Region
Southeast Asia
Myanmar Seizes Western Town After Heated Battle with Civilian Militia
By Sebastian Strangio
The rise of the Chinland Defense Force reflects a trend of growing armed resistance to the military junta.
COVID-19 Set to Burst Singapore-Hong Kong Travel Bubble – Again
By Sebastian Strangio
Singapore has reimposed a lockdown after a sudden spike in untraceable community transmissions.
US Government Returns More Recovered 1MDB Funds to Malaysia
By Sebastian Strangio
The announcement came days after the Malaysian government filed 22 lawsuits seeking to recover more than $23 billion in 1MDB-linked assets.
Myanmar Will Free Japanese Journalist as Gesture to Tokyo
By Associated Press
State media announced that Kitazumi Yuki would be released "in view of the close ties and future relations between Myanmar and Japan."
In Papua Fighting, Indonesian Forces Claim Rebel Commander Killed
By Sebastian Strangio
The reports follows Indonesian government promises of a crackdown on separatist fighters in the eastern region.
Boten: the Renaissance of Laos’s Golden City
By Nicholas Bosoni
The one-time casino boom town on the Laos-China border is on the rise again, powered by billions in Chinese investment.
Japan’s Ambivalent Diplomacy in Myanmar
By Daisuke Akimoto
Given its political and economic influence over the Myanmar military, the Japanese government can do more to help the international community pursue non-military R2P options.
COVID-19 Hits Prisons in Thailand, as Nearly 3,000 Cases Detected
By Sebastian Strangio
Recent Thai COVID-19 outbreaks highlight the dangers posed by Asia's overcrowded and unsanitary prisons.
China Proposing to Host ASEAN Ministers Next Month
By Sebastian Strangio
The proposed meeting follows a flurry of Chinese engagements with Southeast Asia in recent months.
COVID-19 Worries Return to Vietnam
By Hugh Bohane
Amidst a spike in new cases, the country is tightening restrictions in the hopes of repeating its 2020 successes against the virus.
Japanese PM Suga Talks Maritime Security With Vietnam’s President
By Sebastian Strangio
The conversation once again hints at the overlapping strategic and economic interests between the two nations.
As Ramadan Ends, Malaysia Begins Its Third COVID-19 Lockdown
By Sebastian Strangio
The lockdown announcement followed assurances from senior officials that nationwide restrictions were unnecessary.