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...

Highlights of RFA Burmese reporting

RFA has covered the rollercoaster of Myanmar’s modern history for an audience thirsty for independent news.

rfa.org

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...

US blacklists Myanmar warlord and ethnic army linked to scam centers

Treasury describes Karen National Army leader Saw Chit Thu as “key enabler of scam operations in the region.”

rfa.org

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

Opinion | Trump Is Silencing Radio Free Asia. Now China Doesn’t Have To.

The U.S. government’s dismantling of Radio Free Asia means giving Beijing’s propaganda free rein.

nytimes.com

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...

How Trump Is Undermining U.S.-Vietnam Postwar Reconciliation

Five decades after the fall of Saigon, America’s legacy and relationship with Vietnam are now mired in uncertainty.

time.com

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...

Amnesty says Indonesia suppresses free speech with crackdowns on public protests

Amnesty International has criticized Indonesia’s government, saying it suppresses free speech with crackdowns on public protests, targets journalists and rights activists and uses spyware against diss...

apnews.com

#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-...

Fighter Jets and Drones: Is China's Military Aid to the Myanmar Junta Making a Difference? • Stimson Center

While Chinese weapons reinforce the junta's power, they may not be enough to tip the scale in the ongoing civil war. Insurgency expert Zachary Abuza and Indo-Pacific security scholar Nyein Nyein Thant...

stimson.org

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-...

Fighter Jets and Drones: Is China's Military Aid to the Myanmar Junta Making a Difference? • Stimson Center

While Chinese weapons reinforce the junta's power, they may not be enough to tip the scale in the ongoing civil war. Insurgency expert Zachary Abuza and Indo-Pacific security scholar Nyein Nyein Thant...

stimson.org

Nyein Nyein Thant Aung@nyeinnta.bsky.social · last yr.

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-...

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...

U.S. Tells Its Diplomats in Vietnam to Avoid War Anniversary Events

The reversal adds another Trump administration blow to decades of reconciliation efforts.

nytimes.com

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...

Federal judge orders Trump administration to rehire all Voice of America and Radio Free Asia staff

Last month, the Trump administration placed Voice of America contractors and employees on leave.

cbsnews.com

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-...

Fighter Jets and Drones: Is China's Military Aid to the Myanmar Junta Making a Difference? • Stimson Center

While Chinese weapons reinforce the junta's power, they may not be enough to tip the scale in the ongoing civil war. Insurgency expert Zachary Abuza and Indo-Pacific security scholar Nyein Nyein Thant...

stimson.org

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

RFA forced to furlough at-risk visa holders

Deportation threat looms due to halted Congressional funds

rfa.org

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...

Making Mainland Southeast Asia safe for autocracy - New Mandala

How regional elites built an “authoritarian security community”

newmandala.org

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...

Guest Column | Appeasing the Myanmar Junta in the Face of Atrocity

Anwar, ASEAN and Myanmar’s neighbors are getting it wrong.

irrawaddy.com

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...

Trump and Vietnam’s leader To Lam closer to tariff deal after ‘productive’ call

The US president says he spoke with Vietnamese leader To Lam, who is seeking to avoid punishing 46 per cent duties.

scmp.com

“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...

Foreign journalists at US-backed media fear being sent to repressive homelands after Trump's cuts

Reporters and human rights groups say the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media have put dozens of journalists at risk, especially those who defied authoritarian...

apnews.com

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...

@zachabuza.bsky.social

Terresottovento@terresottovento.bsky.social · 2y ago

terresottovento.altervista.org/5-mesi-presi...

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...

Donate to Aid RFA Journalists Affected by Earthquake, organized by Tin Khine

Radio Free Asia’s journalists inside Myanmar should be reporting on the earthquak… Tin Khine needs your support for Aid RFA Journalists Affected by Earthquake

gofundme.com