Southeast Asia Insights

A man is about to go on a motorbike ride. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 9, 2020. Un homme sapprete a prendre son scooter. Ho Chi Minh Ville, Vietnam, 9 Mars 2020.NO USE FRANCE

Southeast Asia Insights: Experts Weigh In is an online forum at Brookings, dedicated to scholarly analysis of policy trends in Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. This forum presents blog posts, podcasts and papers featuring Brookings scholars, experts from the region, and other contributors. Southeast Asia Insights is overseen by the Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies and coordinated by Senior Research Assistant Adrien Chorn. The series offers expert discussions and analysis on a broad range of topics including:

U.S. foreign policy toward Southeast Asia
China’s rising influence in the region
ASEAN’s role and capacity
Regional elections and governance trends
Response to COVID-19 and other transnational challenges
Trade, investment, and infrastructure

Blog Posts

Indonesia's Defense Minister and leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto delivers his speech alongside his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and currently Surakarta's mayor, as they claim victory after unofficial vote counts during an event to watch the results of the general election in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 14, 2024.

Foreign Politics & Elections Indonesia’s eras: Reflections on Jokowi’s legacy and Prabowo’s presidency

Natalie Sambhi

February 28, 2024

Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on February 1, 2021, presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021.

Myanmar Myanmar’s junta doesn’t have to ‘win,’ it just has to wait

Mike Walker

January 24, 2024

Resistance force servicemen take a break during the 1111 operation, where they were involved in a battle against the military junta in Demoso township.

Myanmar Operation 1027: Changing the tides of the Myanmar civil war?

Yun Sun

January 16, 2024

Street vendor pulls cart past banner of Indonesia's presidential candidates

Indonesia Indonesia’s election reveals its democratic challenges

Thomas Pepinsky

January 12, 2024

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (left), Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew (right) and coalition party leaders show a MOU during the press conference of coalition parties to sign a MOU on May 22, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Vachira Vachira/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE

Foreign Politics & Elections Thailand’s election of the century

Scott Christensen

May 25, 2023

Quang Binh, Vietnam.- In the photos taken on October 20, 2020, it shows the floods caused by heavy rains that affect central Vietnam. The death toll during the recent floods rose to 106, while 27 people remain missing, according to the Office of the Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Natural Disasters.

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia needs Biden and Xi to work together on climate

Jonathan Stromseth

November 14, 2022

Manila, Philippines.- In the photos taken on May 7, 2022, it shows Bongbong Marcos, during an electoral riot. Marcos, son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, achieved a historic victory in the presidential elections held on Monday (9) in the Philippines, according to the provisional count of the Electoral Commission, with more than 96% of the votes counted, totaling more than 30.5 million votes, doubling Leni Robredo with 14.5 million votes.

Southeast Asia Fears of a Marcos government courting China are overblown

Andrew Yeo, Enrico Gloria

May 13, 2022

FILE PHOTO: Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lipa, Batangas province, Philippines, April 20, 2022/.Eloisa Lopez//File Photo

Southeast Asia A Marcos returns to power in the Philippines

Mely Caballero-Anthony

May 13, 2022

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden takes a question after announcing the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day for the next six months from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as part of administration efforts to lower gasoline prices, at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

Southeast Asia Taking stock of US-ASEAN relations as Biden convenes a special summit

Jonathan Stromseth

May 11, 2022

Members of the People's Defence Forces (PDF) who became guerrilla fighters after being protesters are seen on the front line in Kawkareik, Myanmar December 19, 2021. Picture taken December 19, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Myanmar One year after Myanmar’s coup, old and new resistance is undermined by divisions

Yun Sun

February 1, 2022

A demonstrator shows the three-finger salute during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, February 21, 2021. REUTERS

Myanmar Don’t give up on Myanmar

Nay Yan Oo

December 16, 2021

China Premier Li Keqiang attends Southeast Asian leaders virtual summit Tuesday October 26, 2021 without Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing after its top general failure of Myanmar's army to adhere to a peace road map it had agreed with the southeast Asian bloc following the coup in February. The exclusion of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was an embarrassment for Myanmar's military and the harshest rebuke by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and took over the government on February 1. During the meeting on Tuesday Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said he welcomed the inclusion of Britain as the first new dialogue partner of ASEAN in over two decades. There were three separate meetings between the ASEAN leaders and leaders of the United States, China, and South Korea.

China ASEAN running out of time to recast role as buffer in US-China great power competition

Shuxian Luo

December 8, 2021

FILE PHOTO: Filipino journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, one of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners, poses for a portrait in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 9, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo

Southeast Asia In a first, the Nobel Peace Prize went to a Filipina. Her government isn’t happy.

Andrew Yeo, Enrico Gloria

October 21, 2021

US President Joe Biden (L) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) meet virtually with their counterparts in the Quad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan, from the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington DC, USA, 12 March 2021. No Use Germany.

Southeast Asia ASEAN and the Quad: Strategic impasse or avenue for cooperation?

Jonathan Stromseth

September 23, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks about a national security initiative on September 15, 2021 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. President Biden is joined virtually by Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom.Featuring: President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister Scott MorrisonWhere: Washington, District Of Columbia, United StatesWhen: 15 Sep 2021Credit: POOL via CNP/INSTARimages/Cover Images

Indonesia Australia’s nuclear submarines and AUKUS: The view from Jakarta

Natalie Sambhi

September 21, 2021

Activists hold placards and banners during a protest to support the anti-coup movement and democracy in Myanmar, near the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat building, ahead of the ASEAN leaders' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia April 24, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Myanmar Myanmar’s crisis tests ASEAN

Kavi Chongkittavorn

August 27, 2021

An aerial view of shipping containers stacked at the port of Singapore February 14, 2012. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD PACKAGE SEARCH BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD 12 DEC FOR ALL IMAGES

Southeast Asia The US must urgently rethink its economic policies in Asia

David Dollar, Jonathan Stromseth

February 17, 2021

Demonstrators show the three-finger salute as they protest against Myanmar military coup, in Tokyo, Japan, February 11, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Asia & the Pacific The genie will not return to the bottle: Understanding the pro-democracy protests in Myanmar

Edmund Malesky

February 11, 2021

People rally against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, February 9, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Myanmar To understand post-coup Myanmar, look to its history of popular resistance — not sanctions

Van Tran

February 9, 2021

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit as part of the 37th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam November 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Global Trade RCEP: A new trade agreement that will shape global economics and politics

Peter A. Petri, Michael Plummer

November 16, 2020

Pro-democracy demonstrators show the three-fingered salute during a protest outside the German Embassy, in Bangkok, Thailand October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Southeast Asia Thailand’s national moment: Protests in a continuing battle over nationalism

Joel Selway

November 2, 2020

Former Malyasian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad attends an international conference in Tokyo June 3, 2004. Mahatir is in Japan to attend a conference called "The Future of Asia", along with other leaders from East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao YN/SH

Southeast Asia The never-ending political game of Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad

Sophie Lemière

October 30, 2020

Xu Lin, vice head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, holds a copy of the white paper about China's fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a State Council Information Office (SCIO) briefing in Beijing, China June 7, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo

Asia & the Pacific COVID-19 and China’s information diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Audrye Wong

September 3, 2020

Vietnamese tourists visit Ha Long bay after the Vietnamese government eased the lockdown following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

International Affairs Reopening Vietnam: How the country’s improving governance helped it weather the COVID-19 pandemic

Trang (Mae) Nguyen, Edmund Malesky

May 20, 2020

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses a special video conference with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Hanoi April 14, 2020. Manan Vatsyayana/Pool via REUTERS

Southeast Asia US-China rivalry after COVID-19: Clues and early indications from Southeast Asia

Jonathan Stromseth

May 14, 2020

A Myanmar border guard police officer stands guard in front of the remains of a house burned down in a clash between suspected militants and security forces in Tin May village, Buthidaung township, northern Rakhine state, Myanmar July 14, 2017. Picture taken July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Simon Lewis - RC17166738A0

Myanmar Peace and war in Myanmar

Lex Rieffel

December 6, 2019

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his running mate for the 2019 presidential election Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin wave after registering for the election at the General Election Commission in Jakarta, Indonesia August 10, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT. - RC16976DBB40

Indonesia Is Islam an increasingly polarizing political cleavage in Indonesia?

Alexander R. Arifianto

April 25, 2019

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin react after a quick count result during the Indonesian elections in Jakarta, Indonesia April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su - RC19421D72E0

Indonesia In Indonesia, Jokowi’s victory reveals shifting voting patterns

Thomas Pepinsky

April 18, 2019

Supporters reach for a t-shirt at a carnival during a campaign rally of the Indonesia's president and presidential candidate for the next election Joko Widodo and his running mate for the upcoming election Ma'ruf Amin in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan - RC1C252882E0

Indonesia Politicizing inequality in Indonesian elections

Eve Warburton, Burhanuddin Muhtadi

April 8, 2019

An electoral member shows a ballot during the vote counting, during the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha - RC1C46223DD0

Southeast Asia Thailand’s election has redrawn the political landscape

Scott Christensen

April 4, 2019

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station, where Indonesian presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his wife Iriana, will cast their vote later in Jakarta July 9, 2014. Indonesians voted in a presidential election on Wednesday that has become a closely fought contest between the old guard who flourished under decades of autocratic rule and a new breed of politician that has emerged in the fledgling democracy.Only the third direct election for a president in the world's fourth-most populous state, the contest pits former special forces general Prabowo Subianto against Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who have been running neck-and-neck in opinion polls. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (INDONESIA - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS) - GM1EA79192401

Indonesia Indonesia’s upcoming elections, explained

Thomas Pepinsky

March 20, 2019

Supporters hold up signs during the Palang Pracharat Party campaign rally in Bangkok, Thailand, February 24, 2019. Picture taken February 24, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun - RC163BF7AD00

Southeast Asia Thailand’s elections of the decade

Scott Christensen

March 13, 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump walk in the garden of the Metropole hotel during the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis - RC1856057A00

North Korea Key takeaways from the second summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un

Jung H. Pak, Ryan Hass, Jonathan Stromseth

March 5, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sit down for a dinner during the second U.S.-North Korea summit at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam February 27, 2019. Also pictured at right are U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, at left are Vice Chairman of the North Korean Workers' Party Central Committee Kim Yong Chol and North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho (obscured) REUTERS/Leah Millis - RC179F888B20

North Korea The Hanoi summit shines a light on the “Vietnam model” of development

David Dollar

February 27, 2019

China's President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shake hands after a joint news statement at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, November 20, 2018. Mark Cristino/Pool via Reuters - RC1AC68D9E90

Southeast Asia China’s premature bid for hegemony in Southeast Asia

Richard Javad Heydarian

November 28, 2018

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a news conference in Singapore, November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha - RC1DC71B3B50

Southeast Asia Pence in Southeast Asia: Ways forward for U.S.-ASEAN cooperation on infrastructure development

Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit

November 27, 2018

Indonesia president Joko Widodo speaks to journalist after bilateral meeting with Singapore during the International Monitary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, October 11, 2018. Sonny Tumbelaka/Pool via REUTERS - RC197319E4E0

Indonesia Buck-passing from behind: Indonesia’s foreign policy and the Indo-Pacific

Evan A. Laksmana

November 27, 2018

A Buddhist monk looks through the window of a burnt car after Muslims attacked and set fire to a temple in Cox's Bazar October 1, 2012. Bangladesh accused Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar on Monday of involvement in attacks on Buddhist temples and homes in the southeast and said the violence was triggered by a photo posted on Facebook that insulted Islam. REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH - Tags: RELIGION CIVIL UNREST) - GM1E8A11KYB01

Southeast Asia Facebook can’t resolve conflicts in Myanmar and Sri Lanka on its own

Brandon Paladino, Hunter Marston

June 27, 2018

Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis and South Korea's Defence Minister Song Young-moo attend a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore June 3, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su - RC18246DC620

Asia & the Pacific Negotiating the Indo-Pacific security landscape: What the Shangri-La Dialogue tells us

Lynn Kuok

June 8, 2018

REFILE - CORRECTING DATE Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate for Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) reacts during a news conference after general election, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin - RC1932AA9080

Campaigns & Elections What democracies can learn from Malaysia

Shadi Hamid

May 17, 2018

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (L), newly elected Myanmar President Win Myint and his wife Cho Cho pose for a photo at the presidential palace at Naypyitaw, Myanmar March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Sai Zaw/Pool - RC1F126CB6B0

Myanmar Myanmar’s stable leadership change belies Aung San Suu Kyi’s growing political vulnerability

Brandon Paladino, Hunter Marston

April 5, 2018

A Vietnamese soldier keeps watch in front of U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson after its arrival at a port in Danang, Vietnam March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Kham - RC1CCE413490

Southeast Asia As U.S. aircraft carrier departs Vietnam, what are the implications for regional security?

Jonathan Stromseth, Hunter Marston

March 9, 2018

Foreign ministers prepare to pose for a group photo at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting retreat in Singapore February 6

Asia & the Pacific Singapore sounds an optimistic note but eyes tough year ahead as ASEAN chair

Lynn Kuok

February 22, 2018

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, who is on trial for the killing of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader, is escorted as she revisits the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

North Korea North Korea’s activities in Southeast Asia and the implications for the region

Sheena Chestnut Greitens

November 29, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the APEC CEO Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RC135142BA80

Asia & the Pacific America’s Asia policy must offer a positive agenda

Jonathan Stromseth, Ryan Hass

November 13, 2017

Shipping containers are seen at Nansha terminal of Guangzhou port, in Guangdong province, China June 14, 2017. Picture taken June 14, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA. - RC1D40E1D4E0

Asia & the Pacific Rescuing U.S. economic strategy in Asia

Mireya Solís, David Dollar, Jonathan Stromseth

October 25, 2017

Filipino soldiers disembark from the landing ship before they dock at Motiong Beach during the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response scenario during the Philippines and United States annual Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercises

U.S. Foreign Policy Terrorism in the Philippines and U.S.-Philippine security cooperation

Sheena Chestnut Greitens

August 15, 2017

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (C) poses with ASEAN foreign ministers before a working lunch at the State Department in Washington, U.S., May 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Southeast Asia Trump reassures ASEAN, previews a broader Asia policy

Jonathan Stromseth

May 12, 2017

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (L-R), Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, U.S. President Barack Obama, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak stand together for a family photo before their U.S.-ASEAN meeting as a part of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos September 8, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2ON65

U.S. Foreign Policy As Xi and Trump meet, China’s neighbors will be watching

Jonathan Stromseth

April 4, 2017

Spotlight: COVID-19 in Southeast Asia

FILE PHOTO: Health workers wait for their turn as Vietnam starts its official rollout of AstraZeneca's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine for health workers, at Hai Duong Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hai Duong province, Vietnam, March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Thanh Hue/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo

Southeast Asia Delta variant outbreak challenges Vietnam’s COVID-19 response strategy

Huong Le Thu

August 11, 2021

Passengers, mostly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) queue at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 1, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

International Affairs The Philippine economy under the pandemic: From Asian tiger to sick man again?

Ronald U. Mendoza

August 2, 2021

Hanoi, Vietnam.- According to the Hanoi Department of Health, as of the afternoon of February 21, Hanoi had taken COVID-19 testing samples for 44,355 people returning from the epidemic area, of them 32,692 were negative. As many as 2,368 out of 2,388 people returning from Cam Giang district, Hai Duong province - the country?s largest hotspot - from January 15 had been tested with 1,908 negative and the rest are waiting for results. Thus, the total number of people returning to Hanoi from 12 localities hit by the pandemic tested negative was 34,600 by February 21 afternoon.

Southeast Asia An ideal public health model? Vietnam’s state-led, preventative, low-cost response to COVID-19

Emma Willoughby

June 29, 2021

Oum Sreykhouch carries her child as she stands with her neighbours behind a lockdown barrier to ask for food donations after their village has been closed for more than two weeks inside a red zone with strict lockdown measures during the latest outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 30, 2021. REUTERS/Cindy Liu

International Affairs COVID-19 comes to Cambodia

Adrien Chorn, Jonathan Stromseth

May 19, 2021

A vendor wearing a protective face mask, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), cycles past a flower market in Manila, Philippines, March 12, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic recovery outlook

Roland Rajah

March 15, 2021

Municipality workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) prepare to burry the coffin of a coronavirus victim at a burial area provided by the government for the victims of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the outbreak continues, in Bogor, Indonesia, January 26, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Indonesia COVID-19 and democracy in Indonesia: Short-term stability and long-term threats

Thomas Pepinsky

January 26, 2021

FOTO DE ARCHIVO: Personas esperando para ser examinadas de COVID-19 en Shah Alam, Malasia, el 7 de enero de 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Emerging Markets & Developing Economies COVID-19 in Southeast Asia: Regional pandemic preparedness matters

Mely Caballero-Anthony

January 14, 2021

Hanoi, Vietnam.- In the photos taken on December 28, 2020, the Academy of Military Medicine (AMM) carried out the experimental injection of the Nano Covax vaccine against Covid-19 to the volunteers of the group corresponding to the dose of 50 micrograms (mcg). Of the 20 volunteers in the 25 mcg dose group, they remained stable, without the presence of side effects. The first phase of the trial is expected to finish in a month and a half.

Southeast Asia What state-party relations mean for COVID-19 management in Southeast Asia

Thomas Pepinsky

January 7, 2021

Hanoi, Vietnam.- In photos taken on November 20, 2020, during an ASEAN videoconference meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. The European Union (EU) and ASEAN are working towards a bilateral free trade agreement. The bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a "shared objective between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," said Igor Driesmans, ambassador of the European bloc to the regional group.

Southeast Asia ASEAN’s perspective on economic recovery

Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit

December 17, 2020

A medical staff wearing a protective suit works at a quarantine center amid the outbreak of the coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), in Yangon, Myanmar, October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Shwe Paw Mya Tin

Asia & the Pacific Myanmar’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Ashwini Deshpande, Khaing Thandar Hnin, Tom Traill

December 1, 2020

Southeast Asia US-China rivalry after COVID-19: Clues and early indications from Southeast Asia

Jonathan Stromseth

May 14, 2020

Papers and Reports

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo stands as he inspects soldiers during celebrations for the 74th Indonesian National Armed Forces day at Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 5, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

U.S. Democracy Generals gaining ground: Civil-military relations and democracy in Indonesia

Natalie Sambhi

January 22, 2021

FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Philippine Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines July 22, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo

U.S. Democracy Democratic expressions amidst fragile institutions: Possibilities for reform in Duterte’s Philippines

Nicole Curato

January 22, 2021

Former Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad listens to former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during a news conference following the temporary deregistration of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

U.S. Democracy Democratization on hold in Malaysia

Sophie Lemière

January 22, 2021

Malaysian Prime MInister Mahathir Mohamad, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen shake hands at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok, Thailand, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Asia & the Pacific The case for Australia to step up in Southeast Asia

Hervé Lemahieu

October 22, 2020

Members of Indonesian labor organizations protest outside the Indonesian Parliament against the cancellation of an "omnibus bill" that aims to revise dozens of existing laws in order to ease the way for investment in Southeast Asia's largest economy in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 16, 2020. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Southeast Asia Historical tensions and contemporary governance challenges in Southeast Asia: The case of Indonesia

Ben Bland

August 4, 2020

VIETNAM - HO-CHI-MINH THE BOULIMICPortrait of the metropolis Ho Chi Minh City which is experiencing an exponential economic boom.VIETNAM - HO-CHI-MINH LA BOULIMIQUEPortrait de la métropole Ho-Chi-Minh Ville qui vit un boom économique exponentiel.NO USE FRANCE

Southeast Asia Decoupling governance and democracy: The challenge of authoritarian development in Southeast Asia

Thomas Pepinsky

July 14, 2020

Traders are seen in front of a screen with trading figures in red at Thailand Stock Exchange building in Bangkok, Thailand March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

Southeast Asia ASEAN economic prospects amid emerging turbulence

Khuong Vu

July 13, 2020

Former senior advisor Michael McKinley sits behind U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo duirng a meeting with foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand August 1, 2019. Picture taken August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool

Southeast Asia The Trump administration and the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”

Lindsey W. Ford

May 5, 2020

U.S. National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok, Thailand, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Southeast Asia Beyond binary choices? Navigating great power competition in Southeast Asia

Jonathan Stromseth

April 9, 2020

A passenger train crosses the Chikubang bridge as it travels from the city of Bandung to Jakarta near Padalarang, West Java, Indonesia August 25, 2015. Japan's prime minister has sent an envoy to Indonesia to offer a sweeter deal to build a high-speed railway, a Japanese embassy official said on Thursday, highlighting the importance of the multi-billion dollar project that China also wants to win. The two Asian giants are in a neck-and-neck contest to win a contract to build Indonesia's first high-speed rail, between the capital Jakarta and textile hub Bandung, a project that would bolster their influence in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.Picture taken August 25, 2015. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Southeast Asia China and the West competing over infrastructure in Southeast Asia

David Dollar

April 29, 2020

A worker adjusts his safety helmet at the tunnel constructions site of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia, July 25, 2019. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Southeast Asia Mobilizing the Indo-Pacific infrastructure response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia

Roland Rajah

April 29, 2020

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea, April 8, 2017. Photo taken April 8, 2017. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matt Brown/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Southeast Asia At a strategic crossroads: ASEAN centrality amid Sino-American rivalry in the Indo-Pacific

Richard Javad Heydarian

April 29, 2020

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag (R) leads the flags of the 10-member countries during the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Singapore July 23, 2008. The ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. REUTERS/Romeo Gacad/Pool (SINGAPORE) - GM1E47N1OJQ01

International Affairs The testing ground: China’s rising influence in Southeast Asia and regional responses

Jonathan Stromseth

November 18, 2019

An aerial view of uninhabited island of Spratlys in the disputed South China Sea, April 21, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro - RC13A2A96A00

Courts & Law How China’s actions in the South China Sea undermine the rule of law

Lynn Kuok

November 18, 2019

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence poses for a group photo with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su - RC12CEBD0F40

Southeast Asia Don’t make us choose: Southeast Asia in the throes of US-China rivalry

Jonathan Stromseth

October 10, 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) and China's Premier Li Keqiang attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China August 20, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee - RC1385E2CB30

U.S. Democracy Democracy at a crossroads in Southeast Asia: Great power rivalry meets domestic governance

Jonathan Stromseth, Hunter Marston

February 26, 2019

Podcasts

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks during the official launch of the CDC Southeast Asia Regional Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, August, 25, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool

Southeast Asia What did Kamala Harris’ trip do for US engagement in Southeast Asia?

Jonathan Stromseth, Adrianna Pita

August 27, 2021

FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers stand at a port in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

Asia & the Pacific The US-China strategic rivalry in Southeast Asia

David Dollar, Jonathan Stromseth, Bill Finan

February 9, 2021

A poster supporting Aung San Suu Kyi as she attends a hearing at the International Court of Justice is seen in a road in Yangon, Myanmar, December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang - RC2RTD98VHU5

Asia & the Pacific Burma at a crossroads

Jonathan Stromseth, Thant Myint-U, Fred Dews

December 13, 2019

A heart-shaped Chinese flag installation ahead of the 70th founding anniversary of People's Republic of China is seen on a street in Shanghai, China September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC17E098C350

Northeast Asia Global China’s ambitions across East Asia

Lindsey W. Ford, Richard C. Bush, Jonathan Stromseth, Lynn Kuok

December 3, 2019

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shake hands at the Opening Ceremony of the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand November 3, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha - RC1B379757B0

Global Trade What did ASEAN meetings reveal about US engagement in Southeast Asia?

Jonathan Stromseth, Adrianna Pita

November 5, 2019

Women work at a garment factory in Thai Binh province, Vietnam.

Economic Development The story of Vietnam’s economic revolution

Madame Pham Chi Lan, David Dollar

September 30, 2019

A tourist bum boat passes by the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore July 3, 2019. Picture taken on July 3, 2019. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng - RC157D90F2D0

Asia & the Pacific The US in Southeast Asia, and the China challenge

John R. Allen, Jonathan Stromseth

July 12, 2019

China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh walk to a meeting room at the Government Guesthouse in Hanoi, Vietnam April 1, 2018. REUTERS/Kham - RC142FA2A510

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia: Caught in the middle of US-China competition

Jonathan Stromseth, David Dollar

May 28, 2019

A large Indonesian flag is carried over the crowd at a rally calling for national unity and tolerance in central Jakarta, Indonesia December 4, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside - RC127395AEE0

Southeast Asia Indonesia, an unlikely democracy

Jonathan Stromseth, Thomas Pepinsky, Fred Dews

March 15, 2019

An officer adjusts China's national flag before the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit in Singapore, November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha - RC1C8843E420

U.S. Democracy Challenges to democracy in East Asia: Democracy and Disorder Podcast Series

Torrey Taussig, Mireya Solís, Jonathan Stromseth

March 5, 2019

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag leads the flags of the 10-member countries during the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Singapore.

Southeast Asia Power and diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Jonathan Stromseth, Bilahari Kausikan, Fred Dews

September 21, 2018

Leaders from the ASEAN and their Dialogue Partners chat after a photo opportunity at the ongoing 31st ASEAN Summit.

Southeast Asia Intro to Southeast Asia: Diversity, security, and politics

Jonathan Stromseth, Fred Dews

April 6, 2018

Southeast Asia The humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya in Myanmar

Lex Rieffel, Jonathan Stromseth

September 20, 2017