Global Energy Shock: Southeast Asia & China Effects & Countermeasures - E679

"The US was much more pressurized to end this war whilst Israel wanted to accelerate this. Iran is taking a long-term view of saying it's already very painful and they can tolerate pain much better than the US. They don't have to worry about votes. They can last as long as they can, and I think the pressure's on the other side. This conflict might last for a very long time, even if at a low intensity." - Jianggan Li

"In Vietnam right now, you can see the amount of cars and bikes on the street has reduced by at least 30 to 40% because oil and gas prices spiked by up to 50% on some days. The government and big companies are even encouraging employees to work from home. This price hike is taking a significant toll on the regular daily life of Vietnamese people, as it impacts everything from transportation to the cost of food." - Valerie Vu

"Vietnam is in a difficult geopolitical position with its 'bamboo diplomacy' strategy. We are an energy-deficient country, importing 90% of our oil from Kuwait, and our refineries are structurally dependent on that specific oil type. As manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia face rising electricity and fertilizer costs, the focus for government policy is now urgently shifting toward diversifying energy supplies and accelerating renewables like solar and wind." - Valerie Vu

Jeremy Au is joined by Valerie Vu (Vietnam expert) and Jianggan Li (China/SEA expert) for the first-ever three-person episode of BRAVE. They unpack the immediate and long-term impacts of the global energy crisis on Southeast Asia. From the streets of Vietnam, where traffic has thinned due to 50% gas price spikes, to China’s decades-long strategy of energy diversification through coal and renewables, this episode explores the second and third-order effects on logistics, food prices, and manufacturing. The trio discusses the "bamboo diplomacy" of Hanoi, Singapore’s role as a petrochemical and wealth hub, and why the US-Iran conflict could lead to a permanent shift in regional supply chains.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkA6VTDSBB0&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_7scb97PE3whKu4yJVizIOd

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QDN1QaUlpjQb8jJQFmC06