Region
Southeast Asia
Vietnam Opens Trial in $12.5 Billion Corruption Case
By Sebastian Strangio
Truong My Lan, the head of a Ho Chi Minh City-based real estate firm, faces charges, along with 84 associates and alleged accomplices.
Australia Announces $1.3 Billion Fund to Boost Investment in Southeast Asia
By Sebastian Strangio
The economic focus of this week's ASEAN-Australia summit has been shadowed by the continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
Singapore’s PM Defends Taylor Swift Exclusivity Arrangement
By Rod McGuirk
Lee Hsien Loong did not reveal the cost of the deal, which was paid for from a government fund established to rebuild tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why the Indonesian State Took Majority Ownership of PT Vale Indonesia
By James Guild
There has long been a desire in certain quarters to eventually move ownership of foreign-owned and operated mines back into Indonesian hands.
Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard Vessels Again Collide in Contested Waters
By Sebastian Strangio
The reported collision came as the maritime disputes dominated discussions at a regional summit in Australia.
What Do We Mean When We Talk About Southeast Asia’s Demographics ‘Crisis’?
By David Hutt
The nations of the region are all experiencing shrinking workforces and rising life expectancy – in some cases at the same time.
Thai Court Acquits Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra Over Government Funds
By Sebastian Strangio
Yingluck, who served as prime minister from 2011 to 2014, is benefiting from the reconciliation between the Pheu Thai Party and the country's conservative establishment.
Is Thailand Reconsidering Its Myanmar Policy?
By Brian Wong and Tidarat Yingcharoen
Under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, there are signs that the country is finally taking a more active role in helping resolve the multifaceted crisis next door.
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.
Philippine FM Urges Regional Unity on South China Sea Disputes
By Rod McGuirk
Enrique Manalo's comments were delivered on the first day of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.
Communist Party Directive Takes Aim At ‘Hostile Forces’ in Vietnam
By Sebastian Strangio
Directive 24 calls on the Party to counter the influence of "hostile and reactionary forces" taking advantage of the country's increased openness to the outside world.
Myanmar’s Military Is Playing a Dangerous Game in Rakhine State
By Kyaw Lynn
The army's reported plan to conscript Rohingya civilians could worsen the region's already fragile ethnic relations.