SMU ASEAN Perspectives

SMU ASEAN Perspectives is an exciting research publication of the Centre for Commercial Law in Asia focussing on topical and vital issues of ASEAN law. Contributors hail from academic institutions throughout Southeast Asia.

If you are interested in writing and publishing an article with us, get in touch at aseanlaw@smu.edu.sg!

Investment Agreements
By Mr Lucas Jun Hao Wong (Singapore Management University) Paper No. 05 / 2022

Indonesia has long had extensive trade and investment links to countries across the globe. Recently, Indonesia has begun to terminate many of its bilateral investment treaties in light of concerns over how these were being used against it. This paper seeks to shed some light on Indonesia’s termination of its BITs and the potential ramifications.

Sustainable Development
By Prof Mark Findlay and Ms Li Min Ong (Singapore Management University) Paper No. 02 / 2022

We want to emphasise the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in the sustainable development of cities, particularly the voice of social scientists which tends to get left out in discussions over technology. In the race towards “smart” urbanisation, there is a real risk that history and culture – things that give a city “life” – could get decimated if digital transformations are not grounded in the community. Our story is that of a return to the community which we think resonates beyond development.

Sustainable Development
By Prof Tran Viet Dung (Ho Chi Minh City University of Law) Paper No. 01 / 2022

Like other large cities in ASEAN, Vietnamese cities have been facing serious urban environment problems such as air pollution, land degradation, weak water drainage and lack of green spaces. This paper examines the implementation of the new urbanization strategy by the Ho Chi Minh City government to build an environmentally sustainable city and its challenges.

Sustainable Development
By Dr Piti Eiamchamroonlarp (Chulalongkorn University) Paper No. 04 / 2022

By using information and communication technologies to improve quality of life, a smart city is capable of supporting peer-to-peer electricity trading transactions. This paper analyzes electricity licensing systems, together with the third-party access regime under the Thai Energy Industry Act B.E. 2550 (2007) that enable locally generated electricity traded on a P2P basis, as well as the regulation of smart metering services.

Commercial Law
By Prof Nobumichi Teramura (University of Brunei Darussalam) Paper No. 03 / 2022

International dispute resolution is only at an early stage of development in Brunei. This paper examines Brunei’s potential for Islamic financial dispute settlement. It compares Brunei’s position with regional competitors (such as Singapore and Malaysia) and examines the advantages and disadvantages of Brunei’s marketing itself as a centre for Islamic finance arbitration for the 275 million Muslims in Southeast Asia.

Trade Agreements
By Ms Rachel Liting Chang (Singapore Management University) Paper No. 06 / 2022

This paper explores the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Korea Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity launched in 2010, in tandem with Korea's New Southern Policy, against the backdrop of new Asian regionalism: an ASEAN-focused integration process that represents a fundamental change in the multilateral trading system.