If you are experiencing a sense that the world has entered an unstable and troubled era you are not alone.

Competition for power and influence in Southeast Asia is nothing new, writes Joseph Liow, the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Non-Resident International Fellow. Unity between Southeast Asian states is key to maintaining the region’s independence.

Singapore has earned a reputation as a "living lab" for disruptive technologies, where innovation is balanced against public safety and trust. Singapore has earned a reputation as one of the world’s foremost “living labs” for disruptive technologies. From autonomous vehicles (AVs) to drones, robotics, and now artificial intelligence (AI), the city-state has taken a distinctive approach in testing how new technologies can be integrated into society. But with disruption comes risk. How does a government encourage innovation while protecting the public from safety failures, privacy breaches, cybersecurity attacks, or job losses?

Aware that US containment of China is a persistent feature of Washington’s foreign strategy rather than a temporary political gesture, China has made sure to be prepared since US President Donald Trump’s first term. Academic Gu Qingyang observes that China is reshaping the rules of engagement, driven by shifts in the external environment and the domestic need to ensure economic recovery.