Southeast Asia
ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the maritime archipelagos. Ten very different countries, one region.
Indonesia's China ties raise a pointed question: who is 'foreign'?
Indonesia and China agreed to expand defense cooperation, with Beijing citing 'malicious intentions' of foreign powers. But Jakarta's simult
South China Sea ruling at ten: law and power drift apart
Ten years after the 2016 arbitral award, the Philippines still faces a maritime standoff with China. Manila's challenge is to blend legal ri
Vietnam's 'justice tree' campaign exposes limits of online dissent
A viral campaign over a fatal crash involving a minister's husband has drawn over a million posts in Vietnam. The state's response—silence,
US transshipment claims in Southeast Asia rest on thin data
Washington's August 13 report, 'The Great Transshipment Scam,' places four ASEAN countries in Tier 2 for alleged tariff evasion. Yet the rep
Myanmar's junta builds a sanctions-busting axis with Russia
Myanmar's military is forging closer ties with Russia, using infrastructure projects like Dawei to secure investment and legitimacy. This ax
China-Indonesia deals raise hidden costs as Jakarta deepens ties
China and Indonesia launched a new strategic dialogue and announced joint weapons production, but critics question the hidden costs. Jakarta
Indonesia's Lampung-1 satellite: farming tool or surveillance risk?
Indonesia's Lampung-1 satellite, built by China, promises agricultural benefits but raises data control and security concerns. Local officia
Vietnam's new frigate signals shift toward self-reliant naval defense
Vietnam has launched construction of its largest domestically designed warship, an anti-submarine frigate meant to bolster maritime sovereig
Jakarta's balancing act: China's naval drill near Taiwan tests Indonesia's neutrality
Indonesia will hold a joint naval exercise with China near Taiwan, announced during a US defense official's visit to Jakarta. The move under
Vietnam-Australia ties advance steadily, but limits remain
To Lam's August 11 visit to Canberra marked the first state visit by a Vietnamese head of state since 1975. The two countries delivered on k
Myanmar's junta tries to abolish the ASEAN test it cannot pass
Myanmar's foreign ministry declared the ASEAN special envoy's office 'no longer necessary' on August 8. The move follows ASEAN's push for be
Cambodia faces a narrowing window to diversify before 2029 trade shift
Cambodia's growth model leans on Chinese investment and trade preferences, but LDC graduation in 2029 and slow productivity gains threaten i