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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.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen on Sunday before flying to Manila ahead of Asean meetings, where he is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Trump softens tone on alleged China election meddling before Rubio-Wang talks

US president says Washington will discuss alleged 2020 election interference with Beijing but plays down prospects of retaliation.

Indonesia

Why investors are upbeat on the long-delayed Asean power grid

The Philippines

Can Philippines turn reforms into gains in Southeast Asia’s FDI race?

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Mainland China

Opinion | Southeast Asia must write its own trade rules for China’s ‘flying geese’

As Chinese manufacturers migrate south, Asean has the leverage to dictate terms on local sourcing and skills training.

A worker inspects fruit at a Chinese-financed mango processing factory in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province last year. Photo: Xinhua
South Korea

‘Gateway to Asean’: South Korea bets on Vietnam hub for food expansion

Vietnam will be positioned as a logistics and distribution base aimed at growing demand for South Korean food products across the region.

South China Sea

Opinion | Path to South China Sea stability doesn’t run through US, UK or the EU

The statement by 14 countries is a geopolitical exercise, amplifying the flawed 2016 Hague arbitral ruling to try to drive a wedge between China and its neighbours.

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Cambodia

Opinion | Cambodia aspires to shed its dependencies while staying connected

As it seeks connectivity, Phnom Penh must build diplomatic bridges with as much effort as it constructs ports and canals.

People arrive at the construction site of the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel in Kandal province, Cambodia, on August 5, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
China trade

China’s power exports to Asean surge 40% in first half of 2026

Myanmar is leading the export surge for China’s power in Asean, with exports to the country nearly doubling in the first five months.

China trade

China’s trade surges in first half of 2026, extending growth streak

Exports rose by 27 per cent year on year and imports grew by 36 per cent last month, both beating projections.

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Myanmar

Myanmar edges out of isolation as Asean steps up engagement

Bangkok talks spark warnings that Southeast Asian diplomats are legitimising a military regime still waging a bloody war on its own people.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and his Myanmar counterpart U Tin Maung Swe attend talks on Saturday, a day before an informal meeting with Asean foreign ministers in Bangkok. Photo: Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP
China airliners

China’s C919 on Malaysia Airlines’ radar, but Western certification preferred

Opportunities for Comac’s C919 will increase with certification by Western aviation regulators, a Malaysia Aviation Group executive says.

A crowd watches as China's domestically produced C919 passenger jet takes off at an air show in Nanchang, central Jiangxi province, on November 2, 2024. Photo: AFP
Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi will be looked after, Myanmar envoy tells Asean

Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence, ⁠recently commuted by one-third, on a series of charges that her allies said were fabricated to keep her out ‌of politics.

Malaysia

Malaysia, Thailand make peace over seafood row after Anwar and Anutin meet

The two leaders also agreed to develop a ⁠special border economic ⁠zone and boost agricultural cooperation.

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Myanmar

Myanmar has ‘a mountain to climb’ to woo 2 million tourists a year

Myanmar saw 4.5 million tourist arrivals at the peak in 2015, but the numbers have fallen sharply since the military coup in 2021.

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Tourists offer joss sticks at Myanmar’s Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in 2019. Photo: AP
Singapore

Can Singapore and Indonesia’s energy push kick-start regional power grid?

The cooperation could boost both countries’ sustainability goals and help shape regional frameworks for the Asean Power Grid, analysts say.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday. 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

Promoting de-escalation and shared prosperity in the Persian Gulf may seem arduous now. It once looked that way in Southeast Asia, too.

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2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict

Can Asean keep the Thailand-Cambodia peace?

With zero enforcement powers, monitors risk being used to simply validate rival propaganda campaigns, analysts say.

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The Asean Observer Team visits an area of Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province where a civilian was killed. Photo: AKP/AFP
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.

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.

Chief Executive John Lee speaks at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026 on June 30, which also saw the launch of an Asean chamber of commerce in the city. Photo: May Tse
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.

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