Region
Southeast Asia
![What Does the New Australia-ASEAN Informal Defense Ministers’ Meeting Mean for the Future of Security Ties? What Does the New Australia-ASEAN Informal Defense Ministers’ Meeting Mean for the Future of Security Ties?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-20-1.jpg)
What Does the New Australia-ASEAN Informal Defense Ministers’ Meeting Mean for the Future of Security Ties?
By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at the importance of a recent development amid wider trends.
![Thailand’s Helicopter Needs in Focus with New Deal Thailand’s Helicopter Needs in Focus with New Deal](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2015-07-01_13-42-23.jpg)
Thailand’s Helicopter Needs in Focus with New Deal
By Prashanth Parameswaran
The order from Airbus Helicopters highlighted an aspect of Bangkok’s wider efforts to build up its capabilities.
![Why the EU’s New Cambodia Wrist Slap Won’t Weaken Hun Sen’s Iron Grip Why the EU’s New Cambodia Wrist Slap Won’t Weaken Hun Sen’s Iron Grip](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2015-02-24_19-07-27.jpg)
Why the EU’s New Cambodia Wrist Slap Won’t Weaken Hun Sen’s Iron Grip
By Luke Hunt
Though the move is not entirely insignificant, it pales in comparison to the other challenges the government faces and is working to address.
![The Mystery of Malaysia’s Missing Plane: Ex-Australia Prime Minister Revives MH370 Murder-Suicide Suspicion The Mystery of Malaysia’s Missing Plane: Ex-Australia Prime Minister Revives MH370 Murder-Suicide Suspicion](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2014-08-04_14-01-47.jpg)
The Mystery of Malaysia’s Missing Plane: Ex-Australia Prime Minister Revives MH370 Murder-Suicide Suspicion
By Associated Press
Tony Abbott said that top levels of Malaysian government long suspected that the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 nearly six years ago was a mass murder-suicide by the pilot.
![Strengthening Myanmar-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations: A Primer Strengthening Myanmar-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations: A Primer](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-19-13.jpg)
Strengthening Myanmar-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations: A Primer
By Nathasha Fernando
From shared security concerns to their struggles with great power rivalries, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have a lot in common.
![What Does an Improved Credit Rating Actually Mean for the Philippines? What Does an Improved Credit Rating Actually Mean for the Philippines?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-19-11.jpg)
What Does an Improved Credit Rating Actually Mean for the Philippines?
By Ronald U. Mendoza
The first article in a two-part series explains why credit ratings make the rich richer but matter less to most Filipinos.
![Hun Sen’s Political Gamble: The Coronavirus Epidemic Hun Sen’s Political Gamble: The Coronavirus Epidemic](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-19-6.jpg)
Hun Sen’s Political Gamble: The Coronavirus Epidemic
By Sopagna Heng
Hun Sen is playing a high-stakes political game by downplaying fear of the coronavirus. Will his strategy pay off?
![China, Southeast Asia Hold Emergency Meeting on Coronavirus Outbreak China, Southeast Asia Hold Emergency Meeting on Coronavirus Outbreak](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-19-4.jpg)
China, Southeast Asia Hold Emergency Meeting on Coronavirus Outbreak
By Associated Press
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with his ASEAN counterparts in Laos amid alarm over the COVID-19 epidemic.
![Coronavirus: Black Clouds Over Singapore Coronavirus: Black Clouds Over Singapore](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-02-19.jpg)
Coronavirus: Black Clouds Over Singapore
By Robert Bociaga
How is the island country tackling the epidemic?
![Interview: Understanding Total Competition and China’s Challenge in the South China Sea Interview: Understanding Total Competition and China’s Challenge in the South China Sea](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-01-17.png)
Interview: Understanding Total Competition and China’s Challenge in the South China Sea
By Prashanth Parameswaran
A conversation with Patrick Cronin and Ryan Neuhard analyzing Beijing’s behavior in the South China Sea, its wider regional ambitions, and how to respond.
![What’s Behind Indonesia’s Refusal to Repatriate Suspected Islamic State Militants? What’s Behind Indonesia’s Refusal to Repatriate Suspected Islamic State Militants?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-flag-2526462_1280.jpg)
What’s Behind Indonesia’s Refusal to Repatriate Suspected Islamic State Militants?
By Erin Cook
The decision is part of a nuanced issue that has broader implications for the country and the region.
![Alleged Baby Smuggler Arrested in the Philippines for Kidnapping Alleged Baby Smuggler Arrested in the Philippines for Kidnapping](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/sizes/thumbnail/Philippines-Flag2.jpg)
Alleged Baby Smuggler Arrested in the Philippines for Kidnapping
By Associated Press
An American woman charged with human trafficking for allegedly attempting to smuggle a baby out of the Philippines was arrested on an additional count of kidnapping.