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Sebastian Strangio

Sebastian Strangio

Sebastian Strangio is Southeast Asia editor at The Diplomat. 

In 2008, he began his career as a reporter at The Phnom Penh Post in Cambodia, and has since traveled and reported extensively across the 10 nations of ASEAN. Sebastian’s writing has appeared in leading publications including Foreign Affairs, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and The New York Times, The Diplomat, and Nikkei Asian Review, among many others. He is the author of “Hun Sen’s Cambodia” (Yale, 2014), a path-breaking examination of Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge, and “In the Dragon’s Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century (Yale, 2020). 

Alongside his journalistic work, Sebastian has also consulted for a wide variety of economic risk firms and non-government organizations, and is quoted frequently in the international media on political developments in Southeast Asia. Sebastian holds a B.A. and Master’s degree in international politics from The University of Melbourne. He currently lives in Adelaide.

You can get in touch with Sebastian via Twitter, Facebook, or email.

Posts by Sebastian Strangio
November 14, 2024

Thailand Announces New Holidays in Bid to Stoke Tourism Growth

By Sebastian Strangio
The country is already on track for a full recovery from the downturn that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 14, 2024

Indonesian President Vows to Defend Sovereignty in South China Sea

By Sebastian Strangio
Prabowo Subianto's comments came four days after he signed an agreement in China that appeared to recognize Beijing's expansive maritime claim.
November 13, 2024

Former Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin Dies at Age 86

By Sebastian Strangio
The lawyer-turned-businessman was a key economic powerbroker under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

November 13, 2024

Indonesia’s Prabowo Meets With President Biden on US Trip

By Sebastian Strangio
The Indonesian leader also spoke by phone with President-elect Donald Trump, congratulating him on his recent election victory.

November 12, 2024

China Declares Baselines Around Disputed South China Sea Shoal

By Sebastian Strangio
The move was a direct response to the Philippines' enactment of two new laws aimed at strengthening the country's own maritime claims.

November 12, 2024

Did Indonesia Just Capitulate to China on the South China Sea?

By Sebastian Strangio
Over the weekend, the two nations signed a joint development agreement that refers to "overlapping claims" in the disputed waterway.
November 11, 2024

Thai Economists Warn of Political Interference in Central Bank Selection

By Sebastian Strangio
The government has nominated Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, a loyalist of the ruling Pheu Thai party, as the next chairman of the Bank of Thailand.

November 11, 2024

Philippines’ Marcos Signs Laws Aimed at Strengthening Maritime Claims

By Sebastian Strangio
The enactment of the new legislation prompted the Chinese government to lodge a “stern protest” with Manila.

November 08, 2024

Famine Imminent in Myanmar’s Rakhine State as Economy Collapses, UN Says

By Sebastian Strangio
The UNDP is warning of an "unprecedented disaster" for the people of Rakhine, as fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military drags on.

November 08, 2024

Thai PM Paetongtarn Meets Myanmar’s Junta Chief in Kunming

By Sebastian Strangio
The Pheu Thai government has pledged to play a more active role in the resolution of the conflict in Myanmar.

November 06, 2024

Growth in Southeast Asia’s Digital Economy Slows Slightly in 2024

By Sebastian Strangio
The region's online economy is beginning to show signs of maturity, as firms attempt to pivot from growth to profitability.
November 06, 2024

Myanmar Junta Chief Embarks on First China Visit Since Coup

By Sebastian Strangio
Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Kunming seems to mark a watershed in Beijing's policy toward the country's civil war.

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