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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.
US, Japan Issue Travel Alerts for Thailand After Uyghur Deportation
By Sebastian Strangio
The two governments have warned their nationals about possible retaliatory attacks, citing the Erawan Shrine bombing in 2015.
Myanmar Junta Chief to Meet with Vladimir Putin on Russia Trip
By Sebastian Strangio
Facing Western sanctions and opprobrium, Naypyidaw and Moscow have strengthened their cooperation in both the economic and security spheres.
Thailand Secretly Surrenders At Least 40 Uyghur Asylum Seekers to China
By Luke Hunt
A decade-long ordeal ends with sneaky appeasement and a slap in the face of Marco Rubio.
Thai Opposition Party Files No-Confidence Motion Against PM Paetongtarn
By Sebastian Strangio
The People's Party accuses the leader of incompetence, lack of qualifications, and being under the undue sway of her father Thaksin Shinawatra.
Leading Vietnamese Scholar and Journalist Imprisoned for Critical Facebook Posts
By Sebastian Strangio
Truong Huy San, who is better known by the pen name Huy Duc, was convicted of "abusing democratic freedoms."
Unruly Israeli Visitors, Thai Resentment, and Potential Dangers
By Tita Sanglee
Israeli expats have become a dominant presence in the northern town of Pai, on the border with Myanmar's Shan State.
Thai Deportation of Uyghurs Is Imminent, Rights Group Says
By Sebastian Strangio
The 48 asylum seekers are part of a group of more than 300 Uyghur Muslims who fled China's Xinjiang region in 2014.
Vietnam, New Zealand Announce Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
By Sebastian Strangio
New Zealand has become the 10th nation, and the seventh in the past three years, to be promoted to the top tier of Vietnam's diplomatic hierarchy.
Philippine Exit from Money-laundering ‘Grey List’ Marred by Allegations of Abuse
By Mong Palatino
Human rights groups have accused the Philippine authorities of using money laundering and terrorist financing laws to clamp down on legitimate dissent.
Cambodia Proposes Resumption of Joint Military Exercise With the US
By Sebastian Strangio
The request is the latest sign that Prime Minister Hun Manet's government is trying to restore greater balance in its foreign relations.
HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ Prompts Criticism of How the West Views Southeast Asia
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The series has come under scrutiny for its depiction of Thai culture, but are critics just missing the point?
Thai, Cambodian Police Rescue 215 Trafficked Scam Workers
By Sebastian Strangio
The raid in the Cambodian border town of Poipet follows Bangkok's crackdown on scamming operations along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Thailand Rescues 7,000 but Faces Stiff Resistance in Scamming Crackdown
By Luke Hunt
Fraud syndicates have reportedly moved deeper into Myanmar in response to crackdowns.
Vietnam’s National Assembly Approves $8B Rail Link to China
By Sebastian Strangio
The project is expected to reinforce the already strong economic linkages between northern Vietnam and southern China.
Thai Opposition Leader Defends Support for Lese-Majeste Law Change
By Sebastian Strangio
The country's anti-corruption agency is investigating 44 ex-MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party over their support for changes to the law.
Philippines Accuses Chinese Navy of ‘Aggressive’ Actions Over Disputed Shoal
By Sebastian Strangio
Tensions over Scarborough Shoal have increased markedly since the middle of last year, when Beijing and Manila reached an "understanding" over another disputed shoal.
Singaporean Court Convicts Opposition Leader of Lying to Parliamentary Committee
By Sebastian Strangio
The verdict against Pritam Singh, the leader of the Workers' Party, could taint the party's image ahead of the upcoming general election.
Philippine Police General Files Complaint Against Ex-President for Threatening ‘Joke’
By Sebastian Strangio
At a political rally last week, Rodrigo Duterte joked about killing 15 senators with a bomb in order to free up positions for his own party's candidates.
How Hizb ut-Tahrir Is Exploiting the Gaza War to Revive Its Global Islamist Agenda
By Muhammad Makmun Rasyid
In Indonesia and elsewhere, anger at Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza has provided grist for the extremist mill.
Thai Court Opens Hearing Into Petition to Free Detained Uyghurs
By Sebastian Strangio
The petition concerns the fate of 43 Uyghur Muslims from China's Xinjiang region, who have languished in an immigration prison since 2014.
Argentinian Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Myanmar Officials Over Rohingya Atrocities
By Sebastian Strangio
Included among the 25 names was junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he overthrew in a coup in 2021.
Election Campaign Begins in the Philippines with Marcos-Duterte War of Words
By Mong Palatino
The conflict between the two prominent political clans has continued into the first week of campaigning for May's mid-term polls.
Malaysia Will Amend Law on Public Protests, Prime Minister Says
By Sebastian Strangio
Anwar Ibrahim also said that ongoing investigations against protest organizers would be dropped and that “no further action will be taken.”
Thai Army Repatriates Around 260 Scam Victims From Eastern Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
Bangkok has taken a number of recent measures to clamp down on the cyberfraud operations in the border region.