Southeast Asia Research Articles

Peronema canescens as a Source of Immunomodulatory Agents: A New Opportunity and Perspective.

Immunomodulators are pivotal in managing various health conditions by regulating the immune response by either enhancing or suppressing it to maintain homeostasis. The growing interest in natural sources of immunomodulatory agents has spurred the investigation of numerous medicinal plants, including Peronema canescens, commonly known in Asia as sungkai. Traditionally used for its medicinal properties in Southeast Asia, Peronema canescens belongs to the Verbenaceae family and has garnered significant attention. This review discusses the immunomodulatory activity of the active compounds in Peronema canescens and explores the potential directions for future research.

Transformation of dry dipterocarp to dry evergreen forests alters food webs of web-building spiders and their prey

AbstractAnthropogenic habitat modification is a major contributor to global change. While the modification of natural habitats to agroecosystems attracts most of the attention, little is known about the conversion of one natural ecosystem to another. Dry dipterocarp forest is the key dry forest type across Southeast Asia. Moderate fire disturbance is essential for its regeneration, but humans often prevent fire in these forests. Consequently, dry dipterocarps can change to dry evergreen forests through succession. The consequences of this conversion on food webs are unknown. Using the network approach, we compared the food webs of web-building spiders and their prey in the understory between dry dipterocarp (open canopy, uniform understory) and dry evergreen forests (closed canopy, heterogeneous understory) in north-eastern Thailand. Overall, we collected 560 individual web-building spiders belonging to 37 genera. Further, we collected 1139 prey items from spider webs belonging to 16 arthropod orders. The composition of captured prey and the network structure differed between the forest types. Specifically, the web-building spiders were more specialized and their niches overlapped less in dry dipterocarps than in dry evergreens. The differences in food-web structure were driven mostly by trophic groups turnover rather than interaction rewiring. Implications for insect conservation: The transformation of dry dipterocarp to dry evergreen forests from the prevention of fire disturbance may lead to an altered ecological function of web-building spiders in forest understories. As trophic links and their strength are rewired, habitat modification may also lead to changes in nutrient and energy flow in forest understories.

MaxEnt Modeling for Predicting the Potential Geographical Distribution of Hydrocera triflora since the Last Interglacial and under Future Climate Scenarios.

Hydrocera triflora is a perennial herb found in southeastern and southern Asia. In China, it is only found in Hainan Province. With global climate change, studying the impact of climate change on the distribution of H. triflora can provide a theoretical basis for the scientific protection of this species. In this study, the MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential distribution area of H. triflora in China under historical, current, and future periods based on 66 distribution points and 12 environmental variables. The results were as follows: (i) The main environmental variables affecting the distribution of H. triflora were precipitation in the coldest month and in the wettest quarter, with elevation also being a significant factor. (ii) Over the past three periods, the last interglacial, last glacial maximum, and mid-Holocene, the suitable area for H. triflora initially decreased and then increased. The suitable area reached the lowest value in the last glacial maximum period, at only 27.03 × 104 km2. (iii) The current potential distribution area is 67.81 × 104 km2, and the optimal area is mainly distributed in the Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces. (iv) Under future climate scenarios, the potential distribution area of H. triflora is projected to increase by 11.27~90.83 × 104 km2. It is expected to reach a maximum value (158.64 × 104 km2) in 2081~2100 under the SSP-585 climate scenario, with the distribution centroid shifting to higher latitudes. The newly gained optimal habitats will provide potential areas for introduction and ex situ conservation of this species.

Apocalypse Now Final Cut: The French Plantation Is Back. Vive le Cinéma!

The paper analyzes the recovery of the French Plantation sequence in the films Apocalypse Now, Final Cut, and Coppola, recovering the movie’s entire narrative and aesthetic capacity. We demonstrate how Coppola, obeying distribution norms and standard marketing devices, suppresses the sequence, producing a film like all the others. Coppola recovered the narrative of the French Plantation in dialogue with Schoendoerffer’s nostalgic cinema, masterfully adapting Conrad’s work, Heart of Darkness. The description of the French and American wars in the paper provides the background, allowing us to understand why there is a French plantation in Vietnam and why the United States entered the conflict in Southeast Asia. The recovery of the sequence describes French colonization in the era of imperialism, producing commodities such as rubber in plantations—places where the planters put down their roots—the plantation becomes property, existential justification, homeland, and source of memory. Defeated in Dien Bien Phu, the French do not abandon Vietnam and their memories, transforming them into nostalgic ghosts shrouded in the mists of history. The French Plantation restored in Apocalypse Now, Final Cut, gives the film the status of a work of art, ceasing to be a confusing work about an absurd and unfortunate war.

Abstract B177: Association between ethnicity and ovarian cancer tumor characteristics in Asian Americans in California

Abstract Background: Ovarian cancer is often associated with poor survival given that most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment is less effective. The disease is also very heterogeneous, consisting of various histologic subtypes that each have distinct epidemiologic and pathologic profiles. Given that some studies have noted ethnic-specific disparities in ovarian cancer survival when the Asian American population is disaggregated and certain tumor characteristics are associated with more favorable outcomes, we examined the relationship between Asian ethnic subgroup and ovarian cancer disease presentation. Methods: We included a total of 31,230 non-Hispanic White and Asian/Pacific Islander ovarian cancer cases diagnosed between 1996 and 2020 from the California Cancer Registry. Multivariable logistic regression with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to examine the likelihood of being diagnosed with tumors of a certain stage, grade, and histologic subtype, for each Asian ethnic subgroup compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Demographic and socioeconomic factors were considered in the analyses. Results: Most, but not all, Asian ethnic subgroups were less likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer and more likely to be diagnosed with clear cell ovarian cancer compared to non-Hispanic Whites. For South East Asians, the odds of having advanced stage tumors were 43% lower than non-Hispanic Whites (OR=0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.79) and the odds of having clear cell tumors were almost 200% higher than non-Hispanic Whites (OR=2.97, 95% CI 1.92-4.61); only South Asians did not show lower odds of an advanced stage tumor diagnosis (OR=1.06, 95% CI 0.86-1.29) and higher odds of a clear cell tumor diagnosis (OR=0.93, 95% CI 0.63-1.37). Conclusion: There are clear differences in ovarian cancer disease presentation when each Asian ethnic subgroup is examined separately with South Asians constituting the only subgroup who did not show a lower likelihood of an advanced stage diagnosis and a higher likelihood of a clear cell diagnosis when compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Given that tumor stage and histologic subtype are considered important prognostic factors for ovarian cancer, identifying the underlying factors that may contribute to being diagnosed with certain tumor characteristics could provide clues to help us improve the survival of this highly fatal malignancy. Citation Format: Alice W. Lee, Jenny Chang, Sannia Siddiqui, Argyrios Ziogas, Robert E. Bristow. Association between ethnicity and ovarian cancer tumor characteristics in Asian Americans in California [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B177.

This Study Examines the Impact of Campaign Finance Restrictions on Electoral Transparency and Integrity in ASEAN Countries

The transparency and integrity of electoral processes are of paramount importance for the health of a democracy. They prevent corruption and ensure fairness. Many ASEAN countries have implemented strict campaign finance regulations with the aim of enhancing transparency and reducing financial influence in politics. However, the effectiveness of these policies depends on the existence of appropriate oversight mechanisms and the specific characteristics of the local political context. This research examines the impact of campaign finance restrictions on electoral transparency in ASEAN, identifies challenges, and highlights effective practices. It also offers recommendations for policy improvements. This research employs a comparative methodology and thematic analysis to examine the similarities and differences in campaign finance restrictions across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It utilises data from documents to identify policy patterns and impacts. This research examines the impact of campaign finance restrictions in ASEAN, offering new insights and data on the influence of such regulations on electoral outcomes. It also provides recommendations for enhancing transparency and integrity in elections. This article examines the efficacy of campaign finance restrictions in enhancing electoral transparency and integrity in Indonesia. The findings indicate that, despite the restrictions' objective of curbing undue influence in the electoral process, their implementation continues to encounter substantial obstacles, including inadequate oversight and a dearth of information disclosure. The research underscores the necessity for regulatory reform and the fortification of oversight mechanisms as pivotal strategies to attain elections that are more equitable and transparent.

Abstract C040: Racial and ethnic differences in breast cancer prognosis and survival in a multiethnic cohort of Asian American breast cancer patients compared with non-Latina White patients at Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Abstract Background: In the U.S., breast cancer (BC) survival differs significantly by race and ethnicity, with Asian American (AA) patients consistently showing more favorable survival relative to other racial and ethnic groups. Factors contributing to the survival advantage of AA females, a heterogeneous population, are unknown. Methods: We included 5,294 AA female patients diagnosed with incident AJCC stage I-IV BC from 2000-2015 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and a random sample of 5,294 non-Latina White (NLW) patients. Follow-up was through 12/31/2020 for recurrence, second primary cancer, BC death, and all-cause death. Survival analysis was conducted using multivariable, cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The AA cohort consisted of 41% Filipina, 27% Chinese, 9% Japanese, 9% South Asian, 7% Other Asian, 3% Korean, and 5% Southeast Asian females. AA and NLW females had similar stage (12% III/IV) and ER/PR status (15-18% ER-/PR-), yet more AA females were diagnosed with HER2+ or borderline disease (19% vs. 14%). More AA females had chemotherapy (48% vs. 39%) and mastectomy (47% vs. 36%) with less radiation therapy (38% vs. 46%) than NLW females. Receipt of endocrine therapy was similar between AA and NLW females (72-73%). Compared with NLW females, AA females were younger (mean=56.9 vs. 63.2 years), lived in higher SES neighborhoods (census tract-level education and income), had no comorbidities (45% vs. 36%), lower BMI (mean=25.5 vs. 28.6 kg/m2), and were never smokers (77% vs. 50%) at diagnosis. Fewer AA vs. NLW females met national guidelines of 150 minutes/week of moderate-vigorous exercise (27% vs. 33%). In multivariable Cox models adjusted for diagnosis year, diagnosis age, stage, ER/PR and HER2 status, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, endocrine therapy, and surgery type, AA females had 20% lower risk of BC death and all-cause death compared with NLW females. Similar lower risks were seen across AA ethnicities. Specifically, Japanese and Chinese females had lower risks of BC death (hazard ratio, HR=0.66; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.47-0.93 and HR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.63-0.97) and all-cause death (HR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.53-0.84 and HR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.67-0.92). South Asian females also had lower risk of all-cause death (HR=0.71; 95% CI: 0.53-0.96). AA females had 17% lower risk of second primary cancer compared with NLW females, specifically for Japanese, South Asian, and Other Asian females (HR range: 0.60-0.66). No difference in risk of recurrence was observed for AA vs. NLW females (HR=1.08; 95% CI: 0.90-1.29), including by Asian ethnicities. Conclusions: In this large, multiethnic cohort in an integrated health care system, clear differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors exist between AA and NLW BC patients. After accounting for these factors, AA females had a survival advantage over NLW females, mostly in Japanese, South Asian, and Chinese females. These findings identify contributors to outcomes that may be specific to Asian ethnicities and can inform improving survival in all BC patients. Citation Format: Marilyn , Lia D'Addario, Janise Roh, Isaac Ergas, Catherine Lee, Salma Shariff-Marco, Iona Cheng, Valerie McGuire, Julie Von Behren, Katherine Lin, Esperanza Castillo, Mi-Ok Kim, Esther John, Anna Wu, Lenora Woo, Allison Kurian, Angela Omilian, Christine Ambrosone, Song Yao, Scarlett Gomez, Lawrence Kushi. Racial and ethnic differences in breast cancer prognosis and survival in a multiethnic cohort of Asian American breast cancer patients compared with non-Latina White patients at Kaiser Permanente Northern California [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C040.

Technological hedging and differentiated responses of Southeast Asian countries to U.S.–China technological competition: a case study on artificial intelligence (AI)

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI), represented by ChatGPT, has triggered a new wave of technological competition between nations. Major powers like China and the United States, backed by abundant resources, dominate the discourse and hold a significant advantage in the AI field. However, as the technological rivalry between these two countries intensifies, AI represents a classic ‘double-edged sword’ for many small and medium-sized countries. Therefore, the core argument of this paper is that the AI policies of small and medium-sized countries are not simply about bandwagoning or depending on major powers. At their core, these policies represent a complex form of technological hedging. External security concerns drive small and medium-sized countries to adopt hedging as a primary strategy, while internal interest preferences influence the varying intensities of this technological hedging. The findings of this paper indicate that small countries’ technological policies can be categorized into three models: strong hedging, medium hedging, and weak hedging. Different paths of technological hedging reflect the rational balance these nations make between security and economic interests in different contexts. The case of AI development in ASEAN also demonstrates the significant imbalance between member states. Singapore is classified as a technological frontrunner, while Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam are categorized as followers. Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines are considered latecomers in the field of AI. In terms of specific AI policies, Singapore and Vietnam adopt a strong technological hedging strategy, seeking more cooperation and interaction with the U.S. or other countries due to caution and concerns about China’s technological security. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines follow a medium hedging strategy, while Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei adopt a weak hedging approach. The differences in hedging intensity are primarily due to varying internal legitimacy pathways and the strength of backup resources. ASEAN member states pursue different technological paths based on their own circumstances to promote AI development.

Organisational models for managing Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs) in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) nations: protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionThe current literature suggests that the frequency and complexity of public health emergencies are rising and this trend will likely continue. From 2000 to 2023, seven events have been declared...

The call for hybrid work arrangement post-pandemic

COVID-19 has led to abrupt changes in work norms and practices. Despite receding pandemic restrictions, the popularity of remote or hybrid work has not subsided. As employees around the world continue to call for more flexibility and autonomy in the way they work, human resource leaders must continuously consider and evaluate decisions based on ever-changing sentiment, balancing the interests of employees and employers alike. In this perspective article, we review the current state of work in the Southeast Asian region, focusing on Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and present preliminary results from a region-wide mental health assessment that was conducted in late 2022. We argue for the continuation of hybrid work in the region and elaborate on the mental health risks that come with remote working.

Impact of graded doses of enrofloxacin on the safety and biological responses of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

The cultivation of tilapias, the third most farmed fish group globally, has been rapidly growing, especially in Southeast Asia. This surge in tilapia farming intensification has led to increased use of antibiotics to control bacterial diseases. This study investigated the safety implications of administering graded doses of enrofloxacin (ENF) at 0 (control), 10, 30, 50 and 100 mg/kg biomass/day orally to Oreochromis niloticus. The 43-day study comprised 7 days of pre-dosing, 15 days of ENF-dosing, and a 21-day recovery period with a periodical assessment of the biological responses of fish. The results revealed that the overdosed groups experienced up to 21% reduction in feed consumption, 11% mortalities, and adverse impacts on hematology, including a decrease in erythrocytes, and monocytes and an increase in leukocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. Haematological indices like mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin decreased, while mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration increased. The plasma biochemical parameters including glucose and liver and kidney enzymes unveiled a significant dose- and time-dependent increase, while calcium and chloride levels decreased. Erythrocytes displayed several erythrocyte cellular and nuclear abnormalities. The frequency of micronucleus increased with dose and time, suggesting potential genotoxicity of ENF. Additionally, a dose-dependent increase in residues in the tissues with the highest accumulation in muscle was documented. Nevertheless, the recovery of the measured parameters upon dose termination indicated that the ENF-induced alterations are reversible. The study affirmed the safety of ENF at the recommended dose (10 mg) in O. niloticus and their adoptive responses to higher doses.

Coulomb Stress Changes in the 2004 Aceh Earthquake on the Mount Sibualbuali and Mount Lubukraya

The great Aceh earthquake on December 26, 2004, had a magnitude of 9.2 Mw for 10 minutes with coordinates 3,316°N 95,854°E. had a tremendous impact on changes in geological conditions and disasters in Aceh and Asia, especially Southeast Asia and South Asia. Changes in geological conditions have resulted in Aceh and its surroundings becoming more prone to earthquakes, including volcanoes in North Sumatra. This research aims to determine the value of changes in coulomb stress that occur on Mount Sibualbuali and Lubukraya. This research uses the coulomb stress method presented in Coulomb 3.4 software. This research produces positive coulomb stress changes in 2021 which are marked by the red lobe, namely 0.197 bar on Mount Sibualbuali and 0.187 bar on Lubukraya. The highest increase in chwerees in coulomb stress was in 2015, namely 0.319 bar in Sibualbuali and 0.262 bar in Lubukraya. This research also resulted in the highest coulomb stress changes at a depth of 90-100 km so that it does not affect the volcanic activity of the two mountains.

Biodiversity impacts of recent land-use change driven by increases in agri-food imports

AbstractLand-use change such as the conversion of natural habitat to agricultural land has been a major driver of global biodiversity loss, prompting efforts at biodiversity restoration. However, restoration measures in certain areas can shift the detrimental biodiversity impacts elsewhere through the outsourcing of agri-food supply chains to biodiverse regions. This study examines the link between biodiversity impacts from land-use change and shifts in global supply chains from 1995 to 2022 by introducing a marginal allocation into multiregional input–output analysis. Almost 80% of recent global land-use change impacts were associated with increased agri-food exports from Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia + Pacific (excluding China). Conversely, increased imports to China, the United States, Europe and the Middle East accounted for almost 60% of recent global land-use change impacts from a consumption perspective, despite decreasing domestic impacts through restoration. Decreasing biodiversity impacts in temperate and arid regions have been partially achieved by outsourcing agri-food supply to tropical biodiversity hotspots. This results in a cumulated global extinction rate (1.4% global potential species loss since 1995), exceeding the planetary boundary by about fifty times, thus highlighting the need for policies incentivizing habitat protection in tropical regions and sustainable sourcing in agri-food supply chains.

Fintech development influences on corporate ESG performance: evidences from Southeast Asia

Fintech development influences on corporate ESG performance: evidences from Southeast Asia

Building Integrity, Protecting The Environment: The Influence Of Anti Corruption Commitment On Corporate Environmental Management Performance In Southeast Asia

Building Integrity, Protecting The Environment: The Influence Of Anti Corruption Commitment On Corporate Environmental Management Performance In Southeast Asia

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia: The Role of Geographical Indications

The Southeast Asian economies have been highly proactive in developing Geographical Indicators (GIs) within their jurisdictions. For instance, Thailand developed its “One Tambon One Product” (OTOP) project to support community co-operatives in tambons (sub-districts) and villages throughout Thailand. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. This followed Japan's One Village One Product (OVOP) program. This was followed by its “One Province, One GI” to encourage each of its 76 provinces and Bangkok to develop at least one GI product. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. Subsequently, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) established its One District One Product (ODOP) program. In addition, local communities throughout most of the eleven Southeast Asian Nations, often with the support of external development agencies, have protected their products using GIs or Trademark legislation. The number of domestic GIs registered within the eleven Southeast Asian nations as of April 2024 was Cambodia with seven, Indonesia with 127, Lao PDR with six, Malaysia with 79, Thailand with 194, and Vietnam with 94. These cover both agricultural and non-agricultural products, with the majority in each jurisdiction being the agricultural sector. This paper outlines the legislative framework of GI protection of products from the above jurisdictions and how the legislation has provided a framework for local entrepreneurs and communities to develop and protect local products, thus improving the quality of life of those local communities, whether as producers or providers of labour. Cambodia and Lao PDR have also followed a different path to registering GIs as they are parties to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Geneva Act, which provides a one-stop shop for registering GIs. Products protected by the relevant legislation include agricultural products, products derived from agricultural products, cooked food, handicrafts, and woven cloth, including associated designs and pottery methods and designs. Three examples are provided in detail: Kampot Pepper – Producers return to ancestral lands after 40 years of civil war and unrest; Bolaven Coffee – International development agencies support small landholders to form a co-operative to support the development of their community; and Mak Mao Berry Juice – One man’s 30-year passion to commercialise a local product.

The role of legal system in SME bank credit in ASEAN

This study aims to investigate the role of legal system in the access to bank credit of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and explores the measures to improve legal system among the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). By applying the ordinary least squares (OLS) method, the study examines the bank credit accessibility of over 12,000 firms across eight ASEAN countries, using the data collected from the World Bank’s Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS), in relation to each country's contract enforcement indicators. The estimated results reveal a significant positive relationship between contract enforcement and SMEs’ access to bank credit. Furthermore, the results show that long time consumption and large costs for contract enforcement reduces financing opportunities of SMEs. Additionally, the study finds that a country’s legal tradition does not impact the effectiveness of its contract enforcement. Implementing electronic filing systems and limiting times and costs for legal processes can enhance contract enforcement. Consequently, strong contract enforcement appears to encourage banks to increase SME lending, leading to higher SME bank credit in countries with efficient contract enforcement mechanisms. Enhancing contract enforcement can increase SME financing and consequently, will improve a country’s financial intermediation. These findings underscore the importance of contract enforcement including its duration and cost, in the context of SME financing and suggest ways to improve a country’s legal system to foster SME access to bank credit.

Cardiac surgery in archipelagic Southeast Asia: Bridging the gap.

Cardiac surgery in archipelagic Southeast Asia: Bridging the gap.

The influence of perceived classroom environment on the learning effectiveness of the association of southeast Asian international students studying in China: The mediating role of learning engagement

This study aims to analyze and comprehend the influence of the classroom environment on the learning effectiveness of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) students in China especially the significance of learning engagement. Confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used in this study. 503 useful questionnaires were analyzed through SPSS 22 and AMOS. Both classroom environment cognition and learning engagement could improve ASEAN students' learning effectiveness and learning engagement played a certain mediating effect. The classroom environment and learning engagement are the two primary factors that need to be taken into consideration if ASEAN students in China are to increase their learning efficacy. The more welcoming the classroom environment, the more they can concentrate on participating in various learning activities and the better their learning effectiveness will be. The research object is the ASEAN students in Guangxi Province using the quantitative analysis method of a questionnaire survey. Such as interview methods and other means to further grasp the classroom environment, learning engagement and learning effectiveness of each ASEAN student in China. No studies were conducted on students from ASEAN in other provinces. The cognitive classroom environment can fully affect the learning effectiveness of students from ASEAN countries in China which brings certain theoretical conditions for improving the teaching quality of global students. This study finds out the relationship between classroom environment, learning effectiveness and learning engagement and understands that learning engagement can show a mediating effect which provides certain support for the subsequent in-depth analysis.

Restitution and repatriation as an opportunity, not a loss: some reflections on recent Southeast Asian cases

Calls for the restitution and repatriation of cultural objects continue to escalate. High-profile cases such as the Parthenon Frieze and the Benin Bronzes dominate international news cycles and provoke fierce debate; however, less attention has been paid to items that are quietly returned and to the potential positive outcomes for the institutions on both sides. This article discusses three Southeast Asian case studies to address this lacuna and urges institutions to become more proactive in their engagement with restitution and repatriation claims.