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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.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Hails South China Sea Ruling on 6th Anniversary
By Sebastian Strangio
Enrique Manalo described the 2016 award as the precondition of "stability, peace, and progress" in the disputed waterway.
Hun Sen Plods Along With Cambodia’s Leadership Succession
By David Hutt
It is unclear when Hun Sen will give up the prime ministership, but the country's long-planned transition is in many ways already in progress.
ASEAN Should Harden Its Stance on Myanmar Junta, Blinken Says
By Sebastian Strangio
But the Southeast Asian bloc is unlikely to take the punitive line favored by the U.S. and its Western partners.
Southeast Asian Governments React to the Assassination of Abe Shinzo
By Sebastian Strangio
The former Japanese leader has been remembered for spearheading a redoubling of Tokyo's engagement with the nations of the region.
ASEAN Envoy Hails ‘Some Progress’ on Second Myanmar Mission
By Sebastian Strangio
But a briefing for diplomats and the press revealed just how far Myanmar's junta is from implementing ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus peace plan.
Foreign Casinos Have Been a Disaster for Cambodia
By Meghan Murphy
Beyond the government's crack down on striking workers from the NagaWorld casino complex, Chinese-run gambling operations have brought a host of social ills.
Chinese Foreign Minister Courts Philippines’ President Marcos
By Sebastian Strangio
Foreign Minister Wang Yi was all smiles during his stop in Manila, but China-Philippine relations are likely to remain freighted with challenges.
Decapitation Video Points to Increasing Military Atrocities in Myanmar
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The grisly video may have been purposefully leaked in order to terrorize civilians and deter them from supporting anti-regime resistance forces.
Inflation in Laos Reaches 22-Year High as Economic Crisis Worsens
By Sebastian Strangio
Ordinary people are struggling to keep pace with precipitous increases in the price of petrol, cooking oil, and other basic necessities.
‘Forward Singapore’ Offers a Timely Opportunity for Difficult Conversations
By Malminderjit Singh
The government-led initiative should spearhead an effort to review and renegotiate the city-state’s social compact.
Campaigners Urge Clemency Ahead of Singapore Drug Executions
By Sebastian Strangio
Kalwant Singh and Norasharee bin Gous are scheduled to be executed tomorrow, part of a "new wave” of hangings in the city-state.
Russian Foreign Minister to Visit Vietnam Ahead of G-20
By Sebastian Strangio
Sergei Lavrov's visit to Hanoi is likely to court tensions with the Western nations most opposed to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.