Country
Laos
The Land-Locked Thinking of Laotians
By David Hutt
While the Lao government likes to talk about becoming "land-linked," the latest ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institution survey reflects an inward-looking mentality.
Laos Faces a Delicate Balancing Act as ASEAN Leader
By Ratih Indraswari
How Vientiane approaches its obligations to ASEAN and its debt to China will be a key to the bloc’s fortunes in 2024.
Where Have All the Mekong River’s Fish Gone?
By Tom Fawthrop
Policymakers have clung to the fiction that damage to fish populations from hydropower projects can be avoided – with devastating consequences.
Myanmar, South China Sea Conflicts Top Agenda as ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet
By David Rising
The foreign minister of Laos, this year’s ASEAN chair, expressed cautious optimism about the potential for progress in 2024.
Myanmar Junta Sends Representative to ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
By Sebastian Strangio
Marlar Than Htaik, the permanent secretary of the junta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is attending this week's two-day retreat in Laos.
ASEAN Chair Laos Appoints Special Envoy on Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
The appointment of the veteran diplomat Alounkeo Kittikhoun is unlikely to do much to arrest the momentum of the country's conflict.
Laos’ Economic Woes Will Continue In 2024
By David Hutt
Given their connection to structural features of communist rule, there will be no quick respite from the economic woes.
US, UK, Canada Sanctions Target Southeast Asian Scam Operations
By Sebastian Strangio
The coordinated sanctions have been imposed on those responsible for major criminal operations in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
How Will Laos Handle Its 2024 Chairmanship of ASEAN?
By To Minh Son
The communist-ruled nation takes the helm at a time of growing tumult in the the world and the region.
Laos Deports 462 Chinese Nationals as Scamming Crackdown Spreads
By Sebastian Strangio
Under pressure from China, mainland Southeast Asian governments are finally taking action against the region's cyberscam scourge. But will it be enough?
Hydropower Dams Threaten Crucial Mekong Supply Chains, WWF Says
By Sebastian Strangio
In a new report, the World Wildlife Fund claims that dam developments, often hailed as an economic boon, could end up weighing down economic growth.
Can Laos’ Communist Party Recover From the Current Economic Crisis?
By David Hutt
The ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party has grossly mishandled the economy, but there is no political alternative – at least for now.