Asean needs to think again

11 September, 2017

09 September 2017 Originally published in The Star Online AFTER the deserved 50th anniversary celebrations, Asean needs to take a long, hard look into the future, and to be ready for it. The trouble

China – friend or foe?

5 September, 2017

26 August 2017 Originally published in The Star Online THE 19th-century British statesman Lord Palmerston is reputed to have said: “There are no permanent friends, and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.” This has

Asean: Due credit and formidable challenges

14 August, 2017

14 August 2017 Originally published in The Star Online FIRST, let us give credit where it is due: 50 years of continued existence in half a century of challenge and change is a feat

Singapore predicament, Asean challenge

31 July, 2017

29 July 2017 Originally published in The Star Online SINGAPORE is no longer a boring political place which finds its substitute excitement in neighbouring Malaysia or Indonesia. It has plenty of its own now.

Lessons from tragedy and romance of British politics

25 July, 2017

15 July 2017 Originally published in The Star Online FORMER British Prime Minister David Cameron went for the Brexit referendum to strengthen his position in the Conservative party and end the warring among the

New heights of China’s rise

5 July, 2017

01 July 2017 Originally published in The Star Online ONE of the striking features of the map in China’s Belt and Road initiative is that America is not on it. This is not necessarily

Trump-Washington disorder drags world down

6 June, 2017

06 June 2017 Originally published in The Star Online IN Washington, the swamp Donald Trump is trying to drain is in tumult. The centres of the established order are fighting back against the elected

America vs China: odds narrowing

22 May, 2017

20 May 2017 Originally published in The Star Online THE contrast could not be greater. While United States president Donald Trump raves and rants – and belts this or that person – China’s president

Thank God for North Korea!

9 May, 2017

6 May 2017 Originally published in The Star Online THE chairman’s statement at the end of the 30th Asean Summit last week was at its clearest on concern over rising tension in the Korean

Trump’s 100 days… and still going wrong?

25 April, 2017

22 April 2017 As appeared in The Star Online Photo Credit: Bloomberg PRESIDENT Donald Trump exploded from the blocks after his inauguration on Jan 20, but soon found out he was not in a