#Southeast Asia

Myanmar's military junta is set to hold the first phase of elections on December 28. Despite promises of a power transfer from Min Aung Hlaing, observers warn the 'staged' vote will only escalate violence.

A review of Asia's top stories in 2025, based on Nikkei Asia's roundup. Explore the year's key political, economic, and social shifts, from Japan's first female PM to Southeast Asia's boom.

As Myanmar's military junta holds an election on Dec 28, 2025, exiles in Thailand dismiss it as a 'comedy show.' With the main opposition barred and international condemnation, the vote is seen as a bid to legitimize the 2021 coup, not a path to democracy.

Hun Sen's decades-long grip on Cambodia is being tested by fractures within his own elite. But the international community is failing to see the shift, clinging to a flawed geopolitical playbook.

The Sabah state election resulted in a major setback for Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim's national coalition, signaling a powerful rise in regionalism and a demand for greater autonomy.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold ceasefire talks on December 24 after an ASEAN-led meeting, following border clashes that killed over 40 people. However, deep mistrust and conflicting claims over landmines threaten the prospects for lasting peace.

An analysis of Southeast Asia's 2025 economy, shaped by Trump tariffs and rising state capitalism. As the U.S. becomes more unpredictable, nations like Vietnam and Thailand show diverging paths.

Nearly five years after its coup, Myanmar's military is holding an election. Driven by Chinese pressure and a battlefield turnaround, the vote is designed not to restore democracy but to consolidate military rule under a civilian guise.

Analysis suggests the slow disaster response in Aceh and President Prabowo's rejection of international aid could reignite separatist tensions, threatening the peace forged after the 2004 tsunami.

Vietnam officially launches its dual-city International Financial Center (IFC) project, targeting full operation by 2030 to attract foreign capital and compete with regional hubs like Singapore.

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim's remarks suggest a hardening stance on refugees, raising concerns for the Rohingya and signaling a shift in regional politics.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to military talks to halt border clashes, but new fighting erupted just hours later, putting ASEAN's mediation efforts to the test.