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Sam Beltran
SCMP Contributor
Sam Beltran is a journalist based in Manila who has written for publications in the Philippines and around Asia. Her stories explore food, lifestyle scenes, popular trends, and sub-cultures as windows into society and the human condition.
Sam Beltran is a journalist based in Manila who has written for publications in the Philippines and around Asia. Her stories explore food, lifestyle scenes, popular trends, and sub-cultures as windows into society and the human condition.
Languages Spoken:
English
Analysts say a report accusing nine Southeast Asian nations of helping China skirt tariffs conflates cheating with legitimate trade.
The timeline for the Philippines to develop self-reliance in defence is long, while the political will may be lacking, analysts say.
Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.
The report says abuses escalated around the time Myanmar was conducting junta-led elections that saw Min Aung Hlaing elected as president.
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As Hanoi seeks to build its defence manufacturing capabilities with the frigate, it is likely to remain dependent on foreign know-how.
Being most exposed to AI does not mean that jobs would be replaced – just that some could move up the value chain or evolve, analysts say.
Top diplomat warns Manila risks losing out on the opportunity if it ‘drops the ball’, even as environmental and sovereignty concerns grow.
As Thailand is coming late into the game, it will have to look for ways to make itself indispensable in the industry, analysts say.
While several laws have been passed to help the deaf community, advocates say they remain limited in scope and implementation.
Observers say the move to engage Asean is less a policy reset than continuity in Britain’s post-Brexit engagement with the bloc.
Paris is ready to share its nuclear energy expertise with Manila as part of efforts to deepen defence cooperation, outgoing envoy says.
Analysts say Manila’s move could make it harder for Asean to agree on a common position regarding the code of conduct.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calls the development ‘of utmost importance’ in its relationship with Asia-Pacific countries.
India pitches trade, missiles and room to hedge as the US and China vie for regional influence.
Command roles at Rimpac show Tokyo and Seoul can work together militarily, but history caps how far ties can go.
Gas exports and mini reactors serve US interests as much as Asia’s – provided promised projects actually lead anywhere.
Analysts say the European Union considers Manila ‘the most important’ partner for its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Washington’s launch of AI Spark is seen as a move to counter Chinese AI models that have made inroads in Southeast Asia, analysts say.
Tourist arrivals have collapsed by nearly 50 per cent this year, forcing local operators to rethink Cambodia’s entire pitch.
The additional duties come just a day after Marco Rubio tells Southeast Asian foreign ministers that the US is ‘with Asean 100 per cent’.
Analysts warn the region cannot fully insulate itself from an extended conflict if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.
The energy crisis and turmoil in the Senate are among factors threatening the Philippine economy’s recovery, observers warn.
The upgrade to a comprehensive partnership gives both countries a wider framework to deepen cooperation, analysts say.
Efforts to establish links under the Asean Power Grid scheme would first need to overcome technical and political hurdles, experts say.
The data shows ‘shifts in political tone may matter less’ than commercial considerations, according to AidData, a research group.
Reforms have thrust the country into the spotlight as it seeks to lure capital away from Vietnam, Malaysia and elsewhere.
The proposed US-led plan is another example of the authorities’ insincerity in addressing the concerns of affected communities, critics say.
Vietnam will be positioned as a logistics and distribution base aimed at growing demand for South Korean food products across the region.
Observers point to the high costs of owning an e-jeepney and a lack of government support in enabling the electric shift.
