Southeast Asia Insights

Southeast Asia is facing a growing divide as mainland countries move closer to China and maritime nations try to balance their ties with both China and the United States.   Mainland Southeast Asia Leans Toward China Countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam are increasingly aligning with China. This shift is mainly driven by China’s infrastructure projects, such as the new railway in Laos, which strengthens their...

The Philippines has blocked access to the Grok artificial intelligence website. The move comes as anger grows over the creation of sexual images by the AI tool, including images based on real people. Grok is owned by xAI, a company linked to billionaire Elon Musk.   Philippine officials said the block under the Cybercrime Prevention Act is meant to protect the public, especially children. The government wants Grok to stop making pornograph...

The South China Sea is critical to Vietnam’s survival. Nearly 80 percent of the population lives within 200 kilometers of the coast, and millions rely on the sea for food and livelihoods. Protecting territorial waters and maritime zones is central to national security and economic stability.   Vanguard Bank, a submerged feature on the western edge of the Spratlys, symbolizes this high-stakes struggle. Believed to hold around $3 trill...

Asian nations are moving to expand marine protection and help meet the global target of safeguarding 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. The “30 by 30” goal aims to slow climate change, protect biodiversity, and secure the food systems that rely on healthy seas.   For Asia, the stakes are especially high: the region supports some of the world’s richest fisheries, fastest-growing coastal populations, and most vulnerab...

Southeast Asian governments are upgrading their fighter jet fleets at a pace not seen in decades, ending years of delayed procurement and underinvestment in air power. The shift reflects a new reality. Countries in the region no longer view territorial disputes and great-power rivalry as imaginary risks, but as real-world problems that demand real protections. The latest incident underscored that urgency when a Philippine fishing vessel reported ...