ASEAN
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The “Blue Wave” and the Border: Thailand’s New Nationalist Mandate
Following his 15-party coalition victory, Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul has shifted from election rhetoric to a “Sovereignty-First” policy, resulting in a tense stalemate with Cambodia marked by border “hardening” and the collapse of long-standing diplomatic backchannels.
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Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Collapse at Indonesia’s Largest Landfill; 4 Dead, 5 Missing
A massive garbage landslide at the Bantargebang landfill near Jakarta has killed at least four people and left five others missing. Rescuers are using heavy machinery and tracking dogs to locate survivors amidst unstable debris triggered by heavy rains.
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Diplomatic Friction Persists: Cambodia Accuses Thailand of “Bad Faith” Despite Ceasefire Progress
PHNOM PENH, March 8, 2026 — As Thailand’s newly elected government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reinforces its nationalist border policies, the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia has issued a formal press release detailing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and diplomatic “bad faith” following the December 2025 ceasefire. Despite the absence of
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How Thailand’s actions are being evaluated through the lens of international law
The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has reached a critical juncture in early 2026, as allegations of territorial encroachment and human rights violations have surfaced following the late-2025 military standoffs. Central to the escalating tension is the deployment of shipping containers, the installation of barbed wire fences, and the reported destruction of civilian property
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When Does Military Presence Become Occupation?
TL;DR: Shipping containers. Barbed wire. A Thai flag flying over a blocked road inside Cambodia. Sixty-five thousand civilians who can’t go home. At what point does a military position become an occupation? International law has an answer. Nobody is asking the question. When Does Military Presence Become Occupation? Border conflicts usually begin with arguments about
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The Ballot and the Border: Anutin’s Win and the “Wall” of Nationalism
Can Anutin pivot from a “wartime leader” to a regional diplomat, or will the “wall” he promised become a permanent fixture of Southeast Asian geopolitics?
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Navigating a New Era of Cambodian-Thai Relations
The challenge for the Anutin administration will be balancing its domestic “war footing” narrative with the economic reality of cross-border trade, which has seen monthly losses estimated at 16.26 billion baht during periods of closure.
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Cambodia welcomes return from abroad of centuries-old artifacts looted by notorious smuggling ring
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – In a move hailed as a major victory for cultural restoration, Cambodia officially welcomed home 74 centuries-old artifacts on February 27, 2026. The treasures, which include monumental sandstone sculptures and intricate bronze works, were repatriated from the United Kingdom after being looted during the country’s decades of civil war and unrest.