CSIS Southeast Asia SIT-REP
This issue includes the case for fully lifting the U.S. ban on lethal arms sales to Vietnam, analyses on the Philippine presidential elections and issues facing the incoming administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, an overview of the challenges facing President Barack Obama on issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership when he visits Vietnam, and much more. Links will take you to the full publications, multimedia, or to registration for upcoming programs when available. To jump to a section, select one of the following:
- Commentaries on Vietnam
- CogitAsia articles covering the Philippines, Vietnam, the TPP, and China
- The Leaderboard profiles from the Philippines
- Recent Programs on ASEAN
Commentaries
Deep insight into developments that move the dial
“Fully Lifting the U.S. Lethal Arms Ban Will Add Momentum to U.S.-Vietnam Relations,” by Murray Hiebert (@MurrayHiebert1 ) and Phuong Nguyen (@PNguyen_DC )
Ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Vietnam in late May, officials and analysts in both Washington and Hanoi have been talking about whether the United States should fully lift the ban on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam that was imposed when the Vietnam War ended in 1975. The issue has been given added urgency as bilateral relations have increasingly warmed and in light of shared U.S. and Vietnamese interests… Read more >>
CogitAsia
The CSIS Asia blog features insights on policy around the Asia Pacific
“U.S.-Vietnam TPP Discussions to Progress, but Congressional Support Remains Uncertain,” by Esther Sainsbury
President Barack Obama will arrive in Vietnam on May 23 to highlight his ongoing commitment to the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and the importance of ratifying the Trans‑Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement this year. Although Obama’s commitment to the 12-nation TPP and the strategic case for the trade deal is clear… Read more >>
“What Will a Duterte Administration Mean?,” by Richard Javad Heydarian (@Richeydarian )
After months of grueling and highly polarizing election campaigning, the Philippines has finally chosen its next set of leaders. Rodrigo Duterte, the firebrand and highly controversial mayor of Davao City, appears to have won a landslide victory, beating the closest runner-up, former interior and local government secretary Mar Roxas, by a whopping… Read more >>
“China’s Sovereignty Gamble,” by Ernest Z. Bower (@BowerCSIS )
China’s neighbors are gravely concerned about what they see as a clear and determined strategy being implemented by Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and now Commander in Chief of the People’s Liberation Army. They believe Xi is committed to leveraging China’s indisputable economic power to force some of them to give up sovereign claims to territory, both land and sea. In their eyes, China is seeking to dominate and control… Read more >>
“Tough-Talking Mayor Duterte Wins Philippines Presidential Elections,” by Conor Cronin (@ConorCroninDC ) and Norashiqin Toh (@norashiqintoh )
Voters in the Philippines went to the polls for a general election on May 9. Although official results will not be available for several days, unofficial tallies for the presidential race show a resounding victory for the provocative mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte. His win is a major loss for the ruling Liberal Party, and analysts fear… Read more >>
The Leaderboard
Two-minute read on the real people that are making news
Leni Robredo, Presumptive Vice President-elect of the Philippines
Based on unofficial tallies, Robredo won the May 9 Philippine vice presidential election by a scant 220,000 votes. Robredo went from ranking last among the vice presidential candidates in pre-election surveys up to a statistical tie for first place just before the election, and swept to victory in dramatic fashion on election night. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and her chief opponent, has challenged… Read more >>
Recent Programs
Banyan Tree Leadership Forum with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan
The CSIS Southeast Asia Program hosts a discussion with with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and former Foreign Minister of Thailand. Dr. Surin discusses the opportunities and challenges facing ASEAN in the midst of the Asia-Pacific region’s changing strategic landscape. Watch >>
For more on the Southeast Asia Program, check out our website, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, visit our blog CogitAsia, and listen to our podcast at CogitAsia and iTunes. Thank you for your interest in U.S. policy in Southeast Asia and CSIS Southeast Asia. Join the conversation!
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