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.
August 26, 2011
Sand and Singapore
Worried about the environment, Southeast Asian countries are growing wary of exporting sand to Singapore.
August 23, 2011
The Borneo Death March
A group of British soldiers is attempting the Borneo Death March, which claimed thousands of lives in World War II.
August 22, 2011
Maritime Disaster Waiting to Happen
As sanctions bite against Iran, its national shipping line is believed to be putting unsafe ships to sea to try to beat them. Are Asian nations prepared for the costs of a disaster?
August 18, 2011
Malaysia Gets Press Club
After decades of planning, and some official resistance, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia opens.
August 17, 2011
Suu Kyi Hits the Road
Despite warnings from officials, Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi has started a tour of the country. Is she safe?
August 12, 2011
Cambodia Land Deal Condemned
The World Bank criticizes a Cambodian land deal that has displaced thousands of poor residents from around a lake.
August 09, 2011
Australia Refugee Deal on Ice
Australia’s highest court halts a government deal with Malaysia for processing asylum seekers.
August 02, 2011
Trading Malaysian Places
A controversial deal between Australia and Malaysia for dealing with asylum seekers has gone into effect.
August 01, 2011
Abu Sayyaf Strike Back
An ambush by Abu Sayyaf rebels in which at least seven Philippine soldiers were killed is a reminder the outfit isn’t finished.
July 28, 2011
Christians Under Fire in Laos
Officials in northern Laos bar Christians from meeting in private as part of a broader crackdown on the religion.
July 26, 2011
Singapore Issues Travel Warning
The arrest of 11 suspected militants is a reminder that terrorism still looms over the city state’s interests.
July 23, 2011
US Shines at ASEAN Forum
With trade dominating Southeast Asian nations’ agendas, it’s left to the US to save the organisation’s moral bacon, says Luke Hunt.