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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.
China Announces Aid Dispersal to Myanmar’s Military Junta
By Sebastian Strangio
Can Western democracies offer similar aid without legitimizing Myanmar's military administration?
Why Indonesia Underachieves at the Olympic Games
By Noto Suoneto
Given its population, Indonesia should perform better. Here’s what's holding it back.
COVID-19 Breaches Last Southeast Asian Bastions
By Sebastian Strangio
Brunei breaks its 15-month coronavirus-free streak, while Timor-Leste reports the arrival of the contagious Delta variant.
Despite COVID-19, Indonesia-China Relations Continue to Develop
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
Bilateral cooperation is slowly beginning to move beyond the economic realm that has long been its foundation.
Dam in Cambodia a ‘Disaster’ for Local Communities: Rights Group
By Sebastian Strangio
The Chinese-financed Lower Sesan 2 dam has had a range of deleterious consequences – just what activists were warning a decade ago.
New ASEAN Envoy to Myanmar Pledges to Meet With Opposition, Detained Activists
By Sebastian Strangio
The envoy's mission relies on good faith commitment on the part of the junta, but this remains unlikely.
Deadly COVID-19 Variant Migrates to Indonesia’s Outer Islands
By Sebastian Strangio
Just as cases are beginning to ease in densely populated Java and Bali, they are rising elsewhere.
Politics is Wrecking Malaysia’s Pandemic Response
By Alifah Zainuddin
The COVID-19 crisis offers a convenient pretext for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to hold on to power.
US Authorities Thwart Plot Against Outspoken Myanmar Envoy
By Sebastian Strangio
The revelation of a plot against Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun will only deepen the junta's international opprobrium.
Revenge Porn Has Become a Political Weapon in Myanmar
By Amara Thiha
As Myanmar's crisis deepens, the country's women are bearing much of the burden.
Evidences Emerges of Junta ‘Massacre’ in Northwest Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
At least 40 people are alleged to have been killed by soldiers in a township that is a center of armed resistance to the military administration.
Extending Their Call of Duty? Ex-Police Officers Running for Office in the Philippines
By Kevin Nielsen Agojo
Many former Philippine National Police officers have used their service as a springboard into elected office.