 12:58 - US Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Being Passed Out or Passing Out? 15:47 - The Quad: Tangible Deliverables to the Region and the Bigger Picture 17:50 - China Gaining Traction in Free Trade Agreements 25:08 - Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Southeast Asia 30:00 - China: ‘Taiwan is not Ukraine’ 35:03 - Is US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy akin to NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe?

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to ISEAS researchers Moe Thuzar and Sharon Seah about the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits. They discuss the key highlights of the meetings, ASEAN’s continued engagement with external powers such as Australia, China and the United States, and Cambodia’s chairing of ASEAN in 2022. Moe Thuzar is the Co-coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Programme. Sharon Seah is the Coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 1:10 - Highlights from the 2021 ASEAN Summits 3:08 - Why the Summits matter to ASEAN citizens 6:23 - The concept of non-interference: in evolution? 10:18 - China and Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN 14:04 - China, the United States and Myanmar 18:21 - Biggest takeaways from the Summits 21:54 - The impact of a ‘virtual’ summit 25:56 - ASEAN centrality and Myanmar 31:31 - The “true beauty” of ASEAN: shape shifting 33:30 - The SAC’s legal challenge to ASEAN: holding water, be like water

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to two ISEAS researchers about the ongoing political developments in Myanmar after the February 2021 coup. They discuss the impending visit of ASEAN’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, and the challenges and opportunities that will come with the trip. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:25 – A recap of what has happened in Myanmar since February 2021 18:38 – The challenges and opportunities that the ASEAN Special Envoy will face as he prepares for his visit to Myanmar 30:15 – The progress report that the Special Envoy is expected to deliver, and the need for the envoy to visit all stakeholders involved 36:10 – ASEAN processes that will help the Special Envoy for his visit to Myanmar 40:49 – What external powers such as the United States, China and India can do to improve the situation in Myanmar. 47:18 – The general sentiment among Myanmars towards ASEAN 57:29 – What are the milestones to look out for before the ASEAN summit meetings in November?

In this inaugural episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, sits down with Parag Khanna, author of “The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict and Culture in the 21st Century”. Published in 2019, the book covers a broad spectrum of themes such as Asian history, the region’s economic rise and the ongoing Asianisation of Asia. Dr Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor, world traveller and author. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast. 1:00 - Has the West and Asians themselves accepted the “rise of Asia”? 8:50 - Fears about a gradual US withdrawal from the region 11:05 - Interdependence or pragmatism in Sino-US relations? 15:40 - Does the Quad have legs to run? 21:38 - The US and China: different visions of regional order 32:00 - What kind of traction can ASEAN get on Myanmar? 37:50 - Can Singapore’s model of technocratic governance be replicated?