South China Morning Post • 21st January 2024

Indonesia election: is Jokowi’s ‘partiality’ for Prabowo a double-edged sword?

While Prabowo tops opinion polls, his stagnating numbers and a potential alliance between his rivals could deny him an outright victory despite Widodo’s ‘partiality’.

South China Morning Post • 13th January 2024

Will Indonesia’s Anies and Ganjar team up to deny Prabowo an outright poll win?

Weeks before the February 14 election, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan have gone on the offensive to narrow Defence Minister Prabowo’s large lead.

South China Morning Post • 3rd December 2023

Indonesia’s Anies Baswedan targets Jokowi’s Nusantara plan in election strategy

Analysts say Nusantara is a ‘huge drain on the public purse’ and likely to be an increasingly controversial issue in the run-up to the February polls.

South China Morning Post • 26th November 2023

Philippine nurse on surviving the onslaught in Gaza: ‘I smelled rotten flesh’

Darwin Diaz shares how he went into ‘work mode’ when Hamas attacked on October 7, being evacuated, and why despite the risks he’d return to help Gaza: ‘it’s where my heart is’.

South China Morning Post • 25th November 2023

He’s in the groove. But can Indonesia’s Prabowo dance his way to the presidency?

Prabowo Subianto is riding high in the polls, as his ‘adorable’ social-media campaign wins over a younger generation largely unfamiliar with his contentious strongman past.

South China Morning Post • 18th November 2023

‘We’re on our own’: Asian rice farmers brace for El Nino’s wrath as crops wither

From Thailand to the Philippines and Indonesia, El Nino is back with a vengeance and experts say it may be set to torment the paddy providing Asia with its staple food.

South China Morning Post • 18th November 2023

Indonesian leader Jokowi’s US visit falls short – could China stand to benefit?

The recently signed US-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership shows the lack of potential for bilateral economic ties to deepen.

South China Morning Post • 11th November 2023

Will untested Laos affect ‘unity in Asean’ over Myanmar crisis, South China Sea?

As new Asean chair, Vientiane may be ‘susceptible to Chinese pressure’ when dealing with the South China Sea issue, analysts say

South China Morning Post • 7th November 2023

Indonesia’s top judge to resign after Widodo’s son cleared to run as VP

Indonesia’s Chief Justice has been ordered to step down over ethical violations in a court ruling that paved the way for President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run as vice-president.

South China Morning Post • 5th November 2023

Singapore director Anthony Chen on The Breaking Ice, ‘lying flat’ and Hong Kong

Chen was inspired to make his latest drama while pondering life in London’s pandemic lockdown. Read on for his thoughts on China’s youth, the state of Asian cinema and what Singapore’s films are missing.

South China Morning Post • 4th November 2023

In Southeast Asia’s EV race, domestic markets face a long and winding road

Electric vehicles still only account for a fraction of Southeast Asia’s total car sales, but with a recent triple-digit surge in demand driven by consumers in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia that could be about to change.

South China Morning Post • 28th October 2023

Indonesia election 2024: the biggest issues facing the 3 presidential hopefuls

Campaigning is likely to spotlight political dynasties, Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara, youth and Muslim voters, and intra party rivalry in the ruling party.

South China Morning Post • 23rd October 2023

Indonesia election 2024: will Prabowo’s choice of running mate backfire on him?

The PDI-P could use Gibran’s political inexperience and call to preserve Indonesia’s democracy as a way to weaken Prabowo’s campaign, observers say.

South China Morning Post • 21st October 2023

More work ahead for India’s equality fight after ‘shock’ gay marriage ruling

India’s top court did not legalise same-sex marriages, but said the nation had a duty to acknowledge such relationships and protect LGBTQ folk from discrimination.

South China Morning Post • 16th October 2023

Fears for Indonesia democracy as Jokowi’s son could run as VP after court ruling

Jokowi’s eldest son may run as VP in next year’s election after a controversial constitutional court ruling creates a “bad precedent” for Indonesian democracy.

South China Morning Post • 15th October 2023

Rohingya problems deepen as violence surges in Bangladesh refugee camps

Escalating violence in the camps of Cox’s Bazar and increasing repression by Bangladeshi authorities have left Rohingya refugees devoid of protection or justice.

South China Morning Post • 10th October 2023

Israel-Hamas war divides Southeast Asia as trade, religion determine responses

Singapore ‘strongly’ condemned the attacks on Israel, while politicians in Malaysia and Indonesia came down firmly on the Palestinians’ side.

South China Morning Post • 9th October 2023

Indonesia’s Prabowo to ensure ‘continuity’ if he becomes president, brother says

‘Continuity’ means Indonesia will remain neutral amid ‘great-power competition’, says Hashim Djojohadikusumo at the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023.

South China Morning Post • 9th October 2023

Asean doesn’t want to be ‘forced to choose sides’, says Thai deputy PM

In a keynote speech at the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023, Thailand’s deputy prime minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said unity among Asean members can help ‘preserve regional peace and stability’.

South China Morning Post • 1st October 2023

‘Watch your back’: Sikh diaspora fears for safety after killing of separatist

The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has fuelled fears among Sikhs globally about the Khalistan movement getting ‘disproportionate’ amounts of attention.

South China Morning Post • 29th September 2023

Philippines will ‘stand our ground’ to South China Sea ‘bullying’: defence chief

The Philippines’ Gilberto Teodoro Jnr has compared Beijing’s recent actions in the South China Sea to that of a schoolyard bully.

South China Morning Post • 7th September 2023

South China Sea not just about US-China rivalry, Philippines says

President Marcos Jnr says misleading narratives deny the Philippines its independence and agency, and disregard its legitimate interests

South China Morning Post • 5th September 2023

Can Indonesia’s Anies Baswedan and VP pick win with ‘total opposite’ ideals?

A ‘very conservative’ PKS, one of Anies’ supporting parties, contrasts with his VP pick’s ‘moderate’ PKB that could cause internal tension, warn analysts.

South China Morning Post • 23rd August 2023

Biden’s Asean summit snub reveals US gap between ‘rhetoric and reality’

The Biden administration has rebuilt some trust, goodwill across Southeast Asia, but the summit snub will be ‘two steps forward, one step back’.