Blog
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.
Is Or Vandine Cambodia’s Future?
By David Hutt
The U.S.-educated Health Ministry official has shot to prominence as the public face of Cambodia's COVID-19 response.
Thailand Drops Cannabis From Its List of Controlled Narcotics
By Sebastian Strangio
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnivakul said the move marked the beginning of "a new history for cannabis" in the country.
Hun Sen Apologizes as Myanmar Gamble Backfires Over Sean Turnell
By Luke Hunt
Cambodia’s embarrassment can only further isolate Myanmar’s military junta.
Myanmar Military Clashes With Arakan Army, Threatening Ceasefire
By Sebastian Strangio
The Rakhine nationalist force has the clout to reshape the contours of Myanmar's post-coup crisis.
In Thailand, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unites Old Factions in Discontent
By Meghan Murphy
Old "yellow" vs. "red" divides have been transcended by a generalized discontent with the political status quo.
Myanmar Junta to Grant ASEAN Envoy Access to Detained NLD Figures
By Sebastian Strangio
But there are good reasons to think this concession will serve the military administration's broader goals.
Australia Calls for Myanmar Junta to Release Detained Economist
By Sebastian Strangio
Professor Sean Turnell had worked as an economic policy advisor to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
COVID-19 Infections Hit Six-Month Highs in Indonesia
By Sebastian Strangio
Propelled by the Omicron variant, the country's daily caseload has increased more than 30-fold in just under a month.
Presidential Election Campaign Kicks Off in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
On May 9, 65.7 million Filipinos will go to the polls to choose who will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Counterrevolution: Marcos Jr.’s Bid for Philippine Presidency
By Richard Javad Heydarian
Three decades after returning from exile in Hawaii, the Marcos clan is on the brink of recapturing the presidential palace.
Opening of Indonesian Holocaust Museum Met With Islamist Backlash
By Sebastian Strangio
The protests against the museum in Sulawesi are a sign of the disturbing persistence of anti-Semitism in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Philippine Parliament Passes Law to Tackle Online Abuse, Trolling
By Sebastian Strangio
The bill would require people to divulge their real identities when setting up social media accounts.