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S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: A prominent Singapore-based autonomous graduate school and global think tank, RSIS is part of Nanyang Technological University. It is dedicated to being a leading research and graduate teaching institution in strategic and international affairs in the Asia-Pacific. Its main areas of focus include offering Master’s and Doctoral programmes in international relations, strategic studies, and Asian studies, alongside conducting policy-relevant research on defence, national security, and non-traditional security issues. Recognised as a top graduate school in Asia, RSIS significantly contributes to policy-making and regional security dialogues.

Singapore

Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing’s Mandarin diplomacy strikes China chord

Chan quoted ancient philosopher Mencius in his speech at Xiangshan Forum, winning praise on social media for his knowledge of Chinese thought.

18 Sep 2026 - 7:58PM

Singapore

Singapore’s Chan Chun Sing to visit China, speak at defence forum

14 Sep 2026 - 10:25PM

Australia

Public inquiry in Australia exposes deep doubts about benefits of Aukus deal

9 Sep 2026 - 6:26PM

Pacific nations

Exclusive | New Zealand ‘must never be seen as a proxy’, former PM Helen Clark warns

Calling the US Pacific strategy a ‘game of bluff’, Clark urges Wellington to defend its independent foreign policy tradition.

3 Sep 2026 - 10:25AMvideocam

New Zealand’s former prime minister Helen Clark. Photo: AFP

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (right) holds a meeting with Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum summit in the Solomon Islands last year. Photo: AFP

China-Japan relations

How Japan aims to convert ageing warships into leverage to counter China

Tokyo plans to send retired destroyers to Manila and Jakarta, but it may not demand alignment against China as part of deal.

2 Sep 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Vietnam

South China Sea island build-up heightens Vietnam’s security concerns

Hanoi voices strong objections after reports emerge about Chinese construction works in the Paracels archipelago.

2 Sep 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Asean

Asean urged to take on Big Tech after Meta’s record payout

Asean cannot pass EU-style laws, but a ‘coalition of the willing’ could force Big Tech to adopt safeguards against scams and child harm.

31 Aug 2026 - 3:48PMvideocam

Apps owned by Meta Platforms include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS

Singapore

Singapore’s island merger plan fuels nuclear power speculation

Analysts say nuclear could be one of Singapore’s options when planning the new island and its supporting infrastructure.

28 Aug 2026 - 1:30PM

The Philippines

Live-streamed Philippine school shooting raises alarm over ‘memetic violence’

Analysts say the Zamboanga attack appears to fit a pattern of violence shaped by online spectacle, imitation and the pursuit of notoriety.

20 Aug 2026 - 3:07PMvideocam

US-Asean relations

US transshipment ‘scam’ claims put Asean exporters in a bind

Analysts say a report accusing nine Southeast Asian nations of helping China skirt tariffs conflates cheating with legitimate trade.

18 Aug 2026 - 5:33PMvideocam

A container lifter is used to organise goods containers at a port in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP

Australia

Cable ties: Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific in protecting subsea links

Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.

16 Aug 2026 - 8:00AM

An underwater cable sits on the sea floor. Australia relies heavily on subsea cables for its data. Photo: Getty Images

South China Sea

Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea

Analysts say deploying the LY-1-equipped vessel during Scarborough Shoal drill was meant to send a message to Manila and Washington.

10 Aug 2026 - 9:03PM

The Philippines

As US marks 75 years of defence pact with Philippines, can it stay the course?

Despite increased drills between the two allies, there are concerns that Washington’s aversion to conflict could weaken its commitment.

10 Aug 2026 - 10:02PM

China's military weapons

How Beijing’s hypersonic ‘carrier killers’ could distract US in a Taiwan conflict

Beijing said to be producing anti-ship missiles to hold US Pacific Fleet at distance so PLA can settle matters wherever contingency might be.

8 Aug 2026 - 10:06PMvideocam

Footage released by Chinese state media on July 29 shows a YJ-20 missile launching from a Type 052D destroyer at an undisclosed location. Photo: CCTV

Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo eyes North Korea trip. But no one’s invited him

While a visit could boost Indonesia’s diplomatic clout, it also threatens to raise another outcry about Prabowo’s frequent flights.

5 Aug 2026 - 4:35PM

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto speaks at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. Photo: Reuters

India

Ready player 3: India offers Asean a US-China alternative

India pitches trade, missiles and room to hedge as the US and China vie for regional influence.

1 Aug 2026 - 8:00AM

US-Asean relations

Inside America’s US$1.5 billion play for Southeast Asian energy

Gas exports and mini reactors serve US interests as much as Asia’s – provided promised projects actually lead anywhere.

29 Jul 2026 - 7:00PM

Artificial intelligence

AI competition heats up as US targets Southeast Asia’s public sector

Washington’s launch of AI Spark is seen as a move to counter Chinese AI models that have made inroads in Southeast Asia, analysts say.

29 Jul 2026 - 9:30AM

An illustration of the US and Chinese AI ecosystems. Photo: Shutterstock

Asean

What North Korea’s ‘rare rebuke’ means for its Asean ties

Kim Yo-jong says Asean’s call for denuclearisation has ‘distorted the essence of the situation in the Korean peninsula’.

27 Jul 2026 - 9:17PMvideocam

Asean

Why new US tariffs threaten Trump government’s credibility in Asean

The additional duties come just a day after Marco Rubio tells Southeast Asian foreign ministers that the US is ‘with Asean 100 per cent’.

26 Jul 2026 - 11:30AMvideocam

Indonesia

Indonesia restarts South China Sea gas project Beijing opposed

A low profile restart of the US$3 billion Tuna field with a Russian partner looks set to test Jakarta’s sovereign resolve.

22 Jul 2026 - 4:36PMvideocam

A Chinese coastguard vessel sails through the North Natuna Sea in this photo released by Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency in 2024. Photo: Bakamla/EPA-EFE

Japan

Japan seeks Southeast Asia sea lanes to avoid troubled waters in region

A proposal to map charts through five straits comes as Japan fears trade disruption from choke points in the South China Sea and off Malacca.

22 Jul 2026 - 8:00AM

Two liquefied natural gas tankers and a fishing boat seen in the Strait of Malacca in April. Photo: EPA

Singapore

Tharman’s state visit signals ‘mature’ era for Singapore-Malaysia ties

Singapore’s president, in Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysia’s king, says both nations need each other in a troubled world.

14 Jul 2026 - 7:24PM

South China Sea

Will Manila and Hanoi’s maritime deal challenge Beijing in the South China Sea?

A new cooperation agreement chips away at China’s bilateral negotiation tactic, but experts say its value is mostly symbolic.

15 Jul 2026 - 5:57PMvideocam

Defence

US and allies flex military muscle on China’s doorstep with multi-front drills

Analysts say the near-simultaneous exercises reflect a shift in US strategy that enables allies to play a greater role in regional security.

26 Jun 2026 - 5:44PM

About 10,000 personnel are taking part in Valiant Shield 2026 across Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and surrounding waters. Photo: X/US Navy

Singapore

Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia

Singapore needs to balance its tough stance on the Ukraine war with its responsibilities towards other Asean nations, experts say.

22 Jun 2026 - 6:58PMvideocam

Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo:
Sputnik/AP

Myanmar

Did Myanmar-China talks spawn a more emboldened junta?

China and India have been jostling for influence in Myanmar as the Asean member remains embroiled in civil war.

22 Jun 2026 - 6:35PM

South China Sea

As Iran war comes to a close, is US pulling warships back to the west Pacific?

US Defence Department changes name of Indo-Pacific Command back to US Pacific Command, suggesting new focus.

17 Jun 2026 - 11:24PMvideocam

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S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing’s Mandarin diplomacy strikes China chord

Chan quoted ancient philosopher Mencius in his speech at Xiangshan Forum, winning praise on social media for his knowledge of Chinese thought.

Singapore’s Chan Chun Sing to visit China, speak at defence forum

Public inquiry in Australia exposes deep doubts about benefits of Aukus deal

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | New Zealand ‘must never be seen as a proxy’, former PM Helen Clark warns

Calling the US Pacific strategy a ‘game of bluff’, Clark urges Wellington to defend its independent foreign policy tradition.

How Japan aims to convert ageing warships into leverage to counter China

Tokyo plans to send retired destroyers to Manila and Jakarta, but it may not demand alignment against China as part of deal.

South China Sea island build-up heightens Vietnam’s security concerns

Hanoi voices strong objections after reports emerge about Chinese construction works in the Paracels archipelago.

Asean urged to take on Big Tech after Meta’s record payout

Asean cannot pass EU-style laws, but a ‘coalition of the willing’ could force Big Tech to adopt safeguards against scams and child harm.

Singapore’s island merger plan fuels nuclear power speculation

Analysts say nuclear could be one of Singapore’s options when planning the new island and its supporting infrastructure.

Live-streamed Philippine school shooting raises alarm over ‘memetic violence’

Analysts say the Zamboanga attack appears to fit a pattern of violence shaped by online spectacle, imitation and the pursuit of notoriety.

US transshipment ‘scam’ claims put Asean exporters in a bind

Analysts say a report accusing nine Southeast Asian nations of helping China skirt tariffs conflates cheating with legitimate trade.

Cable ties: Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific in protecting subsea links

Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.

Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea

Analysts say deploying the LY-1-equipped vessel during Scarborough Shoal drill was meant to send a message to Manila and Washington.

As US marks 75 years of defence pact with Philippines, can it stay the course?

Despite increased drills between the two allies, there are concerns that Washington’s aversion to conflict could weaken its commitment.

How Beijing’s hypersonic ‘carrier killers’ could distract US in a Taiwan conflict

Beijing said to be producing anti-ship missiles to hold US Pacific Fleet at distance so PLA can settle matters wherever contingency might be.

Indonesia’s Prabowo eyes North Korea trip. But no one’s invited him

While a visit could boost Indonesia’s diplomatic clout, it also threatens to raise another outcry about Prabowo’s frequent flights.

Ready player 3: India offers Asean a US-China alternative

India pitches trade, missiles and room to hedge as the US and China vie for regional influence.

Inside America’s US$1.5 billion play for Southeast Asian energy

Gas exports and mini reactors serve US interests as much as Asia’s – provided promised projects actually lead anywhere.

AI competition heats up as US targets Southeast Asia’s public sector

Washington’s launch of AI Spark is seen as a move to counter Chinese AI models that have made inroads in Southeast Asia, analysts say.

What North Korea’s ‘rare rebuke’ means for its Asean ties

Kim Yo-jong says Asean’s call for denuclearisation has ‘distorted the essence of the situation in the Korean peninsula’.

Why new US tariffs threaten Trump government’s credibility in Asean

The additional duties come just a day after Marco Rubio tells Southeast Asian foreign ministers that the US is ‘with Asean 100 per cent’.

Indonesia restarts South China Sea gas project Beijing opposed

A low profile restart of the US$3 billion Tuna field with a Russian partner looks set to test Jakarta’s sovereign resolve.

Japan seeks Southeast Asia sea lanes to avoid troubled waters in region

A proposal to map charts through five straits comes as Japan fears trade disruption from choke points in the South China Sea and off Malacca.

Tharman’s state visit signals ‘mature’ era for Singapore-Malaysia ties

Singapore’s president, in Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysia’s king, says both nations need each other in a troubled world.

Will Manila and Hanoi’s maritime deal challenge Beijing in the South China Sea?

A new cooperation agreement chips away at China’s bilateral negotiation tactic, but experts say its value is mostly symbolic.

US and allies flex military muscle on China’s doorstep with multi-front drills

Analysts say the near-simultaneous exercises reflect a shift in US strategy that enables allies to play a greater role in regional security.

Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia

Singapore needs to balance its tough stance on the Ukraine war with its responsibilities towards other Asean nations, experts say.

Did Myanmar-China talks spawn a more emboldened junta?

China and India have been jostling for influence in Myanmar as the Asean member remains embroiled in civil war.

As Iran war comes to a close, is US pulling warships back to the west Pacific?

US Defence Department changes name of Indo-Pacific Command back to US Pacific Command, suggesting new focus.

Exclusive | New Zealand ‘must never be seen as a proxy’, former PM Helen Clark warns