By Nguyen Van Linh
Hanoi-based correspondent covering ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the archipelagic region.
Halmahera's Nickel Boom Risks Creating a Chinese-Led Company Island
Halmahera, Indonesia's nickel-rich island, has become a global battery supply chain hub, driven by Chinese capital. While bringing economic
Myanmar's Resistance Unites Under a Single Political Charter, Ending Fragmentation
The Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union marks the most significant formal alliance since the 2021 coup. It unit
UNCLOS Conciliation Offers Cambodia and Thailand a Path to Maritime Peace
Cambodia has launched compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS after Thailand abandoned a 25-year-old bilateral MoU on maritime borders. The pro
Marjane Satrapi’s ‘Persepolis’: A Personal Lens on Iran’s Foreign Entanglements
Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir ‘Persepolis’ uses her own life to illuminate Iran’s fraught history with foreign powers. The book traces Br
Myanmar's Prison Releases Are a Feature of Junta's Terror System, Not a Reform
Myanmar's Thingyan amnesty freed 4,300 prisoners, including former President Win Myint, but the junta's detention system has stabilized at a
Asia's Energy Independence: Lessons from the Philippines Emergency
The Philippines declared a national energy emergency in March 2026 due to Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption. A new RMI an
Thailand's Bid to Become ASEAN's Data Center Hub Gains Momentum
Thailand's Board of Investment approved over $30 billion in projects in Q1 2026, with data centers dominating. Industrial estate operators l
Trump's New Tariff Strategy Targets Indonesia with Layered Duties
The US has shifted to a legally defensible tariff regime under Section 301, replacing broad reciprocal tariffs. Indonesia faces a potential
Singapore's Capital Magnetism Risks Hollowing Out Southeast Asia's Startup Ecosystems
Singapore absorbed 92% of Southeast Asia's startup funding in the first half of 2025, up from Indonesia's 42% share in 2021. The capital fli
China Risks Reputational Damage by Backing Prabowo's Tainted Meal Program
China has tied its image to Indonesia's controversial Free Nutritious Meals program, now mired in corruption allegations. The scandal risks
Indonesia's Self-Inflicted Crisis: Bad Timing for a Dangerous Gamble
Bank Indonesia's emergency rate hike on June 9 signals alarm over the rupiah's record low and capital flight. President Prabowo's erosion of
Indonesia's Danantara Tests Investor Trust in Prabowo's Economic Vision
Indonesia's new state wealth fund Danantara has received split credit ratings, highlighting investor uncertainty about President Prabowo Sub