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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.
The China-brokered Iran-Saudi Peace Deal: Implications For Indonesia
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
The prospects of China acting as a peace mediator are much less likely closer to home.
German Chancellor Pledges Progress on EU-Indonesia FTA
By Sebastian Strangio
Olaf Scholz said that the domestic processing of vital minerals, a key goal of the Indonesian government, be included under any future trade pact.
Papuan Separatists Ambush Indonesian Forces Searching for Kidnapped Pilot
By Sebastian Strangio
In addition to one confirmed death, nine soldiers have reportedly been taken hostage by separatist rebels.
NUG Warns ASEAN Not to Negotiate with Myanmar Junta
By Luke Hunt
The call came as the death toll from last week's airstrike on Kanbalu township rose to 168.
Indonesia Has Another Shaman Serial Killer – and the Phenomenon Is More Common Than You Think
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The frequent occurrence of such crimes speaks to Indonesians' widespread belief in the occult and the lure of get-rich-quick schemes in a country with widespread poverty.
Blinken Bound for Vietnam as US Pushes for Upgrade in Relations
By Sebastian Strangio
Washington wants to raise relations to the level of a "strategic relationship," but Vietnamese leaders are moving cautiously, in light of the likely reaction from China.
Vietnam Sentences Dissident Journalist to 6 Years in Prison
By Thoi Nguyen
Nguyen Lan Thang's imprisonment is the latest sign of a severe tightening of the political space by the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.
Defections, Rather Than Sanctions, Are What Is Needed For Myanmar
By David Hutt
The current Western approach may be pushing tycoons and senior officials into the military's arms. Better to entice them in the other direction.
ASEAN Chair Indonesia Condemns Deadly Myanmar Air Strike
By Sebastian Strangio
It remains to be seen whether Indonesia, the bloc's current chair, can lead a tougher and more effective regional response to the country's conflict.
Indonesian Court Overturns Controversial Ruling Delaying 2024 Election
By Sebastian Strangio
Last month, the Central Jakarta District Court ruled that the election commission must halt all election preparations until 2025.
At Least 50 Killed in Airstrike on Resistance Stronghold in Central Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
The attack is part of the military government's escalating use of air strikes to smash the growing resistance to its rule.
No Time to Die: Thailand’s Palang Pracharath Party
By Tita Sanglee
Despite withering popularity and internal divisions, the military-backed ruling party is still a force to be reckoned with.