Washington’s sudden decision to open talks with Myanmar’s government grants further legitimacy to an authoritarian regime and is unlikely to deliver access to rare earths.

Washington’s sudden decision to open talks with Myanmar’s government grants further legitimacy to an authoritarian regime and is unlikely to deliver access to rare earths.

Khieo Lapchanh is the latest Lao exile to fall victim to the growing authoritarian collaboration between the Mekong region’s governments.

Trump’s abrupt rollback of joint military exercises with South Korea is the latest in a series of actions draining Asian allies’ confidence in U.S. security commitments—and hands China another opening...

The detention of U.S. citizen Min Zin on dubious espionage charges is the latest evidence that Beijing’s campaign to silence dissidents and critics abroad is expanding in scope and audacity. Without a...

The detention of U.S. citizen Min Zin on dubious espionage charges is the latest evidence that Beijing’s campaign to silence dissidents and critics abroad is expanding in scope and audacity. Without a...

The detention of U.S. citizen Min Zin on dubious espionage charges is the latest evidence that Beijing’s campaign to silence dissidents and critics abroad is expanding in scope and audacity. Without a...

The detention of U.S. citizen Min Zin on dubious espionage charges is the latest evidence that Beijing’s campaign to silence dissidents and critics abroad is expanding in scope and audacity. Without a...

Five years after its generals seized power, Myanmar has collapsed into Asia’s deadliest war and a nearly unequalled humanitarian catastrophe. And yet, the rest of the world has decided to ignore the c...

The arrest of a U.S. scholar highlights Beijing’s expanding campaign of transnational repression and Washington’s muted response to an increasingly global threat.

Asia got a glimpse of its energy future during the Iran war. What governments do next will determine whether the crisis becomes a turning point or a missed opportunity.

Authoritarian governments are reaching across borders to silence their critics—and increasingly doing it together. Democracies have started fighting back. They need to move faster.

The armed forces have taken a central role in national affairs in a way not seen since the fall of the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998.

A maintenance deal for C-130 Hercules aircraft may be routine in peacetime – in a US–China contingency, Indonesia’s legal exposure would change.

A long-awaited meeting produced modest stability but no grand deals—for Southeast Asia and South Asia, it could have been worse, but the region has reacted with significant worry about the summit’s ou...

The armed forces have taken a central role in national affairs in a way not seen since the fall of the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998.

Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. Iran has suffered enormous infrastructure damage since the start of the war in late February,...

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s success at the Nepalese ballot signifies a triumph for Gen Z demonstrators across the country.

Student protesters succeeded in toppling the Bangladeshi government in 2024, but a landslide victory for the establishment BNP party shows that Gen Z is still struggling to turn demonstrations into su...

Motivated by growing economic inequality and government corruption, Indonesians have been protesting across the country for weeks. Under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, harsh crackd…

Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Camb...

Despite ceding power to his son in 2023, Cambodia's former prime minister Hun Sen has continued to dominate the country's domestic and foreign policy. The most recent border conflict with Thailand ha…

"De-escalation is crucial to preventing a broader humanitarian crisis and restoring stability for communities on both sides."

While long-standing border disputes explain some of the current violence between Thailand and Cambodia, the conflict’s escalation is primarily driven by Thai elites’ drive to consolidate military and…

President Donald Trump’s strategy of using Southeast Asian nations as an economic “wall” against Chinese exports has attracted renewed attention after the apparent finalization of a U.S.-Vietnam trad…

Are signs pointing to a coup in Thailand?

Are signs pointing to a coup in Thailand?

Parties that are firm with President Trump are reaping major electoral rewards.

The Southeast Asia trade group, China, Japan, and South Korea said they will work closely together due to “escalating trade protectionism.” Three CFR fellows explain how their U.S. relationship will …

The Southeast Asia trade group, China, Japan, and South Korea said they will work closely together due to “escalating trade protectionism.” Three CFR fellows explain how their U.S. relationship will …

President Donald Trump’s proposed “reciprocal” tariff plan places some of the highest tariff levels on East Asian countries—many of which depend on U.S. markets to grow their economies.

Incumbent parties in Australia and Singapore scored unexpected landslide victories on Saturday. A major factor appeared to be voters' trust that they were best equipped to handle President Donald Tru…

The U.S. president’s rhetoric and tariffs fuel political shifts in key global polls.

Singapore's ruling party faces domestic and economic headwinds ahead of upcoming elections.

Since his inauguration, the new U.S. president seems to be creating a “Trump effect” on many, though not all, foreign elections.

Singapore's ruling party faces domestic and economic headwinds ahead of upcoming elections.

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s performance, the Labor Party is likely to win re-election in Australia due to political backlash against Donald Trump’s polic…

Despite Vietnam’s strategic importance and early concessions, it has become the most vulnerable target of the Trump administration’s tariffs—and now faces an uphill battle to protect its economy and …

Despite Vietnam’s strategic importance and early concessions, it has become the most vulnerable target of the Trump administration’s tariffs—and now faces an uphill battle to protect its economy and …

The massive earthquake in Myanmar has exacerbated the country’s existing crises, and will likely worsen instability rather than lead to peace.

Myanmar, already devastated by political turmoil and humanitarian crises, faces further catastrophic consequences from a massive earthquake, exacerbating its status as a failed state.

Myanmar, already devastated by political turmoil and humanitarian crises, faces further catastrophic consequences from a massive earthquake, exacerbating its status as a failed state.

Given his previously untouchable status, the arrest and potential prosecution of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a surprising development.

The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign assistance for democracy promotion,  weakening critical support structures in regions like Southeast Asia.

The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign assistance for democracy promotion,  weakening critical support structures in regions like Southeast Asia.

The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign assistance for democracy promotion,  weakening critical support structures in regions like Southeast Asia.