Never fun to come back from leave, but holding the new book is kind of special. www.rienner.com/title/The_Vi...

Last week on @straighttalksea.bsky.social, I had the pleasure of speaking to Hanh Nguyen of ANU on #Vietnam’s ambitious administrative reforms. Please join us for an insightful conversation on the reforms and their implications. lnkd.in/gt-EkqCv Apple: bit.ly/44Ba0pE Spotify: bit.ly/4eynK9e

I am pleased to announce that my book on the Vietnamese military is finally out. It's been a long road. Thanks to all who have helped and encouraged me along the way for what was originally written as an in-house primer for my National War College students. www.rienner.com/title/The_Vi...

Things are happening very fast in #Thailand with PM Paetongtarn’s suspension. For in depth analysis of what it all means, I had the chance to speak to Former MFP/PP MP Kunthida Rungruenkiat. lnkd.in/gPCe_9Cu Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/3I8oTbw Spotify: bit.ly/4lj2PcM

This is so heartbreaking. @RFABurmese goes dark today. Their journalists have displayed so much courage over the years. There are few countries more in need of @RadioFreeAsia’s reporting. This is strategic malpractice. rfa.org/english/myan...

On this week's Straight Talk Southeast Asia, a discussion with Prof. Ronald Holmes on why the #Philippine elections matter, the key issues, & how they could (re)shape the national political landscape. lnkd.in/dmtzN28GApple Podcasts: apple.co/4d3YHdp spoti.fi/4jY1es2

Positive development. And in the same day, the Department of Justice disbanded its office that prosecuted transnational criminal organizations. Any who. www.rfa.org/english/myan...

How do you fight an adversary that is engaged in multi-domain political warfare without the information instrument? Without ⁦‪@RadioFreeAsia‬⁩, we are ceding this space to China throughout Asia. This is an act of strategic malpractice. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o... via @NYTOpinion

An excellent piece by Miranda Jeyaretham in #TIME on the US betrayal of #Vietnam under #Trump. Well written and a stunning reminder of our epic foreign policy stupidity. This one will sting for quite some time. time.com/7281441/viet...

Amnesty International criticized Indonesia’s government Tuesday, saying it suppresses free speech with crackdowns on public protests, targets journalists and rights activists and uses spyware against dissidents. apnews.com/article/indo...

#Singapore's GE is more than a test of the popularity of PM Lawrence Wong & PAP's 4G leadership. New candidates & patterns of voter engagement will shape both PAP & opposition. @dririshsea speaks with Dr Elvin Ong in this election primer. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4iBX5Jd Spotify: spoti.fi/432bUA5

Dr. Khoo Ying-hooi discussed Xi’s visit to Malaysia & how the regional order is changing in response to the Trump Administration’s tariff threats. She concluded by sharing her thoughts on how ASEAN is engaging Myanmar post-earthquake. Do listen. Apple: apple.co/4jGRlyP Spotify: spoti.fi/4lEngBL

Please join Nyein Nyein Thant Aung and me in an hour to discuss Jets and Drones: Chinese Military assistance to Myanmar's junta. www.stimson.org/event/china-...

New event! 📆24th April 🕘9am Eastern Join @nyeinnta.bsky.social @zachabuza.bsky.social online for discussion "Fighter Jets and Drones: Is China’s Military Aid to the Myanmar Junta Making a Difference?" Details & Reg: www.stimson.org/event/china-...

Spent much of today plowing through this new @unodc.bsky.social report on Southeast Asia’s scam centers and the growing financial marketplace that enables their money laundering. Do read. www.unodc.org/roseap/uploa...

Absolutely shortsighted. Reconciliation is the foundation for all other security cooperation that we want with #Vietnam. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/w...

A federal judge has ordered the AGM to rehire all RadioFreeAsia and VOANews staff. But will the administration comply in a timely enough manner? Unilaterally ceding the information space to China and other malign actors is strategic malpractice. www.cbsnews.com/news/federal...

I will be discussing Beijing’s military support to the #Myanmar #junta, highlighting the transfer of #dualitems. Join the webinar on the 24th of April (Thursday) - 9 am ET/ 1 pm GMT / 2 pm CET/ 8 pm Indochina www.stimson.org/event/china-...

This is so outrageous and such a total moral failing. But here we are. www.rfa.org/english/abou...

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s takeover of Phnom Penh and the start of Year Zero. 1.5 million #Cambodians perished in 3.5 years. Unusually tone deaf for Chinese President Xi Jinping to arrive there on this day.

Excellent piece by Gregory Raymond. While China provides authoritarian cover, it’s the anti-democratic govts of SEAsia, who are actively collaborating, facilitating cross border repression. Transnational criminals effectively stabilize authoritarian politics. www.newmandala.org/making-mainl...

Appeasing the Myanmar Junta in the Face of Atrocity. A scathing assessment ahead of #Malaysian PM Anwar’s meeting with MAH, the latest in attempts to normalize the junta. “This is not diplomacy—it is complicity.” www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/gues...

The NUG, EROs, CSOs & others express "grave concern" at #ASEAN leaders' upcoming meeting w/ Min Aung Hlaing in BKK following #Myanmar #earthquakes Joint call for aid not to be funnelled through junta, instead it should be directed to all relevant stakeholders, incl areas administered by NUG & EROs.

Pleased to share my thoughts on #Vietnam’s proactive response to the Trump Tariffs, including To Lam’s call to the president, tariff cuts, & dispatch of the DPM to DC this week. They get the transactional purpose of the economically self-defeating tariffs. www.scmp.com/news/asia/so...

“At least 84 U.S. Agency for Global Media, or USAGM, journalists in the United States on work visas could face deportation, including at least 23 ‘at serious risk of being immediately arrested upon arrival and potentially imprisoned,’” For shame. apnews.com/article/radi...

Well, we had a good run. Congrats China.

Chinese doctrine is based on all encompassing political warfare. Without @benarnews & @RadioFreeAsia we’re unilaterally ceding the entire information space in SEAsia to Beijing. This is an enormous own goal & an act of strategic malpractice. www.benarnews.org/english/news...

URGENT. @skills4humanity.bsky.social has medical teams in the Mandalay region. I just wired her money for lifesaving aid, you should too. PayPal: @MeredithBunn.

The need for on the ground reporting from #Myanmar is more important than ever. The AGM’s block of the grant has hampered @RadioFreeAsia’s efforts. Please join me in donating to support their fearless journalists. www.gofundme.com/f/aid-rfa-jo...

This is a beautiful and fitting tribute to the fierce and fabulous journalist Gwen Robinson. Gwen was a force of nature, an excellent editor and deeply cared about issues across Asia, especially Myanmar. RIP - we will miss you, Gwen. asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Ob... via @nikkei-asia.com

A hellish sentence: 'Mandalay's crematoriums reach breaking point as earthquake death toll soars.' myanmar-now.org/en/news/mand...

Myanmar military jets and paramotors have been conducting airstrikes post-earthquake as the junta seeks global aid for victims. ❌ These airstrikes must be stopped to ensure safe aid delivery. Governments should act now to save lives.

The U.S. is ready to send the #Philippines more military equipment, but China is engaged in full on political warfare. The US has unilaterally disarmed itself with the dismantling of USAID, ⁦‪@RadioFreeAsia‬⁩, ⁦‪@BenarNews‬⁩, USIP & other instruments. rfa.org/english/sout...

Just 5 months in office, Prabowo’s problems pile up. I look at growing public protests and investor jitters in #Indonesia for Benar News.

The devastating earthquake will provide an opportunity for China to engage #Myanmar's junta that they're so desperate to prop up; they've already been doubling down in their military support. New report by Nein Nein Thant Aung & myself for @stimsoncenter.bsky.social. www.stimson.org/2025/too-lit...

🇲🇲❤️‍🩹 #MyanmarEarthquake Disaster Relief - Spring CrowdFund working to facilitate humanitarian aid Coordinated with Min of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management – NUG to ensure immediate support 👉 springcrowdfund.org/campaign/2a0... @capediamond.bsky.social @zachabuza.bsky.social

MAH: Give me a sign that I should continue to hold power. The Universe:

1/ Starting a small thread of Myanmar earthquake damage claims I find. (note: trying to highlight more obscure finds not circulating as much) Mekong News reporting at least 25-30 deaths in Inle Lake area. facebook.com/MeKongNewsMM...

URGENT. @skills4humanity.bsky.social has medical teams in the Mandalay region. I just wired her money for lifesaving aid, you should too. PayPal: @MeredithBunn.

This week's Straight Talk Southeast Asia focuses on the most serious setbacks to #Indonesian democracy since the fall of Suharto in 1998, with the revision to the 2004 Indonesian Military (TNI) Law. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4iGj8zd Spotify: spoti.fi/4kThrQu

The US cannot counter China’s political warfare without @RadioFreeAsia. Their investigative journalism exposes what Beijing wants hidden. Shuttering RFA cedes the ground to China. Restoring funding is essential for advancing US national interests. www.rfa.org/english/asia...

TBH it really looks like a bunch of Russians hiding out in #SoutheastAsia, evading conscription. myanmar-now.org/en/news/russ...

This is astounding. The IC's Annual Threat Assessment is clear eyed about China's political warfare campaign. And yet, the administration has unilaterally dismantled so many of our tools to counter malign Chinese influence: USAID, USIP @VOANews & @RadioFreeAsia. Strategic malpractice.

China is still developing its capacity to invade Taiwan, but analysts say it is now able to carry out a blockade or quarantine. @joyuwang.bsky.social and I take a look at how that might unfold Gift link: www.wsj.com/world/china/...

From the woke @wsj.com editorial board: “@RadioFreeAsia has an annual budget of $60.8 million and reaches some 58 million people a week. The cost is inconsequential compared to the value of news that challenges the narratives of autocratic regimes." www.wsj.com/opinion/radi...

Delighted to have @carloshconde.bsky.social on Straight Talk SEA S3 Ep 11 discussing Philippine former President Duterte's arrest & fight for justice for 1000s of victims of the 'war on drugs'. @zachabuza.bsky.social www.spreaker.com/episode/ep79... Apple: apple.co/4kCcpb6 Spotify: spoti.fi/43SuQC7

Straight Talk SEA continues to focus on issues affecting rights, w/analysis by @reaproy.bsky.social on threats to democracy & in-depth analysis of region w/ @zachabuza.bsky.social & @dririshsea.bsky.social . S3EP10 www.spreaker.com/episode/ep78... Apple: apple.co/3Fs3F6Z Spotify: spoti.fi/4bFF8rf

The political fallout from a Philippine strongman’s fall. My thoughts on the dynastic feud for Benar News. www.benarnews.org/english/comm...

China's intercepts are becoming more frequent, more aggressive, and more illegal. Me for @radiofreeasiapr.bsky.social. www.rfa.org/english/opin....