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Asean

Asean
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Asean Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development of its member states and the protection of regional peace and stability.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and his East Timorese counterpart Xanana Gusmao shake hands at the Government Palace in Dili on Friday. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Singapore bets on ‘early-mover’ edge in labour pact with East Timor

Singapore’s move will help address its manpower shortage and allow it to seize opportunities in a ‘young emerging market’, analysts say.

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Middle East

Opinion | How bitter Persian Gulf rivals can make peace the Asean way

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2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict

Can Asean keep the Thailand-Cambodia peace?

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Singapore

Singapore to welcome East Timorese workers from next year: Wong

The Singapore prime minister pledged to set up a ‘regular consultation mechanism’ with the newest Asean member during his visit to Dili.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Laurence Wong (front right) is accompanied by East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta upon his arrival in Dlili on Thursday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Alibaba sues Pentagon, rare earth truce woes: 7 US-China relations reads

From China grappling with Trump to the world’s fastest computer: highlights from our overseas correspondents in the second half of June 2026.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong is key to spurring Asean-Greater Bay Area cooperation

By linking the two regions, the city creates an enormous opportunity for cross investment and expansion to other regions.

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Greater Bay Area

Asean hopes to tap Greater Bay Area’s tech skills with closer ties: industry chiefs

Panellists at South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit list AI and green technology as key areas for cooperation.

The Greater Bay Area refers to Beijing’s initiative to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland Chinese cities into an integrated economic powerhouse. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong economy

New Asean Chamber of Commerce launched in Hong Kong will ‘fulfil long-felt need’

New business group launched at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026.

Mainland China

East Timor targets closer Asean-Greater Bay Area ties to spur economic growth

Asean’s newest member says cooperation between the two regions should be based on a commitment to inclusive growth and trust.

Hong Kong economy

‘Hong Kong positioned to link Asean, Greater Bay Area amid geopolitical shifts’

At SCMP’s GBA-Asean Summit, city leader stresses that the two regions have what it takes to form a ‘powerful and complementary partnership’.

Chief Executive John Lee (centre) with South China Morning Post leaders and fellow attendees of the publication’s GBA-Asean Summit. Photo: Handout
Myanmar

Asian Angle | Asean’s side deals in Myanmar risk missing where the power truly lies

Trading collective leverage for isolated bargains blinds the bloc to changing realities on the ground.

Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Hau Khan Sum (left) with other Southeast Asian leaders at the Asean summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8. Photo: Pool via Reuters
Singapore

Burning point: Southeast Asia’s haze fight faces cost test

Indonesia has come under renewed attention after President Prabowo Subianto committed to cracking down on agriculture-linked fires.

Malaysia

Video | Dirt-cheap ‘durian tsunami’ sweeps Malaysia

The oversupply of premium Musang King durians has caused prices to fall to as low as 9 ringgit (US$2) per kg.

China trade

Why the Vietnam ‘detour’ for US-bound Chinese goods hit a dead end

Is finding another Hanoi haven possible, or would trying be a fool’s errand for Chinese firms looking to get the jump on Trump and evade tariffs?

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Illustration: Henry Wong
United States

Letters | US is not retreating from Asia. It’s rewriting the terms of its security umbrella

Readers discuss Washington’s message at the Shangri-La Dialogue, facilitating Central Asia’s economic integration, and Hong Kong’s sexual health clinics.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on May 30. Photo: Reuters
Japan

How Japan seeks to win over allies by refuting China’s claims of militarism

Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi questions the accuracy of China’s military spending data, contrasting it with Japan’s transparent approach.

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China-Japan relations

Japan’s defence outreach to counter China in the region hits hidden roadblocks

Tokyo’s approach combines security, economic and diplomatic tools to show regional nations an alternative to the China-US dilemma.

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Retailing

The View | What retail apocalypse? Southeast Asia’s malls are sitting pretty

Unlike in other markets, Southeast Asia’s malls are in a good situation as they embrace experiential retail and adapt to consumer tastes.

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Russian flying trapeze artists perform in the atrium of Pondok Indah Mall 2 in Jakarta on June 19. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia

Singapore needs to balance its tough stance on the Ukraine war with its responsibilities towards other Asean nations, experts say.

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Myanmar

Did Myanmar-China talks spawn a more emboldened junta?

China and India have been jostling for influence in Myanmar as the Asean member remains embroiled in civil war.

China-Asean relations

Opinion | Beyond geopolitics: for Asean, China is a structural reality

Faced with the structural reality of China, Southeast Asia is trying to turn it into an advantage without losing control of its choices.

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China and Asean sign a free-trade upgrade protocol in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 28, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

Russia frees 24 Filipinos after Marcos speaks with Putin

The Philippine leader raised the issue with the Russian president during their meeting on the sidelines of a summit in Kazan.

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hilippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik via AP
Russia

Can Russia secure ‘third power’ status in Southeast Asia with energy push?

While energy may be ‘a good opening’ for Russia to boost Asean ties, analysts say its relevance in the region is unlikely to grow.

China shipbuilding

China tests future of shipping on its next trade corridor: a US$10 billion canal

The megaproject is set to boost trade links with Southeast Asia and connect inland provinces to global shipping routes.

Malaysia

Malaysia and Asean tap Russia for energy security, defying Western ‘prejudices’

At the Asean-Russia summit in Kazan, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signalled the bloc’s willingness to engage with Moscow on trade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a gala dinner on the sidelines of the Russia-Asean summit in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday. Photo: Handout/AP
Diplomacy

Aid and diplomacy: US Navy’s renewed bid for Southeast Asian influence

Pacific Partnership 2026 aims to counter China’s rising influence in the region, amid growing doubts about US leadership, analysts say.

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Captain Robert Reyes, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2026, speaks to sailors assigned to the mission on Naval Air Station North Island, on May 26. Photo: Handout
Diplomacy

Opinion | How Asia can benefit from a Russia-India-China dialogue revival

Far from acting as another bloc, such a grouping could help ensure that regional competition is managed rather than reproduced.

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Energy

Iran war ‘stark wake-up call’ for fossil fuel-dependent Southeast Asia: IEA

The agency warns that the region’s energy import bill could triple to US$245 billion by 2035 if it does not quickly look for alternatives.

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