Ep 73 - Geopolitical Risk: Thailand Tensions, Sanctions & Smart Compliance in a Shifting Asia

Regulatory Ramblings

Regulatory Ramblings
Ep 73 - Geopolitical Risk: Thailand Tensions, Sanctions & Smart Compliance in a Shifting Asia
Jul 09, 2025 Season 1 Episode 73
Reg/Tech Lab - HKU-SCF FinTech Academy - Asia Global Institute - HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech

Episode #73 with Christopher Cottrell, Richard Butler and Haider Mannan 🎧 

This episode of Regulatory Ramblings explores how shifting geopolitics is reshaping regulation, investment, and compliance across Asia.

In the first segment, veteran Indo-Pacific journalist Christopher Cottrell joins us from Thailand to discuss rising political tensions following the July 1 suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Cottrell reflects on the country’s fragile democratic institutions, the stalled gaming bill, and the implications of border instability with Cambodia. Despite risks, Thailand continues to attract investors, with Cottrell noting that local legal knowledge remains essential to navigating uncertainty.

In the second half, Richard Butler (Dow Jones) and Haider Mannan (BigTXN) join to discuss compliance and enforcement risks in the current geopolitical climate. Topics include:

  • Investment screening in high-risk jurisdictions
  • The return of “firm but fair” FCPA enforcement under the Trump administration
  • The challenge of selective enforcement and its implications for Asia
  • A recent case involving U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese firms transferring Iranian oil
  • Evolving technologies in vessel tracking and trade surveillance
  • The growing role of data science in sanctions compliance and risk detection

Butler and Mannan offer practical insights into how financial institutions are managing these risks. Mannan emphasizes that compliance failures often stem from process gaps, not policy flaws — and argues for continuous, data-driven controls. Butler adds that banks and corporates across Asia are increasingly investing in technology to ensure compliance amid volatility.

The episode closes on a note of cautious optimism. While global enforcement trends and geopolitical tensions present new challenges, they also create opportunities for innovation in compliance strategy.

Guests
Christopher Cottrell, Journalist and Analyst, Indo-Pacific
Richard Butler, Vice President & APAC Head of Risk & Research, Dow Jones
Haider Mannan, CEO & Founder, BigTXN

The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. 

For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rr


HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode Artwork Ep 73 - Geopolitical Risk: Thailand Tensions, Sanctions & Smart Compliance in a Shifting Asia 58:07 Episode Artwork Ep 72 - Cultural Roots, Belonging, and the Fear of Change: What’s Next for Inclusion? 1:02:11 Episode Artwork Ep 71 - Sanctions, Fragmented Global Trade, Crypto Fault Lines, and the Fight for Regulatory Clarity 1:05:28 Episode Artwork Ep 70 - Security, Strategy, and Compliance: A View from Two Veterans 1:08:03 Episode Artwork Ep 69 - Human Intelligence vs. Machine Judgment 59:42 Episode Artwork Ep 68 - Why Geopolitical Risk Matters to Compliance and Legal Staff 1:07:06 Episode Artwork Ep 67 - Selective Enforcement & Global Risk: A Tectonic Shift in AML 1:04:32 Episode Artwork Ep 66 - The U.S. Strategic Reserve and the Emerging Multipolar Crypto World 51:51 Episode Artwork Ep 65 - Trump’s Anti-Corruption Rollback: Executive Order Sparks Global Concerns 58:44 Episode Artwork Ep 64 - Building Inclusion Through Sustainable Leadership + The EU Omnibus Proposal 1:00:11 Episode Artwork Ep 63: Compliance in 2025 From Hiring Trends to Leadership Insights in APAC 58:16 Episode Artwork Ep 62: OSINT - A Key Tool for Finance and Compliance and China's Green BRI 59:24 Episode Artwork Ep 61 - Hong Kong's Stablecoin Bill and Trump's Impact on US Law's Reach in Asia 56:21 Episode Artwork The Disparate Fight Against Modern Slavery and Scam Farms 1:21:00 Episode Artwork The Evolution of Fintech: Asia, the US and the Implications for Inclusion 1:21:22 Episode Artwork The AI-fication of Jobs 1:06:37 Episode Artwork A Path to Financial Inclusion Through Technology 1:16:08 Episode Artwork The Intersection of Financial Crime and Cryptocurrencies 1:13:45 Episode Artwork Reflections from a former Singapore regulator on virtual assets 1:53:43 Episode Artwork From a Secret Service Agent to a Global Financial Crime Fighter 1:31:36