Southeast Asia Insights

Millions of Filipino families depend on remittances from relatives working abroad, businesses rely on smooth cross-border payments, and foreign investors need confidence in the financial system. All of these could be affected if the Philippines returns to scrutiny by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body that monitors countries for money laundering and terrorism financing risks.   Why Regulators Are Worried Bangko Sentral ...

Philippine and US forces launched their first joint patrol of 2026 near Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The operation brought together Philippine Navy and Coast Guard ships with US naval vessels and aircraft, conducting coordinated drills and maneuvers near the contested shoal, which has seen increased Chinese activity in recent months. Analysts say the patrol underscores the Philippines’ reliance on strong alliances to protec...

Malaysia is preparing its next legal and diplomatic moves after winning a major international arbitration battle against a group claiming to be heirs of the former Sulu Sultanate. In December, the Paris Court of Appeal struck down a $14.9 billion claim that could have forced Malaysia to pay massive compensation and even hand over assets belonging to the Malaysian public. The ruling ended a multi-year campaign backed by European lawyers and litiga...

Satellite images show China is gearing up to build what could become a new military outpost at Antelope Reef in the South China Sea. Antelope Reef is a small coral feature in the Paracel Islands, which are about 400 kilometers east of Hue, Vietnam, and about 280 kilometers from the Sanya Naval Base on China’s Hainan Island.#   A Quiet Reef That May Soon Host Chinese Warships and Aircraft Tracking groups say China began dredging arou...

Myanmar’s military junta has declared victory in an election whose outcome was widely seen as predetermined. Finalized on January 25, the vote handed an overwhelming win to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, reinforcing the junta’s grip on power more than four years after the 2021 coup.   Why Myanmar’s Military Is Chasing Legitimacy This was not a real, fair election. It was a tightly controlled ...