Chheang Vannarith
- Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
- Lecturer in Public Policy and Global Affairs at NTU Singapore
- Chairman, Advisory Council of the National Assembly of Cambodia
Analysis of Cambodian politics, ASEAN and great-power competition in Southeast Asia, drawn from more than 15 years in research, government and international development.
Affiliations and recognition
- ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
- Nanyang Technological University
- National Assembly of Cambodia
- World Economic Forum
- The Nippon Foundation
Commentary on a region in flux
Op-eds and analysis on Cambodia's politics and foreign policy, ASEAN, and the region's place between the major powers.
More commentary
- Cambodia's war on scammers needs a blueprint built to lastSouth China Morning Post, July 2026
- Hun Manet's worldview: An exploratory studySoutheast Asian Affairs, 2025
- Is the ASEAN–Japan relationship fit for the times?East Asia Forum, 2023
- Cambodia hedgesEast Asia Forum, 2022
- Cambodia prioritises economic diplomacyEast Asia Forum, 2021
- Cambodia rejects paying 'dirty debt' to the USAl Jazeera, 2017
Interviews and expert comment
A regular voice for international broadcasters and newsrooms covering Cambodia and Southeast Asia.
Can diplomacy end the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia?
Panel guest on Al Jazeera's Inside Story, 22 December 2025
Watch the episode- Voice of AmericaAnalysts concerned over chance of further sanctions after US aid cut
- Radio Free AsiaHundreds protest Cambodia PM Hun Sen in Sydney ahead of ASEAN summit
- News analysisASEAN may face bigger challenge on Myanmar under Cambodia's chair
- MongabayCambodia's Funan Techo Canal project: A catalog of worries
Writing and comment featured in
- South China Morning Post
- Al Jazeera
- East Asia Forum
- Fulcrum
- Voice of America
- Radio Free Asia
- Khmer Times
- Mongabay
Bridging research and policy in Southeast Asia
Dr Chheang Vannarith is a Cambodian public policy analyst, educator and regional affairs specialist with more than fifteen years of experience spanning government, academia, international development and policy research. His work focuses on geopolitics, geoeconomics, ASEAN, major-power relations, leadership and innovation.
He is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and teaches public policy and global affairs at Nanyang Technological University. In Cambodia, he chairs the Advisory Council of the National Assembly, is a member of the Supreme National Economic Council, and is founding chairman of the Angkor Social Innovation Park.
Earlier in his career he led the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace and the Asian Vision Institute, taught Asia-Pacific studies at the University of Leeds, and advised the Nippon Foundation, UNDP, Oxfam, UNOPS, UNCDF and the Asian Development Bank.
Selected positions
- Visiting Senior FellowISEAS – Yusof Ishak InstituteCurrent
- Lecturer, Public Policy and Global AffairsNanyang Technological UniversityCurrent
- Chairman, Advisory CouncilNational Assembly of CambodiaCurrent
- PresidentAsian Vision Institute
- Lecturer in Asia-Pacific StudiesUniversity of Leeds2013–16
- Executive DirectorCambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace2009–13
Education
- PhD, Asia Pacific StudiesRitsumeikan Asia Pacific University2009
- MA, International RelationsInternational University of Japan2006
- BA, International RelationsDiplomatic Academy of Vietnam2002
Books and selected publications
Peer-reviewed research and policy papers on Cambodia's foreign policy, China's role in mainland Southeast Asia, and regional governance.
Selected Works on Contemporary Perspective on Cambodia and the Asia-Pacific
Collected essays and analysis spanning more than a decade, 2014–2025. Volume IV published by Cam Tech University.
Tourism and Regional Integration in Southeast Asia
Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Tokyo.
- 2023Strong party-to-party relations cement Cambodia–China bilateral tiesISEAS Perspective
- 2023Cambodia–China Free Trade Agreement: A Cambodian perspectiveISEAS Perspective
- 2022Cambodia's multifaceted foreign policy and agency in the makingThe Pacific Review
- 2022International relations as a discipline in Cambodia: Still nascent but developingContemporary Southeast Asia
- 2021Are Cambodia–U.S. relations mendable?Asia Policy
- 2021Cambodia's embrace of China's Belt and Road Initiative: Managing asymmetries and maximising authorityAsian Perspective
Speaking, media and advisory
Available for conferences, policy dialogues, media interviews and a limited number of advisory engagements.
Speaking and media
Keynotes, panels and moderated dialogues across Asia, and expert comment for international media.
- Small states and great-power rivalry
- ASEAN centrality and its limits
- China, Japan and the Mekong
- Cambodia–Thailand relations
- Public policy and leadership in Asia
Advisory services
Policy, political-risk and market-entry advice for organisations working in Cambodia and ASEAN.
- Market-entry and political-risk advisory
- Geopolitical briefings for leadership teams
- Leadership development and executive workshops
Get in touch
For media requests, speaking invitations, research collaboration or advisory enquiries. Replies usually within two working days.
- Emailoffice@vannarithchheang.com
- LinkedInVannarith Chheang
- ResearchGoogle Scholar
- Based inSingapore and Cambodia
Cambodia and Thailand must define the border to achieve lasting peace
Recent armed clashes show how unresolved boundary questions can escalate quickly into costly conflict. Formal demarcation is the path to a durable settlement.
Read the op-edHow Cambodia can maintain strategic trust with China
Read the analysisCambodia's three-track strategy for peace with Thailand
Read the analysis