The Diplomat  |  Author

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
Page 2 of 169
February 19, 2025

Philippines Accuses Chinese Navy of ‘Aggressive’ Actions Over Disputed Shoal

By Sebastian Strangio
Tensions over Scarborough Shoal have increased markedly since the middle of last year, when Beijing and Manila reached an "understanding" over another disputed shoal.
February 18, 2025

Philippine Police General Files Complaint Against Ex-President for Threatening ‘Joke’

By Sebastian Strangio
At a political rally last week, Rodrigo Duterte joked about killing 15 senators with a bomb in order to free up positions for his own party's candidates.

February 18, 2025

Singaporean Court Convicts Opposition Leader of Lying to Parliamentary Committee

By Sebastian Strangio
The verdict against Pritam Singh, the leader of the Workers' Party, could taint the party's image ahead of the upcoming general election.

February 17, 2025

Argentinian Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Myanmar Officials Over Rohingya Atrocities

By Sebastian Strangio
Included among the 25 names was junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he overthrew in a coup in 2021.

February 17, 2025

Thai Court Opens Hearing Into Petition to Free Detained Uyghurs

By Sebastian Strangio
The petition concerns the fate of 43 Uyghur Muslims from China's Xinjiang region, who have languished in an immigration prison since 2014.
February 14, 2025

Malaysia Will Amend Law on Public Protests, Prime Minister Says

By Sebastian Strangio
Anwar Ibrahim also said that ongoing investigations against protest organizers would be dropped and that “no further action will be taken.”

February 14, 2025

Thai Army Repatriates Around 260 Scam Victims From Eastern Myanmar

By Sebastian Strangio
Bangkok has taken a number of recent measures to clamp down on the cyberfraud operations in the border region.
February 13, 2025

Philippines Seeks to Fulfill Submarine ‘Dream’ as Part of Modernization Plan

By Sebastian Strangio
Manila has allocated nearly $2 billion for the acquisition of a submarine fleet to help defend its dispersed island geography.

February 13, 2025

Apple Considering iPhone Manufacturing Facilities in Indonesia: Report

By Sebastian Strangio
The move could be part of the U.S. tech giant's strategy to lift a government-imposed sales ban on its latest model.

February 12, 2025

Thailand Promises Further Measures Against Scam Operations in Myanmar

By Sebastian Strangio
Thai authorities say they are requesting arrest warrants for three leaders of an ethnic Karen militia believed to be harboring online scam syndicates.

February 12, 2025

Thai PM Calls For Study Into Effects of Trump Trade Policy

By Sebastian Strangio
Among ASEAN nations, Thailand and Vietnam have the two largest trade deficits with the United States. Both are readying for possible retaliatory actions.
February 11, 2025

Campaigning Begins in Philippine Mid-term Election Amid Vice-Presidential Impeachment Drama

By Sebastian Strangio
Last week's impeachment of Sara Duterte has added an extra weight of political significance to the 12 Senate seats up for election.

Page 2 of 169