Territory & Conflict

Tensions flared once again in the South China Sea as China and the Philippines traded accusations of provocation following two mid-October encounters near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) and Thitu Island (Pag-asa).   Happening just days apart, the incidents underscore Beijing's growing assertiveness and Manila's determination to defend its maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that lies within the...

Southeast Asian leaders have agreed that Myanmar will not assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, breaking from the bloc’s usual rotation system. The announcement was made during the ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Indonesia in September.   Under the ASEAN Charter, the chairmanship rotates annually in alphabetical order among member states. The country holding the chair leads key summits, sets ...

Since gaining independence in 1948, Myanmar has struggled with chronic instability, much of it rooted in its complex ethnic landscape. Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) emerged in the wake of unfulfilled promises of autonomy, and by 1962 the military junta had seized power, curbing minority rights and waging brutal campaigns against insurgent groups. For more than half a century, Myanmar remained under military rule.   Hopes for a democrat...

Border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand spiraled from temple protests in February into open conflict by July, leaving dozens dead and displacing more than 300,000 people before international pressure forced a ceasefire. The truce, while significant, is only a temporary pause as the core of the crisis, a centuries-old dispute over prized Hindu temple ruins, remains unresolved. Looming over the situation is the shadow of global rivalry, with ...