BA Hamzah
Hamzah BA writes regularly under on geopolitics, Asean and maritime security and law.
Professor, National Defence University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
BA Hamzah was formerly Director General of Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA).
Recent articles by BA Hamzah
17 April 2025
Xi pushes for fair trade after Trump tariffs land
After President Donald Trump’s decision to exempt selected electronic goods from tariffs, the gloves are temporarily off between Washington and Beijing. However, though some sanity has returned to the White House, the damage has already been done.
4 March 2025
The fate of US allies hangs in the balance under Trump 2.0
Kudos to President Donald Trump! He thinks he has solved the security problems in Europe and the Middle East. His ideas for peace by in Gaza via force and land grabbing, however, have not augured well with key powers in the region. The Arabs felt they have been betrayed by Trump who gave Israel carte blanche to deal with Iran, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, for example.
11 December 2024
President Prabowo’s plan for joint development with China hits a snag
A non- prejudicial clause can end internal bickering.
27 November 2024
Philippines maritime legislation does not impede freedom of navigation and overflight over the archipelago
The Philippines enacted two enabling legislation on 8 November 2024. Known as Republic Act (RA) 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act; and Republic Act (RA) 12065 or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, the legislation has attracted a fair number of criticisms from the region among those not familiar with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
3 August 2024
A complex, fluid dispute in South China Sea
Amidst the spat with Beijing over safety of its troops on Sierra Madre at the Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines is becoming increasingly stretched. Pooling all available resources to deal with one of the worst oil spills in many years in Manila Bay could mean playing down conflict with Beijing.
3 July 2024
Luckily, Joe Biden did not stumble into a war with China at Second Thomas Shoal
President Bongbong Marcos played down the ramming of a Filipino Navy boat by a Chinese coastguard on 17 June. Calling it an accident, not amounting to an armed attack, when the photos showed otherwise. It was an embarrassing afterthought for a Head of State.
18 April 2024
Australia and Japan should calm tensions in the South China Sea
Geopolitical tensions are rising again in the South China Sea. President Biden’s trilateral meeting with PM Kishida from Japan and President Marcos to discuss military strategy to contain China’s perceived “coercive policy” will not help calm the waters.
23 March 2024
China is chastised for its new boundary in Tonkin Gulf
China is one of the most misunderstood and maligned nations when it comes to what it does and does not do in the South China Sea, and that it claims almost all features. Chinas nine-dash line controversial claim in the South China Sea is actively challenged by five other coastal states in the region including the Philippines and Vietnam.
3 March 2024
Canberras endearment of ASEAN must be taken with a pinch of salt
When Australia looks out to the world, the first thing we see is the countries of ASEAN. - Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong.
1 February 2024
Indonesians likely to vote for change
Indonesia, Australias largest neighbour, will go to the polls on 14 February 2024 to elect a new President. Some 160 million eligible voters are expected to turn out in the largest single-day contest.
14 January 2024
Fumio Kishida should steer away from getting entangled in AUKUS
Among the superstitious political elites in Japan, recent events like the earthquake, the plane collision at Haneda and the arrest of a lawmaker in a major political slush fund do not bode well for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, already unpopular. AUKUS can be another nightmare for Fumio Kishida, albeit external in nature.
8 September 2023
Deploying Australias Navy to Ayungin atoll makes no strategic sense
I wonder how many Australians know where the Ayungin Shoal/Second Thomas/Renai Jiao is? Do they know that their Navy has been deployed to this atoll, ostensibly to defend their national interest!
1 August 2023
No ASEAN without Indonesia
Indonesia looks poised for an economic boom that can spur its quest for a higher international political profile. Many scholars, politicians, and corporate figures in Indonesia believe the nation has the attributes to become more than the regional power it is now.