ASEAN Confronts Myanmar Crisis At Foreign Ministers Retreat In The Philippines

Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter: ASEAN) gathered in the Philippines for their annual retreat as the bloc faces mounting pressure to manage internal divisions and escalating regional security challenges. Held under Manila’s 2026 chairmanship, the meeting focused heavily on the unresolved political crisis in Myanmar, alongside maritime tensions in the...

Thailand-Cambodia Border Hostilities Shatter Truce as Casualties Rise

Renewed Thailand-Cambodia border hostilities have erupted, escalating to include air and ground engagements along their shared 800-kilometre frontier and resulting in a rising death toll. The renewed fighting, which intensified on Monday, 8 December 2025, represents the most significant backslide since the ceasefire was agreed upon in October. At least ten soldiers and civilians from both nations...

China and ASEAN Sign Major Upgraded Trade Pact

On 28 October 2025, the People’s Republic of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter: ASEAN) formally signed an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (hereinafter: FTA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This enhanced pact, referred to as the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 (ACFTA 3.0), is designed to deepen economic ties, strengthen regional supply chains,...

ASEAN Summit: Thailand and Cambodia Sign Comprehensive Ceasefire Deal

The Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on 26 October 2025, during the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter: ASEAN). This formal declaration aims to consolidate the truce previously agreed upon in July, following a five-day border conflict that resulted in dozens of casualties...

East Timor Becomes the 11th Member of ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter: ASEAN) officially formalised the membership of East Timor, the nation state also known as Timor-Leste, on 26 October 2025. The inclusion of East Timor expands ASEAN to 11 member states, marking the successful conclusion of a lengthy process of application and negotiation. This development is recognised as a...

Yaba: The Drug That Is Shaping Geopolitics In Southeast Asia

In 2023, a record 190 tons of methamphetamine was seized in Southeast Asia, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (hereinafter: UNODC). This methamphetamine-based stimulant, known as the “madness drug” or “Nazi speed,” has swept through Southeast Asia like wildfire, leaving a trail of addiction, crime, and political turmoil...