Southeast Asia
ASEAN, the Mekong, the South China Sea and the maritime archipelagos. Ten very different countries, one region.
MSCI Deadline Looms Over Indonesia's Flawed Stock Exchange
The Indonesia Stock Exchange's outdated mutual ownership model undermines its credibility and global competitiveness. A new law permits demu
China Built Indonesia's Nickel Boom. Will It Stay for the Bust?
PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry, a flagship Chinese investment in Indonesia, has been placed under debt restructuring. The troubles reflect wid
Indonesia's Patriot Bonds: A Hidden Amnesty in Plain Sight
Indonesia's BPI Danantara launches Patriot Bonds with a 2% coupon, well below market rates. The bonds are sold via private placement to majo
Vietnam Graft Case Exposes To Lam's Security-State Economy
Prosecutors allege Nam Trieu inflated prices for police equipment, causing $710,000 in losses. The case highlights the Ministry of Public Se
Indonesia's Finance Chief Returns from Beijing with Symbolic Gains and a Reality Check
Indonesia's finance chief secured Chinese backing for a sovereign Panda Bond and a $17 billion AIIB commitment, but the visit's deeper purpo
Why the Philippines Remains a Republic of Departure
Over two million Filipino workers leave annually, their skills deployed abroad while the archipelago's industrial potential remains unrealiz
ASEAN Deepens Russia Ties as G7 Tightens Isolation Over Ukraine
ASEAN leaders met in Kazan for a commemorative summit with Russia, overlapping with a G7 meeting in France. The dual events highlight a grow
Indonesia's Nickel Nationalism Stumbles as Chinese Firms Push Back
Chinese firms in Indonesia issued an unprecedented open letter to President Prabowo Subianto, complaining of regulatory burdens and corrupti
Thailand-Cambodia Peace Deal Alone Won't Solve Humanitarian Crisis
Diplomatic progress between Thailand and Cambodia masks a dire humanitarian situation. Nearly one million people were displaced, schools and
Can Hanoi's Reforms Satisfy Washington Before Trade Friction Escalates?
Vietnam's trade surplus with the US reached $123.5 billion in 2025, one of America's largest deficits. Hanoi is tightening rules of origin a
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