Indonesia will received F- 16 for free

Indonesia government agree in receiving for about 24 F-16 block 52 . Both type are ex-USAF. The agreement was signed by first comission DPR RI on October 25th. DPR members agreed to freely in receiving F-16 Block 15 but insist to upgrade/retrofit all plane to block 52(so equal to Singapore F-16). DPR dealt to hands [...]

China’s efforts to internationalize its currency

It is a well know fact that China undervalues its currency, by pegging the renminbi (RMB) to the dollar at an artificially low level. This, along with other subsidies and mercantilist trade policies, keeps Chinese exports cheap, and thus more attractive to consumers in the U.S. and Europe. Because China is the manufacturing hub for [...]

Singapore’s General Election: First signs of a chink in PAP’s armor?

On May 7th Singapore held its 16th parliamentary election (its 11th since independence from Malaysia in 1967) with the governing Peoples’ Action Party winning 81 of the 87 seats in parliament. While the result was never in doubt, it is testament to the unequal and undemocratic nature of the country’s political system that the result [...]

Burma and India: the new geopolitical reality

In a recent interview Aung Sang Suu Kyi remarked that she was disappointed with the Indian government’s policy towards Burma. The recently freed Nobel Peace Prize winner said, ” I am saddened with India. I would like to have thought that India would be standing behind us…That it would have followed in the tradition of [...]

Waiting for Godot: Democratization in Southeast Asia

In Samuel Beckett’s famous absurdist play the two principal characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly in vain for the arrival of Godot. Observing politics in Southeast Asia one can often feel like Beckett’s two characters when it comes to waiting for democratic reforms and political liberalization. Frequently there are false dawns, and multiple setbacks but [...]

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