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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.
CCTV says China carried out a coastguard exercise featuring water cannons and drones near two disputed reefs at the centre of its tension with the Philippines. Photo: CCTV
South China Sea

Beijing drills water cannons and drones near disputed South China Sea shoals

Training off Second Thomas and Sabina shoals tests small boats, surveillance drones and boarding tactics as run-ins with Manila continue.

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China trade

Encouraging start as Pinglu Canal moves 1 million tonnes of cargo in first month

Trade

Can Lula’s re-election unlock Mercosur markets for Southeast Asia?

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Japan

Japan looks to Asean as ‘normative anchor’ amid great-power rivalry

Defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi has proposed updating cooperation between Japan, Asean and external partners in emerging security areas.

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Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attends the Asean-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Cebu on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Hegseth pledges stronger military framework with Philippines, but lacks details

Defence secretary reaffirms US support without specifying how much more funding is involved and what procedures or timeline it will pay for.

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Defence

Hegseth pitches US-Asean defence framework but will it be a hard sell?

Analysts say Asean members are likely to prefer bilateral pacts that preserve their flexibility as they navigate ties with the US and China.

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Indonesia

Singapore, Indonesia to create haze task force, share data amid tensions

Indonesia has hit back at Singapore over comments on their bilateral gas supply contract, with the energy minister calling them a ‘lecture’.

A woman wearing a face mask pushes a cart along a road amid thick haze from forest and land fires in the region in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
A street vendor walks amid thick haze from wildfires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Saturday. Photo: AP
China’s military

Dong Jun to miss Asean defence talks as Beijing’s fifth plenum convenes

Beijing sends Manila-based attache to Cebu with defence chief expected to attend key Communist Party meeting.

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Indonesia

Letters | Solution to Asean haze starts with helping oil palm smallholders

Readers discuss a two-part solution to the regional haze problem, the lighting project on The Peak, and tourism planning in Singapore.

Malaysia

Southeast Asia’s housing paradox: too many homes, too few buyers

Analysts point to speculative investment, financing hurdles and poor locations as factors leaving properties empty.

People wait for the elevator at a public housing building in Kuala Lumpur on October 19. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong seeks bigger role for yuan in regional trade, treasury chief says

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui also shares lighthearted but telling anecdotes about intangible gains made during Apec meeting.

Treasury chief Christopher Hui speaks during an Apec meeting on October 20. He framed the city’s role at the event as a “facilitator of regional cooperation”. Photo: Handout
Indonesia

Indonesia cuts gas to Singapore amid Borneo, Sumatra wildfire haze

President Prabowo Subianto berated ‘countries that like to insult’ his nation over the haze crisis. He did not name specific countries.

Indonesia

What Indonesia’s warnings of energy cuts mean for Asean

Observers say the warnings reflect a broader trend towards resource sovereignty but are unlikely to hinder progress in regional frameworks.

Myanmar

Rare Suu Kyi phone call to son signals shift in Myanmar junta strategy

Kim Aris, who lives in the UK, says his 81-year-old mother sounded “fairly healthy” but he remains concerned about her well-being.

Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi talks on the phone to her son, Kim Aris on Thursday. Photo: Myanmar Presidential Press Office / Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Quad confirmed, Manila envoy signals likely ‘Squad’ talks before Trump-Xi summit

Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez also says he hopes Asean will become like Nato, capable of handling its own security.

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Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez floated the idea of an “Asean Nato”, reviving a proposal that was rejected by the country’s defence chief in 2024. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Asean wants a single digital economy. Will different state laws hobble its goal?

Citing implementation hurdles under Asean’s e-commerce agreement, an analyst says a proposed digital economy pact may face similar issues.

Indonesia

Prabowo warns regional critics Indonesia won’t be ‘insulted’ over haze

The haze has sent air pollution levels surging to dangerous levels not only at home, but also in Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor.

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Indonesia

Video | Anger builds over Indonesia’s wildfires and toxic haze

Katingan, in Central Indonesia, has registered an air pollution index of 1,600, 5 times the limited considered ‘hazardous’.

Katingan, in Central Indonesia, has registered an air pollution index of 1,600, 5 times the limited considered ‘hazardous’
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Chinese offshore investment

In Focus | How Thailand is capturing next wave of investments in ‘China plus one’ outlook

The Land of Smiles has become a prime location for Chinese businesses diversifying operations offshore, as Vietnam reaches saturation point.

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US-China relations

First Quad leaders’ summit after 2 years in Manila next month, Rubio confirms

Meeting of US, Japan, India and Australia leaders comes days before Trump is expected to meet Xi Jinping in Shenzhen.

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China-Asean relations

Opinion | Southeast Asia need not be a pressure valve for China’s exports

The issue is whether the region can become more capable through trade with China or if it is simply a larger outlet for China’s production.

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Containers are loaded for a China-Vietnam freight train at the Nanning International Railway Port in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on September 10. Photo: Xinhua
Donald Trump

Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region

On the president’s list are supply-chain security, critical minerals, technology cooperation, AI and investment in the US, experts say.

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US President Donald Trump (third from left) gathers with Asean leaders during the summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Asean climate monitor issues highest alert level over toxic haze

The months-long spell of haze has been disrupting life in large parts of Southeast Asia, closing schools and spiking respiratory complaints.

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Japan

Asian Angle | Why Asean’s Myanmar peace push needs Japan’s ‘silent diplomacy’

Tokyo knows how to back an Asean-led process without taking ownership of it, as decades of regional mediation show.

The Philippines

Opinion | Philippines’ ‘China-free’ manufacturing strategy is a high-risk bet

Despite support and progress on the Luzon Economic Corridor and Pax Silica initiatives, Manila faces many challenges and much competition.

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Illustration: Mario Cameira
Malaysia

Blurred vision: cries grow for Malaysia to stop being ‘too soft’ on haze

Smoke from Indonesian fires has blanketed large parts of Peninsular Malaysia, with Johor and Selangor among the worst affected states.

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Ships off Klang, Malaysia, are shrouded in haze from wildfires in Indonesia on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

‘Forgive us’: Indonesians urge Singapore, Malaysia to sue Jakarta over haze

Indonesians have expressed anger over the toxic smoke, with some even calling on foreign governments to impose sanctions on Jakarta.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

US holds ‘unusual’ civil-military meeting in Tokyo ahead of Trump’s China trip

Diplomatic, administrative and military officials said to have exchanged intelligence and aligned Asia-Pacific priorities and messaging.

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