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.
COVID-19’s Toll on Youth in Southeast Asia
By Karen Lee
With infections spiking across the region, young people are likely to be disproportionately affected over the long term.
Norway’s Telenor Sells Myanmar Telecoms Operation to Lebanese Firm
By Sebastian Strangio
The buyer was M1 Group, a Beirut-based firm with links to Myanmar's military.
UMNO Withdraws Its Support for Malaysian Ruling Coalition
By Sebastian Strangio
The move comes after months of sniping between the party and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's camp.
Desperate Indonesians Search for Oxygen as Virus Cases Soar
By Niniek Karmini
Hospitals are bursting beyond capacity and oxygen supplies are running out, leaving people desperate.
ASEAN Plans to Expedite Myanmar Response: Singapore
By Sebastian Strangio
The Southeast Asian bloc has so far struggled to implement its "five-point consensus."
Why are Former Philippine Presidents Running for Lower-Level Posts?
By Mong Palatino
President Duterte's mooted vice presidential run would follow in the footsteps of other recent ex-leaders.
Amid Coup Crisis, COVID-19 Hits New Daily Highs in Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
With health workers on strike and much of the public in open rebellion, a new wave of infections could prove devastating.
On China’s Doorstep, Laos Plays a Careful Game of Balancing
By Kearrin Sims
China's influence is growing in Laos, but the country's foreign relations present a more complex picture.
Malaysia Pledges Action After US Trafficking Demotion
By Sebastian Strangio
In its latest trafficking report, the U.S. State Department dropped Malaysia to "Tier 3," its lowest ranking.
Malaysian PM Backtracks and Agrees to Convene Parliament
By Sebastian Strangio
The decisions follows a series of rare interventions by the king and the heads of the country's nine Malay royal houses.
Do Cambodia’s Human Rights Groups Ignore Ethnic Vietnamese?
By David Hutt
After decades of depredations, both real and imagined, Vietnam remains the main bogeyman of Cambodian nationalism.
Myanmar Junta Bars Foreign Telecom Executives From Exiting the Country
By Sebastian Strangio
The announcement followed reports that the Norwegian telecom operator Telenor was considering selling off its Myanmar operation.