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Huw Watkin
Huw began his career in journalism in Australia in the mid-1980’s before moving to Asia where he has lived and worked in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong. He is currently the principal of Drakon Associates, a research and investigation consultancy that focuses on the Asia Pacific, and continues to travel widely and write on a range of subjects and issues throughout the region.
Observers blame a ‘culture of self-loathing’ for destroying the self-esteem of Australia’s youth and undermining faith in its institutions.
Wealth from the mining boom has not been reallocated to benefit average Australians, leaving them worse off now than 10 years ago, analysts say.
By 2027, US and British nuclear submarines operating out of HMAS Stirling will make Perth a key player in Indo-Pacific defence strategies.
The focus on international student fees has led to soaring class sizes and diminished academic support, raising concerns about quality.
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The country is in the grips of one of the world’s most violent conflicts amid deep rifts within the military – and Asean’s response.
With the economy slowing, warlords squabbling and growing international criticism, observers are fearful for the country’s future.
Cambodia’s capital could lay legitimate claim to the title of ‘Pearl of the Orient’, and once boasted the most diverse architecture in Southeast Asia. But it’s losing its charms as its heritage is razed and high-rises sprout.
Murders in the Philippines are soaring as Duterte’s drug war fuels a culture of killing, prompting comparisons with the rule of dictator Marcos. And while Duterte is starting to look like his idol, the next wave of politicians are starting to look like Duterte
Smaller crews, competition from nations such as Vietnam and China, and an expected safety blacklist are among pressures driving a sharp decline in the number of Filipinos working at sea.
Thousands of children are being held in appalling conditions for petty crimes or because they have been abandoned. A law change to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 has been called an ‘act of violence against children’ by the UN.
