ASEAN News

For Vice President Kamala Harris, it’s all about saving the US’ image and commitment to Southeast Asia as President Joe Biden’s absence sets in. Despite Washington arguing that the President’s absence is to do with scheduling, ASEAN members see it as a “diplomatic snub” as he is set to travel to India for the G20 Summit and later to Vietnam.  …

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely to be in Russia this month to meet President Vladimir Putin. Discussion is likely to focus on the Kremlin acquiring military hardware from North Korea to bolster the Russian forces with weapons for the ongoing Ukraine war.  The White House has been closely monitoring talks between the two countries as arms negotiations …

The most recent ASEAN Summit is being hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and is rife with contentious issues that reflect the difficulties Southeast Asian leaders face. This article explores the summit’s main themes, the absence of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the effects of these developments on the geopolitics of the area, and the significance of ASEAN. Myanmar Crisis …

Srettha Thavisin, Thailand’s newly appointed prime minister, has made a bold move to revive the nation’s economy. Real estate magnate Srettha was appointed finance minister on Saturday to address economic issues that have been made worse by sluggish exports and investments. This King Maha Vajiralongkorn-approved Cabinet reorganization marks a turning point in Thailand’s political history. The country’s economic problems have …

Following a plea for pardon made by the wealthy politician, King Maha Vajiralongkorn declared today that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra‘s eight-year prison sentence had been reduced to just one year. After 15 years of self-imposed exile overseas, Thaksin, 74, recently made a spectacular return to Thailand to avoid being imprisoned on charges of abuse of authority and conflicts of …

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida‘s plan to increase military spending by 43 trillion yen over five years has taken an important step forward with the defense ministry of Japan submitting an unprecedented budget request of 7.7 trillion yen (about US$52.67 billion) for the fiscal year 2024. By 2027, the ambitious plan, which was unveiled last year, seeks to raise Japan’s defense …

Recently, India’s Ministry of External Affairs made a crucial decision to allow rice shipments to Singapore, citing the strong economic, diplomatic, and human ties between the two nations. The decision raises concerns about India’s objectives, the effect on its internal market, and the ramifications for the international rice trade. It also comes in the wake of India’s prohibition on exports …

Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn, the world’s largest contract producer of electronics, including Apple’s iPhones, declared his intention to run for the presidency of Taiwan as an independent candidate. Gou’s declaration follows a failed earlier attempt to win the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party’s candidacy for the forthcoming January election.Gou declared during a news conference that he had made …

Chinese military action encircling the island has recently increased, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry, escalating already-existing tensions. This increased activity was seen on Friday, August 25, and it involved five ships performing battle readiness patrols nearby, as well as 13 planes flying into Taiwan’s designated “response” zone. China has been steadily stepping up its military pressure on Taiwan, which it …

Hun Manet, the newly endorsed prime minister of Cambodia, has unveiled grandiose ambitions to turn the country into a “high-income country” by 2050 in a move that symbolizes a dynastic transfer of power. Hun Manet underlined an emphasis on boosting food security, healthcare access, and economic growth while outlining his aims in his first cabinet meeting. The leader’s rise to …