Region
Southeast Asia
In UN Speech, Duterte Stiffens Philippines’ Stance on the South China Sea
By Sebastian Strangio
After four years of flip-flopping, the Philippine President voiced strong support for a Hague ruling rejecting most of China’s claims to disputed waters.
Sebastian Strangio on Southeast Asia ‘in the Dragon’s Shadow’
By Shannon Tiezzi
A conversation on China's influence and image in the region.
The Riddle of COVID-19 and Democracy in Southeast Asia
By Sebastian Strangio
How much should we read into the fact that the region’s most robust democracies have fared the worst from the coronavirus? Probably not a lot.
Will Trade Lead the Way in Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 Recovery?
By James Guild
Many Southeast Asian currencies have recently gained in value against the U.S. dollar, with complex implications for the region's exports.
After Abe, Opportunities Loom for Japan-Indonesia Relations
By Noto Suoneto, Birgitta Riani, and Noto Suoneto and Birgitta Riani
Prime Minister Suga has a golden opportunity to deepen relations with key Indo-Pacific partners, including Indonesia.
With New Arrest, Cambodia’s Permanent Crackdown Intensifies
By Sebastian Strangio
Amid the economic fallout from COVID-19, Hun Sen's government has succeeded in keeping a lid on rising public discontent—but for how much longer?
Scenes From Thailand’s Massive Protests Demanding Reform
By Cory Wright
For months, protesters in Thailand have called for reforms. This weekend as many as 100,000 protesters descended on Bangkok.
Cambodia’s Microfinance Industry in Troubled Waters
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with economist Ron Bevacqua about the crisis facing Cambodia's microfinance sector.
EU Threatens Philippine Trade Perks Over Rights Abuses
By Sebastian Strangio
The European Parliament has called for the suspension of duty-free privileges pending a "substantial improvement" in the country's human rights situation.
In Bangkok, Protests Again Take Aim at the Monarchy
By Sebastian Strangio
The weekend's demonstrations indicate that the momentum for political reform is unlikely to dissipate any time soon.
Rodrigo Duterte: The Weak Strongman of the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
Mounting concerns about the Philippine President's health threaten to play into elections due in 2022.
Metal Never Dies: America’s Music Legacy in Vietnam
By Soraya Kishtwari
The U.S. military brought metal to Vietnam. Its retreat forced the genre underground. But Vietnam's metalheads persist decades later.