East Asia Explorer
The East Asia Explorer tracks evolving geopolitical trends, emerging security challenges, and progress towards regional integration in East Asia. It focuses on the ASEAN grouping, domestic and foreign policy developments in countries of East Asia and Oceania, great power contestation in the region, and India’s relations with ASEAN and its member countries.
In this issue, Dr. Pradeep Taneja analyses Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China from July 12-18, 2025, aimed at stabilising bilateral relations and boosting Australia’s economic interests, including trade, investment, and industry decarbonisation. He highlights that the visit faced criticism from opposition parties and security analysts, who argued that it was ill-timed given ongoing security tensions.
Jayantika Rao assesses the Thailand-Cambodia conflict that erupted on July 24, 2025, stemming from a long-standing border dispute, particularly around the Preah Vihear temple complex. She highlights that the violence followed a series of earlier skirmishes and diplomatic tensions. Despite the ceasefire brokered by the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia, underlying tensions and border issues remain unresolved, highlighting the fragility of peace in a region facing other geopolitical challenges.
Divya Rai examines the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related PMC meetings held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10-11, 2025. She reviews the outcomes of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India. She also highlights the ‘India-ASEAN New Plan of Action for 2026–2030’ adopted at the ASEAN-India Post-Ministerial Conference.
To read East Asia Explorer, Vol. III, Issue 7, please see the PDF attached.
