FACTS

Malaysia is stepping out of the shadow of traditional "us-vs-them" geopolitical binaries. Supported by emerging leaders who value strategic autonomy, economic diversification, and technological sovereignty, Malaysia is carving out its own path—redefining what it means to be a modern middle power. From tech infrastructure and green transitions to a revitalized role in ASEAN, the future of Malaysian diplomacy is about agency, pragmatism, and building multi-directional partnerships. Read more: factsasia.org/blog/beyond-th…

IT’S A WRAP! | Day 2 of 2 🌊 Day 2 of the Commemorative “Conference on the 10th Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award” has now concluded on a strong note. Day 2 featured the two remaining panel discussion on geopolitical considerations & regional stability and cooperation in the South China Sea. ℹ️ The panels surfaced the persisting challenges besetting ASEAN as an institution confronting geopolitical shifts and grappling with cooperation among its members and with external partners like China. Thought-provokingly, the continued pursuit of low-hanging fruit begs the question: What kind of tree does ASEAN ultimately want to nurture? A consensus among the two remaining panels emerged: The difficulties of ASEAN cooperation require pragmatism, but must not prejudice national positions. Thank you to our partners for tuning in!

IT’S A WRAP! | Day 1 of 2 🌊 Day 1 of the “Commemorative Conference on the 10th Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award” concluded with insightful and thought-provoking discussions among stakeholders across Southeast Asia. Day 1 featured four substantive panel discussions that underscored the enduring relevance of the 2016 Arbitral Award to ASEAN and the broader international rules-based order. ℹ️ Bringing together distinguished policymakers, legal experts, academics, and practitioners from across the region, the panels examined 1) ASEAN’s diverse perspectives on the Award and its implications for ASEAN centrality, 2) explored practical pathways for advancing implementation through legal, technological, and diplomatic cooperation, 3) assessed how an effective and UNCLOS-consistent Code of Conduct could complement the Award while contributing to regional stability, and 4) discussed the Award’s far-reaching implications for resource sovereignty, marine environmental protection, energy security, fisheries, and food security. Tune in tomorrow for Panels 5 and 6 on Regional Cooperation in the South China Sea and Geopolitical Consideration & Regional Stability! #2016ArbitralAward #10thYearAnniversary #Philippines #ASEAN

💡 HAPPENING NOW HAPPENING NOW | Jakarta, Indonesia 🇵🇭🇮🇩 As we mark the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, government officials, diplomats, legal experts, academics, and policy practitioners from across Southeast Asia have gathered in Jakarta to reflect on one of the most significant milestones in the development of international maritime law. Co-organized with FACTS Asia, Foundation for the National Interest, Verve Research, Universitas Pancasila, and Southeast Asia Daily, this two-day conference (13-14 July 2026) seeks to deepen regional dialogue on the continuing relevance of the Arbitral Award, its implications for ASEAN, and the role of international law in advancing peace, stability, and cooperation in the South China Sea. This conference represents the first of many efforts to further socialize the Award across ASEAN—encouraging constructive discussions on maritime governance, the rules-based international order, and practical pathways for regional cooperation amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

As Indo-Pacific dynamics shift, the security architecture between the Philippines and Japan is evolving at a historic pace. Moving beyond traditional defense pacts, the upcoming General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) serves as a vital pillar of complementary security. By institutionalizing a secure mechanism for sharing classified military intelligence, this agreement bridges a critical gap—transforming how both nations track, deter, and respond to regional maritime threats. Read more here: factsasia.org/blog/complemen…

A decade after the South China Sea Arbitral Award, its legality remains intact, yet realities at sea tell a different story. Rising tensions and competing interests continue to test the ruling's relevance. But can international law still shape the future of the South China Sea, or has geopolitics already rewritten the rules? At FACTS Asia, we believe robust dialogue is key to navigating regional flashpoints. We are proud to share this collaborative piece with our media partner, SEA Daily, exploring the enduring relevance of the 2016 Arbitral Award. This analysis accompanies FACTS Asia and Foundation for the National Interest's upcoming Commemorative Conference on the 10th Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award. Interested to know more? Catch the full, in-depth discussion live at the conference. 📄sea-daily.com/might-vs-right…

Cultivating a true Blue Economy for the Philippine Rise requires a delicate balance of robust governance, maritime security, and environmental stewardship. Safeguarding sovereignty and securing sustainable marine development must go hand-in-hand. Explore the strategic paths forward here: factsasia.org/blog/governanc…

A landmark legal victory is only as strong as its enforcement. Ten years after the historic South China Sea Arbitral Award, how can Southeast Asia turn legal principles into regional peace? 🌊⚖️📜 Join the Foundation for the National Interest and FACTS Asia for a special Commemorative Conference on the 10th Anniversary of the SCS Arbitral Award. Instead of just revisiting the past, this forum brings together top diplomats, legal scholars, and strategic experts to look forward. Across six comprehensive panel sessions, speakers from Southeast Asia will tackle the practical steps needed to protect maritime security, foster regional stability, and build a unified rules-based order. Be part of this critical conversation! Register here: view.page/p/y0Kr6I. This event is made possible with support from Amador Research Services (ARS), Verve Research, Universitas Pancasila, Forum Sinologi Indonesia, Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative, and Southeast Asia (SEA) Daily.

Years after the 2021 military coup, Myanmar remains a landscape of deeply fragmented governance and complex conflict. A new report by Amb. Marilyn Alarilla (RET) explores how the breakdown of centralized state authority and porous borders have transformed parts of the country into global hubs for transnational organized crime—ranging from cyber scam networks to narcotics trafficking. Understanding these evolving local dynamics is critical for restoring regional security and protecting vulnerable populations. Read the full brief: factsasia.org/blog/crime-con… #Myanmar #SoutheastAsia #Geopolitics #RegionalSecurity

International graduate scholarships serve as vital instruments of soft power, cultivating cross-cultural networks and expanding geopolitical influence. While Japan successfully utilizes diverse educational programs to solidify its role as a regional leader in higher education, the Philippines struggles to project similar educational diplomacy due to an ongoing domestic school crisis and heavily underfunded state universities. Read more on how Manila must reform its university system to become a competitive regional hub for intellectual exchange. factsasia.org/blog/soft-powe…

Sex trafficking, digital recruitment, and now cryptocurrency payments have transformed human trafficking into a faster, cheaper, and increasingly invisible crime. And Southeast Asia, home to some of the world's fastest-growing digital economies and largest unbanked populations, sits at the center of it all. The same technology enabling financial inclusion is also enabling exploitation. Read the full article on how tourism, digital platforms, and cryptocurrency are converging into one of the region's most urgent and least discussed crises. factsasia.org/blog/tourism-h…

The ASEAN Power Grid is no longer just an energy project but the ultimate test of regional unity. Millions of dollars from international donors are pouring in to kickstart the project, yet, the real challenge is not financial but political. As ASEAN works on consensus, member states must be willing to give up some control over their domestic grids to regional rules so that wealthier nations do not exploit poorer ones. Read more here: factsasia.org/blog/asean-pow…

When the World Health Assembly closed in May 2026 without finalizing the critical Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex, it didn't just delay a global health pact. It exposed a fault line running straight through Southeast Asia. The Philippines is already being courted with up to US$200 million in bilateral health funding from the United States, funding that could quietly reshape how disease data, pathogen samples, and emergency procurement get governed in the region. Read the full article on why the WHO deadlock is ASEAN's wake-up call: factsasia.org/blog/what-heal…

Building a secure future for ASEAN means strengthening the very fabric of our communities. Countering religious violent radicalization requires more than just defense, it demands digital vigilance, inclusive policies, and grassroots dialogue. Discover how the region can build long-term resilience and protect vulnerable spaces from extremist narratives. factsasia.org/blog/future-pr…

Since the 1997 financial crisis, Indonesia has capped its budget deficit at 3%. While this strict fiscal discipline has guaranteed macroeconomic stability, it has also bound annual GDP growth to a predictable 5%. Bound by strict fiscal limits, Jakarta must look beyond public funding and rely on commercial AI adoption and local initiatives like Sahabat-AI to drive the productivity gains needed for high-income status by 2045. factsasia.org/blog/fiscal-di…

The confrontation over the West Philippine Sea is inherently an information war, where language is systematically leveraged to rewrite geographic and legal realities. An effective counter-discourse does not just react to provocations—it proactively dismantles revisionist messaging and fortifies the rules-based order. When factual terminology is consistently applied, it strips away the ambiguity of gray-zone coercion and holds the line for maritime transparency. Dive into the analysis: factsasia.org/blog/the-power…