LATEST PULSE

Southeast Asia is entering 2026 facing a more complex and uncertain risk environment, shaped by intensifying competition between the US and China, global economic tensions, and climate change threats.   According to the State of Southeast Asia: 2026 Survey Report by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Southeast Asia is increasingly concerned not just with individual risks, but with how they overlap and reinforce each other.   T...

The growing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is changing the political balance across Asia. Two major countries, India and Pakistan, are reacting in very different ways.   Pakistan is stepping forward with bold diplomatic moves, while India is choosing a more careful and quiet path. This contrast is drawing global attention and raising important questions about influence, strategy, and leadership in a time of crisis. &nbs...

Ten years after the 2016 ruling on the South China Sea, one question still stands: can international law stop powerful states like China from ignoring the rules?   In 2016, a United Nations-backed tribunal ruled clearly that China’s “nine-dash line” has no legal basis under international law. The decision was final and binding. It strongly affirmed the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea.   Yet yea...

A tense drone incident between North and South Korea has taken an unexpected turn. The situation started when North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones into its airspace last week, calling it a serious provocation and claiming the drones were shot down.   South Korean President Lee Jae Myung later confirmed that at least two drones from South Korea had crossed into North Korean territory. The drones, he said, were launched by civil...

A sudden shift in global politics has grabbed attention worldwide. On Tuesday, the United States announced a 2-week pause in military strikes against Iran. The decision came just hours before a major deadline, raising both relief and questions.   "For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iran&rs...