Dialogues at Fulcrum

In this episode, William Choong, managing editor of Fulcrum, talks to James Crabtree, executive director of International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), the London-headquartered think tank which runs the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. The dialogue is an annual meeting of defence ministers from Asia and beyond, and is covered widely by media from around the world. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dialogue was postponed in 2020 and 2021. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed: 8:39 - Themes that Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, could raise as keynote speaker 13:48 - The United States and the Indo-Pacific 18:18 - China’s run-up to the Shangri-la Dialogue 23:07 - How the return of in-person meetings changes regional diplomacy

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to three scholars about the 2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy. Dr Choong spoke to Ms Elina Noor, Director, Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director of the Washington D.C. office at the Asia Society Policy Institute; Dr Huong Le Thu, a Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and Ms Sharon Seah, Coordinator of the ASEAN Study Centre at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:20 - Impressions of the 2022 State of Southeast Survey Report 8:19 - Increased regional confidence in the Biden Administration 12:58 - US Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Being Passed Out or Passing Out? 15:47 - The Quad: Tangible Deliverables to the Region and the Bigger Picture 17:50 - China Gaining Traction in Free Trade Agreements 25:08 - Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Southeast Asia 30:00 - China: ‘Taiwan is not Ukraine’ 35:03 - Is US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy akin to NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe?

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to ISEAS researchers Moe Thuzar and Sharon Seah about the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits. They discuss the key highlights of the meetings, ASEAN’s continued engagement with external powers such as Australia, China and the United States, and Cambodia’s chairing of ASEAN in 2022. Moe Thuzar is the Co-coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Programme. Sharon Seah is the Coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 1:10 - Highlights from the 2021 ASEAN Summits 3:08 - Why the Summits matter to ASEAN citizens 6:23 - The concept of non-interference: in evolution? 10:18 - China and Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN 14:04 - China, the United States and Myanmar 18:21 - Biggest takeaways from the Summits 21:54 - The impact of a ‘virtual’ summit 25:56 - ASEAN centrality and Myanmar 31:31 - The “true beauty” of ASEAN: shape shifting 33:30 - The SAC’s legal challenge to ASEAN: holding water, be like water

In this episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, talks to two ISEAS researchers about the ongoing political developments in Myanmar after the February 2021 coup. They discuss the impending visit of ASEAN’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, and the challenges and opportunities that will come with the trip. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast: 2:25 – A recap of what has happened in Myanmar since February 2021 18:38 – The challenges and opportunities that the ASEAN Special Envoy will face as he prepares for his visit to Myanmar 30:15 – The progress report that the Special Envoy is expected to deliver, and the need for the envoy to visit all stakeholders involved 36:10 – ASEAN processes that will help the Special Envoy for his visit to Myanmar 40:49 – What external powers such as the United States, China and India can do to improve the situation in Myanmar. 47:18 – The general sentiment among Myanmars towards ASEAN 57:29 – What are the milestones to look out for before the ASEAN summit meetings in November?

In this inaugural episode of Dialogues at Fulcrum, William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, sits down with Parag Khanna, author of “The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict and Culture in the 21st Century”. Published in 2019, the book covers a broad spectrum of themes such as Asian history, the region’s economic rise and the ongoing Asianisation of Asia. Dr Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor, world traveller and author. Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were addressed during the podcast. 1:00 - Has the West and Asians themselves accepted the “rise of Asia”? 8:50 - Fears about a gradual US withdrawal from the region 11:05 - Interdependence or pragmatism in Sino-US relations? 15:40 - Does the Quad have legs to run? 21:38 - The US and China: different visions of regional order 32:00 - What kind of traction can ASEAN get on Myanmar? 37:50 - Can Singapore’s model of technocratic governance be replicated?