The Energy Pivot: How Southeast Asia is Navigating the Hormuz Crisis For decades, the energy security of Southeast Asia has relied on a precarious lifeline: the Strait of Hormuz. Though, a continuing chokehold on this critical maritime corridor has forced a dramatic rethink of regional procurement strategies. View this post on Instagram about Strait of … Read more
The Choking Cycle: Why Southeast Asia’s Fire Crisis is Only Getting Worse For millions of people across Northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, the arrival of the dry season is no longer just a change in weather—it is a countdown to a public health emergency. The annual blanket of toxic smog, often reaching “dark purple” levels … Read more
The Rohingya Crisis at a Crossroads: Beyond Humanitarian Aid to Lasting Change The ongoing crisis facing the Rohingya people, marked by persecution in Myanmar and a precarious existence in refugee camps, reached a significant juncture in early 2026. Landmark hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) brought the issue of potential genocide into sharp … Read more
ASEAN at a Crossroads: Myanmar’s Crisis Demands a Reckoning The escalating violence in Myanmar, marked by deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure like hospitals and schools, is forcing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to confront a fundamental question: can its long-held principles of consensus and non-interference adapt to a crisis demanding decisive action? Recent … Read more
China’s Expanding Reach: Executions Signal Recent Era of Cross-Border Law Enforcement Beijing is sending a stark message to transnational crime syndicates and the nations that harbor them: harming Chinese citizens will have severe consequences. The recent wave of executions targeting leaders of Myanmar-based scam operations – 16 core members of four criminal groups put to … Read more
The Hunt for the Next Status Symbol: Beyond Teak on Superyachts For decades, the rich and famous have flaunted their wealth with interiors and decking crafted from teak, a beautiful and durable tropical hardwood. But the sourcing of this luxury material is deeply problematic, fueling deforestation and, more critically, funding the oppressive military junta in … Read more
ASEAN at a Crossroads: Navigating Great Power Competition and Internal Fractures Southeast Asia is bracing for a complex year as the Philippines takes the helm of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Stepping into a role originally slated for Myanmar – a nation currently sidelined due to its internal political crisis – the Philippines … Read more
Southeast Asian diplomats convened in Cebu, Philippines, this week facing mounting pressure to address two critical regional challenges: Myanmar’s ongoing civil war and the need for a binding agreement governing conduct in the South China Sea. Myanmar’s Protracted Crisis The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc of 11 nations, has struggled to assert … Read more
Philippines Takes the Helm: Can ASEAN’s Myanmar Peace Plan Be Revived? The recent “stakeholders’ meeting” hosted by the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, signals a renewed push to address the escalating crisis in Myanmar. While details remain scarce, the initiative – led by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro – highlights the growing frustration with … Read more
Myanmar’s Election: A Foretaste of Entrenched Military Rule and Growing Resistance Myanmar’s recent elections, the first since the 2021 military coup, have unfolded as widely predicted – a tightly controlled process with demonstrably low voter turnout. While the junta aims to legitimize its grip on power, the results, expected in February, are unlikely to quell … Read more