Showing 11 - 16 of 16
After 50, Asean's greatest threat is itself, not China
News, Johanna Son, Published on 09/08/2017
» The toasts to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) 50th birthday will continue for the rest of 2017. But the clink of champagne glasses cannot hide the fact that any spark of excitement there might have been around Asean less than two years ago -- when the Asean Community was launched -- is fast fizzling out.
The Philippines' headache over China
News, Johanna Son, Published on 18/07/2017
» When history is written one day of how a country called the Philippines dealt with China, would it make for a legend about how it smartly navigated geopolitical waters to assert its territorial and economic rights -- or a case study in how to bend over backwards and cede these to its giant neighbour to the north?
Chairing Asean, Philippine fiesta style
News, Johanna Son, Published on 28/01/2017
» There is a song for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a commemorative stamp for the occasion, and a Filipino pop singer proudly announcing that he is "Filipino, proudly Asean".
Rohingya plight now an Asean issue
News, Johanna Son, Published on 27/12/2016
» Was it a step forward or a flop? A real discussion or a public-relations stunt? Whatever the verdict is, the Dec 19 ''retreat'' of Asean foreign ministers in Myanmar on the touchy Rohingya issue was itself the message.
Philippines split on Duterte's drug war
News, Johanna Son, Published on 21/12/2016
» Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte doesn't bat an eyelash when saying he shot dead three criminals as city mayor more than 20 years ago, but sheds tears when visiting soldiers wounded in battle. The 71-year-old president makes off-colour jokes about women, but has named no less than five women in his cabinet, including three from leftist backgrounds.
Voter anger, frustration drove Duterte to the presidency
News, Johanna Son, Published on 12/05/2016
» Just months ago, Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines' next president, had been saying he would not run for the country's top post. "The country does not need me. I find no need for it," he said, adding that he wanted to retire after more than two decades as the popular, tough mayor of southern Davao city.