Officially, Brunei is known as Negara Brunei Darussalam - negara meaning country and Darussalam translating from Arabic to mean “abode of peace.” This sultanate with a rich cultural background and history, celebrates its National Day today, the 23rd of February. Brunei lies within the island of Borneo, sandwiched between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak to its east and west, respectively.

This year, Cambodia and Japan will celebrate 65 years of diplomatic ties. According to Hidehisa Horinouchi, Japanese ambassador to Cambodia, both countries will commemorate the occasion by holding a number of exchange events in Cambodia, such as an annual music festival featuring all kinds of music genres, as well as a few educational and cultural events showcasing Japanese culture in Cambodia.

China’s emergence as a global player and its generous foreign aid to Southeast Asian countries often leads to claims that its true actions are disguised and really a means to expand its power and influence throughout the region. However, Myanmar has adeptly managed its relations with the Asian powerhouse over the years and, contrary to popular opinion, is not really a Chinese satellite state.Both countries have maintained a friendly relationship in order to preserve each other’s interests.

The rivalry between China and the United States seems to be heating up – this time outside of the economic sphere. Just a couple of months after President Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he called out China on their alleged unfair trade practices, US admiral Harry Harris has come out saying that the US must prepare for the possibility of war with China.

The bedrock of Russia’s relations with Southeast Asian countries is the sale of its arms. According to a Chatham House report in 2017, Russia exports 43.1 percent of its weapons to Asia and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states are key recipients of these arms. Even for smaller countries like Myanmar, that don’t make up a large share of the Russian arms exports market, Russia is still the main supplier of weapons to the state.

In recent times, China has been strengthening its relations with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. The two parties have agreed on a series of new initiatives to grow bilateral ties and towards the later part of this year, are expected to hold their first joint naval drills.

As both Japan and China seek to exert their geopolitical ambitions on the region, competition between the two countries is heating up.Japan – along with South Korea – is a key ally of the United States (US) in the region and plays a major role in the US’ plans of minimising Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, China are working hard to realise their Belt and Road Initiative projects.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prides itself on its ability to stave off geopolitical advances by greater powers by vehemently holding on to the principle of centrality. The notion, as was once illustrated by noted Singaporean diplomat, Bilahari Kausikan, is a “fluid” concept.Kausikan makes it clear that centrality is a means for ASEAN states to better serve national interests as well as for great powers to achieve their goals and ambitions.

The eagle and the bear will never back down from one another. That has been the status quo of US-Russia relations in the postwar era.

2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Cambodia and China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Cambodia in January 2018 and oversaw the signing of 19 new deals to celebrate this milestone.