In recent years, Southeast Asian governments have viewed the China plus one strategy as their best chance to escape the middle-income trap. As global manufacturers looked to diversify away from China because of rising costs, trade tensions and supply-chain vulnerabilities, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia seemed perfectly placed to benefit. The promise was simple and compelling: new factories would arrive, more formal jobs would be created, wages would rise in tandem with higher productivity...

A new wave of US tariffs that hit seven Southeast Asian countries is set to reinforce perceptions of Washington as an unreliable partner to the region, according to analysts. Citing what it said were forced labour practices uncovered in its latest investigations, the US on Thursday imposed levies ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent on 60 economies with the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam the hardest hit among Association of Southeast Asian Nations members. Malaysia, Indonesia and...

Malaysian police have received a report against Perikatan Nasional election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over remarks allegedly made during a speech while campaigning for the Negeri Sembilan election. Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said the report was lodged by a 40-year-old man at the Bandar Seri Jempol police station on Friday. The complainant was unhappy with a news report published by an online portal regarding a speech by the Kedah chief minister, he said in a statement...

Across Myanmar, the statues are vanishing one by one. Military-backed authorities blame incorrect proportions and shapes. Unofficially, analysts see a deliberate attempt to erase the presence of independence hero Aung San from public life and with it, the legitimacy of the elected government the junta overthrew. Revered as the countrys founding father, Aung San founded its military, united its diverse ethnic groups and spearheaded the nationalist movement that ultimately wrested...

Indonesia wants to build a financial centre to rival Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, but analysts say the real work of persuading global investors has barely begun. Parliaments passage of the enabling legislation on Tuesday laid the legal foundation for the hub, marking a milestone in President Prabowo Subiantos push to attract more foreign capital into Southeast Asias largest economy and lift growth towards 8 per cent by the end of his term in 2029. Yet observers caution that the centre,...

Heatwaves come and go, and while this is happening with increasing frequency and intensity as this years record-breaking temperatures show they slip from attention once things cool off. What does not disappear is the lasting and costly damage they do to the basic infrastructure we rely on in our daily lives. Ultra-hot days and nights can result in the deaths of many people (those who cannot afford air conditioning especially) and they ignite forest infernos of terrifying intensity. Some of...

By day, Adele Lee juggles schedules and administrative work as a personal assistant to a senior director at a financial advisory firm. Three evenings a week, the 32-year-old logs back on, this time to sell second-hand clothes through TikTok livestreams, fielding questions from viewers and packing orders herself after the broadcast ends. The side hustle brings in about S$500 (US$390) a month, supplementing her monthly salary of almost S$4,000. The extra cash helps pay for her insurance ..

Bali has aura and political titan Luhut Pandjaitan wants to channel it to transform Indonesias famed resort island into an international financial centre. But President Prabowo Subiantos special adviser and economic tsar is not relying on subtle nods to Gen Z slang to sell paradise. Instead, he conjures up a striking image to make his case. A friend recently sent him a photograph of kamikaze drones lighting up the skies over Abu Dhabi, accompanied by a plea: help us get out. Indonesia,...

Indias Akasa Air and Malaysias AirBorneo are pressing ahead with expansion plans despite soaring jet fuel prices and disruption from the US-Israel war on Iran, in a development analysts say shows smaller Asian carriers finding room to grow while larger airlines grapple with capacity constraints. Akasa Air, Indias youngest airline, said last week that it was seeking to raise 10.5 billion rupees (US$110 million) through equity and debt, including loans from state-run banks, to fund its...

A tornado tore through an industrial site in Batam, Indonesia, ripping roofing from workshop facilities and sending helmeted workers running for cover as weather officials warned that unstable conditions could trigger further sudden storms. The short-lived wind vortex, described locally as a puting beliung, struck VME Process in Tanjung Sengkuang, Batu Ampar, at about 10am on Wednesday, damaging workers shelters and scattering construction materials across the site, according to Indonesian...

Southeast Asias governments have spent months trying to blunt the effects of war-driven energy shocks from the Middle East, but renewed fighting between the United States and Iran has exposed how limited those defences are, analysts have warned. The latest flare-up has revived fears of a second round of fuel disruption across the region, where many economies remain heavily dependent on imported oil and shipping routes linked to the Gulf. Southeast Asian leaders expressed grave concern over...

Malaysia has ordered the UN refugee agency to stop registering new refugees while it builds a biometric identification system that officials say will give them greater control over a population of more than 215,000 displaced people. But rights advocates warn the freeze risks leaving newly arrived asylum seekers with no way to prove they need protection, opening a dangerous gap in a country that does not accord them formal legal status. The cabinet ordered the United Nations High Commissioner ..

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to step up a crackdown on transnational online scam networks, but warned the criminal syndicates were adapting by fracturing into smaller, decentralised cells across the region. Authorities had already shut down more than 670 illegal scam operations while expanding intelligence sharing with key international law enforcement partners, he said, including during a visit this week with US Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel. We will make...

A potent cocktail of domestic and international political headwinds continues to weigh on the Philippines economic recovery, even as inflation eased in June. Economists point to turmoil in the Senate and a recent corruption scandal that rocked the nation as internal shackles holding back an already fragile economy reeling from energy shocks and extreme weather. Dutch financial think tank ING said in a recent report that political uncertainties compounded the Philippines economic pressures...

Almost two years after six travellers died and one survivor was left blind from suspected methanol-tainted drinks in Laos, the criminal case over the incident is finally proceeding with charges filed against a distillery owner as families of the victims continue to demand answers and stern punishment. Last Friday, the owner of the distillery where the drinks linked to the deaths were thought to have originated was given one charge of running an illegal business and one charge of selling ..

A social media post over an unpaid phone bill has triggered a data-protection investigation in Malaysia, after one of the countrys most recognisable influencers questioned how a stranger obtained details from his telecoms account. The episode involving Khairul Amin Kamarulzaman, better known as Khairul Aming, has raised uncomfortable questions for telcos about how tightly they manage customer account information and how quickly private details can be exposed when those controls fail. Khairul...

The elevation of ties between the Philippines and New Zealand to a comprehensive partnership gives both countries a wider framework to deepen cooperation, as Manila expands its network of middle-power partners and Wellington steps up its engagement in Southeast Asia, analysts have said. The upgrade also builds on rapidly tightening defence ties, giving Manila another security partner and New Zealand a stronger foothold in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, observers add. New Zealand and ..

Indonesias push to rewrite its copyright law for the age of artificial intelligence has opened a new front in the battle between news publishers seeking compensation for their work and technology companies warning against overreach. At stake is who gets paid when AI systems and digital platforms use news, images, software and other copyrighted works and how much human involvement is needed before AI-assisted output qualifies for legal protection. Last week, the House of Representatives said...

Chinas durian imports rose 47 per cent, year on year, in the first half of 2026, with Thailand and Malaysia posting particularly strong gains, according to customs data, as Southeast Asian exporters offloaded a glut of the fruit that had sparked a price drop. Thailand exported nearly US$3.79 billion worth of the pungent spiky fruit shipped to China in the first half of 2026, the Chinese customs data showed, taking an 81 per cent share of the market. Thai shipments reached US$2.56 billion in ..

Thai authorities said on Thursday they are searching for the people responsible for an attack in the countrys troubled deep south region that killed five soldiers and injured several civilians. About 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at soldiers at a security checkpoint near a residential area in Narathiwat province on Wednesday evening before fleeing, according to the regional Internal Security Operations Command. Six civilians were injured during the attack, including a...

The Philippines push to establish a cross-border grid with Indonesia highlights the growing urgency of securing energy supplies amid soaring electricity costs, marking another step towards a long-delayed regional power network. Analysts hail the move as crucial for addressing domestic energy woes and unlocking mutual interests between neighbours, though they also point to geographical and supply-chain challenges. Manilas Department of Energy said last month that efforts were under way to...

In April 1955, amid the Cold War, 304 representatives across 29 Asian and African nations convened in Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss the principles of a more complex future world order. Among them were India, China and host Indonesia. While India would go on to champion the non-aligned movement at the 1961 Belgrade Conference, Mao Zedongs China and Sukarnos Indonesia were more sceptical of the colonial, Western order. Then the more US-sympathetic Suharto seized power in Indonesia in 1966....

A married Singapore ministers sudden resignation amid revelations he had exchanged inappropriate messages with a woman has rocked the city states establishment circles, with a groundswell of sentiment calling for him to be retained. Amid online petitions and calls to keep former minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs Faishal Ibrahim following his resignation on Monday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shed further light on the controversy, suggesting the matter was more serious than previously...

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio suffered a serious setback in her impeachment trial this week after the Senate allowed prosecutors to examine key financial records in an unexplained wealth case against her. Analysts said the Senate impeachment courts ruling could give prosecutors a clearer route to show she amassed ill-gotten wealth and pull down her popularity ratings in time for the 2028 presidential election, thus raising the stakes for Duterte-Carpio as she fights not only ..

Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stepped up the pace of renewal of his Cabinet on Wednesday by confirming two acting ministers and reinstating a former minister who was defeated in 2020 but won in last years poll. Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam was promoted to senior minister, joining the ranks of former leader Lee Hsien Loong. Shanmugam, a senior counsel, entered politics in 1988 and has helmed the home affairs ministry since 2015. Shanmugam is the first ..

The United States has turned to a career Middle East diplomat for its next ambassador to Malaysia, a sharp change in tone after an earlier nominee known for his alpha male bravado, pro-Israel posts and culture-war commentary drew protests in the Muslim-majority country. US President Donald Trump nominated Joshua Harris for the Kuala Lumpur posting after his previous nomination of Australian-born conservative commentator Nick Adams lapsed in the Senate. The White House sent Harriss nomination...

At the remote, mountainous frontier where the mighty Mekong carves the border between Myanmar and Laos, planners have sketched the outline of a mega dam. It would be the largest hydropower project ever built on the rivers mainstream outside China, but analysts suspect the study into it may matter more than the dam itself. A 34-month joint feasibility study for the 2,790-megawatt project was agreed on July 4 during Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaings state visit to Vientiane. Officials from ..

When global index provider MSCI warned in January that Indonesia risked being demoted from emerging to frontier market status, it unleashed a wave of volatility, sell-offs and wild trading swings. Six months on, Jakartas investment chief argues the real story is not about whether the country can earn investors trust. For Indonesia, this is not about short-term market status, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani told This Week in Asia in written replies to questions. It is about building a...

The chief of the Indonesian agency overseeing President Prabowo Subiantos flagship free meals programme said on Wednesday she had resigned, citing health reasons, the second leadership change at the beleaguered government body in just over a month. The resignation of Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, who took over the National Nutrition Agency in June, comes after budget cuts and a criminal investigation into the free meals scheme, which has been dogged by logistical challenges, concerns about quality...

Indonesias long-stalled gas project in the North Natuna Sea is stirring back to life, with its new operator confirming that activities have resumed at a strategically sensitive field after years of commercial uncertainty and pressure from China. Prime Group, the Indonesian company that took over operatorship from Britains Harbour Energy, told This Week in Asia that activities associated with the Tuna PSC have resumed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. The PSC ...

Japan is turning to five lesser-used straits in Southeast Asia as insurance against the next maritime shock, with plans to create detailed nautical charts for ships to navigate through these waters and bring vital goods to its economy. Tokyo would work with Indonesia and the Philippines to chart their respective straits, the foreign ministry told the Yomiuri newspaper, as it stepped up efforts to mitigate disruption to global trade arising from the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. The...

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has appointed army chief Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete as the next head of the armed forces, placing a veteran of the countrys internal conflicts in charge before a sensitive election in the Muslim south and amid continued maritime tensions with China. The choice points to continuity in security policy and puts the Armed Forces of the Philippines under an officer whose career has been closely tied to Mindanao, which is preparing for its ..

Indonesia has further reduced its budget for President Prabowo Subiantos signature free school meals programme to 229 trillion rupiah (US$12.81 billion) from 268 trillion rup

Indonesias decision to join a new China-led artificial intelligence body has raised questions about how far Jakarta can push its digital ambitions without complicating its ties with Washington. For Indonesia, membership in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico) offers a route to training, infrastructure and a bigger role in global AI governance as it seeks to boost technological development. But analysts said the move could also be seen as a political manoeuvre ..

Malaysia is close to overhauling its nearly 30-year-old cybercrime law and giving authorities long-sought tools to pursue online fraud, digital impersonation and AI-generated abuse, but experts say the bills impact will depend on whether investigators can enforce it effectively and prevent misuse of its powers. The Cybercrimes Bill 2026 was first tabled in parliament on June 22 and passed by the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysias lower house, on July 1. The Dewan Negara, the upper house, approved it on...

Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has threatened to remove ministers and federal appointees who use public office to attack their own government partners, drawing a new red line as the ruling coalitions rival camps collide again ahead of the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1. Anwar said senior officials were free to campaign for their parties but must step down to avoid weaponising their official positions against allies in his unity government. If they wish to do so, they...

New findings on Chinese financing in the Philippines are challenging the assumption that Beijing reduced its funding under President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr because of worsening tensions in the South China Sea. Instead, Chinese capital had continued to support Filipino businesses in recent years, including a US$3.9 billion syndicated loan to telecommunications company Dito Telecommunity in 2023, the largest ever China-backed private-sector loan to the Philippines, AidData, a US-based research...