LATEST PULSE

Nearly 10 years after the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal erupted, Malaysia continues to address the economic and governance issues it caused.   What began in 2009 as an ambitious national development project under then-Prime Minister Najib Razak turned into one of the world's biggest financial scandals, funding luxury properties, private jets, and even Hollywood films instead of economic growth for Malaysians.   Accordi...

In a brief but closely watched meeting, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea on October 30 to discuss issues ranging from trade and technology to global conflicts. Both leaders struck a cautiously positive tone, with Trump describing the talks as productive and Xi saying there were "good prospects for cooperation."   Chips and Ukraine Take Center Stage One of the most talked about topics was...

Tensions flared once again in the South China Sea as China and the Philippines traded accusations of provocation following two mid-October encounters near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) and Thitu Island (Pag-asa).   Happening just days apart, the incidents underscore Beijing's growing assertiveness and Manila's determination to defend its maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that lies within the...

For more than 60 years, New Zealand and the Cook Islands have shared a rare bond of a "free association" that gave the islands self-rule while keeping Wellington in charge of defense and foreign affairs. But that arrangement, long seen as a model of post-colonial cooperation, now appears to be under strain.   Tensions erupted after the Cook Islands tried to issue their own passports and later signed a strategic agreement with China, both m...

After more than 40 years of maritime tension, Malaysia and Indonesia are charting a new course in one of Southeast Asia’s most contested waters. On June 20, 2025, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to jointly develop the Sulu-Celebes Seas, a border area long marked by competing claims and untapped potential.   Stretching across 15,000 square kilometers, the disputed zone i...