The Pacific Corridor
Issue 3
Editor’s Note
by Nabil Haskanbancha, in Bangkok
In this week’s Pacific Corridor issue, we take a closer look at stories revolving around emerging economic opportunities, maritime tensions, and cultural connections. The approval of a USD 69 million semiconductor lab in Vietnam reflects the country’s ambition to lead the global tech supply chain. With a highly skilled labour and growing economy, Vietnam continues to attract tech investors. Meanwhile, tensions in the South China Sea have escalated as China’s influence extends beyond maritime disputes into local Filipino politics, using misinformation to weaken alliances and shape local perceptions. In Singapore, a country renowned for its cultural diversity, we explore how Indonesian coffee continues to enrich everyday life and add to the country’s diverse social fabric. Popular foreign food businesses help boost Singapore’s economy while encouraging people to explore new cultures one flavor at a time.
Vietnam 🇻🇳
Vietnam's High-Stakes Chip Gambit
by Tri Vo, in Ho Chi Minh City
On June 7th, 2025, the City of Da Nang approved a USD 69 million semiconductor packaging laboratory in the city’s Hi-Tech Park. This represents the latest, if not the boldest, act in Vietnam's ambitious strategy to carve out a major role in the global semiconductor industry, paving the way toward a possible realignment of global technology supply chains.
Vietnam is positioning itself as a key alternative as the world seeks to reduce its over-reliance on a few dominant players. The Da Nang facility, a consequential step in the complex chip-making process, signals a deliberate shift up the value chain from assembly and testing to more sophisticated packaging. This project supports Vietnam’s strategy to attract high-value foreign investment and build a resilient manufacturing ecosystem beyond its former labor-intensive model that was vulnerable to global shocks and rising protectionism.
At the regional level, Vietnam’s semiconductor ambitions are elevating its status within ASEAN. While countries like Malaysia and Singapore have established strengths in the semiconductor sector, Vietnam's chip push introduces a dynamic new competitor. This fosters a more robust and diversified semiconductor landscape within the region. For international manufacturers, a stronger Vietnamese presence offers more alternatives, reducing logistical and geopolitical risks. The development in Da Nang could stimulate further investment, not just in Vietnam but across the region, as companies adopt a "China Plus One" strategy.
Globally, the implications are even more significant. The current tech rivalry between the U.S. and China has created a sense of urgency around supply chain diversification. Vietnam, with its strategic location and stable political system, is a major beneficiary of this shift. The Da Nang lab is further evidence that international confidence in the country is growing. A successful Vietnamese semiconductor industry could contribute to a more resilient global supply chain–one that is less vulnerable to disruptions from trade disputes or regional conflicts.
Despite recent progress, many issues still persist. The main hurdle for Vietnam is a severe shortage of highly skilled labor required to meet the technical demands of the semiconductor industry. The Vietnamese Government has harbored an ambition of training 50,000 engineers for this sector by 2030, but aligning education with industry standards remains a tremendous challenge. Moreover, upgrading infrastructure, such as reliable power grids and smooth transportation networks, is essential to meet the demands of this high-tech industry.
Indeed, investing in Da Nang goes beyond merely establishing a new and fancy facility; it represents a bold new strategic move by a rising regional power in the fierce global competition for technological supremacy. If Vietnam overcomes its workforce and infrastructure challenges, it could not only transform its economy for decades to come but also play a key role in shaping the semiconductor industry in ASEAN and beyond.
Tri has experience in management consulting and strategy, having worked with institutions such as the UNDP, The Asia Group, and ARC Group. He has provided strategic, legal, and operational insights to clients in sectors including manufacturing, energy, and technology. He holds both academic and professional experience related to Southeast and East Asia, with a focus on regional development and policy.
The Philippines 🇵🇭
Understanding China’s Disinformation Tactics through the Philippine Experience
by Arianne De Guzman, in Bulacan
The maritime dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea, a term used by the Philippines to assert its maritime claims in contested waters, has become a source of conflicting narratives and discourses that have entered the information landscape. China, despite the Philippines' legal victory over the nine-dash line under UNCLOS, has become more aggressive and has repudiated international law. Aside from intrusive activities, China's coordinated operations have targeted the Philippines, aiming to influence public opinion by distorting national territorial claims, weakening international alliances, and shifting fault lines, as the Philippines rebuilds its relationship with the US and ASEAN neighbors to bolster its defense capabilities.
In April 2025, the National Security Council confirmed Philippine senators’ findings regarding Chinese state-sponsored media spreading misinformation and targeting claims on the West Philippine Sea during the 2025 local midterm and national elections. During a Senate probe, it was revealed that the Chinese embassy hired and paid a PR firm named Infinitus PHP 930,000 to deploy a troll army of Filipino influencers and proxies. A Cyabra study also found that out of 3,033 election-related accounts studied, 45% were fake.
The Philippines is not alone – similar issues have also been observed in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where coordinated activities produce narratives that favor Chinese investments and activities while downplaying domestic issues. These similar experiences identify a pattern of exerting pressure through misinformation rather than frequent overt state aggression.
Voices across ASEAN have increasingly called for a rethinking of the non-interference principle, as a rigid understanding of autonomy could limit the bloc’s capacity to resolve shared problems collectively.
Additionally, the 2023 ASEAN Guideline on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation calls for an agreed-upon mechanism to track and monitor external disinformation campaigns and coordinate responses. The Guideline also reflects a shift toward more comprehensive cyber governance, emphasizing that regional cooperation must go beyond infrastructure to include regulation, fact-checking systems, and digital literacy.
Over the past few years, China has consistently expanded its digital visibility and influence networks across the region. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines remain vulnerable to disinformation, especially when weak institutional capacity is compounded by a lack of coordinated messaging. The Philippines' recent experience has emphasized the importance of institutional processes and the allocation of sufficient budget provisions in strengthening cyber and maritime governance. For ASEAN, the issue boils down to viewing this not merely as a security concern, but as one related to institutional capacity, citizens' media literacy, and regional collaboration.
Arianne has worked in legal research at the Philippines Department of Justice and in policy research at De La Salle University’s Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance, supporting projects on systemic reform. She holds a degree in Political Science from Colegio de San Juan de Letran and is pursuing a master’s in Sociology at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also involved in youth development and grassroots advocacy through the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria.
Singapore 🇸🇬
Integrating Cultural Symbols: Indonesian Coffee Culture in Singapore
by Nurul Aini, in Singapore
Singapore and Indonesia enjoy a healthy and prosperous bilateral relationship, spanning politics, the economy, and culture. In 2023, bilateral trade between Singapore and Indonesia amounted to SGD 69 billion, with Singapore being Indonesia’s top source of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) since 2014. Although the investment amount in the food and beverage sector is not explicitly stated, the presence of Indonesian food in Singapore demonstrates an on-the-ground cultural exchange that is still evolving. From having an unofficial center for Indonesian food in places like Geylang Serai to having a strikingly modern Fore coffee standing proudly outside Bugis Junction, Indonesian cuisine is increasingly accessible to Singaporeans. One cultural symbol that is also taking root here is Indonesian coffee culture.
Singaporeans are heavy coffee drinkers who will not hesitate to splurge their money for a cup of caffeine boost, from the classic Nanyang Kopi brewed in a “sock” to the more mechanically-brewed espresso, reflecting the nation’s deep-rooted coffee culture. In 2021 alone, Singaporeans consumed 15,000 metric tons of coffee a year (that’s 2.6kg per person!) A 2024 YouGov survey also suggests that 79% of respondents consume coffee at least once monthly. Furthermore, the Compound Annual Growth Rate for the nation’s coffee industry is projected at 3.2% between 2022-2027, with some expecting it to be even higher. The coffee industry in Singapore is set for robust growth.
Indonesian companies like Fore Coffee (FC) and Kenangan Coffee (KC) have established themselves in Singapore by blending passion, technological innovation, local groundedness, and sustainability in their coffee businesses. The CEO of FC positions the business as “an ambassador of coffee culture in Singapore,” while also catering to the locals’ palate through creative menu options like Pandan Oat Latte. With its emphasis on sustainability, FC also aligns with Singapore’s ESG goals and is a natural choice for more environmentally-conscious customers. Meanwhile, KC debuted in Singapore in 2023 and now operates seven outlets. They also utilise a “grab-n-go” system through their mobile app that allows advanced ordering, catering to Singaporeans’ preference for efficiency, speed, and quality. The same app also provides a convenient ordering experience as customers can order straight from their seats.
These businesses’ approaches set an example of local groundedness while maintaining the core of their own culture. In a recent statement by Chee Hong Tat, the Minister of National Development, he suggests that the proliferation of foreign food businesses introduces cultural plurality into society. As Singapore evolves culturally, the pace of integration and support for diverse food businesses continues to play a role in promoting healthy cultural exchange. With coffee businesses aligning themselves with local tastes, they help boost the economy and offer enriching experiences of discovering new foods, one bite (or sip) at a time.
Aini is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English literature at Nanyang Technological University. She has experience working in youth groups, contributing to the planning and management of outreach activities.
Editorial Deadline 24/06/2025 11:59 PM (UTC +8)
