Region
Southeast Asia
US Senate Confirms Ambassadors to Three Key Asia-Pacific Allies
By Sebastian Strangio
The Senate yesterday confirmed three nominees, including Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Australia.
Why ASEAN’s ‘Travel Corridor’ Falls Short for the Region’s Migrant Workers
By Thong Sariputta
As the case of Cambodia shows, the bloc’s new framework agreement fails to address the factors driving undocumented migration in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam Protests China’s Imposition of Annual South China Sea Fishing Ban
By Sebastian Strangio
Hanoi's Foreign Ministry described the May-August moratorium as "a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction."
Global NATO Takes Shape Ahead of US-ASEAN Meet
By Luke Hunt
Democracies on the edge in Southeast Asia likely face difficult choices in the years to come.
The Tangled Politics of Humanitarian Aid in Post-Coup Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
ASEAN has come under fire over a plan to channel its humanitarian assistance via the country's military junta.
The Significance of the Long-Awaited Bangkok Gubernatorial Election
By Tita Sanglee
The outcome of the May 22 election will offer clues as to how Thais might vote in the next national polls.
World Bank-Linked Watchdog to Probe Alleged Cambodian Microfinance Abuses
By Sebastian Strangio
Two Cambodian civil society groups claim that "reckless" micro-lending has contributed to a brewing rural debt crisis.
Myanmar Junta Rejects Suggestion that ASEAN Engage Shadow Government
By Sebastian Strangio
The response reveals once again the coup government's lack of interest in implementing the Southeast Asian bloc's peace plan.
Southeast Asian Nations Languish in Annual Press Freedom Ranking
By Sebastian Strangio
The one outlier was Timor-Leste, which ranked 17th out of the 180 nations examined by Reporters Without Borders.
The Enduring Role of Mistresses in Southeast Asian Politics
By David Hutt
From the Philippines to Cambodia, male politicians' adulterous behavior has shaped political careers and national trajectories.
Shan State Exemplifies China’s Tangled Myanmar Ties
By Tom Fawthrop
China’s endorsement of the junta lays the basis for a boom in trade with the fractious eastern state – or so Beijing hopes.
Why Indonesia Banned Palm Oil Exports
By James Guild
Palm oil firms chasing export profits were driving up costs for consumers, creating a potential political headache for the government.