A leaked letter from the Philippines’ foreign secretary has exposed a fault line in the country over how to publicly confront Beijing in the South China Sea, days before the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) created its own maritime spokesman role. The new position was in addition to existing voices from the Philippine coastguard, armed […]
Read MoreThe Philippine foreign ministry urged the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to be “constructive” in its statements amid an escalating war of words between Chinese diplomats and public officials, including senators. The Department of Foreign Affairs’ newly appointed maritime affairs spokesperson, Rogelio Villanueva, said that responses should be delivered in a “calm” and “professional” […]
Read MoreBy Sylvie Zhuang in Beijing In less than a week, China has carried out executions on a scale rarely seen in recent decades. Sixteen key members of a mafia-like crime syndicate have been sentenced to death for crimes ranging from murder to fraud and human trafficking. While all of the victims in the case were […]
Read MorePolls opened in Thailand on Sunday in a general election defined by a three-way battle between the country’s conservative, progressive and populist camps, with no single party expected to secure a clear majority, prolonging the spectre of political instability. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul set the stage for the snap election in mid-December, amid a raging […]
Read MoreBy Aidan Jones The tattoo on his arm reads “buc Lao” (Laos boy) but Kham Paneboun is not a Laotian citizen. In fact, he’s not really from anywhere. In February last year, US Homeland Security detained him for a felony committed as a teenager, revoked his work permit and – after decades of legal residence […]
Read MoreBy Laura Zhou A war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine politicians over the disputed South China Sea has prompted calls in Manila to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata – the second such call in three years. While Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has rejected the idea, the latest spike in tensions […]
Read MoreIndia’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim renewed pledges on Sunday to bolster trade and explore potential collaborations in semiconductors, defence and other fields. Modi is on a two-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation, his first since the two countries elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in August 2024. […]
Read MoreBy Aidan Jones Thailand’s rival parties held final rallies late on Friday in a last-ditch push to win over undecided voters among a public craving change but still deeply split over the remedy for years of ulcerous political and economic decline. The People’s Party and Pheu Thai packed out their respective stadium venues in Bangkok […]
Read MoreReuters In a Cambodian compound with rooms designed to look like Singaporean and Australian police offices, papers were strewn across desks and floors: the detritus of a fraud factory abandoned in haste. Among the documents were profiles of a 73-year-old Japanese retiree, complete with his phone number and bank account balance, and an American woman […]
Read MoreIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (7 February) began a two-day official visit to Malaysia, where the issue of the extradition of controversial preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India in connection with alleged hate speeches and money laundering, is expected to come up for discussion between the two countries. Asked about an update […]
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