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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.
Vietnam’s New President: Key Takeaways for Domestic Politics and Foreign Relations
By Hai Hong Nguyen
The appointment of the youthful Vo Van Thuong could hint at a generational leadership transition in the years to come.
Bird Flu’s Young Victims
By Sribala Subramanian
Over the past decade, nearly four out of five H5N1 victims in Cambodia have been children.
Myanmar, Bangladesh Readying Repatriation of More Than 1,000 Rohingya
By Sebastian Strangio
Junta officials are visiting refugee camps in order to verify those who have been shortlisted for repatriation under a China-mediated pilot program.
Indonesian Parliament Vows to Resolve Contentious Election Ruling
By Sebastian Strangio
Earlier this month, a district court ordered election authorities to suspend their preparation for next year's polls.
Alarming Pattern of Killings Continues in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
This year has seen a series of armed ambushes of local government officials. Meanwhile, the "war on drugs" continues.
China Warns Philippines Over US Access to Military Bases
By Sebastian Strangio
The Chinese embassy in Manila said that the expansion of EDCA "will seriously harm Philippine national interests and endanger regional peace and stability."
Ex-Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Hit With Seventh Graft Charge
By Sebastian Strangio
The besieged leader has described the charges as a form of “organized political persecution” designed to hobble his party at state elections later this year.
ICC Asked to Expand Investigations After Further Massacres in Myanmar
By Luke Hunt
Victims were reportedly decapitated, amputated, and disemboweled in a grisly incident in Sagaing Region.
Indonesia Unveils Incentives For Investors in New Capital City
By Sebastian Strangio
Whether the $34 billion Nusantara project succeeds depends on whether the government can attract sufficient foreign investment.
The Analytical Obsession With ‘Factions’ in Vietnamese Politics
By Khang Vu
There is little evidence that the country’s political landscape is divided into “pro-Chinese” and “pro-American” camps.
Myanmar’s NUG Rebel Government Needs Money
By David Hutt
Western financial aid to the opposition movement could help unify the anti-junta resistance, and even tip the balance in its favor.
Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin Charged With Corruption
By Sebastian Strangio
The case is likely to raise the political temperature ahead of a string of important state elections later this year.