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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.
Xi Jinping Declares China’s ‘New Era’ With Cambodia
By Luke Hunt
From crime to canals, more than 30 agreements were signed during Xi's two days in Cambodia.
2 Rohingya Refugees Die in Indonesia Amid Global Funding Crunch
By Abdu Rahman
The deaths of two men in their 20s highlight the deepening crisis facing Rohingya refugees in Indonesia: inadequate housing, little or no access to healthcare, and a dearth of humanitarian assistance.
Cambodia’s Haunted Present: 50 years After Khmer Rouge’s Rise, Its Murderous Legacy Looms Large
By Sophal Ear
The regime may be long gone, but its legacy lives on in the institutions, behaviors, and fears that continue to shape Cambodia today.
In Malaysia, China’s Xi Jinping Again Strikes Cooperative Note
By Sebastian Strangio
As in Vietnam, the Chinese leader has sought to depict himself as a champion of economic openness and cooperation.
‘Comrades and Brothers’: Is China Pulling Vietnam Back Into Its Orbit?
By Nguyen Hong Thach
Despite welcoming China's Xi Jinping with unprecedented pomp, Hanoi will avoid overdependence on any single great power.
Singapore Announces General Election to Take Place on May 3
By Sebastian Strangio
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that Singaporeans need to decide who they want to lead them into a world that “is becoming more uncertain, unsettled and even unstable.”
MH370: The Devil Is in the Data
By Aisyah Llewellyn
Could data gathered by amateur radio operators finally unlock the truth about the doomed Malaysia Airlines flight?
Malaysian PM Anwar to Meet Myanmar Junta Chief in Thailand
By Sebastian Strangio
The Malaysian leader says that he will push for an extension of the junta's ceasefire in order to facilitate earthquake recovery efforts.
‘No Winners’ From Trade War, Xi Jinping Says During Vietnam Visit
By Sebastian Strangio
Amid the Trump administration's tariff threats, Hanoi treated the Chinese leader to an unusually warm welcome.
Trump’s Tariff Threat and Thailand’s Response: A Missing Piece on Defense?
By Tita Sanglee
Purchasing more U.S. arms would be an obvious way of reducing the trade surplus with the U.S., but Thai leaders may not be ready for uncomfortable discussions over Thailand's alignment.
A Green Light for US Earthquake Relief in Myanmar
By Sribala Subramanian
The U.S. government increases disaster aid but cancels a "diversity" scholarship.
Does Transnational Repression Explain the Poor Turnout at Cambodian Grenade Attack Trial in Paris?
By David Whitehouse
Very few French-Cambodians attended last month's trial of two bodyguards of ex-PM Hun Sen. It's probably no coincidence.
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