Vanguard Think Tank

24/04/2026

Why does China react so differently to Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea?

This article argues that the answer lies not just in China’s strategy, but in how Vietnam and the Philippines each approach the dispute: Vietnam tends to contain tensions through restraint and quiet diplomacy, while the Philippines has taken a more public, confrontational, and internationalized approach.

Read “One Action, Two Reactions: Why Vietnam and the Philippines elicit different responses from China” by Nguyen Dieu Linh:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/one-action-two-reactions-vietnam-and-the-philippines-china

18/04/2026

🚨 WE ARE RECRUITING 🚨
Vanguard Think Tank is looking for 2 Social Media Assistants to join the team.

If you enjoy content creation, design, and social media, this is your chance to contribute to meaningful work and grow with us. You’ll help create posts, design carousels, support awareness campaigns, and be part of shaping VTT’s online presence.

🗓 Deadline: 17 May 2026
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and recruitment will close once both spots are filled.

🔗 Apply via the link in bio / forms.gle/GWrfLv92WTe8TzcN6

Come join us in shaping the conversation.

27/03/2026

Can AI get smarter without getting bigger, more expensive, and more resource intensive?
This article explains why Small Language Models may power the next wave of agentic AI, offering lower energy and water costs, faster local use, and strong performance on specialized tasks, especially when paired with larger models.

Read “From LLMs to SLMs: Are Small Language Models the Future of Agentic AI?” by Jocelyn Wang:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/the-future-of-agentic-ai

21/03/2026

Do people demand for more government action when they feel there is too little, and ask for less when they feel there is too much?
This article reviews thirty one years of research on thermostatic politics, explaining how public opinion often reacts to policy change through feedback, and what that means for democratic responsiveness.

Read “Thirty One Years of Thermostatic Politics” by Sam Webber: https://vanguardthinktank.org/thirty-one-years-of-thermostatic-politics

20/03/2026

18/03/2026

Can Taiwan turn AI into a strategic advantage without becoming a pawn in US China great power rivalry?
This article unpacks Taiwan’s AI push from ambitious innovation plans to real security and supply chain stakes, showing how Taiwan’s policy ripple across regional stability and the future shape of the US China order.

Read “Taiwan’s AI amid US China Hegemonic Stability” by Yael Pfeuty: https://vanguardthinktank.org/taiwans-ai-amid-us-china-hegemonic-stability

13/03/2026

Can Canada fast-track infrastructure without sidelining Indigenous rights and environmental safeguards?
This article examines how the Building Canada Act (Bill C-5) speeds up “nation-building” projects and why critics warn it risks weakening free, prior, and informed consent, environmental oversight, and democratic accountability in the name of economic urgency.

Read “Fast-Tracks and Trade-Offs: A Look at the Building Canada Act in the Context of Indigenous Rights and Environmental Protections” by Sabine Bos:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/fast-tracks-and-trade-offs-a-look-at-the-building-canada-act-in-the-context-of-indigenous-rights-and-environmental-protections

07/03/2026

Can elections stay “competitive” while democracy quietly erodes from within?
This article explores how Turkey’s shift since 2002 shows the logic of competitive authoritarianism: institutional capture, elite coalition realignment, media control, and civil society pressure that keep elections on the calendar while stacking the playing field. It compares Turkey’s trajectory with Hungary’s EU-constrained illiberalism and Tunisia’s more abrupt reversal to show how backsliding travels across regions through different pathways.

Read: “Competitive Authoritarianism in Practice: Democratic Backsliding in Turkey, Hungary, and Tunisia” by Alex Ouzounis here: https://vanguardthinktank.org/competitive-authoritarianism-in-practice-democratic-backsliding-in-turkey-hungary-and-tunisia

05/03/2026

In a world with thousands of nuclear weapons, can we truly say we live in an era of peace?

5 March marks the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022, the day highlights the importance of public awareness and education in advancing global disarmament. With around 13,000 nuclear weapons still in existence and emerging technologies reshaping warfare, strengthening understanding of arms control and non-proliferation remains crucial.

Global security is shaped not only by treaties and leaders, but also informed societies that understand the stakes of global security.

For official information on disarmament initiatives, follow the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)

28/02/2026

Vietnam’s next security test isn’t military, it’s food.
This article examines how Vietnam is turning food security into a pillar of national power, using state reform, climate-smart agriculture, and international cooperation to protect its role in global food supply chains. From typhoons in the Mekong Delta to bureaucratic restructuring and regional partnerships, it shows how food sovereignty has become a strategy for resilience, autonomy, and soft power.

Read more: “The Importance of Food Security and Sovereignty in Vietnam…” by Pierre Lamic here:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/the-importance-of-food-security-and-sovereignty-in-vietnam-as-a-characteristic-of-its-power-and-autonomy-the-national-action-plan-as-a-response-to-the-impacts-of-climate-change

21/02/2026

Rules don’t just constrain power, they can become power.
This piece unpacks how China “weaponizes” international rules from trade to tech to multilateral diplomacy, reshaping the post-liberal order from within institutions.

Read more about “Rule Weaponization and the Post-Liberal Order: China’s Strategic Use of International Institutions” by Christopher Jinhe Yang here:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/rule-weaponization-and-the-post-liberal-order-chinas-strategic-use-of-international-institutions

16/02/2026

What does a new year truly mean?
For many, Chinese New Year is more than a date on the calendar. It is a time to let go of the old, welcome new beginnings, and reunite with the people who matter most. From ancient legends to meaningful traditions, this festival connects generations across the world. 🧧✨

We wish you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!