Our work

SEA Tech Stack Sovereignty: Critical Minerals is part of a series exploring technology sovereignty in Southeast Asia, developed by the Southeast Asia Institute. This paper builds on the framework presented in our previous paper, Southeast Asia Tech Stack Sovereignty: An Analytical Framework for Understanding Technology Sovereignty, and applies it to the real-world context of supply […]

SEA Tech Stack Sovereignty: An Analytical Framework for Understanding Technology Sovereignty is the opening paper in a series exploring technology sovereignty in Southeast Asia, developed by the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute. This paper establishes the conceptual foundation for the series, introducing a framework that subsequent papers apply to specific technology stacks — beginning with […]

ASEAN in 2026 is no longer operating as a neutral trade hub sitting comfortably between competing powers. It has become a contested economic and strategic space where external engagement increasingly arrives with embedded conditions that shape domestic policy choices and development pathways. Access to major markets and capital is no longer frictionless; it is mediated through tariffs, regulatory […]

Online scams have become an industrialized, borderless enterprise. The global cybercrime economy now exceeds US$10 trillion, with over US$1 trillion lost to scams annually. Beyond financial losses, scams erode mental well-being, public trust, and drain enforcement resources. The Asia–Pacific region is both heavily targeted and operationally central: Southeast Asia hosts large-scale scam operations, often linked […]

Exploring China’s Role in Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition examines how China has become a central actor in shaping Southeast Asia’s shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy systems. The report outlines the key drivers behind China’s expanding role and its varied approaches to engagement across ASEAN member states. It includes case studies from six countries—Cambodia, Lao […]