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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.
Global NATO Takes Shape Ahead of US-ASEAN Meet
By Luke Hunt
Democracies on the edge in Southeast Asia likely face difficult choices in the years to come.
The Tangled Politics of Humanitarian Aid in Post-Coup Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
ASEAN has come under fire over a plan to channel its humanitarian assistance via the country's military junta.
The Significance of the Long-Awaited Bangkok Gubernatorial Election
By Tita Sanglee
The outcome of the May 22 election will offer clues as to how Thais might vote in the next national polls.
World Bank-Linked Watchdog to Probe Alleged Cambodian Microfinance Abuses
By Sebastian Strangio
Two Cambodian civil society groups claim that "reckless" micro-lending has contributed to a brewing rural debt crisis.
Myanmar Junta Rejects Suggestion that ASEAN Engage Shadow Government
By Sebastian Strangio
The response reveals once again the coup government's lack of interest in implementing the Southeast Asian bloc's peace plan.
Southeast Asian Nations Languish in Annual Press Freedom Ranking
By Sebastian Strangio
The one outlier was Timor-Leste, which ranked 17th out of the 180 nations examined by Reporters Without Borders.
The Enduring Role of Mistresses in Southeast Asian Politics
By David Hutt
From the Philippines to Cambodia, male politicians' adulterous behavior has shaped political careers and national trajectories.
Cambodian PM Pushes Myanmar Junta to Grant Envoy Access to Aung San Suu Kyi
By Sebastian Strangio
Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn could undertake his next mission to the crisis-hit country as early as late May.
Marcos Maintains Large Lead as Philippine Campaign Enters Final Week
By Sebastian Strangio
The latest Pulse Asia survey has shown nearly no change since last month, with Marcos holding a commanding 33-point lead over second-placed Leni Robredo.
Malaysia to Propose ASEAN Contacts With Myanmar’s Shadow Government
By Sebastian Strangio
The Malaysian Foreign Minister has again lamented the junta's lack of cooperation in the implementation of the Southeast Asian bloc's peace plan.
Ukraine, China Top Agenda During Japanese PM’s Southeast Asia Tour
By Sebastian Strangio
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's visits to Vietnam and Indonesia demonstrated Tokyo's enduring diplomatic strengths in Southeast Asia.
Laos Pushes Forward With Seventh Mekong River Dam Project
By Sebastian Strangio
The Phou Ngoy dam is one of nine hydropower projects that the Lao government is planning on the mainstream of the Mekong River.