When Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines begins flying to Europe on August 1, 2026, its first European destination will not be London, Paris or Frankfurt, but Prague. At first glance, choosing a smaller capital over Europe’s traditional aviation gateways looks like a curious commercial bet. Viewed against a decade of warming relations between Czechia and Taiwan, however,… Continue reading Boarding pass to Prague: What a private airline’s route map reveals about ties between Czechia and Taiwan
Mapping academic ties between Central Europe and Southeast Asia reveals growing, though uneven, links across the region. Key takeaways: Since 1989, research interest in Southeast Asia has expanded from philology and languages, religious studies, and ethnography to virtually all other academic disciplines. Despite growing interest in the region, there is still no dedicated institute for… Continue reading Academic relations between Central Europe and Southeast Asia: Rising mutual interest
Trapped between an unpredictable Washington and a distrusted Beijing, Southeast Asia refuses to pick sides. Key takeaways: The United States will remain a central security and economic actor in Southeast Asia during President Trump’s second term, although its approach to the region will continue to be driven by unilateralism and transactionalism. The more critical view… Continue reading No easy choice: Southeast Asia’s split views on US leadership and China’s rise
With Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN in October 2025, the vision of the association’s founding fathers has been fulfilled: all Southeast Asian nations are now united within a single regional institution. Key takeaways: Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN in 2025 was a significant milestone for a small, post-conflict nation and the poorest country in Southeast Asia. To… Continue reading Timor-Leste’s bet on ASEAN: A path to institutional and economic transformation
