ASEAN MONITOR

ASEAN Monitor (12/2023). President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Hanoi in response to raising the profile of bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States. The visit resulted in the signing of 36 bilateral agreements, as well as Vietnam's involvement in building a "Community of Shared Future". A special ASEAN-Japan summit was held in Tokyo, which was the culmination of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of establishing relations. On the sidelines of the summit, a series of high-level meetings took place, during which the decision was made to upgrade Japan-Malaysia relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2023). Another ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting was held in Indonesia, during which the most important security challenges were discussed, such as the internal situation in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea, but also the conflict between Israel and Hamas. From the perspective of China's activity in the region, the inauguration of a new airport in Cambodia built as part of the Belt and Road Initiative and subsequent incidents in the South China Sea should be noted. The APEC summit was held in San Francisco with the participation of, among others, representatives of Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. It is noteworthy that the relationship between the US and Indonesia, as well as Japan and Vietnam, has been raised to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Download the entire November news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (10/2023). Representatives of ASEAN member states called for an end to violence between Palestinian Hamas fighters and the Israeli armed forces. Rallies in support of the Palestinians were also held in some countries. Another series of incidents in the South China Sea have led to increased tensions between Manila and Beijing. China organized the third Belt and Road Forum, attended by representatives of six ASEAN countries. They also included President Joko Widodo, who at the beginning of the month, inaugurated the opening of a high-speed rail line in Indonesia, which is one of the main projects implemented as part of the Belt and Road Initiative in the region. Download the entire October news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2023). The holiday period brought several significant changes to the internal political scenes of some countries in the region. Of particular note is the confirmation of Srettha Thavisin as Prime Minister of Thailand. Moreover, after almost four decades of Hun Sen's rule in Cambodia, his son Hun Manet took over as prime minister. When it comes to China's activity in the region, the aggressive actions of the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea come to the fore. In turn, the United States has approved the sale of F-15A fighters to Indonesia and is tightening cooperation with Japan and South Korea to jointly support ASEAN in the face of China's expansionist policy in the region. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (6/2023). The Shangri-La security forum was held in Singapore, which was dominated by Sino-American tensions in the region. It is worth noting, however, that on the sidelines of the forum, the first-ever meeting of representatives of the defense ministries of the Philippines, the USA, Japan and Australia took place. Within ASEAN, further divisions have emerged over the South China Sea maneuvers planned for September and the association's policy towards Burma. While a Chinese navy ship visited the ports of several ASEAN member states, a US aircraft carrier made its first port visit to Vietnam since 2020. Download the entire June news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2023). Under the leadership of India and Singapore, the first-ever ASEAN-IIndia Maritime Exercise took place in the South China Sea. Indonesia hosted the 42nd ASEAN Summit, attended by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste as an observer, but no progress was made on stabilizing the internal situation in Burma. In addition, the opposition Move Forward Party won a spectacular victory in the elections in Thailand. Moreover, Vietnam held the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Download the entire May news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2023). The modernization of the US-Philippine military alliance gains momentum with the announcement of new military bases covered by the terms of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the organization of the largest-ever Balikatan exercise. In the case of China, the upgrading of bilateral relations with Singapore and the tightening of economic cooperation with Malaysia deserve special attention. In turn, events concerning ASEAN were dominated by further reports of an escalation of violence by the Burmese junta. Download the entire April briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2023). The European Union has reached an agreement with Thailand to resume talks on a free trade agreement that was put on hold after the 2014 coup d'état. In addition, the date of the Thai elections, scheduled for May 15, has been officially announced. China's deputy foreign minister headed a delegation that took part in two important meetings in the Philippines devoted to bilateral relations and the situation in the South China Sea. The US launched the first FONOP operation of the year near the disputed Paracele archipelago. In addition, a record-breaking business delegation consisting of American entrepreneurs flew to Vietnam to expand cooperation between the countries. Download the entire March news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (2/2023). One of the most important events in February was the visit of the US Secretary of Defense to the Philippines, during which several strategic decisions were made, testifying to the strengthening of cooperation in the field of security. It also marked another anniversary of the coup in Myanmar, which was marked by "quiet protests" across the country. In addition, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing to obtain a declaration of support from China ahead of Cambodia's elections this year. Download the entire February briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2023). A series of corruption scandals involving high-ranking members of the Vietnamese government contributed to the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc, which caused a great stir on the internal Vietnamese political scene. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made his first official visit to China, during which 14 bilateral agreements were signed. Particularly noteworthy is the conclusion of the 12-year-old negotiations between Indonesia and Vietnam on borders in the South China Sea. In turn, the United States continued talks with the Philippines about joint maritime patrols in response to China's growing activity in the region. Download the entire January news release along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2022). The most crucial event in December was the first-ever ASEAN-EU leaders summit, which was organized on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of dialogue partner relations. Also noteworthy is the upgrade of South Korea's bilateral relations with Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership. China has been accused of developing previously unoccupied islands in the South China Sea that are the subject of territorial disputes. The United States, on the other hand, assured the Philippines of its support in response to the increased activity of the Chinese maritime militia within the Spratly archipelago. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2022). In November, Cambodia held a series of ASEAN summits, from which representatives of Myanmar were excluded. We could also notice the increased activity of the United States in the region due to the visits of the president, vice president and secretary of defence. In addition, India and the US joined the group of countries with a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN. The elections in Malaysia and the swearing-in of Anwar Ibrahim as the new prime minister are also noteworthy. In the case of China's activity in the region, another incident in the South China Sea comes to the fore. Download the entire November news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (10/2022). The Malaysian government has announced the ratification of the CPTPP free trade agreement. Therefore only Brunei and Chile have to complete the formalities for the 11-country agreement to take effect in full. Also noteworthy is the strengthening of South Korea's relations with Malaysia and Vietnam, and in the case of the Philippines, the increased involvement of Japan and the United States can be noticed. Washington decided to provide the government in Manila with $100 million in support for a military modernization program. In addition, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has been the first foreign leader to meet Chairman Xi Jinping after the 20th CCP Congress. Download the entire October news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (9/2022). The United Nations and some Southeast Asian states are demanding more decisive action from ASEAN regarding the internal situation in Burma. Meanwhile, the junta consistently fights the political opposition in the country, as evidenced by subsequent sentences for the former councillor of state. In September, we saw Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would conduct the multi-vector foreign policy of the Philippines through visits to Indonesia and Singapore, as well as meetings with the American president in New York. This is not good news for Beijing, which could count on more freedom of action during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Download the entire September news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2022). Among the events in July and August, the most noteworthy was ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting organized by Cambodia, which was dominated by Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. It is worth underscoring that the association took a common position on this matter, although views on the situation in the Taiwan Strait differ greatly among the individual Member States. The internal situation in Burma has not improved, and the executions of activists and subsequent sentences for the former state councillor put ASEAN in a difficult position. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (6/2022). June was dominated by security issues, which were the theme of both the 16th ASEAN defence minister's meeting and the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue. Also noteworthy is the unexpected breakdown by the Philippines of negotiations with China on the joint extraction of natural resources from the South China Sea. Thanks to this decision, the newly sworn-in president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gained more freedom in building his own foreign policy toward China. It is also worth adding that at the end of June, the US-organized RIMPAC sea manoeuvres with the participation of four vessels from Southeast Asia began. Download the entire June news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2022). One of the most important and long-awaited events in May was a special ASEAN-U.S. summit, during which the president of the United States met with representatives of almost all the countries of the association. Also noteworthy is Joe Biden's visit to Japan, during which he announced the initiative of the American economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, involving seven ASEAN member states. The issues related to Southeast Asia were dominated by the victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the presidential election, who, contrary to preliminary forecasts, may adopt a tougher stance against the PRC in the South China Sea dispute. Download the entire May news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2022). The former Burmese State Councilor heard a five-year prison sentence on the first of eleven counts of corruption. Chairman Xi Jinping conducted his last conversation with Rodrigo Duterte as president of the Philippines, to whom Beijing owes a significant reduction in the role of the South China Sea Arbitral Award of July 12, 2016. The White House has set a second date for the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit, which will not be attended by representatives of the Burmese junta and will also be absent from the presence of Rodrigo Duterte. Download the entire April briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2022). The long-awaited visit to Burma's ASEAN special envoy did not bring any spectacular results. By contrast, the junta's stance shows that it will be challenging to implement the ASEAN consensus. China is continuing its assertive policy in the South China Sea, particularly near Scarborough Shoal. The United States, on the other hand, encountered difficulties in organizing a Special US-ASEAN Summit. Despite the crisis in Europe, Washington has shown its commitment to Southeast Asia through the record-breaking Balikatan maneuvers with the Philippines and the US State Department adviser's travel to the region. Download the entire March news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (2/2022). The most important event in February was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which shocked the entire international community and met with extremely different responses from ASEAN member states. Before that, however, there were a few noteworthy developments in Southeast Asia. One of them was the release by the US of a new Indo-Pacific strategy. Additionally, despite initial difficulties, Cambodia managed to organize the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which was dominated by the situation in Burma. It is also worth looking at ASEAN's perception of China's growing influence in the region. Download the entire February briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2022). In January, reports from Southeast Asia were dominated by the effects of the Cambodian prime minister's visit to Burma in December. Everything indicates that, apart from the COVID-19 pandemic, Hun Sen's policy towards the Burmese junta influenced the postponement of the summit of ASEAN foreign ministers. Also noteworthy is the ratification of the RCEP by Malaysia and the purchase of BrahMos missiles by the Philippines. While arming the Philippine Navy is not good news for Beijing, the US also has cause for concern as the missiles are produced by an India-Russian joint venture, which could increase competition for influence in Manila. Download the entire January news release along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2021). In December, the first-ever ASEAN-Russia naval maneuvers took place. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced his visit to Burma in January 2022, which, in the light of Cambodia's chairmanship in ASEAN, may undermine the association's current policy towards the junta. There have been tensions between China and Indonesia over drilling operations in the contested area of the South China Sea. Also noteworthy is the US Secretary of State's trip to Southeast Asia, which was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2021). A special China-ASEAN summit was held in November, during which both sides signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. However, increasing the rank of bilateral relations did not positively affect the situation in the South China Sea, where further incidents between China and the Philippines continued. Such a situation may serve Washington, which consistently strengthens security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through a series of naval maneuvers with Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. Download the entire November news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (10/2021). October was dominated by information about the ASEAN summits. The most widely discussed issues include excluding the Burmese military government from participation in the meetings of the association's member states and other summits with regional partners. In retaliation, the junta decided not to delegate an apolitical representative. Also noteworthy is ASEAN's consent to raise relations with China and Australia to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The United States, on the other hand, achieved great publicity thanks to the participation of President Joe Biden in ASEAN summits, where he announced a new initiative worth over USD 100 million. Download the entire October news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (9/2021). In September, we saw the intensification of rivalry between China and the United States in the region. While the first half of September was dominated by the activity of Chinese diplomacy: Wang Yi visited Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia, the Americans dominated in the second half. A new security pact was announced (AUKUS), and a summit of QUAD leaders was held. The initiation of AUKUS was widely echoed, which was received ambiguously by ASEAN. Download the entire September news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2021). In July and August, we witnessed increased US administration activity in the region, as evidenced by the visits of the US secretary of defense and vice president. Washington's offensive was not left unanswered by Beijing, which used the situation in Afghanistan to undermine American credibility as a security ally. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (6/2021). June saw intense competition between the United States and China for influence in Southeast Asia, best exemplified by the special China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Summit in Chongqing and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State's visit to three ASEAN countries. In addition, an ASEAN Plus summit of defense ministers was held, with representatives of both rival powers in attendance. Download the entire June news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2021). May saw a rise in the temperature of the South China Sea dispute. While China maintains its high level of activity in disputed areas of the South China Sea, the Philippines is intensifying its opposition both with diplomatic tools and through increased naval and coast guard activity. Since Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential election, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has filed 100 diplomatic protests against Beijing's expansionist actions, and Philippine naval activity in the two weeks of May was greater than in the past ten months. Download the entire May news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2021). The ASEAN Leaders' Summit was held in April, with the domestic situation in Myanmar as the main topic. Noteworthy was the absence of the leaders of countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Laos, which decided to send representatives. The summit resulted in a consensus, although there are legitimate concerns about how Burma's military government will implement it. Download the entire April briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2021). In March, tensions rose around Whistun Reef, located in the Spratly archipelago, near which several hundred Chinese vessels anchored. Despite assurances from the Chinese side that they are just fishing boats, the Philippines recognizes that they are units of the Chinese maritime militia. In Burma the government continues its bloody suppression of protests, despite harsh international criticism. Download the entire March news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (2/2021). February began with an unexpected event. Burma saw a military coup d'état in which a number of the country's most prominent figures, including State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, were imprisoned. The US-Filipino tensions are also noteworthy. President Duterte has decided to use the bargaining chip of the VFA to gain additional financial benefits. He realizes that the Philippines are of great strategic importance to the United States. Especially now that there is a cross-party consensus in the U.S. on containing China. Download the entire February briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2021). In January, the Chinese government approved a new law increasing the powers of China's coast guard. It can now use weapons against foreign vessels, violating Chinese sovereignty or undermining China's jurisdiction. The new law raises many concerns because it is incompatible with international law, which has already been pointed out by countries involved in the South China Sea dispute, such as the Philippines and Vietnam. Download the entire January news release along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2020). December brought further sanctions on Chinese companies. The United States participated in the 26th CARAT maneuvers with Singapore. The new U.S. Secretary of Defense visited Indonesia and the Philippines, reiterating statements of U.S. commitment to the region, which in the case of the Philippines resulted in a $29 million donation of military equipment. The end of 2020 was also full of negotiations for the purchase of vaccines for COVID-19. One can see the close cooperation between China and Indonesia in this regard and the unexpected decision of Cambodia, which is betting on a subsidized UN program. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2020). The highlight of November was undoubtedly reaching an agreement on the long-awaited Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which, once ratified, will be the world's largest free trade agreement, bringing together 30% of the world's population and global GDP. Also noteworthy was another series of ASEAN summits held online. Brunei will take over the presidency of the association next year. Download the entire November news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (10/2020). October saw a series of high-level meetings between Quad representatives and Southeast Asian states, reflecting the region's growing strategic role in the China-U.S. rivalry. In addition, the signing of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement was noteworthy, as was the Philippines' creation of a maritime militia to more effectively counter Chinese presence in the South China Sea. Download the entire October news release with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (9/2020). September saw a series of summits conducted online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Highlights include the 10th East Asia Summit, as well as the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum. Of particular note were the U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies involved in the construction and militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea, and the fact that Malaysia and the Philippines, which are parties to the dispute, have not decided to halt cooperation with blacklisted companies. Download the entire September news release with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2020). The holiday months were packed with events of significance for the future of Southeast Asia's regional governance, particularly in the context of the situation in the South China Sea. The fierce competition was evident both in the military and diplomatic spheres. Noteworthy is China's maintenance of its presence at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), despite numerous calls from Washington not to do so. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (6/2020). With the epidemiological threat still high, the 36th ASEAN Summit was held by video conference. Southeast Asian leaders focused on measures of minimizing the damage from a coronavirus pandemic. Despite growing concern of the international community, China continues its activity in the South China Sea, repeatedly violating the waters of other countries involved in the territorial dispute. Download the entire June news release with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2020). Another month of the coronavirus pandemic has passed, bringing a slow opening up of Southeast Asian countries, dictated mainly by the economic needs. There are still reports of governments trying to use the pandemic period to consolidate their power at the expense of democratic values. May also saw a landmark event from the perspective of the situation in the South China Sea, as four years after the high-profile ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, the government in Jakarta expressed official support for the ruling, which was favorable to Manila. Download the entire May news release with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2020). Some countries are using the COVID-19 pandemic to protect their vested interests. On the one hand, China is providing medical support to Southeast Asian states as part of the so-called "mask diplomacy." On the other hand, it seeks to legitimize its territorial claims in the South China Sea through increased activity of its navy and new administrative regulations. Myanmar government continues to persecute ethnic minorities, as evidenced by more boats with Rohingya refugees being stopped off the coast of Malaysia. Download the entire April news story with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2020). The majority of events in March were related to the global coronavirus pandemic. Some high-level meetings, such as the 36th ASEAN Summit, were postponed, while others, like the Shangri-La Dialogue, were cancelled. Southeast Asian countries have gradually stepped up their efforts in the fight against COVID-19 with support from China, which is providing the necessary equipment and expert advice of doctors. Also noteworthy was the visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam and increased security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. Download the entire March news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (2/2020). February brought political tensions in Southeast Asia. Thailand's Constitutional Court decided to dissolve the opposition political party Future Forward, led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. In Malaysia, on the other hand, King Mahathir Mohamad resigned from the position of prime minister. President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, which governs the presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines, caused great concern on the domestic political scene. Download the entire February news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2020). In January, there were tensions in Indonesia-China bilateral relations over the violation of the exclusive economic zone off the Natuna Islands. In addition, Xi Jinping paid an official visit to Myanmar, during which 33 documents were signed aimed at developing bilateral cooperation. In turn, the Philippine President threatened the United States to withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement. Download the entire January news with commentaryhere. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2019). Key developments in December certainly included the visit of Myanmar's State Counselor to the International Court of Justice in The Hague on charges of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority. Also noteworthy is the submission of the Malaysian delegation on the extended continental shelf during the 51st session of the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, challenging China's nine-dash line in the South China Sea. Download the entire December briefing with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2019). The main events in November include another edition of the ASEAN Informal Defence Ministers' Summit. A joint anti-terrorism exercise was carried out in China, including units from the Southeast Asian region and the United States. The competition between Japan and South Korea for influence in ASEAN member states is also clearly visible, as evidenced by meetings at the highest level. Download the entire November news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (10/2019). In October, the Philippine president met with Vladimir Putin in Russia, indicating that the Philipines government is balancing the superpowers. In addition, Malaysia passed a new budget, and the prime ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam met in Hanoi to settle border disputes. Download the entire October news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (9/2019). The first-ever joint naval maneuvers between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations took place in early September. The President of South Korea visited Burma and Thailand, resulting in signing a number of memoranda of understanding on intelligence and economic cooperation. In addition, leading ASEAN politicians spoke at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, raising issues related to the Rohingya crisis in Burma and the situation in the South China Sea. Download the entire September news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2019). The 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Thailand in late July and early August. One of the main topics was the situation in the South China Sea due to recent incidents involving Chinese ships. The Malaysian and Indonesian governments are working to minimize losses from EU restrictions on palm oil imports. Myanmar, on the other hand, is unable to carry out an effective repatriation process for the Rohingya from Bangladesh, and clashes with armed ethnic minority groups continue in the north of the country. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (6/2019). The 34th ASEAN Summit was held in Thailand in June, addressing issues related to the US-China trade war, the ethnic crisis in Myanmar, and shipping safety in the South China Sea. A new Thai prime minister was sworn in to lead the civilian government. In Indonesia, the Constitutional Court resolved a dispute over the April presidential election. Download the entire June news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2019). In May, official results of Indonesia's presidential election were announced, confirming another victory for Joko Widodo over Prabowo Subianto. King of Thailand married his fourth consecutive wife just before his official coronation. And in Burma, journalists from the Reuters news agency, who won this year's Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the military's killings of the Rohingya ethnic minority, were released. Download the entire news story from May with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2019). In April, general elections were held in Indonesia, which is the world's third largest democracy. In addition, the second forum on international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative was held in Beijing, bringing together, all leaders of ASEAN member states. Download the entire April news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2019). March was full of reports related to Thailand's general elections, held for the first time since 2014. In addition, noteworthy is the increased interest in the Philippines from the United States, as evidenced by the visit of the US Secretary of State to Manila. Download the entire March news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (2/2019). February saw tension surrounding the upcoming elections in Thailand and Indonesia. In Thailand's landmark general election, Princess Ubolratana Mahidol filed her candidacy for the post of prime minister but did not receive support from the king, who is also her younger brother. In Indonesia, the second presidential candidates' debate took place. Download the entire February news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2019). January was full of events related to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Thailand and the presidential election in Indonesia. In addition, we could see increased activity from the Chinese navy, whose ships paid visits to Cambodia and the Philippines to improve cooperation and exchange experiences. Download the entire January news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2018). In December, the Burmese military decided to halt military operations until the end of April 2019, allowing the peace talks with armed ethnic minority groups to resume. In addition, there have been significant changes in Malaysia's political scene. The former leader of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) resigned from his post following the resignation of 17 MPs from the party. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2018). The November APEC Summit for the first time ended with no joint communiqué. In addition, President Xi Jinping made official visits to both Brunei and the Philippines, signing numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding. Among the most significant contracts was the long-awaited deal between China and the Philippines to extract natural resources in the disputed South China Sea. Download the entire November news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (10/2018). In October, there were joint maneuvers organized by the navies of China and ASEAN. The military government in Thailand started to ease restrictions related to the ban on political activities ahead of the upcoming general election, likely to be held in late February next year. Download the entire October news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (9/2018). Cambodia's leading opposition figure serving a sentence for attempting to stage a coup has been released from prison due to ill health. He was placed under house arrest and banned from any political activity. The President of the Philippines made a trip to the Middle East, where he visited Israel and Jordan. The visit to Israel was aimed at increasing arms cooperation between the countries. The Philippines' relationship with the U.S. has deteriorated significantly since Rodrigo Duterte became president. The U.S. has been a major source of armaments for the Philippine military for many years. Download the entire September news story with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (7-8/2018). The Cambodian People's Party led by Hun Sen won the parliamentary elections again, with an overwhelming majority securing all parliamentary seats. In Malaysia, on the other hand, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad continues his policy of holding the previous government to account, resulting in further charges for former Prime Minister Najib Razak over irregularities related to the management of the state investment fund 1MDB. Download the entire July and August news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (6/2018). Malaysia's new prime minister has embarked on his first trips abroad, including Japan, which may indicate an attempt to become less dependent on Chinese influence by cooperating with other countries in the region. In Vietnam, on the other hand, there is growing social unrest over the operation of three new special economic zones where foreign investors will be able to lease land for 99 years. Vietnamese fear that the new zones will be dominated by Chinese entrepreneurs, who primarily employ Chinese workers. Download the entire June news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (5/2018). Malaysia's general elections concluded in May. The four-party Pakatan Harapan political coalition led by 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad won the general election against the National Front and ended Prime Minister Najib Razak's nine-year rule. China continues its military activity in the South China Sea, which has raised concerns and opposition from Vietnam and the Philippines. The most controversial has been the recent activity of Chinese bombers operating from the Paracel Islands, which have most Southeast Asian countries within their combat range. Download the entire May news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (4/2018). April brought a breakthrough in Myanmar, where authorities agreed for the UN representatives to examine the conditions in refugee camps and Rakhine State. Moreover, the Prime Minister of Malaysia decided to dissolve the parliament, which implies early elections. At the end of the month, another summit of ASEAN leaders was held in Singapore. April news with the commentary, please click here. 

ASEAN Monitor (3/2018). In March, for the first time since 1975, an American fleet, consisting of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, a destroyer and a cruiser, entered the Vietnamese port of Da Nang, where the American invasion began 43 years ago. And in Burma, President Htin Kyaw unexpectedly resigned and was replaced by a close associate of Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myinta, of the National League for Democracy. Download the entire March news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (2/2018). Washington-Manila relations deteriorated further in February due to a report published by the US Intelligence Community, which will certainly benefit the Chinese side. Beijing will be able to continue its work in the South China Sea with greater freedom. The UN Security Council, on the other hand, cannot come to an agreement with the authorities in Myanmar regarding the investigation of suspected genocide and human rights violations during the Rakhine state crisis. Download the entire February news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (1/2018). One of the highlights of the new year included the second summit of the Lancang-Mekong region in Cambodia. The Philippine authorities sent five emissaries to Beijing to improve relations between the countries in the face of rising tensions resulting from China's militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Download the entire January briefing along with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (12/2017). The most significant development in December was the strong opposition of most ASEAN countries to Donald Trump's controversial decision on the status of Jerusalem. There were numerous protests by the Muslim population in Malaysia and Indonesia. At the same time, the Philippines remained neutral on the issue, which is surprising given that relations between Washington and Jakarta have deteriorated since Rodrigo Duterte began his term in office. In addition, Cambodian authorities have communicated that they do not fear further pressure from the US and the EU due to the dismantling of the opposition. Prime Minister Hun Sen has full support of China, which has already offered its help in organizing the next parliamentary elections in Cambodia. Download the entire December news with commentary here.

ASEAN Monitor (11/2017). November saw multilateral meetings such as another APEC Summit in Vietnam and the East Asia Summit in the Philippines. In addition, there was a visit by D. Trump to China, Vietnam and the Philippines. Significant events included the agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the Rohingya Muslim minority and the dissolution of the largest opposition party in Cambodia by the Supreme Court. Download the entire November news with commentary here. 

ASEAN Monitor (10/2017). October was a month of heightened activity in the Philippines due to policies pursued by President Rodrigo Duterte. The military's fierce fighting in Marawi against one of the Islamic State's cells was successful thanks to the support provided by China and Russia. Both countries have recently donated large quantities of arms and ammunition to defeat the terrorists. In turn, the Muslim ASEAN countries received a delegation of government representatives and business representatives from Qatar, which is trying to emerge from international isolation after it was revealed that it financed terrorist organizations and Iran's nuclear program. Download the entire October briefing along with commentary here.