ASEAN News

As Malaysia gears up for the state elections in August 2023, political parties are engaged in intense campaigning to secure crucial votes. The spotlight is on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government as it faces formidable challenges in maintaining its hold over the states.  The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has emerged as a major contender, leveraging its popularity among young …

Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) was already struggling to deal with its highest-profile corruption case in decades when two of its MPs resigned on Monday over supposed “personal conduct” matters. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose father Lee Kuan Yew co-founded the PAP, said he had accepted the resignations of the Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin – also a …

At their most recent conference, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strongly denounced the rising violence in Myanmar. The ASEAN’s cohesiveness is in jeopardy due to the crisis in Myanmar, which has been worse since a military coup in early 2021. The critical developments and remarks made by the ASEAN foreign ministers regarding the situation …

Tourist-dependent Bali will impose a $10 tax on travellers entering the Indonesian resort Haven from next year onwards in order to preserve its environment and culture, officials said Wednesday. The fee will have to be paid electronically. While domestic Indonesian tourists would be spared, foreign tourists entering the island from abroad or from other parts of the country would need …

After failing to engage Myanmar’s junta in talks, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has made a mess by meeting Aung San Suu Kyi in detention. He is the only diplomat to have met the ousted Myanmar leader since she was detained when the army seized power in February, 2021.  Don, who is also the deputy prime minister of Thailand, told …

The foreign ministers of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, held a meeting on Wednesday to address an intensifying conflict in Myanmar, a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups.  The meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations took place in Jakarta, the capital of …

Leaders worldwide are struggling to deal with ‘an epidemic of loneliness’. Numerous health experts believe it’s an underappreciated public health emergency that’s been putting societal health at risk. Similar concerns have been raised in Singapore as well. While loneliness is a major public health crisis for Singaporeans of all ages, the situation is particularly worse for older citizens. Scientific studies …

The recent report from The Guardian, highlighting Ukraine’s strategy as a model for Taiwan to strengthen its military in response to the perceived threat from China, sheds light on the evolving dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region and the importance of strategic planning in addressing security challenges. While each situation is unique, drawing lessons from successful strategies can be beneficial in …

The recent statement by Paraguay’s President-Elect Pena, as reported by Channel News Asia, expressing his admiration for Taiwan and pledging strong ties with President Tsai Ing-wen, highlights the importance of diplomatic relationships and the value of friendship between nations. This declaration signals a positive step towards strengthening the partnership between Paraguay and Taiwan. Acknowledging Taiwan as a “great friend” reflects …

As global powers race to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with the U.S. in the lead, China is following a different path. Beijing has acknowledged the enthusiasm surrounding this technological leap and prefers to walk the path of regulation. This is a different path but will lead China’s AI development in the right direction.  Beijing aims to make …