Foreign Policy Blogs

Southeast Asia

Razak's Ghosts Come Home to Roost and an Explosive New Year in Burma

Razak's Ghosts Come Home to Roost and an Explosive New Year in Burma

Malaysia: PM Najib Razak has launched an economic reform initiative, the New Economic Model (NEM),  which is geared to transform Malaysia into a developed nation by 2020.    The problem with this lofty goal is that Malaysia is currently facing ascending competition, a marked decrease in foreign direct investment (FDI), and  the fact that this reform […]

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The Passion of the Red Shirts: Enter the Military and Exit the PM (Again)?

The Passion of the Red Shirts: Enter the Military and Exit the PM (Again)?

30,000 Red Shirt Protesters Thailand:  Over the last week the situation in Thailand has deteriorated, with as many as 24 people dead and over 800 injured since the new round of Red Shirt protests begin over 2 weeks ago.  A protest that started off with a festive atmosphere slowly descended into violence, with grenade attacks, […]

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More Passion of the Redshirt, Indonesia and China, Malaysia and Illegal Aliens

Indonesia:  Last week, this blog looked at the reality of Indonesia’s capacity to aid the United States in the Islamic world. Ahead of Obama’s June visit to the archipelago, it is also valuable to consider how the Indonesian – American relationship is viewed on the Indonesian street.   Recently, some right wing Muslim groups have joined […]

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Red Shirts Meet THE MAN, Indonesia's Role, and more…

Red Shirts Meet THE MAN, Indonesia's Role, and more…

Thailand:  Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva not only kept his word to meet with opposition Red Shirt leaders, but also allowed the exchange to be carried live on state television.  In regard to one of the Red Shirt’s central demands, Vejjajiva agreed to consider dissolving Parliament and calls for new elections, a move that many Red […]

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CAFTA Angst, Indonesian Strength, and the Mekong Drip

CAFTA Angst, Indonesian Strength, and the Mekong Drip

CAFTA: This site recently discussed the growing angst of citizens in several Southeast Asian nations in regard to CAFTA.  Asia Times is currently running an article addressing some specific areas of contention in detail. Touted as the world’s biggest free-trade area, CAFTA will bring together 1.7 million consumers with a combined gross domestic product of […]

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Red Shirts Strike Back and More CAFTA Blues

Red Shirts Strike Back and More CAFTA Blues

Thailand:  Since the weekend, 120,000 to 250,000 Red Shirts have concentrated on Bangkok, demanding that Thai PM Abhisit dissolve Parliament and call for new elections, which they believe will usher the opposition into a majority, and hopefully signal the return of ousted and exiled Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra.  By Monday, the Red Shirts had succeeded […]

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Starving the Rohingya, Corrupt Yudhoyono, and Jail for Rebels in the News

Starving the Rohingya, Corrupt Yudhoyono, and Jail for Rebels in the News

East Timor:  The would be assassins of Timornese President José Ramos-Horta and  Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão have been given sentences ranging from 16 to 24 years in prison.    This would-be junta rebels was mostly composed of disaffected police and military.   This blog detailed the events that preceded this trial in more detail, here. Indonesia: Another […]

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Abu Sayyaf Strikes Back, More Sen-Rainsy Drama, and Sino-Indo Trade Backlash in the News

Abu Sayyaf Strikes Back, More Sen-Rainsy Drama, and Sino-Indo Trade Backlash in the News

Indonesia:  As an update to the growing  backlash in SE Asia over the China-ASEAN FTA,  the Berita Jakarta is already blaming the FTA on a decline in exports from Jakarta: It can be seen from the decline in the city’s export value by 4.80 percent or US$ 2.828 billion in January this year, from that […]

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Red Shirts Evolve and Dong Still Under Pressure

Thailand:  This blog has followed the “Shinawatra Saga” in Thailand for awhile.  Thitinan Pongsudhirak has an interesting editorial on the issues at OpinionAsia.  Mr. Pongsudhirak contends that the core issue is not Shinawatra, but democracy and social justice.  For this reason, he believes the Red Shirts (a.k.a. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, UDD) […]

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Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore News Update

Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore News Update

Vietnam:  The Vietnamese government is trying to gather international support to bolster itself in it’s long-standing territorial disputes with China over the Paracel Islands.  China has held military control over the majority of the islands for 30 years, and this year has announced its desire to set up tourism facilities in the archipelago.  In response, […]

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Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia in the News

Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia in the News

Malaysia: The NY Times has an article concerning ANOTHER Anwar Ibrahim trial.  Over the last 30 years, Mr. Anwar has not been a stranger to Malaysian jails, nor to the charge of sodomy, but his latest running-a foul with the political elite may have some serious repercussions in Malaysia, as well as to the nation’s […]

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In the Shadow of the Dragon: Free Trade With China A Win-Win?

This blog previously commented on rising opposition to and grumbling over the China – ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Southeast Asia, which went into effect on 90 percent of products, on January 1, 2010   Times Magazine Online has an article concerning more of the downsides of the FTA.   For example, Indonesian Trade Minister, Mari […]

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More Free Trade and the Filipino Gun Ban

More Free Trade and the Filipino Gun Ban

ASEAN and U.S.:  As predicted by this blog, the Obama Administration is moving to create a comprehensive political-economic rapprochement with East and Southeast Asia.  The economic arm of this policy direction will branch off of the existing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).  So far, the TTP includes a free-trade agreements (FTA) with Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and […]

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China & ASEAN Economics and Malaysian Sectarian Violence

China & ASEAN Economics and Malaysian Sectarian Violence

ASEAN and China:  This blog has spent considerable time following the ASEAN+China free trade deal from the perspective of various nations in the region.  The Asia Times has a new article concerning the “win-win” possibilities of the deal and what the incentive is for ASEAN nations.  It also provides some telling data: According to estimates […]

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In the News Jan 7, 2009

In the News Jan 7, 2009

Philippines:  Due to political pressure, the Arroyo administration has been forced to take serious action over November 2009’s Election Massacre.  A suspect from the Ampatuan political clan was charged: “Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, southern Philippines on Nov. 23…” The government has also set up a […]

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