Thongloun Sisoulith

Hanoi is becoming increasingly unnerved by the growing Chinese influence over its longstanding clients, Cambodia and Laos.

Ongoing anti-graft campaigns in Vietnam and Laos focus on officials' moral conduct without addressing the political structures that incentivize corruption.

The Lao communist party's newly selected General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith once promised change. Now he sits atop a closed and sclerotic system.

Laos’ quinquennial National Party Congress is coming up in 2021, but the prospects for meaningful change look slimmer and slimmer.

Both sides continue to try to resolve a thorny issue in their bilateral relationship.

The issue poses significant challenges for the Southeast Asian state’s future trajectory.

Despite some incremental progress, deeper questions remain unresolved.

A closer look at the developments underway and their significance.

Any attempt to evaluate the government's performance must recognize that the approach can cut both ways.

A look at defense relations between the two sides with the Russian defense minister’s visit.

The overall challenge remains vast despite piecemeal efforts to address it.