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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.
Thailand’s PM Misses the Forest for the Trees on the Country’s Pollution Problem
By Mark S. Cogan
Srettha Thavisin has pledged to tackle Thailand's horrific air pollution problem, but he needs to address the root of the problem.
Indonesia Rescues Dozens of Rohingya Refugees From Capsized Boat
By Sebastian Strangio
The rescue off the coast of Aceh underscores the extreme dangers that many refugees are exposing themselves to in order to find sanctuary abroad.
Vietnam’s Parliament Accepts President’s Resignation, Successor Remains Unclear
By Sebastian Strangio
Vo Van Thuong resignation comes barely a year after his appointment to the largely ceremonial post.
Indonesian Election Commission Affirms Prabowo’s Landslide Victory
By Sebastian Strangio
According to the official results released yesterday, the former general won around 58 percent of the vote on February 14.
Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong Resigns Amid Anti-corruption Campaign
By Aniruddha Ghosal
Vo Van Thuong is the second Vietnamese president to resign in two years.
Malaysia to Mull Emergency Bid to Host 2026 Commonwealth Games
By Sebastian Strangio
The Commonwealth Games Federation is frantically seeking replacements for the Australian state of Victoria, which pulled out of hosting last year due to spiraling costs.
Vietnamese Prosecutors Demand Death Penalty for Alleged Graft Mastermind
By Sebastian Strangio
Truong My Lan, the head of a Ho Chi Minh City-based real estate group, has been accused of the biggest fraud in the country’s history
Does Vietnam-Philippines Maritime Cooperation Offer a Template for the Region?
By Benjamin Blandin
While differences remain, the two nations are experiencing an increasing strategic convergence on the South China Sea.
What Southeast Asia’s Aging Populations Could Mean Politically
By David Hutt
Could aging societies lead to more political polarization and upheaval?
How Thailand’s ‘One of a Kind’ Defense Minister Will Be Remembered
By Tita Sanglee
Unlike like most past defense chiefs, Sutin Klungsang is a civilian politician with virtually no experience in security matters.
Biden to Host Summit With Japan’s Kishida and Philippines’ Marcos
By Sebastian Strangio
The trilateral summit, which will be held in Washington on April 11, comes at a time of increasing tension in the western Pacific.
It’s a Family Affair as Paetongtarn Shinawatra Visits Cambodia
By Sebastian Strangio
The return of the Shinawatra clan in Thailand has delivered a fillip to relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.