Widodo wades into Russia-Ukraine war mire
John McBeth  | July 1, 2022

The underlying reason for Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s venture into world diplomacy, meeting back-to-back with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, was more about trying to save the G20 summit in Bali next November and addressing a growing world food crisis than any overly-ambitious mission to try and end the war in Ukraine.

Marcos vows new era of unity for the Philippines
Jason Castaneda  | July 1, 2022

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr is now officially the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines, having won an unprecedented 31 million (out of a total of 55 million) votes in May’s presidential elections. It marked the culmination of a decades-long effort by the Marcos family to regain political control of the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam warily weighs a China base in Cambodia
David Hutt  | June 30, 2022

Vietnam, the nation potentially most imperiled by a Chinese military presence in Cambodia, has been tight-lipped on the widely circulated reports of a secret China-Cambodia base. When recently asked about the Beijing-funded developments at the Ream Naval Base, a Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson was cryptic if not evasive.

Philippines-China energy sharing dead in the water
Richard Javad Heydarian  | June 28, 2022

In perhaps the clearest sign yet of outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fruitless strategic lean toward China, the outgoing leader’s chief diplomat has announced bilateral energy exploration talks in the South China Sea have collapsed, warning of a “constitutional crisis” should Manila press ahead with resource-sharing with China within Philippine-claimed waters.

Marcos bids to be man of the Filipino farmer
Jason Castaneda  | June 27, 2022

Just weeks after appointing A-list technocrats to his cabinet, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr is showing his populist stripes with the unprecedented move of appointing himself as incoming agriculture secretary amid soaring inflation, as millions of Filipinos grapple with record-high energy and food costs.

Najib tries to turn tables on judge who convicted him
Nile Bowie  | June 24, 2022

Malaysia’s highest court will soon reach its final and incontestable conclusion on whether to uphold former prime minister Najib Razak’s landmark corruption conviction, a ruling that will leave the influential ex-leader either firmly emboldened as he mounts a political comeback or forced to adjust to life in a jail cell.

Dual Covid corruption scandals rock Vietnam
Nate Fischler | June 20, 2022

Heads are rolling in Vietnam as investigations have led to high-profile Party expulsions and arrests of high-level government officials, military officers, health officials, and business executives, shining new light on the country’s endemic institutional corruption. Recent twin scandals represent the largest corruption and abuse of power cases in recent memory.

Marcos to tap China’s assistance for economic recovery
Jason Castaneda | June 20, 2022

In the clearest indication yet of his preference for maintaining warm relations with Beijing, Ferdinand Marcos Jr has described China as the Philippines’ “strongest partner,” singling out Beijing as crucial to continuing Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure investment policy and keeping “the stability of our economic recovery” amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Hong Kong sparks a political uproar in Myanmar
Ian Ng and Dominic Oo | June 16, 2022

Hong Kong has sparked a huge diplomatic row after being warned by Myanmar’s self-proclaimed “parallel” government for choosing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China in a military-affiliated hotel that stands on land sanctioned by the West, underscoring how Hong Kong businesses have retained links with the ruling junta.

World’s largest joint naval exercise a message to China
David Hutt | June 15, 2022

Europe is under pressure to engage more in the Myanmar crisis, with calls for greater recognition of the shadow government that opposes the military junta, which has called on Western democracies to help arm anti-junta defense forces in the same way that financial and military support has been proactively offered to the Ukrainian forces fighting off a Russian invasion.

Canberra eyes a strategic reboot
Richard Javad Heydarian | June 14, 2022

The outspoken Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad once dared Australia to decide “whether it’s an Asian country or a Western country.” By all indications, the new Labor government in Canberra seems to want it both ways. While remaining a staunch US ally, Australia’s new government has also made it clear that it is not just “America’s deputy sheriff” in the region.

Myanmar raising bloodthirsty death squads
David Scott Mathieson | June 10, 2022

Violence in Myanmar is spreading across rural and urban spaces like bushfires with the rise of clandestine hit squads who call themselves thway-thout-ah-pwe, or “blood drinkers group.” These groups have been active around the central city of Mandalay, abducting, torturing and killing members of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD).

US on charm offensive to woo Marcos Jr
Richard Javad Heydarian | June 10, 2022

Weeks before his inauguration, Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr is meeting with global dignitaries, with an early emphasis on engagement with the West. This week, the ex-dictator’s son met US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who underscored shared the long-time allies shared democratic values and the US-Philippine alliance.