Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Indonesia on Tuesday for talks dominated by the crisis in Myanmar, with the regional bloc divided over how or whether to reengage with the coup-wracked country’s ruling junta. The two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting will be followed by talks later in the week with Beijing, Washington and other
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose country still grapples with deadly war remnants, on Sunday urged Ukraine not to use cluster bombs, after Washington announced plans to send the weapons to Kyiv to fight Russian troops. Humanitarian groups have strongly condemned the US decision to supply cluster munitions, which can go undetonated and potentially endanger
The Myanmar crisis and the implementation of the 5-point consensus (5PC) will dominate the scheduled ASEAN retreat on July 12th, according to a highly placed source. The source said that Indonesia has scheduled the retreat after the plenary session, so that all foreign ministers will be able to exchange views on the crisis. Traditionally, the
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday wrote off $1.04 billion in land-related debt owed by more than half a million farmers, a move aimed at boosting food production. The “New Agrarian Emancipation Act” he signed into law waived all property-related debt owed by farmers who had been given land on 30-year payment terms under a
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will seek in talks with Southeast Asian nations next week to push back on China and to pressure Myanmar’s junta, a top aide said Friday. Blinken will travel to Jakarta for talks with foreign ministers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), flying straight from Lithuania where he will
Thailand’s next leader should implement policies for solid development, to solve issues in the domestic economy, the bureaucratic system, and leverage cooperation with neighbouring countries, according to President of American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Mook Pibuldham, adding that the key to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is to maintain political stability. In an exclusive
China becoming a signatory to the ASEAN no-nuclear weapons treaty could persuade other nuclear powers to consider their accession, a senior Thai official said today (Thursday). During the weekly press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Usana Berananda, Director General of the ASEAN Department, said that China is ready to sign the protocol of
Vietnam has launched an inspection into K-pop group Blackpink’s tour organiser’s website, ahead of its concert in Hanoi, over criticism from fans that it shows a map of the South China Sea with disputed boundaries. The controversy follows Vietnam’s decision to ban Warner Bros’ (WBD.O) highly-anticipated film “Barbie” over a scene allegedly featuring the “nine-dash
A group of armed anti-military forces announced that they carried out attacks on six locations on Friday night, July 5th. The group, supposedly a coalition of urban guerrillas, led by the Anonymous Fighters Force (AAF), targeted 2 security force-related buildings, 3 government offices and a security-check point within Yangon. A post by the AAF group
The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday accused Chinese patrol vessels of blocking two of its boats in the disputed South China Sea, describing their actions as “very dangerous”. China claims almost the entire sea despite rival claims from other Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. Its coast guard and navy vessels routinely
Cambodia blacklisted 22 people on the Oversight Board for Facebook’s parent company Meta on Tuesday after they recommended premier Hun Sen’s account be suspended over a video in which he threatened to beat up his rivals. The blacklisting is the latest twist in a row that has seen the longtime Cambodian leader, once a prolific
Vietnam has banned the upcoming “Barbie” movie from cinemas over scenes with a map showing China’s claims to territory in the South China Sea, state media reported Monday. The fantasy comedy film about the famous doll, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, had been set for nationwide release in Vietnam
