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This Week in Asia /

Politics

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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir during Negeri Sembilan’s state assembly in Seremban, Malaysia. Photo: YouTube
Malaysia

Royal succession crisis strains Malaysia’s governing alliance ahead of polls

Analysts say the dispute has become harder to contain, with Umno and Pakatan Harapan taking different stances amid other political grievances.

Japan

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

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The Philippines

Will Philippines’ new bill entrench the political dynasties it aims to curb?

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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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Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo: Sputnik/AP
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo: Sputnik/AP
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.

Canada

Trump called Canada a freerider. This Pacific naval push is Ottawa’s reply

Ottawa is fielding its largest military contingent in years at the Rimpac drills. Whether it can sustain the commitment is another matter.

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Asean

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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) with Southeast Asian leaders at the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) with Southeast Asian leaders at the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo: EPA
The Philippines

Inside Germany’s plan to transform a Philippine Cold War relic

A multimillion-dollar aviation deal at Clark highlights European economic investment as a tool of strategic power.

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The Philippines

Philippines taps ‘smarter, cheaper’ Australian drones to deter China

The underwater drones could enhance Manila’s capability to record Beijing’s intrusion in its waters, analysts say.

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US, Israel war on Iran

2 wars later, US-Iran nuclear diplomacy returns to square one

Analysts say the new agreement returns to a familiar trade-off: nuclear curbs in exchange for sanctions relief and oil waivers.

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Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian holds a memorandum of understanding document showing his signature and that of US president Donald Trump, in Tehran on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Filipinos don’t trust the news. Are they sick of divisive politics?

Only 28 per cent of Filipinos said they trusted news most of the time, according to a global survey.

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Philippine police personnel block supporters of Vice-President Sara Duterte protesting outside the Senate of the Philippines, in Manila in May. Photo: AP
Philippine police personnel block supporters of Vice-President Sara Duterte protesting outside the Senate of the Philippines, in Manila in May. Photo: AP
South Korea

Will Lee Jae Myung’s G7 gamble preserve future diplomacy with North Korea?

Analysts say Lee’s outreach could help preserve prospects for future diplomacy, but Pyongyang has ‘little incentive’ to pursue dialogue.

Malaysia

Malaysia deports 2 suspected Indian separatists over rail explosion in Punjab

The two were allegedly involved in the detonation of an improvised explosive device on a railway line in April, which killed another suspect.

Asean

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
India

3 killed, no apology: the strike straining India-US relations

Instead of showing remorse, Washington ordered New Delhi to obey its blockade, stoking public outrage.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to New Delhi on May 26. Photo: AP
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to New Delhi on May 26. Photo: AP
South Korea

Why Hormuz reopening hands South Korea a diplomatic problem at G7 summit

The G7 summit could revive pressure on Seoul to join international efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation through the strait.

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The Philippines

‘Not a single inch’: Philippines vows to block structures at Scarborough Shoal

Observers say Beijing could be using its ‘old playbook’ of deploying scientific activities to boost military presence in the South China Sea.

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US, Israel war on Iran

No victory, no defeat: Iran war pauses with a fragile freeze

Thousands dead, hundreds of billions lost and an agreement many analysts expect to collapse. The Iran ceasefire, explained.

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Smoke rises behind the Azadi Tower in Tehran following a US-Israeli military strike on Iran in early March. Photo: ISNA/AP
Smoke rises behind the Azadi Tower in Tehran following a US-Israeli military strike on Iran in early March. Photo: ISNA/AP
Japan

Takaichi’s G7 mission: bridge Trump-bloc divides, polish ‘Iron Lady’ image

The Japanese leader also proposed a strategic mineral stockpiling plan during the summit to counter China and boost Tokyo’s global role.

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Japan

Why Japan is trying to get in on Europe’s flagship drone programme

Analysts say Japan can bring precision manufacturing to the European project aimed at building a home-grown alternative to US-made drones.

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North Korea

North Korea plays US-China rivalry card to justify ‘irreversible’ nuclear status

As the Iran conflict wanes, analysts say Pyongyang is trying to gain support from Russia and China to pre-empt denuclearisation pressure.

A test firing of a missile launch system is conducted at an undisclosed location in North Korea last month. Photo: KCNA via KNS/AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Relief and wariness: Asia watches US-Iran deal for real impact

While the deal may ease some economic pressure on Asian governments, the ‘real test’ is whether it will hold, analysts say.

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A man inspects his destroyed house after returning to Tibnin village, south Lebanon, on Monday following the announcement of an initial ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Photo: AP
A man inspects his destroyed house after returning to Tibnin village, south Lebanon, on Monday following the announcement of an initial ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Photo: AP
The Philippines

Wave of Philippine government website hacks raises alarm over weak cybersecurity

Analysts warned that repeated breaches of high-profile state websites could erode trust even if no sensitive data was stolen.

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Thailand

Thailand’s Thaksin is out of jail, but can he ‘leave politics behind’?

While the former PM is ‘no longer a political magnet’, analysts say he will still be behind the scenes as Pheu Thai tries to make a comeback.

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South China Sea

What is Marcos’ diplomatic end game? Inside Philippines’ South China Sea shift

By making undersea cables and fisheries the issue, analysts say Manila is trying to give all Asean members ‘skin in the game’.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) leads a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the Philippines’ Independence Day on Friday. Photo: EPA
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