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ASEAN Beat
‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community.’ That’s the ASEAN motto. But what’s the reality? Our bloggers based around this diverse and strategically key region give you an insider’s perspective on politics, security and society in South-east Asia.
Indonesia Ready to Temporarily Shelter Palestinians From Gaza, President Says
By Sebastian Strangio
Prabowo Subianto has embarked on a trip to five Middle Eastern countries, during which the issue of Gaza is expected to feature prominently.
Myanmar Junta’s Affirms December Election Despite Earthquake Chaos
By Sebastian Strangio
The biggest obstacle to the election will not be damage from the disaster but rather the fraught political position that prevails in much of the country.
Thai Court Denies Bail for American Academic Accused of Defaming Monarchy
By Sebastian Strangio
Paul Chambers of Naresuan University, a leading academic authority on the Thai military, has been deemed a flight risk and imprisoned pending trial.
Rainfall, Extreme Heat Complicating Myanmar Earthquake Relief Efforts
By Sebastian Strangio
Aid workers have warned that there is an increased risk of disease outbreaks at the outdoor camps housing quake survivors.
The Latest ‘State of Southeast Asia’ Survey is a Time Capsule – From Last Month
By David Hutt
Conducted around the time of President Donald Trump's inauguration, the survey has little to say about the turmoil now engulfing the globe.
Southeast Asian Governments Seek Negotiations Over Trump Tariffs
By Sebastian Strangio
Comments from President Trump and members of his inner circle have raised doubts about whether Washington is open to dialogue on the tariffs.
BIMSTEC: Missing in Action in Myanmar
By Angshuman Choudhury
The grouping has emphasized disaster response in its activities, yet its response to Myanmar’s catastrophic earthquake is sorely lacking.
Targeted Aid and Strategic Competition in Southeast Asia
By Vu Lam
As China recalibrates its aid and financing to the region, Western donors need to offer an alternative that is both credible and matches the region’s development priorities.
Trump’s Tariffs Won’t Change the Trajectory of Vietnam’s Foreign Policy
By Khang Vu
The country’s economic response to the tariffs will be guided by its multilateral and diversified foreign policy approach.
Indonesia’s Quiet Militarization Under President Prabowo Subianto
By Azifah Astrina
The revision of the TNI Law has eroded the principle of civilian supremacy. It could also undermine the cohesion of the military itself.
Prominent American Academic Accused of Defaming Thai Monarchy
By Sebastian Strangio
The Royal Thai Army has accused Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, of violating the lese-majeste law and Computer Crime Act.
Southeast Asian Governments React to Punitive Trump Tariffs
By Sebastian Strangio
Vietnam and Thailand say they are open to negotiations with Washington, but will also seek to diversify their export markets away from the U.S.
Russia’s Complicated Strategic Frontiers in Southeast Asia
By Lucas Myers and Dan White
Southeast Asia is an especially appealing strategic frontier in Moscow’s dream of a multipolar world. But the reality of Russian engagement in the region is complicated.
Myanmar Junta Announces Ceasefire to Aid Earthquake Recovery Efforts
By Sebastian Strangio
The ceasefire, which will run until April 22, follows similar announcements from major ethnic rebel groups.
Southeast Asia Slammed By President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs
By Sebastian Strangio
Nine of the region's 11 nations have been hit with reciprocal tariffs that could devastate local industries – and create a strategic opening for China.
China’s Xi to Visit Three Southeast Asian Nations This Month, Report Claims
By Sebastian Strangio
The Chinese leader will visit Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia at a time of great uncertainty about the course of U.S. policy toward the region.
In Earthquake’s Aftermath, Major Myanmar Rebel Alliance Announces ‘Humanitarian Pause’
By Sebastian Strangio
Could the devastation of the March 28 quake help catalyze a political solution to the country’s civil war?
Thai Government Probes Collapse of Bangkok Skyscraper as Rescue Efforts Continue
By Sebastian Strangio
More than 70 construction workers remain trapped beneath the rubble of the State Audit Office building, which collapsed during the March 28 earthquake.
Myanmar Earthquake Toll Rises Over 2,000 as Rescue Operations Continue
By Sebastian Strangio
The devastating March 28 earthquake was the largest to hit central Myanmar since 1839.
Does ASEAN Hold Any Cards in the Coming Tariff War?
By SUKEGAWA Seiya
China Conducts South China Sea Patrol as US Defense Chief Visits Philippines
By Sebastian Strangio
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged to bolster Manila's capacity to push back against Beijing's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Death Toll from Myanmar Earthquake Tops 1,700 as Aftershocks Hit
By Sebastian Strangio
The country's civil war has hampered relief efforts, while junta controls have made it hard to gauge the quake's impact in remote regions.
Soaring Death Toll Feared in Myanmar as Powerful Earthquakes Strike
By Luke Hunt
Buildings collapsed amid a magnitude 7.7 quake. In neighboring Thailand, Bangkok declared an “emergency zone.”
Myanmar’s Military Is Tightening Its Grip on Cyberspace
By Kenneth Leung
Tracking three major recent developments in the country’s junta-controlled digital sphere.
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