Who is he? Jacob “Jack” Lew serves as the current U.S. secretary of the Treasury. Prior to his confirmation in February 2013, Lew served as the White House chief of staff between 2012 and 2013, and directed the Office of…
It is a well-known fact that U.S. businesses have nearly three times more investment in ASEAN than they have in China. However, it comes as a surprise to many that companies from Southeast Asia have also been very active in…
Southeast Asia’s rapid economic growth has led to increasing demands for both conventional and alternative energy sources. The region is a net oil importer, representing over 5 percent of global oil demand—a trend expected to accelerate in the coming years.…
Who is he? Wong Hong Kuan is currently chief executive of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. Wong joined the Singaporean civil service in 1995 as an assistant superintendent in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), and was later promoted to chief…
By Blake Day Singapore has faced a spat of corruption cases involving public officials in the past year. Some pointed to these scandals as early signs of future difficulties. But recent actions taken by the Singaporean government suggest that quite…
By Brian Harding On August 29, Brunei will host the second ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), a forum established during Vietnam’s 2010 ASEAN chairmanship that consists of 18 members – the 10 ASEAN nations plus the United States, Japan,…
Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a major driver of economic growth in many countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN’s six largest economies – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – have become increasingly attractive…
Recently, Asia watchers have seen a surge of nominations for ambassadorial positions as President Barack Obama solidifies his second term foreign policy team and diplomatic leadership overseas. The CSIS Asia team has profiled each of the five incoming U.S. ambassadors…
Who is he? Kirk Wagar is a Miami-based lawyer known for his active role in Democratic politics and fundraising. He has been engaged in the Democratic Party since the 1990s and ran the Florida finance operation for President Barack Obama’s…
By Jeremiah O. Magpile Singapore’s decision on May 28 to impose new licensing rules on domestic news websites sparked a firestorm among the country’s internet users and led to a 2,500-person protest on June 8 against efforts to enforce online…
