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.
September 21, 2021
Vietnam Signs Cuban COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Deal
By Sebastian Strangio
The deal will see Vietnam purchase 10 million doses of the communist state's homegrown Abdala vaccine.
September 20, 2021
Philippine Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao Enters the Presidential Ring
By Sebastian Strangio
Pacquiao's candidacy threatens to spoil President Duterte's hopes for a smooth transition to an anointed successor.
September 20, 2021
Myanmar’s Currency Falls to All-Time Low Amid Post-Coup Turmoil
By Sebastian Strangio
Booming demand and limited supply of U.S. dollars have seen the kyat steadily lose value.
September 20, 2021
In Southeast Asia, Privatized Vaccination Schemes Gain Traction
By Simon Tran Hudes and Estey Chen
Governments struggling with under-capacity have turned to the private sector for assistance in distributing vaccines.
September 17, 2021
What Does the New AUKUS Alliance Mean for Southeast Asia?
By Sebastian Strangio
The new partnership is likely to be greeted with ambivalence in a region that has little appetite for a new Cold War.
September 17, 2021
The Forgotten Vaccine: Russia’s Sputnik V in Thailand and Southeast Asia
By Tita Sanglee
Despite all the hype and promises, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has made few inroads in Southeast Asia.
September 16, 2021
Despite Crime Concerns, Laos Authorizes Cryptocurrency Trial
By Sebastian Strangio
But little good will come from authorizing the mining and trading of the volatile digital currencies.
September 16, 2021
Rethinking Social Protection Programs: Cambodian Migrant Workers Deserve Better
By Try Sophea
COVID-19 has imposed a particularly heavy burden on Southeast Asia's thousands of undocumented migrant workers.
September 16, 2021
How ‘Konfrontasi’ Reshaped Southeast Asian Regional Politics
By Adam Leong Kok Wey
The tensions of the 1960s served as the catalyst for the creation of today's peaceful, prosperous, and cohesive Southeast Asia.
September 16, 2021
ICC Authorizes Investigation Into Philippines’ ‘Drug War’ Killings
By Sebastian Strangio
Judges say that the “specific legal element of the crime against humanity of murder” has been met in the sanguinary crackdown.
September 15, 2021
Giant Buddha Statue Plan Rankles Residents of Laos’ Capital: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
A Chinese firm's plans to build a 100-meter-high Buddha statue in low-lying Vientiane encapsulate China's outsized economic presence in Laos.
September 15, 2021
What Would a New US-Philippines Defense Agenda Look Like?
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Both sides are outlining an agenda that attempts to modernize the alliance in the face of new challenges.