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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.
US Officials Facilitate Return of Looted Antiquities to Cambodia
By Sebastian Strangio
These are the latest artifacts to be recovered as a result of the ongoing U.S. investigations into the activities of the late British antiquities trader Douglas Latchford.
Indonesian Defense Minister Readies for Third Presidential Run
By Sebastian Strangio
More than 18 months out from the country's next presidential election, the jostling and maneuvering is kicking into high gear.
‘The Sacrifice Zone’: Myanmar Bears Cost of Green Energy
By Dake Kang, Victoria Milko, and Lori Hinnant
Just as dirty rare earths trickle down the supply chains of companies, they also slip through the cracks of regulation.
Leading Marcos Critic Arrested On Cyber-Libel Charges
By Sebastian Strangio
Walden Bello's arrest is an indication that the Philippines remains on the same downward human rights trajectory under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Majority Want Thai PM to Leave Office This Month: Poll
By Sebastian Strangio
Two-thirds of respondents agreed with the Thai opposition's argument that the leader's time as military junta chief should count toward his constitutional term limit.
Malaysia and the ‘Indo-Pacific’: Why the Hesitancy?
By Khoo Ying Hooi
The country's strategic and policymaking class has been slow to get on board the new strategic concept.
ASEAN (Minus Myanmar) Gets Its Act Together
By Luke Hunt
Myanmar's military junta was put on notice as ASEAN held its line against China and Russia.
Facebook, Instagram Purged Millions of Posts During Philippine Election
By Sebastian Strangio
The scale of Meta's content removals points to the sheer deluge of hate speech and disinformation that is flowing through the country's social media networks.
ASEAN Envoy Warns Myanmar Junta Against Further Prisoner Executions
By Sebastian Strangio
The comments came a day after an ASEAN joint communique lamented the "lack of progress" in resolving the country's political crisis.
What Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Can Learn from Fidel Ramos
By Mong Palatino
The late president's political legacy offers a blueprint for what the Marcos administration should do – and what it should avoid.
Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Creates a Headache for ASEAN Countries
By Thi Mai Anh Nguyen
Southeast Asian countries’ greatest fear is being caught in the middle of a China-U.S. conflict. The latest tensions over Taiwan bring that worryingly close to reality.
Parsing the Content of ASEAN’s Latest Joint Communique
By Sebastian Strangio
In the annual statement, the bloc's 10 member states laid out their consensus positions on the conflicts in Ukraine and Myanmar, among other issues.