Paying Attention to International Issues in the Midst of Election

Abstrak

As Indonesia is busy in the midst of domestic grand developments in relation to the 2014 election, the regional environment where Indonesia is located is also witnessing some significant developments in some crucial issues. This review of regional developments for the second quarter of 2014 highlights four significant matters relating to Southeast Asia specifically, and the Asia Pacific in general. First, Obama's visit to four countries in Asia in April 2014 has significant consequences on the region, in particular with regards to the U.S. strategic rebalancing policy. Second, the domestic turmoil in Thailand, with particular the imposition of martial law, will impact on the wave of democracy in Southeast Asia. Third, as Indonesia looks forward to a new leader, another big nation in Asia, India, has sworn in a new leader. And fourth, there are new incidents in the South China Sea, which complicates, if not further deteriorate, the already ugly situation in the area.