Region
Southeast Asia
Laos Faces a Delicate Balancing Act as ASEAN Leader
By Ratih Indraswari
How Vientiane approaches its obligations to ASEAN and its debt to China will be a key to the bloc’s fortunes in 2024.
Philippine FM Urges Regional Unity on South China Sea Disputes
By Rod McGuirk
Enrique Manalo's comments were delivered on the first day of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.
Communist Party Directive Takes Aim At ‘Hostile Forces’ in Vietnam
By Sebastian Strangio
Directive 24 calls on the Party to counter the influence of "hostile and reactionary forces" taking advantage of the country's increased openness to the outside world.
Myanmar’s Military Is Playing a Dangerous Game in Rakhine State
By Kyaw Lynn
The army's reported plan to conscript Rohingya civilians could worsen the region's already fragile ethnic relations.
Myanmar Military, Resistance Alliance Sign China-Brokered Agreement
By Sebastian Strangio
The two sides have promised to pull back forces from frontline positions and safeguard Chinese interests in northern Shan State.
Voltage Visions: China’s EV Surge in Southeast Asia
By Nancy Wei
With intense competition at home, China is exporting its electric vehicle success story to Southeast Asia.
Indonesia-Middle East Relations Set to Bloom Under Prabowo
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
The former general, who spent time in voluntary exile in Jordan, is poised to build on the progress made by President Joko Widodo.
Thailand to Ban Recreational Marijuana Use By Year’s End, Minister Says
By Sebastian Strangio
The move comes less than two years after the Thai government became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize the cultivation and consumption of marijuana.
What to Expect From the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
By Sebastian Strangio
The March 4-6 summit seeks to build on the progress that has taken place in ASEAN-Australia relations under Prime Minister Albanese's Labor government.
Is China Committing Environmental Crimes in the South China Sea?
John McManus, a professor at the Rosenstiel School of the University of Miami, discusses the environmental damage to the South China Sea, China's role, and the chances for an ecological recovery.
Australia-Philippines Strategic Partnership in the Spotlight as Marcos Addresses Australian Parliament
By Grant Wyeth
Central to Marcos’ speech – and to growing Australia-Philippines ties – are concerns about China’s behavior in the South China Sea.
The Case For Greater ASEAN Defense Industry Collaborations
By Muhammad Fauzan Malufti
Southeast Asian governments can no longer rely on their traditional arms suppliers. It's time for them to take matters into their own hands.