Politics: News & Insights

A bus operator speaks to a passenger at a station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Nov. 29, as the country's land border with Singapore reopens under a vaccinated travel lane program.

Coronavirus

Singapore-Malaysia land, air lanes open amid omicron COVID fears

City-state orders tests on arrival; PM Lee says variant may require 'steps back'

29 November 2021

Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia, will tour the region through December 4, a U.S. State Department statement said.

Indo-Pacific

Top U.S. diplomat for Asia to visit four ASEAN countries

Daniel Kritenbrink to stress support for 'rules-based order in Indo-Pacific'

27 November 2021

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets Malaysian Trade Minister Azmin Ali on the final leg of her Asia tour on Nov. 18. (Photo courtesy of Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry)

Biden's Asia policy

U.S. aims for 'flexible and inclusive' Indo-Pacific framework

Commerce chief Gina Raimondo in Asia to reset economic ties to counter China

18 November 2021

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Nov. 16. (Photo from Lee's Facebook page)

Trade

U.S. pushes for Indo-Pacific rules on digital trade, AI

Biden administration seeks 'like-minded allies' as China looks to join regional blocs

18 November 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech to the APEC CEO Summit, stressing that "openness and inclusiveness" are key to the region's continued growth.

International relations

Xi warns APEC against Cold War redux in wake of AUKUS

Singapore's Lee urges digital integration as Vietnam's Phuc talks sustainability

11 November 2021

Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes at Singapore's Changi Airport in 2019: The international route between the city-state and Kuala Lumpur was one of the world's busiest before the pandemic.

Coronavirus

Singapore, Malaysia to restart quarantine-free air travel link

Vaccinated passengers can fly between Kuala Lumpur and city-state from Nov. 29

8 November 2021

G20 Summit

Indo-Pacific a focus for U.S. and Europe on G-20 sidelines

Group endorses minimum corporate tax; Biden calls for energy output boost

31 October 2021

Four of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' members -- Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei -- belong to the CPTPP trade pact.

International relations

China courts Vietnam and Malaysia for support on CPTPP bid

Outreach to ASEAN members key to groundwork for trade negotiations

27 October 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by phone on Oct. 15.

Trade

Singapore backs Beijing's CPTPP bid, Chinese ministry says

Xi wants RCEP to enter into force as scheduled

16 October 2021

Coronavirus

Singapore's upcoming leaders tested as COVID wave rattles public

PM hopefuls in tight spot between virus containment and vow to unchain economy

11 October 2021

People wait in line outside a COVID-19 vaccination center at Sydney Olympic Park. Vaccines from the U.K. that had been at risk of expiring have been put to use in Australia.

COVID vaccines

From Australia to Thailand, vaccine swap deals help ease shortages

Nearly expired doses shipped to nations with slow rollouts

1 October 2021

Office workers are seen in a largely empty central business district of Singapore on Sept. 27, as much of the city returns to working from home to combat COVID-19.

Politics

Singapore's foreign population dips 10.7% on COVID restrictions

Government wants to open doors while managing locals' anxieties about immigrants

28 September 2021

Singapore is positioning itself as a neutral forum for resolving international business disputes, and is lobbying peers to ratify a U.N. mediation treaty that bears its name.

International relations

U.S. and China keep Singapore waiting on business mediation treaty

U.N. pact led by city-state gains little ratification traction amid COVID

23 September 2021

A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine: A pact that will hand Australia the technology for such vessels has raised concerns in Southeast Asia.

Indo-Pacific

Australia seeks to calm ASEAN nerves over AUKUS, nuclear weapons

Ambassador vows pact won't affect bloc's 'centrality' in regional architecture

21 September 2021

Some Southeast Asian countries have set ambitious targets for EV adoption, but they still have a ways to go to convince consumers.

Asia Insight

Slow charge: ASEAN aims to bring lofty EV goals within range

Uneven policies leave drivers wary as COP26 turns spotlight on green transport

21 September 2021

Wages in Singapore are expected to rise 3.8% this year, according to advisory firm Willis Towers Watson.

Coronavirus

Singapore surge tests 'live with COVID' strategy: 5 things to know

City faces 'crucial period' as cases top 900 despite 80% vaccination rate

17 September 2021

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels on May 5.

Indo-Pacific

EU pushes for deeper Indo-Pacific ties in face of China concerns

Draft document shows bloc is seeking closer trade, investment ties with Taiwan

14 September 2021

A Grab driver prepares to make a delivery outside a shopping mall in Singapore.

Economy

Singapore eyes gig worker welfare in wake-up call for ASEAN startups

PM Lee 'especially concerned' about lack of security for delivery drivers

30 August 2021

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a supply chain roundtable Aug. 24 in Singapore.

Biden's Asia policy

Harris calls for stronger supply chain cooperation with ASEAN

US VP heads to Hanoi after health incident potentially linked to Havana Syndrome

25 August 2021

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a speech in Singapore on Aug. 24.

Biden's Asia policy

Harris rebukes China but pushes 'optimistic' US vision in Singapore

VP stresses Indo-Pacific engagement 'not against any one country'

24 August 2021

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hold a joint news conference in Singapore on Aug. 23.

Biden's Asia policy

Harris 'focused' on Afghan evacuation as Asia eyes US credibility

Singapore's Lee says regional perceptions will depend on how America 'repositions'

23 August 2021

A security officer watches camera feeds in Davao, on the Philippine island of Mindanao, in 2016. The island long been a base for Muslim militants, including those allied with the Islamic State group.

Afghanistan turmoil

ASEAN on guard for extremism inspired by Taliban's Afghan triumph

Philippines on 'full alert' in Mindanao as governments also brace for refugees

23 August 2021

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to arrive in Singapore on Aug. 22, before moving on to Vietnam on Aug. 24.

Biden's Asia policy

Harris to visit ASEAN in shadow of Afghan exit: 5 things to know

VP's trip to Singapore and Vietnam set to 'reassure' about US commitment to Asia

20 August 2021

India's Supreme Court recently upheld a Singapore-based arbitration tribunal's ruling in favor of Amazon in a dispute with Future Group.

Comment

On Amazon and taxes, India shows willingness to heed arbitration

New Delhi seeks to balance sovereignty with openness to foreign capital

19 August 2021

The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta: The bloc is set for a busy week of diplomatic meetings.

International relations

ASEAN struggles to end Myanmar impasse as week of meetings begins

Series of key diplomatic talks also includes US, China and North Korea

2 August 2021