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Sebastian Strangio

Sebastian Strangio

Foreign Policy

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Vietnam’s National Assembly Approves $8B Rail Link to China

The project is expected to reinforce the already strong economic linkages between northern Vietnam and southern China.

yesterday 2

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippines Accuses Chinese Navy of ‘Aggressive’ Actions Over Disputed Shoal

Tensions over Scarborough Shoal have increased markedly since the middle of last year, when Beijing and Manila reached an "understanding" over another...

wednesday 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai Opposition Leader Defends Support for Lese-Majeste Law Change

The country's anti-corruption agency is investigating 44 ex-MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party over their support for changes to the law.

wednesday 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Singaporean Court Convicts Opposition Leader of Lying to Parliamentary Committee

The verdict against Pritam Singh, the leader of the Workers' Party, could taint the party's image ahead of the upcoming general election.

18.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippine Police General Files Complaint Against Ex-President for Threatening ‘Joke’

At a political rally last week, Rodrigo Duterte joked about killing 15 senators with a bomb so to free up positions for his own party's candidates.

18.02.2025 8

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai Court Opens Hearing Into Petition to Free Detained Uyghurs

The petition concerns the fate of 43 Uyghur Muslims from China's Xinjiang region, who have languished in an immigration prison since 2014.

17.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Argentinian Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Myanmar Officials Over Rohingya Atrocities

Included among the 25 names was junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he overthrew in a coup in 2021.

17.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Malaysia Will Amend Law on Public Protests, Prime Minister Says

Anwar Ibrahim also said that ongoing investigations against protest organizers would be dropped and that “no further action will be taken.”

14.02.2025 5

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai Army Repatriates Around 260 Scam Victims From Eastern Myanmar

Bangkok has taken a number of recent measures to clamp down on the cyberfraud operations in the border region.

14.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippines Seeks to Fulfill Submarine ‘Dream’ as Part of Modernization Plan

Manila has allocated nearly $2 billion for the acquisition of a submarine fleet to help defend its dispersed island geography.

13.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Apple Considering iPhone Manufacturing Facilities in Indonesia: Report

The move could be part of the U.S. tech giant's strategy to lift a government-imposed sales ban on its latest model.

13.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai PM Calls For Study Into Effects of Trump Trade Policy

Among ASEAN nations, Thailand and Vietnam have the two largest trade deficits with the United States. Both are readying for possible retaliatory...

12.02.2025 30

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thailand Promises Further Measures Against Scam Operations in Myanmar

Thai authorities say they are requesting arrest warrants for three leaders of an ethnic Karen militia believed to be harboring online scam syndicates.

12.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippines on Cusp of Major Defense Pacts with New Zealand, Canada

The planned visiting forces agreements reflect Manila's efforts to broaden and deepen its defense partnerships in the face of growing Chinese...

11.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Neil Loughlin on Cambodia’s Coercive State

Neil Loughlin on Cambodia’s Coercive State

The ruling party's power "stems from control over state institutions, security forces, and economic resources rather than genuine popular support."

11.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Campaigning Begins in Philippine Mid-term Election Amid Impeachment Drama

Last week's impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte has added an extra weight of political significance to the 12 Senate seats up for election.

11.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai Workers Return Home From Gaza After 15 Months in Captivity

Of the 31 Thai agricultural workers captured by Hamas in October 2023, just one remains in captivity.

10.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippine Vice President Duterte Vows to Fight Impeachment

Sara Duterte said that it was too early to consider resigning, which would preempt the impeachment and preserve her ability to run for office in...

10.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Malaysia ‘Strongly Opposes’ Forced Resettlement of Palestinians From Gaza

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government has been among the staunchest critics of Israel's attacks on Gaza.

07.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thailand and China Should Deepen Relations Amid ‘Unprecedented Changes’, Xi Says

The Chinese leader also thanked visiting Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra for her government's actions against online scamming compounds in Myanmar.

07.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippine Lawmakers Vote to Impeach Vice President Sara Duterte

The vote marks the culmination of a bitter feud between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

06.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Malaysian Government Moves to Block Ex-PM Najib’s House Arrest Bid

The Attorney General's Chambers is seeking to challenge an Appeal Court decision that ruled in favor of imprisoned former leader Najib Razak last...

06.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thailand Cuts Electricity to Scam Sanctuaries Across Myanmar Border

The measures were announced on the eve of PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's state visit to China, during which she is set to discuss anti-scam efforts with...

05.02.2025 8

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Indonesia Approves Creation of Second Sovereign Investment Fund

The Danantara fund, which will be seeded with at least $61 billion, will be placed under the direct supervision of the president's office.

05.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippines Declares Food Security Emergency to Bring Down Rice Prices

Despite slashing a tariff on imported rice last year, retail prices of the staple remain stubbornly high.

04.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

British Environmental Journalist Blocked From Re-entering Cambodia

The government's decision to void the visa of Gerry Flynn, 33, reflects the increasingly straitened circumstances of the Cambodian media.

04.02.2025 7

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Myanmar’s Military Junta Extends State of Emergency For Seventh Time

The six-month extension is intended to buy time for the military's long-promised election, but conditions in the country are not propitious.

03.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Is China’s DeepSeek Using Smuggled AI Chips From Singapore?

The U.S. government is probing whether the Hangzhou-based AI firm has built its disruptive R1 AI model on restricted Nvidia chips.

03.02.2025 7

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Five Thai Hostages Released in Israel-Hamas Prisoner Exchange

Thirty-one Thai agricultural workers were abducted by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023.

31.01.2025 40

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Boat Carrying More Than 70 Rohingya Lands in Indonesia’s Aceh Region

Last year saw a record number of Rohingya refugees set off by sea from the camps in southeastern Bangladesh.

31.01.2025 30

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai High-Speed Rail Project Set For Completion in 2030, Government Says

The planned high-speed line, which will connect Bangkok to China via Laos, has seen sluggish progress since construction began in 2017.

30.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Trump’s Aid Suspension Wreaks Havoc on Thailand-Myanmar Border

Medical clinics serving around 100,000 refugees at camps in western Thailand are dependent on American aid.

30.01.2025 9

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippine Troops to Train With US Missile System Next Month, Army Says

The Typhon intermediate-range missile system has been present in the country since join military drills in April 2024.

29.01.2025 4

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn to Visit China Next Week

The Thai leader says that the discussions with Xi Jinping will focus on online scamming operations, tourism, and air pollution.

29.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

China Detains Suspected ‘Major’ Trafficking Suspect With Thai Assistance

The suspect was wanted in connection with the high-profile kidnapping of the Chinese actor Wang Xing earlier this month.

28.01.2025 30

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Cambodia’s Proposed Atrocity Denial Law Will Stifle Historical Debate

Under draft legislation announced last week, anyone denying “the truth of the bitter past” could be imprisoned for up to five years.

28.01.2025 8

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Hundreds of Same-Sex Couples Wed as Thailand’s Marriage Equality Bill Comes Into Effect

Pop-up marriage booths were set up in Bangkok and other Thai cities to handle the eager backlog of couples.

24.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Singapore PM Forms Electoral Boundaries Committee, Paving Way For Election

Lawrence Wong is set to lead the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) into an election for the first time since taking office last May.

23.01.2025 6

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Mekong Nations Pledge to Bolster Anti-scam Efforts in 2025

China says it is leading regional efforts to crack down on online scamming operations and other transnational criminal activities.

23.01.2025 50

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Trade Resumes After Myanmar Military and Major Rebel Group Agree to Ceasefire

The agreement between the military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army came after months of Chinese pressure to return to political...

22.01.2025 40

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Malaysia Seeks Gag Order on Ex-PM Najib’s Royal Document Case

The former leader is seeking to convert his current prison sentence, handed down for his involvement in the 1MDB corruption scandal, to house arrest.

22.01.2025 9

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

ASEAN Foreign Ministers Tell Myanmar Junta to Prioritize Peace Over Elections

The bloc says that any election must be "inclusive," but it has limited power to deter the junta from its election plans.

21.01.2025 4

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Prabowo’s Approval Rating Tops 80 Percent After 100 Days in Office

Since taking office in October, the Indonesian president's popularity has been boosted by his tax cuts and free meal program.

21.01.2025 5

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Indonesia’s President Prabowo to Pay State Visit to India Next Week

The planned trip, which follows visits to China and the United States late last year, underscores Prabowo's focus on major power diplomacy over...

17.01.2025 6

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

China’s FM Calls on Southeast Asia to Tackle Online Scamming Scourge

Wang Yi told ASEAN ambassadors that scamming poses “serious threats to the vital interests of citizens from China and other countries.”

17.01.2025 3

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Japan ‘Gravely Concerned’ About South China Sea Tensions, FM Says

Speaking in Manila, Iwaya Takeshi said that his country's partnership with Southeast Asia was "vital for regional peace and stability,”

16.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Thai Police Issue Arrest Warrant For Cambodian Linked to Former MP’s Killing

Like the other Cambodian national wanted in connection with the murder, Ly Ratanakrasmey, 43, has links to the Cambodian government.

16.01.2025 8

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Philippines Protests Fresh Chinese Deployments at Disputed Shoal

2025 is shaping up as another year of friction and contention in disputed parts of the South China Sea.

15.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Vietnam Signs Nuclear Cooperation Deal With Russian Government

Hanoi is restarting its civilian nuclear program nearly a decade after canceling it over cost and safety concerns.

15.01.2025 20

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio

Myanmar Military Launches Air Strikes on Kachin, Rakhine, Shan States

2025 seems set to continue last year's sharp increase in the number of retaliatory air and artillery attacks on resistance-held territories.

14.01.2025 6

The Diplomat

Sebastian Strangio