Southeast Asia
ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the maritime archipelagos. Ten very different countries, one region.
Shared AI failures pose a systemic risk banks cannot manage alone
A shared AI failure could disrupt payments across multiple banks simultaneously, even without a conventional outage. Southeast Asian regulat
Indonesia's mineral incentives carry hidden costs that need scrutiny
Indonesia's tax holidays and subsidies for nickel and bauxite processing are set to cost billions, yet the full price remains uncalculated.
Cambodia's Japan security aid is a hedge, not a pivot from China
Cambodia's acceptance of Japanese security aid is a calculated hedge, not a pivot away from China. The move adds strategic options while pre
Indonesia should push for a seat in new global forest fire fund
Two American charities launched a US$100 million forest fire fund limited to South America, leaving Indonesia out. Jakarta should push to jo
Aceh's flood grievances revive separatist symbols and calls for independence
Thousands in Banda Aceh marked 21 years of peace by raising the Free Aceh Movement flag and chanting for independence. The resurgence follow
Myanmar's junta courts Washington while US policy stays tangled
Myanmar's military regime is courting Washington through lobbying and media, yet US-Myanmar ties never fully broke. Strategic geography and
Cambodia shows how China's AI surveillance exports reshape Southeast Asia
Cambodia's deepening ties with China now include AI-enabled surveillance, raising concerns about digital authoritarianism. The country's 'Sm
Cambodia's anti-scam drive: judging the record on evidence
Cambodia has dismantled 86 scam compounds and sent nearly 4,000 suspects to court since July 2025. Officials invite scrutiny but ask that pr
Cambodia's anti-scam summit masks its own complicity
Cambodia's anti-scam summit in Phnom Penh aims to restore its reputation, but critics say the government has long protected scam operators.
ASEAN's digital payment boom outruns its anti-scam defenses
ASEAN's cross-border QR payment integration is accelerating, but enforcement remains national, leaving gaps for cybercriminals. Indonesia's
Vietnam's BRICS partner status: a hedge, not a pivot
Vietnam accepted BRICS partner status after an eight-month delay, opting for the outer ring over full membership. The move reflects a calcul
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