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This Week in Asia /

Politics

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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
A view of downtown Bangkok. A corruption investigation in Thailand into civil service exam scores for bribes has prompted questions over competence at local government offices across the country. Photo: Shutterstock
Thailand

Thai officials caught altering exam scores for bribes of up to US$24,000

Thousands of applicants allegedly paid bribes to secure civil service positions in the multimillion-dollar fraud.

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India

‘Senseless’: US military command rebrand risks damaging India ties

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India

India wants a self-reliant military, but can its private defence firms deliver?

South Korea

Why North Korea prefers a ‘hostile’ neighbour to Seoul’s peace efforts

One way to break the deadlock is to revive talks between the two Koreas, China and the US to end the Korean war, an analyst suggests.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observes a new multipurpose missile launching system and tactical cruise missile weapon system at an unspecified location in May. Photo: KCNA/YNA/dpa
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observes a new multipurpose missile launching system and tactical cruise missile weapon system at an unspecified location in May. Photo: KCNA/YNA/dpa
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

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

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The Philippines

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

Critics say the bill does not address political power concentration in government or the conditions that allow dynasties to flourish.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (third from left), with his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and their son, Congressman Sandro Marcos (left), mak the country’s independence day in Manila on June 12. Photo: EPA
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (third from left), with his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and their son, Congressman Sandro Marcos (left), mak the country’s independence day in Manila on June 12. Photo: EPA
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.

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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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney meets US President Donald Trump at the White House in October last year. Photo: Reuters
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.

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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
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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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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A ship identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as Chinese maritime militia is seen near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Monday. Photo: AFP
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
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