A Chinese fighter jet flies during a patrol over the South China Sea in this undated photo released Aug. 6, 2016, by China's Xinhua News Agency.
South China Sea

Philippine military condemns China air force for 'dangerous' acts in South China Sea

PLA aircraft interfered with lawful flight operations, armed forces chief says

10 August 2024
China's ACM Research is among the chipmaking equipment companies considering participating in the joint Malaysian-Chinese expo. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Semiconductors

Malaysia and China deepen chip cooperation with joint expo

Kuala Lumpur seeks foreign investment to upgrade its 'Silicon Valley'

8 August 2024
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks as he walks on the day Thailand's Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on a case seeking the dissolution of the opposition group.
Politics

Thai Constitutional Court orders Move Forward Party to dissolve

Largest opposition group accused over its policy to amend lese-majeste law

7 August 2024
Murad Ebrahim, chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on Aug. 6. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippines' new autonomous region aims to be halal industry hub

Top official says southwest Mindanao attracting investment from Malaysia, Mideast

7 August 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris' jump to the top of the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential election ticket caught many Washington diplomats off guard. While they weigh whether she will extend President Joe Biden's current Asia policies, they must also prepare for the prospect of a new, unpredictable term for former President Donald Trump.
The Big Story

Harris takes on Trump: Asia braces as U.S. heads toward poll

As diplomats weigh policy hints, VP picks Walz and Vance vie for working class votes

7 August 2024
Traffic in Kuala Lumpur. Subsidies made up 25% of Malaysia's 2023 budget, with about three-quarters devoted to fuel subsidies. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Politics

Malaysia to reduce fuel subsidies as inflation weakens

Government turns to tackling deficit after pandemic spending

7 August 2024
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Hun Manet and others. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
International relations

Cambodia breaks ground on 'Hun Sen' canal project backed by China

Impact on Mekong River, possible military use by Beijing cause concern in region

6 August 2024
John Lee, center, in Ho Chi Minh City. He is the first Hong Kong chief executive to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Trade

Hong Kong has ASEAN backing to join RCEP trade pact: John Lee

City goes on charm offensive after COVID-19, security law dent reputation

6 August 2024
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, left, shakes hands with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha at the Defense Ministry in Phnom Penh on Aug. 5. (Cambodian Defense Ministry via AP)
Defense

Japan, Cambodia agree to boost defense cooperation, exchanges

Defense chiefs also agree to promote Japan-ASEAN multilateral cooperation

5 August 2024
Philippine Coast Guard personnel wave Vietnamese and Filipino flags to welcome the Vietnam Coast Guard ship CSB 8002 in Manila on Aug. 5. Despite Hanoi and Manila holding competing claims in the South China Sea, the joint exercises are seen as a way to strengthen maritime cooperation amid China's aggression.
South China Sea

Philippines-Vietnam drills to set blueprint for South China Sea disputes

Two nations seek cooperation despite competing claims to waters

5 August 2024
The Pyongyang Restaurant in Vientiane no longer has clear signage identifying it by that name. (Photo by Junnoruke Kobara)
International relations

North Korean restaurants in Laos fly under radar

No signs, but plenty of clues to connection with Pyongyang

5 August 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris could become the first female U.S. president.
U.S. elections 2024

Harris could become the 1st female U.S. leader; Asia's had several

Over 13 Asian countries and regions including Australia and Taiwan have had women heads

4 August 2024
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro shake hands before their bilateral meeting, in Makati, Metro Manila on Aug. 4.
Defense

Philippines and Germany commit to reaching defence pact this year

Nations to expand training, bilateral exchanges and armaments cooperation

4 August 2024
Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal on a scooter at a press briefing in Mumbai on July 29. Ola is set to go public in India's biggest IPO this year.
Your Week in Asia

India's Ola Electric goes public, Australia-U.S. two-plus-two, Indonesian GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

4 August 2024
Supporters of the Move Forward Party let off smoke bombs outside the parliament on the day of the second vote for a new prime minister in Bangkok on July 19, 2023. 
Opinion

Thailand's establishment silences voices of change

A reset is taking place to preserve the autocratic power of royalist-conservative forces

4 August 2024
To Lam's rise to lead the Communist Party of Vietnam follows a 20-month period of political turmoil.
Politics

Vietnam confirms To Lam as Communist Party chief

Next question is if ex-security minister concentrates power by also remaining president

3 August 2024
The U.S. Army demonstrates the launch of a Tomahawk missile from a midrange capability system in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on June 28. (U.S. Army)
Indo-Pacific

China on edge over prolonged U.S. missile deployment in Asia

Launcher based in Philippines 'like bringing dagger to lunch,' Chinese official says

3 August 2024
Thai Vice Foreign Minister Russ Jalichandra meets Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, a chief negotiator in the Gaza conflict, on July 25. (Thai Foreign Ministry)
Interview

Thailand laments Mideast escalation with 6 citizens in captivity

'Hard to be optimistic' about farm workers held in Gaza, says vice foreign minister

2 August 2024
Philippine and Japanese coast guard vessels operated with U.S. forces during inaugural trilateral drills off the coast of Bataan in June 2023.
South China Sea

Philippines and Japan hold first joint exercise in South China Sea

Two vessels from each side operated in Philippine exclusive economic zone

2 August 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin received Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's defense minister and president-elect, at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 31.  
International relations

Indonesia's Prabowo asks Russia for help to develop nuclear power

Defense high on agenda of president-elect's four-nation Eurasian tour

2 August 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, meets Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Aug. 1. (Photo from the X account of the official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs)
International relations

India and Vietnam to enhance defense cooperation

Pham Minh Chinh becomes first Vietnamese prime minister to visit India in a decade

1 August 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later posts to Facebook, "Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice."
Cybersecurity

Malaysia PM calls Facebook cowardly for removing his condolence post

Anwar Ibrahim's recording of a phone call with a Hamas official is taken down

1 August 2024
Army soldiers and police officers patrol in Lashio, Myanmar, in May 2013. The city, which is near the border with China, is one of the most important in northern Shan State for the Myanmar military.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar extends state of emergency by 6 months as fighting intensifies

Economic turmoil, combat with ethnic rebels cast shadow over plans for 2025 election

1 August 2024
Myanmar's military regime of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing appears to be on the defensive in Rakhine state. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and AFP/Jiji)
Myanmar Crisis

Arakan Army pushes Myanmar's military to brink in monsoon war

Rebel group says it looks to 'eradicate all' regime's forces from Rakhine state

31 July 2024
Left to right: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, and Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro pose for a photo after their joint press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, Metro Manila on July 30.
Defense

U.S. to boost Philippine defense capability with $500m investment

Hopes for bilateral intelligence-sharing agreement to be finalized by end of 2024

30 July 2024