Disinformation and democracy: Challenges in social media regulation in Southeast Asia

Written by Japhet Quitzon

Beyond its effect on domestic politics, social media also demonstrates the potential to advance the agenda of foreign agents in Southeast Asian countries.

Southeast Asia9DLSeptember 14, 20249dashline, Japhet Quizton, Disinformation and democracy: challenges in social media regulation in Southeast Asia, Disinformation, indonesia, Philippines, TikTok, information

The Navigator's May issue is out now

The May edition of THE NAVIGATOR is now available, delivering in-depth analysis, up-to-date information, and a comprehensive look at the Indo-Pacific region.

Subscribe now!

News9DLJune 14, 2024The Navigator, Indo-Pacific, Taiwan, 9DASHLINE, David MacSweeney, Daniel McIntyre, Manali Kumar, indonesia

Nobody likes a bully: China’s grip over the South China Sea is slipping

Written by Jonathan Dorsey

China is not just bullying its SCS neighbours but is also targeting those perceived to impede its regional dominance, with the United States Navy (USN), Japan Self-Defense Force, and even Canada having been subjected to risky encounters.

Europe is doing too little, too late in Southeast Asia

Written by Dr Denis Suarsana

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia are becoming increasingly important. The EU is markedly punching below its weight in Southeast Asia and needs to fight hard to stay relevant at all.

Best of 2023: Indonesia

As the 2022 G20 Chair and last year’s chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Jakarta has been at the forefront of several important discussions around current world affairs. On 14 February 2024, the country will hold its general elections.

We present some of our most insightful pieces looking at various aspects of Indonesia’s internal dynamics and its engagement with the external world.

Editor's Picks9DLJanuary 2, 2024indonesia, Indo-Pacific, 9DASHLINE, Prabowo’s Ukraine proposal underscores Indonesia’s fractured foreign policy, Andreyka Natalegawa, Elephant in the room: Indonesia hesitates to strike India-Russia missile deal, Andi Raihanah Ashar, Why the Philippines and Indonesia have warmed to AUKUS, Julian Neuweiler, Patrick Trigclavcanin, Indonesia and North Korea: Warm memories of the Cold War, GATRA PRIYANDITA, INDONESIA’S NEW CRIMINAL CODE TURNS REPRESENTATIVES INTO RULERS, Sana Jaffrey, Eve Warburton

Manila is shopping, not re-aligning

Written by Drake Long

Rather than celebrating each time a country publicly cancels a Chinese project, the US, Australia, the EU, and other nations competing for influence at the expense of Beijing should keep in mind the wider picture — Manila and other capitals like it are shopping around for alternatives.

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Hold on tight! The US, Indo-Pacific, and expectations for a second Trump term

Written by Blake H. Berger

If Trump prevails in the 2024 election, and if his first term indicates what the region can expect from a second one, hold tight because it will get ugly.

$Prabowo’s Ukraine proposal underscores Indonesia’s fractured foreign policy$

Prabowo’s Ukraine proposal underscores Indonesia’s fractured foreign policy

Written by Andreyka Natalegawa

Prabowo’s controversial proposal, borne out of his efforts to refashion himself as a statesman even while contradicting his own government, underscores the fact that Indonesia will face serious growing pains in its pursuit of a more active regional and global role.

Indonesia’s new criminal code turns representatives into rulers

Written by Sana Jaffrey and Eve Warburton

After years of debate, protest, and delay, the Indonesian parliament passed a new criminal code that gives the state new tools to punish a wide range of ideological, moral, and political offences. The new provisions of the code threaten political dissent with prison sentences and have the potential to muzzle public debate about the purview of the state in citizens’ private and political lives.

Best of 2022: The Indo-Pacific

Take this opportunity to review some of our most-read analyses from the past year on the evolving strategies of several countries toward the Indo-Pacific.

Faultlines9DLJanuary 2, 2023Preparing for a crowded Indo-Pacific: where to next?, Gabriele Abbondanza, Korea, indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Europe, indo-pacific, Is South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy finally forthcoming?, Wongi Choe, Moon Jae-in, south korea, japan, australia, Elli Pohlkamp, Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp, Tokyo, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, United States, China, Christiane Heidbrink, Putin, Germany, Scholz, Bundeswehr, Asia-Pacific, France, Rafael Loss, Elisabeth I-Mi Suh, Hamburg Institute for Peace Research, Berlin, The Bundeswehr in the Indo-Pacific, German Council on Foreign Relations, DGAP, The fate of the Indo-Pacific: Lessons from Ukraine and US diplomacy towards Taiwan, Reuben Steff, Martin Jirušek, US, Taiwan, The US should prioritise the Indo-Pacific over Ukraine, Aine Cooke

South China Sea: An environmental tragedy of the commons

Written by Sabrina Moles

Tensions in the South China Sea are creating a dangerous, competitive pattern in the relations among the countries involved. Sovereignty claims, together with the urgent demand for food, energy resources, and profits are all defining a set of priorities that are increasingly disregarding environmental damage.

Faultlines9DLDecember 7, 20229DashLine, South China Sea: an environmental tragedy of the commons, Sabrina Moles, Philippines, Permanent Court of Arbitration, China, Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Beijing, sovereignty, maritime claims, South China Sea, nine-dash line, Chinese islands, Manila, environmental degradation, military activities, territorial disputes, fish scarcity, energy demands, Climate Change, pollution, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, SCS, economic interests, intense fishing, Brunei, Cambodia, indonesia, malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, thailand, vietnam, fishing industry, IUU fishing, Illegal, unregulated, and unreported, FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization, UN, IUU fishing index, fish stocks, fishing vessels, exclusive economic zone, EEZ, Vietnamese fishing vessels, Chinese ships, fishermen, maritime NGOs, cyanide, Dr Wilfredo Y. Licuanan, Automatic Identification System, AIS, Milko Mariano Schvartzman, maritime energy nationalism, US Energy Information Agency, Southeast Asia, Center for Naval Analyses, China-Vietnam, maritime law enforcement agencies, marine traffic, oil and gas drilling, offshore oil rigs, US Energy Information Administration, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, UN Ocean Conference, WTO, James Borton

Death penalty in Southeast Asia: Disturbing trends

Written by Susannah Patton

The mixed picture for the death penalty in Southeast Asia, especially in countries where the death penalty is being actively debated, such as Malaysia, suggests that further advocacy by Australia and other like-minded countries would be timely.

Editor's Picks9DLOctober 19, 20229DashLine, Susannah Patton, Death penalty in Southeast Asia: Disturbing trends, Lowy Institute, death penalty, Southeast Asia, myanmar, Junta, Myanmar's junta, Myanmar Junta, execution, Phyo Zayar Thaw, Ko Jimmy, political prisoners, Frontier Myanmar, Cambodia, abolitionist, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Amnesty International, death sentence, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19, Singapore, UN, United Nations, ethnic minorities, justice, Capital Punishment Justice Project, drug, drugs, War on drugs, War on Drugs, Vietnam, prison, international scrutiny, Thailand, de facto abolitionist, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Malaysia, Pakatan Harapan government, Pakatan Harapan, Philippine President Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, indonesia, civil society groups, court, Indonesia’s draft criminal code, criminal, probation, 2017 Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council, UN Human Rights Council, Australia, European Union, EU, Australia’s new Labor government

The ‘virtual maritime gate’ and Indonesia’s new capital

Written by Jefferson Ng

The Makassar Strait is likely to grow in prominence as Indonesia’s new capital emerges as a centre of economic activity alongside Jakarta, and defence policymakers in Indonesia will want to better control the flow of maritime traffic passing through the Strait.

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Japan’s strategic policies under the current global order

Written by Elli Pohlkamp

This behaviour of inactivity and standing on the sidelines has changed now, driven by the concern that one day Japan might need help from its Western alliance partners should the security situation around Japan change.

Pacific9DLApril 7, 20229dashline, Elli Pohlkamp, Japan, Tokyo, Shinzo Abe, Fumio Kishida, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Putin, China, Beijing, Xi Jinping, Rules based Order, NATO, EU, energy security, Northern Territories, UN Charter, Sanctions, East China Sea, South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, Sino-Russian, Tsugaro Strait, LNG, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, FOIP, United States, US, ASEAN, Australia, India, CPTPP, RCEP, EPA, Economic Partnership Agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, QUAD, National Security Strategy, NSS, National Defense Program Guidelines, NDPG, Medium Term Defense Force Buildup, MTDP, 2+2, indonesia, France, Reciprocal Access Agreement, RAA, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, LDP, G7, Japan’s strategic policies under the current global order, Free and open Indo-Pacific, Indo-Pacific, UN, United Nations, Taiwan, Europe, European, European Union, Quad, Medium Term Defense Force Buildup Program, Kishida, Prime Minister Abe, European Council on Foreign Relations, ECFR

What are the regional security implications of Indonesia’s capital relocation?

Written by Ahmad Rizky M. Umar

While Indonesia’s capital relocation is mostly related to the country’s domestic development priorities, it carries regional security implications that must be addressed as tensions in the Indo-Pacific region increase.

2022: Does ASEAN have a leadership deficit?

Although Indonesia, which accounts for half of ASEAN’s size and wealth, is the natural leader of the grouping when it does not actively lead, the group is further weakened.

Addressing food security in Indonesia

Written by Lucentezza Napitupulu, Mulia Nurhasan, John F McCarthy, Yusuf Bahtimi Samsudin and Amy Ickowitz

Focusing on locally-based food systems could enable people to regain power over their food systems, deliver healthy diets, restore the environment, and assist vulnerable people across the archipelago.

Myanmar’s divided state leaves thousands of its people in the lurch

Written by Hunter Marston

Until some sort of political solution is achieved, Myanmar’s civilian population will remain torn between the current chaos of poverty and armed conflict on the one hand, and an as-yet-unrealised future built on principles of democracy and federalism towards which they are striving.