Cambodia-Thailand situation on the table at ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat

January 27, 2026 PHNOM PENH – Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and Related Meetings in the Philippines, where the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand will also be raised, according to a press release from the foreign ministry. A January 26 … Read more

ASEAN tourism chiefs meet in Cebu to align policies, boost growth

January 27, 2026 CEBU CITY – Decisions made by ASEAN tourism leaders this week will directly shape visitor experience, destination competitiveness, business resilience, and community livelihoods across Southeast Asia, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda Buensuceso said. She opened the 63rd ASEAN National Tourism Organization (NTO) Meeting in Cebu City on Monday. High-level coordination … Read more

ASEAN faces a tougher world but its diversity and resilience offer an edge: WEF panel

JAKARTA – The shifting global order is subjecting ASEAN to one of its toughest tests in decades, but speakers at a World Economic Forum panel said the turbulence is also creating opportunities the region is well placed to seize. Even as South-east Asia moves slower than it would like to – and recognises its own … Read more

Rudy Khaw on launching ‘Lobby Hours’ as an extension of personal search for creativity

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Rudy Khaw has recently launched ‘Lobby Hours’, a creative practice which he also personally describes as a ‘personal extension’ of himself in terms of finding unique ways to implement creativity. This is the latest venture from Rudy following his recent departure from airasia after 18 years. He was most recently the … Read more

Rising coal demand overshadows Southeast Asia’s transition to renewable energy

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Southeast Asia’s demand for coal is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, undermining efforts to lower carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Regional coal demand will rise by more than 4% a year through the end of the decade, driven by rising needs for electricity as economies grow … Read more

Why ASEAN’s partnership model matters for global cooperation

January 21, 2026 DAVOS – Last year was challenging for ASEAN. Its leaders struggled to find viable solutions to addressing the on-going conflict in Myanmar, while border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand were a jarring reminder of long-standing territorial disputes and cultural tensions that historically beset the region. And yet, even in challenging times, the … Read more

As ASEAN chair, Philippines aims for ‘effective’ South China Sea code of conduct

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro is hopeful that negotiations between China and Southeast Asian nations on a long-awaited code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea will be concluded this year — a move that could help reduce tensions over the disputed waterway. “All parties, including all member states of the Association of Southeast … Read more

Vietnam to remain responsible, active member of ASEAN digital cooperation

January 16, 2026 HANOI – Việt Nam would continue to play a proactive, active and responsible role in ASEAN digital cooperation, said Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính while addressing the opening of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) on Thursday in Hà Nội. Welcoming ASEAN ministers, international delegates and representatives of the technology business … Read more

The dangerous simplicity of America’s Asia policy

The US’s intent has been advanced through concrete demands and deployments. At the SLD, Hegseth pushed Australia to lift its defence spending, reportedly from 2-3% of its GDP. In Japan in March, he announced the upgrading of US Forces Japan into a “war-fighting headquarters” to enhance joint operational capabilities with Japan’s Self-Defence Forces. In the … Read more