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The Diplomat | Author

Luke Hunt

Luke Hunt is a Southeast Asia correspondent for The Diplomat. He has spent three decades working in the region and produces the Beyond the Mekong podcast. He can be followed on Patreon and X – formerly Twitter.

He served as bureau chief for Agence France-Presse in Cambodia and in Afghanistan under Taliban occupation – where he was commended by the United Nations for the “best and most insightful” coverage of the Afghan civil war. Hunt also covered the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism that followed, specializing in Islamic militancy.

Throughout the 2010s, Hunt focused on civil conflict and uprisings from the Middle East to East Asia and as an adjunct professor wrote the course War, Media & International Relations for Pannasastra University in Cambodia. He is the author of the “Punji Trap” and co-author of “Barings Lost” and is the recipient of several awards including the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Awards, Society of Publishers in Asia, and the World Association of Newspapers.

Follow him on X at @lukeanthonyhunt.

Posts by Luke Hunt

August 17, 2018

What’s Next for RCEP?

By Luke Hunt

Progress on the agreement continues to be slow despite the growing urgency to complete it.

July 31, 2018

Laos Dam Collapse Brings Flood of Questions

By Luke Hunt

Incident raises serious questions about the government’s approach.

July 24, 2018

What’s at Stake in Cambodia’s One-Sided Election?

By Luke Hunt

A look at what lies ahead in upcoming polls and thereafter.

July 12, 2018

China Spy Network Targets Cambodia Ahead of Elections: Report

By Luke Hunt

A new report offers further evidence of Beijing’s shenanigans.

July 10, 2018

Thailand Cave Rescue Finally Ends Soccer Team Ordeal

By Luke Hunt

Rescuers pull soccer team to safety after more than two weeks trapped underground.

July 10, 2018

Malaysia Counts the Costs of Its 1MDB Scandal

By Luke Hunt

The new government's pursuit of justice is just beginning.

June 29, 2018

Why Duterte’s ‘Stupid’ God Remark Wasn’t a Smart Idea in the Philippines

By Luke Hunt

A recent controversy shows that the president continues to needlessly alienate segments of the Philippine people.

June 22, 2018

New UN-Myanmar Agreement, Same Old Rohingya Plight

By Luke Hunt

While the new pact has been hailed by some as a step forward, it obscures the significant challenges that remain.

June 14, 2018

Marking the Trump-Kim Summit at a North Korean Restaurant in Cambodia

By Luke Hunt

On a historic night, the Pyongyang Restaurant was packed and in a celebratory mood.

June 08, 2018

What’s Next for the Alleged Australia Spy in a Cambodia Prison?

By Luke Hunt

James Ricketson, who has endured more than a year behind bars, is expected to know his fate soon.

June 06, 2018

A New Digital Iron Curtain in Cambodia?

By Luke Hunt

An ongoing media crackdown looks set to intensify even further.

May 15, 2018

What Does Malaysia’s Earthquake Election Mean for Democracy in Southeast Asia?

By Luke Hunt

The outcome was a rare positive note for the subregion where democracy has been suffering over the past few years.