US, Thailand lead 30 nations in Southeast Asia’s largest military drill

More than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries are taking part in Cobra Gold, one of the largest and longest running multinational military exercises in Southeast Asia. The annual exercises are being held in many provinces across Thailand until March 6, aiming to strengthen coordination among participating nations and develop military capabilities to align with current … Read more

Southeast Asia caught between relief and new risks after US court strikes down Trump tariffs

Despite mounting calls for the deals to be renegotiated or scrapped, officials in both countries have defended their respective agreements with Washington. Joanne Lin, senior fellow and coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said countries that have already signed reciprocal arrangements with the US — including Indonesia and … Read more

Indonesia’s carrier dream risks becoming a port queen

Indonesia’s bid to acquire the retired Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi is being pitched as a step toward greater maritime resilience. But it may instead expose a widening gap between ambition and the hard realities of doctrine, budgets and fleet readiness. This month, multiple media outlets reported that Indonesia is pressing ahead with plans to receive … Read more

‘SEAblings’ power: The Jakarta Post

February 23, 2026 JAKARTA – Stories of unpleasant encounters with racist treatment in South Korea have long circulated quietly among travelers, students and migrant workers from Southeast Asia. But what was once sporadic and largely anecdotal has now erupted into a bold, undeniable issue as these experiences have been thrust into the spotlight via heated … Read more

Southeast Asia’s 2nd largest economy urged to reform law enforcement to boost tourism

Thailand’s score in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index fell one point to 33 out of 100 points, while its global ranking was down nine places to 116th. Chinnawat Udomniyom, President of the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium, said the poor corruption score was a mirror of tourism concerns in Phuket, such as bribery and a lack … Read more

Southeast Asians unite in digital boycott of South Korea as #SEAbling trends

A wave of online backlash against South Korea is spreading across Southeast Asia, fuelled by a dispute over fan behaviour at a K-pop concert and intensified by controversial comments from public officials, highlighting how quickly digital tensions can take on a regional dimension. Posts accusing Koreans of discrimination have circulated widely on social media in … Read more

What Triggered the Viral SEAblings vs. Knetz Online Battle?

TEMPO, Jakarta – In recent days, the topic of SEAblings vs. Knetz has fueled frequent discussions on social media platform X and various online media. This conflict originated from a debate between Southeast Asian netizens, who call themselves SEAblings, and South Korean netizens, known as Knetz. This dispute has escalated from a minor issue to a … Read more

Who gets help and why: the politics of targeting Indonesia’s cash transfers

In September 2025, Indonesian media reported that 45% of social assistance recipients may have been mistargeted. Earlier assessments suggested that the flagship social assistance program reduced stunting, increased school enrolment and improved maternal health outcomes. Now, reports circulated that more than 1.9 million households had received benefits for which they were not eligible. In response, … Read more