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David Hutt

David Hutt is a journalist and commentator. He is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), and a columnist at The Diplomat and Radio Free Asia.

David Hutt is a journalist and commentator. He is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), a columnist at The Diplomat and Radio Free Asia, a contributor to the Economist Intelligence Unit and DW, and an associate editor at Contemporary Southeast Asia. He also writes the Watching Europe In Southeast Asia newsletter.

David Hutt has been Southeast Asia columnist at The Diplomat since 2016, writing weekly about Southeast Asian politics. He was formerly based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He was president of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia between 2018 and 2019. He can be followed on Twitter @davidhuttjourno.

Posts by David Hutt

May 31, 2023

Cambodia’s Hun Sen is Fearful of What Will Happen after July’s General Election

By David Hutt

The Cambodian leader will not release his grip until the planned leadership transition to his son Hun Manet has been fully completed.

May 30, 2023

Hun Sen Is Keeping Kem Sokha Hostage. Will the West Respond to His Threats?

By David Hutt

The Cambodian leader is using his rival as a bargaining chip in anticipation of his clean sweep at July's national election.

May 03, 2023

Hun Sen Will Never Retire

By David Hutt

Even if Cambodia's leader steps back from his formal duties as prime minister, it is hard to see him abandoning politics altogether.

April 25, 2023

Time Is Running out for Indonesia to Turn the Tide on Myanmar

By David Hutt

If Indonesia ends up the steward of ASEAN’s failure over Myanmar, Laos – the next chair – will be the gravedigger.

April 24, 2023

Lèse-majesté Abolition Push Is Gaining Ground in Thailand

By David Hutt

In the May election, a significant number of Thais are expected to vote for a party that has spoken about the need to reform – or even abolish – the lèse-majesté law.

April 14, 2023

Defections, Rather Than Sanctions, Are What Is Needed For Myanmar

By David Hutt

The current Western approach may be pushing tycoons and senior officials into the military's arms. Better to entice them in the other direction.

April 12, 2023

Why Did Cambodia Finally Decide to Make the SEA Games Free?

By David Hutt

The timing of the decision suggests that it followed attempts by old guard politicians to squeeze as much profit out of the Games as possible.

March 31, 2023

In Cambodia, You Are Instructed To Love Your Abuser

By David Hutt

Prime Minister Hun Sen wants his people to adore him for not treating them as badly as he could have.

March 27, 2023

Who Is Vietnam’s Gorbachev?

By David Hutt

For some supporters of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the last party secretary of the Soviet Union offers a cautionary tale.

March 10, 2023

Myanmar’s NUG Rebel Government Needs Money

By David Hutt

Western financial aid to the opposition movement could help unify the anti-junta resistance, and even tip the balance in its favor.

March 03, 2023

On Myanmar, the World Needs to Save ASEAN From Itself

By David Hutt

Having failed to push forward a resolution to Myanmar's conflict, the Southeast Asian bloc needs a face-saving way of admitting defeat.

February 20, 2023

Was Hun Sen’s Closure of Voice of Democracy Premeditated?

By David Hutt

It was conspicuous that one of Cambodia's last independent outlets was closed while King Norodom Sihamoni was away.