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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.
Myanmar’s Total Displaced Population Tops 1 Million, Says UN
By Sebastian Strangio
According to the U.N.'s humanitarian agency, 694,000 people have been displaced by conflict since last year's coup.
English Football League to Probe Alleged Cambodian Ownership Connection
By Sebastian Strangio
A Radio Free Asia investigation into the naturalized Chinese tycoon Wang Yaohui reveals a lot about the nature of corruption in Cambodia – and at the global level.
India is the Key to Boosting Thailand’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
By Tita Sanglee
The country is already leading the recovery of the tourism industry, but there are many more areas of untapped potential.
New Delhi to Exclude Myanmar Junta From Upcoming India-ASEAN Meeting
By Sebastian Strangio
India has aligned its position with that of the Southeast Asian bloc, which has excluded the junta's representatives from high-level meetings.
What Does ASEAN Centrality Mean to China?
By Zhuoran Li
Beijing pays frequent lip service to the idea, but it also poses significant challenges to China’s Southeast Asian ambitions.
Myanmar Junta’s Reprisal Attacks Amount to War Crimes, Says Rights Group
By Sebastian Strangio
According to Amnesty International, more than 150,000 people have been displaced in Kayah and Kayin states since last year's coup.
Singapore Braces as Malaysian Chicken Export Ban Comes Into Effect
By Sebastian Strangio
Kuala Lumpur is just the latest Asian government to take steps to shore up domestic food supplies.
The US-Russia-Vietnam Triangle: Decoding Hanoi’s Strategic Balancing
By Huynh Tam Sang
Vietnam has struck a careful balance in its reaction to the Ukraine conflict. But how long can it avoid taking sides?
Can Thailand Replicate South Korean Soft Power?
By SUKEGAWA Seiya
South Korea’s soft power is permeating youth culture. Can Thailand follow its example?
The Somad Affair and Singapore’s Battle Against Religious Extremism
By Bilveer Singh
The city-state's recent deportation of Abdul Somad Batubara, a radical Indonesian Muslim preacher, demonstrates its intolerance for any kind of extremism.
Indonesian Governor in Papua Casts Doubt on Plan for New Provinces: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
The plan to break Papua and West Papua into five provinces has spurred widespread protests in the eastern region.
1B Meth Pills: East, Southeast Asia Drug Industry Hits Ominous Peak
By Grant Peck
The U.N. drug agency claims that last year's seizures of methamphetamine were seven times higher than the amount seized 10 years ago.