By Nguyen Van Linh
Hanoi-based correspondent covering ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the archipelagic region.
Castillo's release is a win, but Myanmar's generals deserve no trust
The release of former AMCHAM head Adam Castillo is welcome, but it should not be read as a sign that Myanmar's generals are reliable partner
Thai-Israeli tensions rise as anti-Semitic rhetoric spreads in Bangkok
Thai officials exhumed four bodies from an unlicensed Jewish cemetery amid a crackdown on Israeli-owned businesses. A popular rock star's so
Cambodia shuts scam hubs but needs global help to trace the money
Cambodia has dismantled 86 scam compounds and frozen over $300 million in linked accounts. Yet the masterminds and their money often move ac
Indonesia's negotiation training with China raises hard questions
Indonesia sent 32 officials to China for a 14-day negotiation course funded by Beijing. Yet Jakarta's trade deficit with China has ballooned
Myanmar resistance drone strike on airbase signals wider drone war
On September 10, Myanmar's armed opposition launched a coordinated fiber-optic drone attack on Tada-U airbase, near Mandalay, targeting hang
Indonesia's finance minister change won't fix its investability problem
President Prabowo Subianto has swapped finance ministers, but Moody's, Fitch, and MSCI all signal growing investor unease. The real test is
Myanmar junta's UN gambit backfires as ambassador keeps seat
Myanmar's junta has declared UN ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun a traitor, but the UN Credentials Committee has kept him in place. The move reveals
Indonesia and South Korea deepen ties amid shifting US policy
Seoul and Jakarta have elevated their ties to a 'special comprehensive strategic partnership' after a summit in April. The move reflects sha
Indonesia's nickel boom is chewing through its limestone hills
Indonesia's nickel boom, driven by Chinese investment, is consuming vast amounts of limestone from karst hills in Sulawesi and Halmahera. Th
Myanmar's junta splits the world: condemnation in Geneva, red carpets in Hanoi
UN investigators and the EU condemn Myanmar's military for escalating atrocities. Yet Senior General Min Aung Hlaing receives head-of-state
Indonesia's largest Muslim group faces a test of independence after leadership shift
Nahdlatul Ulama has chosen Gus Kikin as its new chairman amid rumors of government influence. The group's independence from the state is now
Beyond Beijing: The nuanced reality of foreign influence in the Philippines
Foreign influence in the Philippines is often framed as a Chinese threat, but the reality is more complex. Manila must distinguish legitimat