Region
Southeast Asia
Malaysian Youth Party Defects From Ruling Coalition Over Corruption Cases
By Sebastian Strangio
The defection has deprived Anwar Ibrahim's government of its two-thirds parliamentary majority in Parliament.
In Search of Hun Manet’s Bristol University PhD Thesis
By David Whitehouse
In 2009, Cambodia's new prime minister was awarded a doctorate in economics – but it is nearly impossible to access his thesis.
Srettha’s First Foreign Policy Mistake: Passing on the ASEAN Summit
By Mark S. Cogan
Thailand's new prime minister prioritized domestic political duties over attending to the troubled regional organization.
Biden Says US Outreach to Vietnam is About Providing Global Stability, Not Containing China
By Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani
During his visit to Hanoi, Biden and his hosts upgraded their relationship to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
A New Era Is Dawning in US-Vietnam Relations
By Jonathan D. London
The coming upgrade of the bilateral relationship between Washington and Hanoi is a milestone for the region – and the world.
ASEAN Summits Highlight Familiar Shortcomings
By Sebastian Strangio
The bloc managed to adopt stronger language on the conflict in Myanmar, but remains adrift in the South China Sea.
Press Watchdogs Condemn Myanmar Photojournalist’s ‘Grotesque’ Imprisonment
By Sebastian Strangio
Photographer Sai Zaw Thaike was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the harshest term handed down against any journalist since the 2021 coup.
Why the Philippines Needs to Work With the Pacific Island Nations
By Rej Cortez Torrecampo and Karla S. Cruz
In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, Manila has good reasons to develop relations with other archipelagic states, including those to its south and east.
Indonesian Money Laundering Case Harks Back To Asian Financial Crisis
By Aisyah Llewellyn
In Indonesia, money laundering is hard to prosecute. But in the case against disgraced tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo, prosecutors have seemingly found an open and shut case.
What’s Wrong With the Philippines’ New Anti-Trafficking Guidelines?
By Michael Beltran
“Why are we going after tourists and letting the big criminals get away?” one trafficking victim asks.
In Southeast Asia, VP Kamala Harris Is at the Center of US Efforts to Counter China
By Chris Megerian
While analysts bemoaned President Biden’s absence from the ASEAN summit, Harris has visited more countries in Southeast Asia than in any other region.
Singapore in South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
By Gordon Kang
Southeast Asia plays a key role in South Korea’s Indo-Pacific ambitions, and Singapore in particular has proved a willing partner with many aligned interests.