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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.
Myanmar’s NUG Condemns Military Conscription Drive, Vows to Resist
By Sebastian Strangio
The resistance group said that the public "is not required to comply" with the February 10 order.
What Thaksin Shinawatra’s Parole Says About Thai Politics
By Sebastian Strangio
The detained former PM's persecution and rehabilitation have both reflected the use of the country's administrative and legal system for political ends.
Why Vietnam Cannot Copy the Philippines’ China Policy
By Khang Vu
The country's awkward geographic position with China militates against it adopting a strong pro-U.S. orientation.
Jailed Former Thai PM Thaksin Gets Parole, Could Walk Free This Week
By Jintamas Saksornchai
The announcement brings an end to a two-decade war between Thaksin Shinawatra and the country's conservative establishment.
Detained Former Thai PM on List of Eligible Parolees, Reports Say
By Sebastian Strangio
Thaksin Shinawatra's name is on a list of 930 elderly inmates, who have been approved for parole due to ill health.
2 Thai Journalists Arrested for Covering Anti-Monarchist Temple Vandalism
By Sebastian Strangio
The pair were charged as "accomplices" to an incident last March in which an activist spray-painted an anti-royalist message inside Bangkok's Grand Palace.
‘Cigarette Girl’ Is a Big Streaming Hit in Indonesia
By Sribala Subramanian
Is kretek nostalgia undercutting the country's campaign to curb tobacco use?
Indonesia Police to Charge 2 Chinese Nationals in Furnace Explosion at Nickel Plant on Sulawesi
By Mohammad Taufan
21 people died in the explosion at PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, and Indonesia is holding two Chinese supervisors criminally liable.
Indonesian Presidential Candidates End Campaign With Huge Rallies
By Sebastian Strangio
On Saturday, tens of thousands of supporters attended rallies in Jakarta and Central Java to mark the end of the official campaign period.
Myanmar Junta to Begin Enforcing Military Conscription Law
By Sebastian Strangio
The move speaks to the military's desperation to replenish its ranks and reverse its recent battlefield losses.
What Indonesia’s Presidential Election Means for the World
By Parker Novak
Indonesia’s upcoming election presents an inflection point for the world’s third-largest democracy.
Malaysia’s Top Court Invalidates State’s Islam-based Laws on Incest, Sodomy, and Other Offenses
By Eileen Ng
The court said that the Kelantan state government could not make Islamic laws on those topics because they are covered by Malaysian federal law.