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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.
British Environmental Journalist Blocked From Re-entering Cambodia
By Sebastian Strangio
The government's decision to void the visa of Gerry Flynn, 33, reflects the increasingly straitened circumstances of the Cambodian media.
Philippines Declares Food Security Emergency to Bring Down Rice Prices
By Sebastian Strangio
Despite slashing a tariff on imported rice last year, retail prices of the staple remain stubbornly high.
Myanmar’s Military Junta Extends State of Emergency For Seventh Time
By Sebastian Strangio
The six-month extension is intended to buy time for the military's long-promised election, but conditions in the country are not propitious.
Philippine President Links Budget Petition to ‘Destabilization’ Plot
By Mong Palatino
Concerns about corruption in budget allocations have been drawn into the intensifying political war between the Marcos and Duterte clans.
Thailand Versus the Scam Boom: A Look Into the Fight
By Tita Sanglee
Does Bangkok really have the power to bring the region's online scamming gangs to their knees?
Boat Carrying More Than 70 Rohingya Lands in Indonesia’s Aceh Region
By Sebastian Strangio
Last year saw a record number of Rohingya refugees set off by sea from the camps in southeastern Bangladesh.
Sugarcane’s ‘Black Snow’ Is Worsening Bangkok’s Air Pollution Crisis
By Chomkate Ngamkaiwan
So far, the Thai government's efforts to improve its air quality have failed to address the systemic causes of the problem.
Five Thai Hostages Released in Israel-Hamas Prisoner Exchange
By Sebastian Strangio
Thirty-one Thai agricultural workers were abducted by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023.
After 18 Years at Guantanamo, Is It Too Late for Indonesian Detainee Hambali?
By Aisyah Llewellyn
President Donald Trump has ordered the expansion of the prison camp as a detention facility for illegal immigrants.
Amid Hope and Despair, Myanmar’s Civil War Enters Its Fifth Year
By Luke Hunt
As the conflict drags on, politicians and “irritating voices” emerge from the liberated rear.
A Turning Point in Vietnam’s Politics
By Alexander L. Vuving
Will Communist Party chief To Lam succeed in leading his nation into a "new era" of economic ascendance?
Thai High-Speed Rail Project Set For Completion in 2030, Government Says
By Sebastian Strangio
The planned high-speed line, which will connect Bangkok to China via Laos, has seen sluggish progress since construction began in 2017.