🎯 The Main Takeaway

The ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google, hosted a workshop titled “Empowering Students for the Future: AI Literacy for a Digital ASEAN” for hundreds of Indonesian students in Bandung, West Java, last March. The programme introduces basic AI concepts as a learning support tool, aiming to help students use generative AI responsibly while building adaptability for Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.

The workshop is part of the broader AI Ready ASEAN initiative, launched in 2024 to strengthen AI literacy across the region.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to grow from US$300 billion in 2025 to US$1 trillion by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum. Indonesia alone is expected to lead the region with a valuation of US$360 billion.

Yet digital literacy across most ASEAN member states remains moderate to low, with Myanmar scoring just 10.45 per 100—the lowest in Asia. Only Singapore and Brunei have achieved high digital literacy scores above 80. This gap between AI adoption and actual readiness demands urgent attention.

📊 The Opportunity: AI’s Potential in Southeast Asia

• 📈 Economic boost: AI could add at least US$270 billion to the region’s economy, including US$29 billion for Malaysia, helping companies build smarter financial systems.

• 🚀 High adoption rates: Southeast Asian citizens already show strong AI engagement, with 70% using generative AI weekly. Among youth aged 13–24 in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, 90% use generative AI daily.

• 🌐 Digital growth: Internet penetration across ASEAN has reached 76.03%, though Laos and Myanmar still face connectivity challenges, with roughly half their populations offline.

⚠️ The Challenges: Readiness Gaps

• 📉 Low digital literacy: Across most ASEAN member states, digital literacy remains moderate to low. Indonesia’s digital literacy score has grown slowly, remaining “moderate” in the 2020–2023 index from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. Urban areas show 52.5% of respondents with high digital literacy, compared to just 49.8% in rural areas.

• 🧠 Training gap: While 95.25% of Indonesian students admit to using generative AI models, only 46.2% of educators and 62.19% of parents have received adequate training. This disparity leaves young users without sufficient guidance.

• 🏫 Institutional readiness: The gap between high AI use and low preparedness across Southeast Asia—particularly Indonesia—highlights the need for enhanced AI capabilities before the next phase of transformation.

🌏 The Big Picture: AI Ready ASEAN

Launched in 2024, the AI Ready ASEAN initiative runs for 2.5 years with a US$5 million grant from Google. It aims to develop critical AI capabilities for citizens of ASEAN member countries, focusing on youth, educators, parents and underserved communities.

Results to date:

• 6 million+ beneficiaries across ASEAN

• 100,000+ participants completing in-depth AI training

• 3,500+ Master Trainers empowered to expand the programme sustainably

The initiative aligns with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030, which seeks to sustain green and AI-driven digital transformation while building a trusted AI ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For Indonesian students, AI literacy is no longer optional—it is a core workforce capability in a digital economy projected to reach US$360 billion. Yet with only 46% of educators trained to guide them, students are navigating AI tools largely on their own. Programmes like AI Ready ASEAN aim to close that gap, ensuring that the next generation can use AI not just as consumers, but as responsible, informed creators.

🔮 The Bottom Line

Southeast Asia stands at a crossroads: AI adoption is surging, but digital literacy and institutional support lag dangerously behind. The AI Ready ASEAN initiative represents a strategic investment in the region’s most valuable resource—its youth.

Closing the training gap for educators and parents, while expanding connectivity to underserved communities, will determine whether ASEAN merely uses AI or truly masters it.

Need More Angles

• Antara AI boom or bubble? Indonesia must choose readiness over hype

• ASCC Platforms Programme Digital Literacy and Transformation in ASEAN: A Call for Education Policy Reform

• Deloitte Generative AI in Asia Pacific

• Digital Literacy Index Countries Directory

• Jakarta Post ASEAN report finds region eager for AI but lacking guidance

• Public First The AI Opportunity in Southeast Asia

• World Economic Forum ASEAN takes major step toward landmark digital economy pact

(ADE/ELS)

📌 The Main Takeaway

Russia is positioning its latest naval visit to Jakarta as part of a broader strategic recalibration in Southeast Asia, moving from symbolic engagement to a more active, multi-dimensional presence, while still navigating structural limits to its regional influence.

At a press briefing on March 31 at Port of Tanjung Priok, Ambassador Sergei Tolchenov and Military Attaché Maxim Lukyanov emphasized that the Pacific Fleet’s port call, featuring Gromky, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, and Andrey Stepanov, is part of Russia’s regular naval diplomacy across ASEAN, rather than a standalone engagement with Indonesia.

According to the Ambassador, Jakarta is only one stop in a broader rotation that includes Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, a regular and institutionalized pattern of engagement aimed at sustaining Russia’s presence in the region.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

This is not just about ships docking in Jakarta; it’s about how Russia is redefining its role in Southeast Asia.

For years, Moscow’s presence in ASEAN was largely diplomatic and multilateral. Now, the shift is visible through:

• ⚓ More frequent naval deployments and port calls

• 🔄 Increased bilateral engagement with key ASEAN states

• 🌐 Expansion into energy, trade, and infrastructure sectors

The Jakarta visit serves as a visible signal of this transition, combining military presence with strategic messaging.

⚓ Defense Signals and Procurement Possibilities

Beyond symbolism, the visit also carried clear defense signaling. During the press engagement at Tanjung Priok Port, Sergei Tolchenov indicated that Moscow is open to supporting Indonesia’s naval modernization through potential military cooperation and acquisitions.

Referring to the visiting corvette Gromky, he suggested that Indonesia could, in the future, operate similar Russian-built platforms to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities. While declining to confirm whether formal procurement talks are underway, he emphasized that military-technical cooperation remains “a natural and integral part” of bilateral ties.

His remarks reflect a calibrated message—signaling openness without formal commitment—while aligning with Indonesia’s broader defense modernization efforts under Prabowo Subianto. As Jakarta continues to diversify its military procurement, Russia positions itself as a potential partner within that evolving landscape.

📜 A Long Maritime History: Indonesia–Russia Naval Ties

The current engagement is rooted in a decades-long maritime relationship between Indonesia and Russia.

As highlighted by Ambassador Sergei Tolchenov, naval cooperation dates back to the Soviet era, when Moscow played a key role in supporting Indonesia’s naval development:

• ⚓ The Soviet Union provided the submarine KRI Pasopati in 1952 (now preserved as a museum in Surabaya)

• 🚢 The cruiser ship KRI Irian was delivered in 1962

These transfers became early symbols of strategic trust and military partnership during the Cold War.

Today, that legacy continues through modern cooperation:

• 🤝 The first Orruda Joint Exercise (November 2024 in Surabaya) between the Indonesian Navy and the Russian Navy

• 🌊 Participation in Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2025 in Bali, where Russia was among the largest foreign contingents

Beyond military exercises, this shared history is also reflected in cultural diplomacy—such as the naval exhibition “Marine Ships Must Be” held at the Jakarta Maritime Museum.

📊 Russia–ASEAN Engagement by the Numbers

• 🌏 ASEAN population: 650+ million people

• 📈 Trade growth: +70% over the past decade

• 💱 Increasing use of local currencies and swap mechanisms

• 🛢 Key exports: LNG, fertilizers, military equipment

Despite these gains, Russia still ranks relatively low among ASEAN dialogue partners in trade and investment.

⚖️ Why It Matters

Russia’s approach reflects a distinct strategic positioning.

Unlike the United States or China, Moscow:

• 🚫 Avoids forcing alignment

• 🤝 Emphasizes non-interference and ASEAN centrality

• 🧭 Positions itself as a flexible alternative partner

This makes Russia particularly relevant for countries seeking strategic diversification.

Defense remains its strongest pillar:

• 🛡 Legacy arms ties (especially with Vietnam)

• ⚙️ Expanded cooperation in training and maintenance

• 🚢 Continued naval diplomacy and joint exercises

🔍 What’s Changing on the Ground

1. From Symbolic to Substantive
More concrete cooperation beyond forums

2. From China Reliance to Diversification
Expanding partnerships across ASEAN

3. From Dollar Dependence to Alternatives
Growing use of local currency mechanisms

🌏 The Bigger Picture

Russia’s outreach is part of a broader Eurasian and Global South strategy.

Through initiatives linked to:

• 🌍 Eurasian Economic Union

• 🤝 BRICS cooperation frameworks

• 🌐 ASEAN-led mechanisms (ARF, ADMM+, EAS)

Moscow aims to position itself as a balancing power in a multipolar order.

🚧 The Constraints

• 📉 Declining arms export competitiveness

• 💰 Limited economic capacity

• 🌍 Reputational impact of the Ukraine war

• 🧩 Narrow influence concentrated in select sectors

Perception remains a key challenge, as Russia ranks low in ASEAN strategic-relevance surveys.

🔮 What to Watch

• ⚓ Continued regular naval rotations across ASEAN

• 🔋 Expansion in energy and infrastructure cooperation

• 🤝 Growth in non-traditional security partnerships

• 📊 Whether economic engagement can match military visibility

🚨 The Bottom Line

Russia is not retreating from Southeast Asia—but it is not emerging as a dominant force either.

Instead, it is adapting through continuity and recalibration.

By combining historical ties with Indonesia, regular naval diplomacy, and selective economic outreach, Russia is securing a role as a persistent, balancing actor in the Indo-Pacific.

The Jakarta port call is not just a visit—it is a reflection of both legacy and strategy, showing how Russia intends to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving regional order.

🔎 Need More Angles?

Geopolitical Intelligence Services AG, Russia in Southeast Asia: Gaining ground or treading water?

Jakarta Globe, Russia Open if Indonesia Wants to Buy Its Warships

Modern Diplomacy, Russia’s Southeast Asia Policy Adjustments in 2025

Radio Republik Indonesia, Maritime History Strengthens RI-Russia Friendship: Ambassador

(JUN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Based on the 2026 Time Out World’s Best Cities index, Southeast Asia isn’t just rising in rankings — it’s seeing real tourism momentum.

Cities in Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam are attracting millions by blending culture, affordability, and lived experience.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

🇹🇭 Bangkok (#8) & Chiang Mai (#32)

• Thailand welcomed ~33 million international visitors in 2025 — one of the highest in the region

• Bangkok alone draws tens of millions annually, making it one of the world’s most visited cities

• What to do & where to go:

• Culture: Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew

• Lifestyle: Chatuchak Market, rooftop bars, Chao Phraya river cruises

• Art revival: Bangkok Art Biennale

• Chiang Mai: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temples, night bazaars, mountain retreats

The vibe:
A cultural powerhouse where street food, nightlife, and global festivals collide.

🇸🇬 Singapore (#23)

• A consistent global magnet, driven by infrastructure, safety, and efficiency

• Among the world’s most liveable — but also one of the most expensive

What to do & where to go:

• Iconic: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay

• Culture: Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam

• Nature: East Coast Park, MacRitchie Reservoir

The vibe:
A polished, future-ready city — where green space meets skyline.

🇻🇳 Hanoi (#25) & Ho Chi Minh City (#38)

• Vietnam is booming: record ~21 million foreign visitors in 2025

• Hanoi alone expects 33.7 million total visitors

• Ho Chi Minh City recorded 8.5 million international visitors in 2025

What to do & where to go:

Hanoi:

• Culture: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake

• Coffee scene: hidden cafés, train street

Ho Chi Minh City:

• History: War Remnants Museum

• Architecture: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

The vibe:
A creative, high-energy scene — where heritage meets rapid modernization.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

This isn’t just about rankings — it’s about how cities compete globally.

• Tourism is shifting from volume to experience-led value

• Cities that prioritize culture, affordability, and liveability will win in the long term

• Rising costs — especially in Singapore — risk pricing out both residents and travelers

• Rapid growth in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City could strain infrastructure and dilute authenticity

There’s also a deeper tension: how to scale global appeal without losing local identity—a challenge already facing Bangkok.

🌏 The Big Picture

Across Southeast Asia, cities are redefining success:

• From sightseeing → to living like a local

• From luxury → to value-for-money experiences

• From static attractions → to cultural ecosystems

  ---

Why This Hits Home

For travelers — especially within Asia — these cities offer something rare:
world-class experiences without losing their soul.

Think: coffee rituals in Hanoi, street food nights in Bangkok, and seamless urban life in Singapore.

They feel accessible and personal — not just places to visit, but places to belong, even briefly.

At the same time, there’s a shift toward slower, more meaningful travel: staying longer, exploring deeper, and connecting more.

The Regional Stakes

• Tourism flows are shifting toward experience-rich destinations

• Secondary cities (like Chiang Mai) are gaining ground

• Creative economies — film, art, food — are becoming tourism drivers

  ---

The Bottom Line

Southeast Asia’s top cities aren’t just trending — they’re thriving at scale.

And as millions of travelers return, one thing is clear:
The region’s biggest advantage isn’t infrastructure or price — it’s authenticity you can actually feel.

(ZIL/VBD/QOB)

✨ Your curated wrap-up from The Southeast Asia Desk.

Welcome back.

After a week off to observe Day of Silence and the joyous gatherings of Eid al-Fitr, our newsroom returns to a region that has not paused, even as we did.

This week brought news that spans the spectrum of Southeast Asia’s modern reality: ambition for a cleaner future, the sudden pain of geopolitical distance, the quiet recalibration of loyalties, and the ultimate sacrifice made far from home.

Here is your week in focus:

🌍⚡ UN backs new climate foundation for ASEAN’s energy leap

The United Nations ESCAP has launched the Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGTP), a $4 million, three-year initiative to help Southeast Asian nations shift from coal to clean energy. For a region that produces 80% of the global coal supply, this is a quiet but critical pivot.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/un-support-on-sea-climate-foundations

🛢️ Southeast Asia scrambles as Hormuz closure triggers oil crisis

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through regional fuel markets. From four-day workweeks in the Philippines to fuel rationing in Cambodia and export bans in Thailand, governments are scrambling. With reserves as low as 21 days in Indonesia, the crisis has exposed a fundamental vulnerability: Southeast Asia’s economy runs on connectivity, but its energy infrastructure runs on borrowed time.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/southeast-asia-scrambles-as-strait

🌏 What Southeast Asians think about ASEAN Dialogue Partners?

A major new survey by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) reveals a strategic realignment in public opinion across all 11 ASEAN states. Trust and respect for the United States have fallen, while China’s standing as the most trusted and respected partner has risen, and Japan remains the region’s most trusted partner overall.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/what-southeast-asian-think-about

🇺🇳 Indonesia mourns three peacekeepers killed in Lebanon

In a stark reminder of the human cost of global instability, three Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed within 48 hours in southern Lebanon—not in combat, but while carrying out logistics and humanitarian duties. With over 1,900 Southeast Asian personnel currently in UNIFIL, the incident underscores a new reality: peacekeepers are now operating inside active conflict zones.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/indonesia-mourns-three-peacekeepers

🌏 Bottom line: No longer distant shocks

This week’s stories share a single thread: distance is no longer protection. A strait 6,000 km away emptied fuel stations in Vientiane. A tariff debate in Washington reshaped loyalties in Jakarta. A conflict in Lebanon brought grief to villages across Indonesia.

Southeast Asia is no longer a spectator to global crises. It is on the front lines of energy, diplomacy, and sacrifice.

✨ Stories to linger over, one week at a time.

(ELS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

💥 Three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed within 48 hours in southern Lebanon — not in combat, but while carrying out logistical and humanitarian duties under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), as hostilities escalate between Israel and Hezbollah.

⚠️ The incidents — a base explosion in Ett Taibe (29 March) and a convoy strike in Bani Hayyan (30 March) — signs that peacekeeping missions are now operating inside active conflict zones.

🧭 The contradiction is stark: a mission meant to preserve peace is operating where peace no longer holds — with Southeast Asia’s personnel increasingly on the frontlines of that shift.

⚠️ Why It Matters

• ⚖️ Legal implications: attacks on UN peacekeepers constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law — and potentially amount to war crimes.

• 🪖 Operational limits: peacekeeping mandates are built around ceasefire environments, not sustained hostilities — exposing personnel to risks beyond their design.

• 🌍 Systemic strain: the erosion of neutrality on the ground reflects growing pressure on the credibility of UN-led conflict management frameworks.

• 🏥 Healthcare collapse: hospitals and medical facilities are being forced to shut down or evacuate as strikes intensify — cutting civilians off from essential care.

• 🚑 Civilian vulnerability: attacks increasingly affect not only combat zones but also humanitarian infrastructure, placing medical workers and patients at risk.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

• 💥 Humanitarian scale: over 1,200 killed, more than 1 million displaced, and at least 200,000 crossing into Syria since early March — signaling a rapidly expanding crisis.

• 🪖 ASEAN countries presence on the ground: Southeast Asian peacekeepers form a significant part of UNIFIL — including Indonesia (743 troops, 13 staff officers), Malaysia (511 troops, 5 staff officers), Cambodia (180 troops, 1 staff officer), and Brunei (21 troops) as of January 2026 — placing regional personnel directly within the escalation

• 🚢 Global spillover: maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by up to 95%, with implications for trade, inflation, and energy markets.

• 🪖 Mission exposure: UNIFIL’s recent fatalities underscore how quickly peacekeeping environments can transition into high-risk operational zones.

📌 Key Highlights: What Happened on the Ground

📅 Timeline:

• 29 March: explosion inside a UNIFIL base in Adchit Al Qusayr.

• 30 March: a six-vehicle logistics convoy was struck near Bani Hayyan.

📦 Mission context: On 30 March, the convoy was escorting logistics and transporting a coffin — underscoring that even non-combat tasks are no longer insulated from violence.

🚁 Operational constraints:

• Medical evacuation: injured personnel were airlifted to Beirut.

• Access: fallen soldiers could not be immediately evacuated due to ongoing hostilities.

🕊️ The soul who fell:

• Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Major Infantry, 33 years young — killed while leading a logistics convoy.

• Muhammad Nur Ichwan, First Sergeant, 25 years young — killed in the same convoy attack in Bani Hayyan.

• Fahrizal Rhomadhon, Corporal, 27 years young — killed while serving at a UNIFIL post in Adchit Al Qusayr.

🏥 Five other injured:

• Captain Sulthan Wirdean Maulana

• Corporal Rico Pramudia

• Corporal Arif Kurniawan

• Corporal Bayu Prakoso

• Private Deni Rianto

⚖️ Investigation status: UNIFIL investigations are ongoing, but responsibility remains unclear — with limited access to sites and conflicting narratives complicating attribution.

🇮🇩 Demands for the Fallen Soldiers

Indonesia’s response centers on three priorities:

• 🔍 Accountability: a full, transparent UN-led investigation.

• ⚖️ Protection: guarantees that all parties comply with international law and ensure the safety of UN personnel.

• ⚰️ Dignity: swift repatriation of the fallen and comprehensive medical care for the injured.

“We cannot accept these killings… We demand investigation by the United Nations, not excuses from Israel.” — Umar Hadi, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations.

🌍 International Response

Global reactions reflect both urgency and division:

• 🕊️ Ceasefire push: UN Sec. Gen. António Guterres has reiterated calls for an immediate halt to hostilities.

• 🪖 Operational warning: USG for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stressed that “peacekeepers must never be a target” and that “there cannot be a military solution.”

• 🗣️ Investigation constraints: Spokesperson for the Sec. Gen. Stéphane Dujarric noted that inquiries are ongoing under difficult field conditions.

🌏 Security Council dynamics:

• Attribution: Israel blames Hezbollah

• Caution: The United States urges restraint in assigning responsibility

• Warning: China signals risk of broader escalation

• Pressure: France demands concrete safety guarantees

🌏 The Regional Stakes

For Southeast Asia, the implications extend beyond solidarity:

• 🪖 Exposure: ASEAN personnel are deeply embedded in UN missions — led by Indonesia (1,961 personnel), followed by Cambodia (588), Malaysia (526), Thailand (290), Viet Nam (273), and others.

• 🌐 Positioning: these deployments reflect ASEAN member countries' growing role in global security, despite the absence of a unified military framework.

• ⚠️ Risk shift: Lebanon illustrates a new reality — Southeast Asian peacekeepers are no longer operating at the periphery of conflict, but within its most volatile zones.

• 🧭 Endurance: the challenge for Southeast Asia nations is no longer willingness to contribute, but how long it can sustain that role as cycles of violence outpace efforts to contain them.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

The crisis highlights a widening gap between mandate and reality:

• ⚖️ Framework: UNIFIL operates under Security Council Resolution 1701 — designed to maintain a ceasefire and prevent escalation.

• 🔁 Violations: repeated cross-border strikes, military presence, and attacks on UN personnel indicate a “multiplicity of violations,” as noted by Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

• 🧠 Strategic limit: the persistence of hostilities reinforces a core conclusion — there is no viable military solution, only a political one.

• 🧱 System breakdown: beyond the battlefield, essential civilian systems — especially healthcare — are deteriorating, signaling a broader collapse of protection mechanisms.

“There cannot be a military solution. There has to be a political solution… We have a multiplicity of violations of resolution 1701.” — Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.

🧭 Beyond the Headlines

• 📦 Operational paradox: peacekeepers were killed during logistical and humanitarian tasks — not combat — blurring the line between support roles and frontline exposure.

• ⚠️ War on systems: the conflict is no longer confined to military targets — it is disrupting access to healthcare, aid, and basic survival.

• 🔄 Institutional shift: peacekeeping missions are increasingly adapting to conditions of sustained insecurity, rather than post-conflict stabilization.

❤️ Why This Hits Home

Across Southeast Asia, these losses are not distant headlines but shared grief — lives sent to keep the peace, yet lost to war, far from home.

For a region increasingly present in global peacekeeping, the question is no longer abstract: how much risk can Southeast Asia bear in conflicts where peace itself no longer holds?

👉 The Bottom Line

When those sent to keep the peace are no longer safe, ceasefire, protection, and accountability become urgent — not optional.

What’s at stake is no longer just one mission, but whether the system built to contain conflict can still hold.

📰 Need More Angle?

• Médecins Sans Frontieres People in Lebanon are being cut off from care as Israeli attacks intensify

• Indonesia's MoFA Indonesia Strongly Condemns the Series of Deadly Attacks on Indonesian Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

• UN Peacekeeping Action for Peacekeeping - 8th Progress Report

• UN Peacekeeping Troops and police contributors

• UN Peacekeeping Data

(BRZ/NGO/ARS/ADE/ELS/QOB)

🎯The Main Takeaway

The Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) published its “FPCI Survey on ASEAN Dialogue Partners 2025” on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The survey was conducted from October 2025 to February 2026, and consisted of 42 questions answered by 2,012 respondents, across 11 ASEAN member states. Respondents ranged from academics, government officials, the business community, civil society, and students.

The program aims to capture public perceptions and attitudes in Southeast Asia, about relationships with ASEAN Dialogue Partners across the region.

📡Why It’s on Our Radar?

Several key events that occurred last year triggered the survey:

• 💰The U.S. reciprocal tariff policy: Announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, which imposed additional tariffs of 10% to 50% on imports from various countries, based on U.S. trade deficits.

• ⚔️Ongoing regional conflicts: Including the Russia–Ukraine war, Israel–Palestine conflict, Thailand–Cambodia tensions, the Myanmar coup, South China Sea disputes, and U.S.–China trade tensions.

• 🗺️ The next world order: The unipolar and rule-based order of the U.S. is declining, as new multipolar powers such as China, Russia, the Global South, and middle powers are rising, triggering a shift in the global economy and geopolitical maps.

• 🔍Other issues: Include climate change, food security, the green energy transition, transnational crime, cyber disruptions, and human rights.

⚠️ Why It Matters?

These key events have triggered global and regional impacts, including:

• 🌍Global uncertainty: Increased risks and instability affecting economies and politics worldwide.

• 📉Market disruption: Reduce reliance on single partners and force countries to expand sources, supply chains, products, and markets.

• 🤝Direct negotiation: Countries forced to pursue diplomatic efforts to reduce tariffs and achieve mutual trade goals.

• 🔄Intensify intra-ASEAN trade: Boost trade within ASEAN member states to strengthen regional resilience.

• 🌱Climate funding: Allocate more budget to cut emissions through the state budget and joint investments.

• 🛡️Security cooperation: Strengthen international collaboration, reform domestic laws, and border controls to address cross-border threats.

🏡 Why This Hits Home?

After its establishment in 1967, ASEAN introduced the Dialogue Partner mechanism to strengthen economic and political cooperation with external countries and organizations for mutual benefit.

Australia became ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner in 1974. As of 2026, ASEAN has 11 Dialogue Partners: Australia, Canada, China, the E.U., India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S.

Moreover, ASEAN established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as its highest level of cooperation in 2021. Currently, seven countries have joined: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the U.S.

📊 Respondent Profile

• The majority of respondents were from 🇮🇩Indonesia (30.42%) and 🇱🇦Laos (10.19%), while other ASEAN Member States accounted for less than 10% each.

• Most respondents were 🧑‍🏫 students (35.04%) and 🎓 academics (20.87%), while government officials, civil society, and business representatives each accounted for less than 20%.

• 45.53% of respondents were 📱Gen Z, followed by 💻millennials (25.25%), 🧑‍💼Gen X (22.32%), and 👴👵boomers (6.91%).

• 51.19% were ♂️male, and 48.81% were ♀️female.

🇺🇸 U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Related Findings

Several key findings were identified regarding the U.S. reciprocal tariff policy:

• ❌ 59.15% respondents view the policy as unfair and unjust.

• 💥 63.37% believe it could harm ASEAN Member States’ economies.

• ⚠️ 70.33% say it poses risks to international trade.

• ⛔ 51.99% respondents agreed that the U.S. reciprocal tariff policy marks the end of the WTO and the multilateral trading system.

As a result, 62.03% agree it affects their perceptions of the U.S.:

• 📉 The share of respondents who see the U.S. as the most trusted and most respected partner for ASEAN declined to 5.47% and 6.16% in 2025.

• 📈Meanwhile, the share for China as the most trusted and most respected partner for ASEAN increased to 12.28% and 12.08%.

The Solutions:

• 🔀 75.69% believe ASEAN should diversify its partnerships, mainly toward the EU (61.48%) and China (39.96%).

• 🌏 70.33% support a collective ASEAN response to the tariffs.

• 🇪🇺71.57% recommend working with the EU to support an open, multilateral trading system.

• 🤝66.75% urge ASEAN to pursue the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

🤝 Dialogue Partners Related Findings

Public perceptions of ASEAN Dialogue Partners across 18 niche attributes:

• 🇯🇵Japan remains ASEAN people’s top dialogue partner, seen as the most trustworthy and respected, easy to work with, understanding of Southeast Asian values, and offering strong technology, innovation, youth programs, quality jobs, and travel opportunities.

• 🇨🇳 China is considered ASEAN’s most important dialogue partner, particularly for economic development, as it consistently supports ASEAN’s growth and success, improves people’s daily lives, offers competitive products, and serves as a key export destination.

• 🇦🇺 Australia is seen as a top destination for higher education and working abroad.

• 🇰🇷 South Korea is known for its popular movies and TV dramas, with a strong cultural influence in ASEAN.

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. is seen as a dialogue partner that shapes global cooperation.

Respondents’ views on dialogue partners that ASEAN should prioritize across 10 sectors based on their cooperation advantages:

• 🇨🇳 China is recommended for cooperation in digital transformation, the creative economy, and supply chain resilience.

• 🇪🇺 The EU is prioritized for cooperation in education, climate change, and the green economy.

• 🇯🇵Japan is highlighted for its partnerships in disaster response, cultural exchange, and food security.

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. is recommended for cooperation in combating transnational crime.

Respondents’ views on Dialogue Partners’ contributions to addressing 15 key issues:

• 🇪🇺 The EU is seen as making strong contributions to addressing the Gaza war, the Ukraine war, climate change, the rules-based order, energy transition, and human rights.

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. is highlighted for its role in addressing trade wars, global trade uncertainty, digital and cyber disruptions, and transnational crime.

• 🇯🇵 Japan is recognized for its contributions to addressing food security.

• 🚫 No dialogue partner is seen as effectively addressing the Myanmar crisis, Thailand–Cambodia tensions, cross-strait relations, or the South China Sea dispute.

How close respondents’ countries are to ASEAN Dialogue Partners in political, economic, and socio-cultural sectors:

• 📊 A majority of respondents said their countries are close to Australia, China, the EU, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

• ⚖️ Meanwhile, Canada, India, New Zealand, Russia, and the U.K. are viewed as neutral partners.

Respondents’ views on potential candidates for the next ASEAN Dialogue Partner:

• 🇩🇪 Germany was chosen by 21.42% of respondents as a potential 12th ASEAN Dialogue Partner.

• 🇺🇳 UN agencies received the highest support (35.83%), but are not eligible under ASEAN rules.

Respondents’ views on potential candidates for the next ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partner (CSP):

• 🇪🇺The EU emerged as the top choice for the next CSP, with 53.63% of the vote.

• 🇷🇺Russia, 🇨🇦Canada, and 🇳🇿New Zealand were also recommended by respondents.

🌏 ASEAN Member States Related Findings

Respondents’ views on ASEAN Member States’ foreign policy positions amid rising geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China:

• Respondents indicated that 🇧🇳Brunei Darussalam, 🇰🇭Cambodia, 🇮🇩Indonesia, 🇱🇦Lao PDR, 🇲🇾Malaysia, 🇲🇲Myanmar, 🇰🇭Thailand, and 🇹🇱Timor-Leste tend to lean toward 🇨🇳China.

• 🇸🇬 Singapore and 🇵🇭 the Philippines are seen as leaning toward 🇺🇸 the U.S.

• 🇻🇳Vietnam is viewed as maintaining a balanced position between the two powers.

Respondents’ views on ASEAN Member States contributions to addressing 15 key issues:

• 🇸🇬Singapore is viewed positively for actively contributing to addressing climate change, the rules-based order, the energy transition, trade wars, global trade uncertainty, and digital and cyber disruptions.

• 🇮🇩Indonesia is seen as contributing to addressing the war in Gaza.

• 🇲🇾Malaysia is considered to be addressing the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict.

• 🇰🇭Thailand is recognized for its contribution to food security.

• However, 🚫no ASEAN Member State is seen as contributing to resolving the Myanmar crisis, cross-strait relations, the war in Ukraine, the South China Sea dispute, transnational crime, or human rights issues.

🏛️ Policy Recommendations

Based on the findings of the survey on ASEAN Dialogue Partners, in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045—which envisions ASEAN as a “Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic, and People-centered” region—FPCI proposes several policy recommendations to maintain regional stability, resilience, and cooperation:

• 🧭Develop a collective strategy: Strengthen ASEAN’s Geopolitical Task Force with broader input beyond major power responses.

• 🔎Identify economic risks: Map dependencies and vulnerabilities to better respond to geopolitical pressures.

• 🤝Build trust with partners: Strengthen cooperation with dialogue partners and rebuild trust amid global tensions.

• 🌐Strengthen multilateral trade: Enhance regional trade networks by linking major agreements like RCEP, the EU, and CPTPP.

• 🔀Diversify relations: Reduce over-dependence by expanding political and economic partnerships.

• 🚀Leverage strengths: Maximize each partner’s strengths and cooperate on global issues like energy and climate.

🔎 Need More Angles?

ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN External Relations

FPCI 2025 FPCI Survey on ASEAN Dialogue Partners

(NGO/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel war on Iran on 28 February 2026 has sent shockwaves through Southeast Asia, exposing the region’s acute vulnerability to imported energy.

With about 84% of crude oil and 83% of LNG passing through the strait bound for Asia, countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam have been forced to implement emergency conservation measures, ranging from four-day workweeks to fuel subsidies and export bans.

Even oil-producing Indonesia relies on imports for more than one-third of its crude needs.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

This crisis is not a distant geopolitical event—it is a direct economic shock arriving at petrol stations, factory floors, and household budgets across Southeast Asia. The International Energy Agency has called this the largest supply disruption in global oil market history.

For a region built on cross-border manufacturing, tourism, and logistics, prolonged disruptions threaten to stall growth, accelerate inflation, and expose long-standing vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure.

⚠️ What’s at Stake

• ⛽ Fuel shortages & price spikes: In Laos, queues stretch for hours at the handful of stations still open. In Cambodia, nearly 2,000 of 6,300 fuel stations have shut temporarily. Diesel prices in Vietnam have surged 84% since the conflict began.

• 🏭 Industrial disruption: Thailand’s Rayong Olefins suspended plant operations due to feedstock shortages. Fertiliser makers have halted new orders. Transport costs are forcing food manufacturers to choose between closing or raising prices.

• 🚛 Transport & livelihoods: Philippine jeepney drivers now take home just 400 pesos (£8.80) per day—down from 1,000—as fuel costs have doubled.

• 🛢️ Limited strategic reserves: Unlike Japan (254 days) or South Korea (208 days), Southeast Asian reserves are dangerously thin: Indonesia (21-23 days), the Philippines (45-60 days in commercial hands), and Vietnam (65 days combined, but only 5-7 days in state reserves).

🗺️ Country-by-Country Snapshot

• 🇰🇭 Cambodia – Suspended all traffic fines to avoid adding pressure on drivers. Eliminated import duties and VAT on gasoline and diesel, and maintained a fuel subsidy of 6.5 US cents per litre. Nearly 2,000 of 6,300 fuel stations shut temporarily in mid-March. LPG prices have surged 60%, with major distributor Sokimex halting LPG sales from 1 April. Holds roughly 21 days of strategic reserves.

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia – Assures national fuel stocks remain safe at 21–23 days. Accelerating the B50 biodiesel programme (50% palm oil-based) and redirecting imports from the Middle East to other countries. Plans to build additional strategic storage, but faces funding constraints.

• 🇱🇦 Laos – Long queues and hour-long waits at petrol stations across Vientiane, with more than 40% of filling stations closed at one point. The government banned filling containers (such as water bottles) to prevent hoarding and urged a switch to electric vehicles. Saw the world’s second-biggest increase in premium petrol prices in the early days of the conflict. Depends almost entirely on fuel imports from Thailand.

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia – Cut the monthly subsidised petrol (BUDI95) quota from 300 to 200 litres per household, effective 1 April. Announced work-from-home arrangements for civil servants and urged the private sector to follow. Food manufacturers warn of closures or price hikes amid rising diesel costs. Secured passage for Malaysian vessels through the Strait following diplomatic talks with Iran.

• 🇵🇭 Philippines – Declared a national energy emergency, the first in Southeast Asia. Implemented a four-day work week for government workers and offered cash aid to transport drivers. Imports 98% of its oil, with petrol and diesel prices now among the highest in the region (diesel ~$2.30 per litre). Holds commercial reserves for 45–60 days, but the government has little direct control over them.

• 🇸🇬 Singapore – Fuel supply remains stable for now, with Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow stating stockpiles are “not being eroded”. Petrol prices have risen to about S$3.47 per litre for 95-octane (up from S$2.88 before the war). Airlines have raised ticket prices, and platform operators have offered driver subsidies. The government is monitoring closely but has not yet intervened directly.

• 🇹🇭 Thailand – Introduced a temporary diesel price cap and banned most oil exports, except to Laos and Myanmar, due to energy cooperation agreements. Urged officials to work from home, wear short-sleeved shirts to reduce air conditioning use, and limit overseas travel. Subsidies are costing over 1 billion baht (£22 million) per day. Holds reserves for about 65 days, seeking an additional 30 days.

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam – Suspended environmental and consumption taxes on gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel until 15 April. Activated the fuel price stabilisation fund and cut preferential import tariffs to zero for non-FTA partners. The Dung Quất and Nghi Sơn refineries cover about 68% of domestic demand. Holds combined reserves of about 65 days (national reserve covers only 5–7 days of net imports).

🌏 The Bigger Picture: A Structural Wake-Up Call

The crisis has exposed a fundamental asymmetry: Southeast Asia’s economic model is built on connectivity, but its energy infrastructure is built on vulnerability. As Priyanka Kishore, director and principal economist at Asia Decoded in Singapore, told Al Jazeera: “In three weeks, or maybe even in two weeks, we will be hearing a lot more about it” if the strait remains closed.

Thailand’s decision to continue exporting about 5 million litres of oil daily to Laos and Myanmar illustrates the region’s deep interdependence. As NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan explained, these shipments are tied to hydropower imports from Laos and natural gas imports from Myanmar—energy cooperation cuts both ways.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For ordinary citizens, the crisis means higher prices, longer queues, and difficult trade-offs. In Thailand, news anchors have ditched their jackets to reduce air conditioning use.

In Cambodia, tuk-tuk drivers are rushing to fill LPG tanks before supplies run out. In the Philippines, jeepney drivers are striking, demanding price controls and higher wages.

“I can’t even afford my kid’s lunch money,” Manila jeepney driver Arturo Modelo told Al Jazeera.

🔮 The Bottom Line

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has revealed Southeast Asia’s energy Achilles heel with brutal clarity.

While governments scramble with short-term fixes—subsidies, rationing, work-from-home orders—the deeper challenge remains unresolved: building strategic reserves, diversifying supply sources, and accelerating the transition to domestic renewable energy.

🔎 Need More Angles?

• Al Jazeera Philippine transport strikers say Marcos Jr failing to control oil prices

• Al Jazeera Southeast Asia shuts offices, limits travel as oil crisis deepens

• Asia News Network Thailand’s special Cabinet approves 7-step oil crisis relief

• BBC Marcos promises ‘flow of oil’ as Philippines declares energy emergency

• Khmer Times Government institutions tighten fuel usage as energy crisis sets in

• Kompas The Threat of a Fuel Crisis and the Vulnerability of Indonesia’s Energy Storage Capacity

• Malay Mail Why Malaysia still feels global oil shocks despite producing its own, Anwar explains

• Nikkei Asia LPG shortage hits Cambodian public transport, households

• Pattaya Mail Thailand adjusts to prolonged oil crisis PM apologizes and calls for consumption cuts

• Reuters Vietnam suspends some fuel taxes to stabilise domestic market

• South China Morning Post Iran crisis bites into Malaysia’s supply chain as Anwar cuts fuel subsidy quota

• Tempo English Energy Minister Asserts Indonesia’s Fuel Resilience Amid Middle East Crisis

• Thai PBS World Hours-long fuel queues in Laos capital Vientiane

• The Business Times Fuel supply stable, but government keeping watch on need to intervene amid price hikes: Jeffrey Siow

• The Guardian Fuel rations and no air con: south-east Asian nations race to conserve energy

• The Nation Thailand clarifies oil exports to Lao PDR and Myanmar amid crisis

• The Strait Times S’pore Govt to address concerns over impacts of Middle East conflict: PM Wong

• Việt Nam News Việt Nam shields economy from oil shocks

(ELS/QOB)

⚡The Main Takeaway

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is committed to supporting clean energy transitions and strengthening growth, jobs, and social inclusion for Southeast Asian countries by launching a new regional initiative, Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGTP), on 25 February 2026.

This ETGTP initiative will run for three years, starting in 2026, with financial support totaling US$ 4 million from four climate philanthropic foundations, including ClimateWorks Foundation, Sequoia Climate Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and Tara Climate Foundation.

🔍 Why it Matters

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that energy demand in Southeast Asia has increased by over 35% in a decade, especially for electricity, which has risen by more than 60%.

However, this demand has mostly been met by fossil fuels, particularly coal, which has severe environmental impacts through air pollution, water contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions.

• 🌫️ Carbon dioxide contributes to 77% of ASEAN’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This region is one of the major contributors to the Asia Pacific’s 62.4% CO2 emissions.

• 🏭 Indonesia is among the Asia-Pacific countries that emit large amounts of power-sector (88%) and transport-sector (73%) emissions, alongside China, India, the Russian Federation, and Japan.

• ⛏️ Asia Pacific produces 80% of the global coal supply, while regional energy demand is projected to rise significantly by mid-century. Indonesia itself is the world’s third-largest coal producer, with an output of approximately 836 million tonnes, representing 10% of global coal production, according to the IEA.

Besides, the demand for solar Photovoltaic (PV)—a technology that converts sunlight into electricity to reduce GHG emissions and reliance on fossil fuels—has risen by over 70% in Southeast Asian markets in 2023, according to the latest data from Infolink Consulting.

This indicates the region could become a key market for renewable energy development.

🧭 Why It’s on Our Radar

ETGTP is an ESCAP initiative to support Southeast Asian countries in advancing ASEAN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by promoting synergies with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on green and sustainable growth, energy transition, and social development.

It also follows up on one of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026–2040 priorities to develop a “greener and more resilient” region by implementing a circular economy, enhancing interoperability of carbon markets, and boosting green finance.

It shows that Southeast Asian countries place significant emphasis on tackling greenhouse gas emissions while developing green economic resilience through their sustainable development agenda.

“Countries around the region are considering how to reduce emissions while safeguarding growth, jobs, economic resilience and social inclusion. Governments must navigate this transition under multiple constraints—legacy infrastructure, limited fiscal space, evolving regulatory environments, varying institutional capacity, and persistent financing gaps,” - Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP (ETGTP launch, 28 February 2026)

⚙️📊How It Works

ETGTP will work with ministries of energy, finance, transport, environment, and social development to create enhanced policies and capacity to integrate energy transition with green industrialization and job creation.

It is expected to result in stronger policy coordination, better evidence for decision-making, improved investment readiness, and greater access to public and private finance for clean energy and enabling infrastructure.

The ETGTP initiative is structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars:

• 📊 Analytical work to strengthen the knowledge and evidence base for long-term planning at the intersection of energy, economy, and industry.

• 🔌 Supporting regional power connectivity through green power corridors.

• 💰 Financing green mobilization to strengthen enabling conditions, build investable pipelines, and facilitate the flow of capital at a greater scale.

🔎 Need More Angles?

ASEAN ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030

ESCAP 2024 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific: from ambitions to results, sectoral solutions and integrated action

IEA World Energy Investment 2025: Southeast Asia

InfoLink Consulting Southeast Asia’s green energy transition: 28% PV demand growth in 2025 calls for grid reforms

(ADE/QOB)

Your curated wrap-up from The Southeast Asia Desk.

Welcome to our final dispatch before the newsroom takes a brief pause next week, as communities across Indonesia and Southeast Asia mark the Hindu Day of Silence and celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

In a season shaped by quiet reflection and joyful reunion, we are grateful to have you reading alongside us.

Until we return next week, we leave you with this final dispatch, and our warmest wishes for peaceful days ahead.

🇮🇩 Indonesia bans social media accounts for children under 16

Indonesia has officially banned children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media and digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Roblox. The policy is planned to take effect on 28 March 2026.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/indonesia-bans-social-media-accounts

🇮🇱🇮🇷🇺🇸 ASEAN member states express concern as U.S.–Israel–Iran war escalates

Southeast Asian leaders expressed concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East following the U.S.–Israel attack on Iran. Most leaders urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from widening and to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue to reach a peaceful solution.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/asean-member-states-express-concern

🌍 Rights, justice, and the long road ahead

Civil society groups across Southeast Asia continue pushing for stronger legal protections and accountability mechanisms, emphasizing that progress on rights requires sustained regional cooperation and political commitment.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/rights-justice-action-and-the-long

♿ Leaving no one behind: Disability rights in Southeast Asia

Advocates are calling for deeper inclusion policies across ASEAN, emphasizing that accessible infrastructure, education, and employment are essential to ensuring persons with disabilities are fully integrated into society.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/leaving-no-one-behind-disability

🦠 Nipah virus at the edge of climate change

Health experts warn that climate change may expand the geographic areas at risk for Nipah virus outbreaks. The warning highlights the growing intersection between climate change, wildlife habitats, and regional public health preparedness. The collaborative article with Cambodianess.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/nipah-virus-at-the-edge-of-climate

🇻🇳 VinFast tests electric vehicle fleet expansion

Vietnam’s VinFast is accelerating its electric mobility ambitions with large-scale EV fleet trials, reinforcing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global transition toward sustainable transportation.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/viet-nams-vinfast-tests-ev-fleet

🎓 English as Southeast Asia’s bridge language

English continues to play a pivotal role across ASEAN — not only as a language of diplomacy and business but increasingly as a shared platform for regional education and professional mobility.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/when-english-becomes-southeast-asias

🎓 Empowering madrasah educators: A strategic shift for global readiness

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the British Council have launched their first collaboration to strengthen English language teaching in Madrasahs, aiming to enhance teachers’ professional capacity and expand students’ global opportunities. With 41,833 madrasah teachers across Indonesia, improving teacher competency is seen as a strategic step in responding to the evolving demands of global education.
Read more:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/strengthening-english-teaching-in

🎧 The Dispatch Podcast

Ramadan in Southeast Asia
Our latest episode explores how Ramadan is experienced across different Southeast Asian societies — blending faith, tradition, and modern urban life.
Listen:
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/s26e08-ramadan-in-southeast-asia

🌙 Eid getaways across Southeast Asia

As Eid approaches, travelers across the region are planning festive escapes — from coastal retreats in Indonesia to cultural journeys through Malaysia and Thailand.
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/s27e03-eid-al-fitr-getaway-southeast

🏃 Destination marathons across the region

Southeast Asia’s scenic marathon routes are drawing runners from around the world — combining sport with cultural exploration.
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/southeast-asia-destination-marathons

🎬 Eid at the movies

The festive season is also lighting up regional cinemas, with Southeast Asian filmmakers releasing new films that blend comedy, drama, and family storytelling.
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/the-eid-box-office-5-southeast-asian

🌏 Travel inspiration: Southeast Asia 2026

Tourism boards across the region are preparing ambitious campaigns for 2026 to promote Southeast Asia as one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse travel destinations.
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/southeast-asia-2026-the-ultimate

🎭 Remembering Southeast Asia’s cultural icons

From legendary actors to beloved musicians, Southeast Asia continues to celebrate the cultural figures who shaped the region’s artistic identity.
https://www.thesoutheastasiadesk.com/p/how-southeast-asia-mourns-its-icons

✨ Stories to linger over, one week at a time.

The Main Takeaway 🎯

Vietnamese EV maker VinFast signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to supply 400 electric MPVs to Indonesian fleet operators during the Indonesia International Motor Show 2026 (IIMS) — an annual automotive showcase in Jakarta.

The agreement highlights how fleet electrification is emerging as one of the earliest pathways for EV adoption in Southeast Asia’s largest automotive market.

⚠️ Why It Matters

• 🚐 Fleet deployment: The MoU involves 200 vehicles for Riline Velocity Express and 200 for PT Sentrik Persada Nusantara, with deliveries expected to roll out gradually as both companies expand passenger transport and B2B rental fleets.

• 🚗 Commercial EV design: The vehicle, VinFast’s Limo Green, is a seven-seat electric MPV designed for high-intensity passenger transport operations.

• 🔋 Operational range: Equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the vehicle can travel up to 450 km per charge, potentially helping fleets reduce downtime and operating costs.

• ⚡ EV momentum builds: Indonesia’s EV segment grew 49% in 2025, even as the broader automotive market slowed.

• 🏭 Industrial push: Jakarta aims to build a fully integrated EV supply chain — from nickel mining to battery recycling — with a target of 140 GWh battery capacity by 2030, starting from virtually zero domestic production today.

• 🌱 Climate driver: Indonesia has pledged to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 29% by 2030 — or up to 41% with international support, with transport electrification seen as a key pathway.

• 🚦 Urban pressure: Severe congestion and air pollution in cities like Jakarta have prompted EV incentives and traffic controls such as the odd-even license plate system.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

• 🚕 Fleet-first electrification: Ride-hailing, taxi, and corporate transport fleets are emerging as testing grounds for EV adoption before mass consumer uptake.

• ⛽ Fuel cost pressure: Rising fuel prices and operating expenses are pushing transport operators to explore EVs as a way to stabilize long-term costs.

• 📉 ASEAN still early-stage: Despite rapid global EV growth, Southeast Asia remains in the early phase of electrification, with internal-combustion vehicles still dominating the market.

• 🧪 Pilot adoption: The MoU represents a small-scale rollout, testing how electric fleets perform in Indonesia’s dense urban transport environment.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

• 🇻🇳 Regional expansion: Vietnam’s EV maker VinFast is pushing beyond its home market, reflecting a broader trend of Southeast Asian companies scaling across the region.

• 🇮🇩 EV battleground: Indonesia’s large consumer market and abundant resources are attracting investment from global automakers and battery producers.

• 🔋 Battery ambitions: Jakarta aims to become a major EV battery exporter, with about one-third of its planned 140 GWh battery production capacity by 2030 intended for global markets.

• 🪨 Nickel leverage: As the world’s largest nickel producer, Indonesia is seeking to move up the value chain by processing battery materials domestically instead of exporting raw ore.

• 🚗 Adoption targets: The government aims to put 2.2 million electric cars and 13 million electric motorcycles on the road by 2030.

🌏 Regional Stakes

• 🤝 Intra-ASEAN investment: The partnership reflects a broader trend of regional companies expanding within Southeast Asia, not just relying on Western or Chinese capital.

• 🔗 Supply chain integration: Battery materials, EV manufacturing, and charging infrastructure are gradually forming cross-border industrial networks across ASEAN.

• 🌐 Strategic positioning: Indonesia’s resource-driven EV strategy could reshape regional supply chains — particularly for battery materials such as nickel and cobalt.

📸 The Bigger Picture

• 🚗 Chinese brands lead rollout: Much of Indonesia’s EV lineup comes from Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, Wuling Motors, Jaecoo, etc.

• 🇩🇪 Premium segment entry: European automakers such as BMW are entering Indonesia’s EV market mainly through luxury models.

• 🚕 Fleet-first strategy: Rather than targeting private buyers initially, VinFast is entering through fleet and taxi services — a rollout model often used in markets where EV adoption is still emerging.

• 📍 Market foothold: VinFast says it has opened 37+ showrooms across Indonesia and plans more than 110 additional outlets, underscoring how automakers are racing to secure early market presence in Southeast Asia’s EV transition.

• 🏭 Battery investments underway: Global players including Hyundai Motor Company, LG Energy Solution, and CATL have announced projects tied to Indonesia’s EV battery ecosystem.

• ⚡ Technology uncertainty: The resurgence of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries — cheaper and widely produced in China — could challenge Indonesia’s strategy built around nickel-rich batteries.

❤️ Why This Hits Home

Indonesia’s roads are among the most congested in Southeast Asia, and air pollution remains a persistent concern in major cities.

If electric fleets gain traction — from taxis to corporate transport — they could gradually reshape mobility patterns in Indonesia and potentially across the ASEAN region.

🚖 The Bottom Line

Electric vehicles are slowly moving from policy ambition to real-world experimentation in Southeast Asia.

As companies test fleet electrification and regional investment strategies, Indonesia is emerging as a critical proving ground for the region’s transport transition.

📰 Need More Angle?

• CSIS Indonesia’s Battery Industrial Strategy

• PwC Indonesia’s EV market grew by 49%

• VinFast Indonesia Akan Ada 100.000 SPKLU Buat Mobil VinFast di ASEAN

(BRZ/LAN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Across Southeast Asia, English is shifting from an educational advantage to a core economic capability.

A global survey of more than 1,300 HR decision-makers conducted by ETS through its Global English Skills Report finds that 90% of employers say English proficiency is critical to organizational success, and 92% say it is more important today than five years ago.

The findings suggest that in a global economy increasingly shaped by digital collaboration, international trade, and artificial intelligence, language skills are becoming a foundational part of workforce readiness.

👀 Why It’s on Our Radar

Southeast Asia’s economic model is built on connectivity.

From manufacturing networks linking Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia to digital startups expanding from Singapore and Jakarta, the region operates through cross-border collaboration.

That collaboration requires a common working language.

The ETS Global English Skills Report, based on a survey of HR leaders across 17 countries, shows that English proficiency is increasingly tied to business performance, international partnerships, and workforce mobility.

In Indonesia, the trend is even more pronounced. According to the report’s Indonesia insights, 100% of surveyed employers say English proficiency is more important today than it was five years ago, reflecting the country’s growing integration into global markets.

🌏 The Big Picture

Three major forces are driving the rising importance of English across Southeast Asia.

1️⃣ Globalized workplaces

Companies in the region increasingly coordinate with partners, suppliers, and clients across continents.

Shared language enables faster decision-making, smoother collaboration, and easier integration into international supply chains.

2️⃣ The AI revolution

Contrary to the assumption that artificial intelligence might reduce the need for language skills, many employers say the opposite.

According to the ETS global survey, 81% of employers report that integrating AI tools actually increases the need for English proficiency, since many AI interfaces, prompts, and documentation operate primarily in English.

Workers must understand, evaluate, and communicate information generated by these tools.

“What this research makes clear is that English is now a core workforce capability, not a soft skill. It’s how employees collaborate across borders, how organizations unlock the value of AI, and how talent stays relevant in a rapidly changing economy. Companies that invest in English proficiency are investing directly in productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness.” - Ratnesh Jha, Global General Manager of Institutional Products at ETS

3️⃣ Competition for talent

As Southeast Asia attracts investment and technology firms, the labor market is becoming more competitive.

The report finds that 86% of employers believe organizations without fluent English speakers face a competitive disadvantage in global markets.

Language skills, in other words, influence not just communication, but competitiveness.

🇮🇩 Why This Hits Home

For Indonesia, the implications are significant.

With a workforce of more than 140 million people and an expanding digital economy, the country stands to benefit enormously from deeper participation in global industries.

Yet language capability will increasingly determine how easily Indonesian talent can plug into those networks.

According to the ETS survey, 87% of Indonesian HR leaders say organizations lacking English proficiency face competitive disadvantages, particularly in collaboration, productivity, and growth.

As global collaboration intensifies, the ability to communicate effectively across borders is becoming a professional baseline.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

The stakes go beyond individual career prospects.

English proficiency can influence a country’s ability to:

• attract international investment

• participate in global value chains

• adopt advanced technologies

• integrate into knowledge economies

For Southeast Asia, where economies are deeply interconnected with global markets, communication capacity can quietly shape economic outcomes.

🧭 The Bottom Line

Infrastructure once meant roads, ports, and power plants.

In today’s economy, language is emerging as another kind of infrastructure—the connective tissue that links talent, technology, and opportunity.

As Southeast Asia navigates the AI era and deeper economic integration, English proficiency will increasingly determine how effectively its workforce participates in the global system.

For Indonesia and its neighbors, the question is no longer whether English matters.

The question is how quickly the region can scale language capability to match its economic ambitions.

(QOB/VBD/ELS)

The Eid holiday season 🌙 has become a premier window for family cinema across Southeast Asia 🌏. Studios are consistently releasing warm, multi-generational stories 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 designed to bring audiences together.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

🎬 Eid in Cinema: A Regional Tradition. Across Southeast Asia, major festive holidays—from Lebaran in Indonesia and Malaysia to Songkran in Thailand—often coincide with the release of family-oriented films. These movies typically emphasize warmth, nostalgia, and cross-generational storytelling.

• Why it matters 💡: These movies emphasize warmth 💖, nostalgia 🕰️, and cross-generational storytelling 🗣️.

• The local impact 📈: In Indonesia 🇮🇩, the season is fiercely competitive. Last year’s animated hit JUMBO 🐘 proved just how deeply family-friendly stories resonate with millions of viewers during the holidays ✨.

  ---

1. Na Willa 🇮🇩 (2026)

This year, Visinema Studios shifts its storytelling approach from animation to live action 📽️ with Na Willa, hitting theaters in Indonesia on March 18 🍿.

📖 A Story About Rediscovering Childhood Set in 1960s Indonesia 📻, the film follows a six-year-old girl whose imagination turns her small alley into a magical universe ✨.

• The vibe 🪁: It invites adults to revisit the emotional landscape of youth, where alleys and markets become grand spaces of adventure 🗺️.

• Director’s take 🎙️: “We have all been Na Willa,” says Adriandhy. “What adults may see as simple moments can feel incredibly big for children.” 💭

Directed by Ryan Adriandhy and produced by Anggia Kharisma and Novia Puspa Sari, Na Willa reflects a broader regional trend where holiday films aim to reconnect audiences with themes of family, memory, and belonging.

“We have all been Na Willa, what adults may see as simple moments can feel incredibly big for children. The longing for that childhood perspective stays with us throughout life.”, Ryan Adriandhy

2. Pelangi di Mars 🇮🇩 (2026)

Indonesia steps into new territory with this sci-fi family film 🛸, the country’s first to blend animation ✏️, live action 🎭, and Extended Reality (XR) technology 🥽.

• The plot 🪐: Pelangi, the first human born on Mars, is left behind during a global water crisis 💧. She teams up with aging robots 🤖 to find a rare water-purifying mineral before an evil Earth corporation can exploit it 🏢.

• The message 🌟: Beyond the CGI and sci-fi adventure, it’s a story about hope and the power of young dreams 🚀.

• Behind the scenes 🎥: Director Upie Guava and Producer Dendi Reynando spent over five years ⏳ bringing this to life, hoping to inspire children and position Indonesia as a center for Asian sci-fi animation 🏆. It premieres on March 18.

Producer Dendi Reynando expressed his pride during the film’s press conference on Saturday, March 14, 2026, reflecting on the long journey behind the project.

“After more than five years of challenges, Mahakarya Pictures is incredibly proud to finally present Pelangi di Mars to the Indonesian audience. This film is a gift for the dreams of our children,” Dendi Reynando.

Director Upie Guava expressed his hopes the project will inspired more animation films in Indonesia.

“I hope we’ll see more animated movies for kids in the future. Who knows—maybe Indonesia can become a center for sci-fi animation in Asia.”, Upie Guava.

3. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies 🇹🇭 (2024)

This massive Thai box-office hit 🎟️ follows a young man (Billkin) who quits his job to care for his grandmother 👵🏼, initially just hoping to secure her inheritance 💰.

• The impact ❤️: The story evolved into a beautiful look at their complicated relationship, resonating deeply with Southeast Asian families 🫂.

• The accolades 🏅: It was Thailand’s submission for the 2025 Academy Awards 🏆 and earned honors at the Gold List Awards. Catch it on Netflix 📺.

4. Lolo and The Kid 🇵🇭 (2024)

A Filipino drama on Netflix 📱 that presents a deeply emotional story about an aging hustler 👴🏽 and a young boy 🎒 navigating poverty and homelessness 🏙️.

• The core conflict ⚖️: It highlights the struggles of living on society’s margins and the value of education 📚, while making viewers question the ethical lines the characters cross to survive 🛑.

• The standout ⭐: Grounded by a strong performance from Joel Torre 🎭, it’s a touching look at love in messy, grey areas 🌧️.

5. Abang Adik 🇲🇾 (2023)

Malaysia’s Oscar submission 🏆 is a heartbreaking crime drama 🚨 about two undocumented, orphaned brothers 👬 struggling to survive in Kuala Lumpur’s slums 🌆.

• The story 🤫: Abang (Wu Kang-ren) is a deaf and mute older brother; Adik (Jack Tan) is his rebellious younger sibling 💥. Their deep bond is tested when one must make a profound sacrifice 💔.

• The bottom line 🖋️: Through raw social realism, director Jin Ong paints a powerful portrait of poverty, identity, and injustice ⛓️. Available on Netflix 📺.

Now the question is 🤔: Which of these films will you be watching with your family this Eid? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

(VIL/JN/ARS)

🎣 Opening

Hello, and welcome to The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast.

This is where we slow down the headlines and make sense of the stories shaping our region.

Now, let me ask you something.

Have you planned your Eid Al Fitr holiday yet?

Because after a full month of Ramadan, many families across Southeast Asia are getting ready for something just as exciting: Travel.

Whether it’s a quick regional escape, a food trip, or simply a break from the city, the Eid Al Fitr holiday season is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the region, which will happen from March 20 to 22, next week.

So if you’re still looking for inspiration, here’s some good news.

According to the 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, Southeast Asia is dominating global tourism rankings — with three of the world’s top seven destinations right here in the region.

And yes…
one of them just took the number one spot in the world.

So if you’re planning a trip, here are some destinations worth putting on your radar.

🌏 The Big Picture

First, the headline.

Leading the pack is Indonesia’s Bali, which secured the number one destination globally.

Joining it in the top tier are Hanoi in Vietnam, ranked fourth in the world, and Bangkok in Thailand, which came in seventh.

Together, these cities highlight something bigger happening in global tourism.

Travelers are no longer just chasing famous landmarks.

They’re looking for experiences — food, culture, nature, and authenticity.

And Southeast Asia offers all of that in one region.

📍 The Top Destinations

Let’s talk more about them and start with the global number one.

Bali, Indonesia — #1 in the World

Bali continues to dominate global travel rankings, especially for honeymooners and wellness travelers.

What makes Bali special is its dual personality.

On one side, you have Ubud, known for its temples, rice terraces, and spiritual retreats.

On the other, there’s the coastline — luxury resorts, beach clubs, and sunset views that attract visitors from all over the world.

For many travelers, Bali offers the perfect balance between serenity and luxury.

Hanoi, Vietnam — #4 in the World

Next is Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital.

Hanoi is often described as a masterclass in sensory travel.

Think French colonial architecture, buzzing street markets, and one of the most celebrated food scenes in Asia.

From bowls of pho served on plastic stools to historic landmarks like the Hanoi Opera House, the city blends history, culture, and culinary exploration in one unforgettable experience.

And for travelers on a budget, Vietnam remains one of the best-value destinations in the region.

Bangkok, Thailand — #7 in the World

Then there’s Bangkok, Southeast Asia’s ultimate urban playground.

The city is famous for its ability to combine ancient tradition with modern chaos.

Ornate temples sit just minutes away from rooftop bars, luxury malls, and one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the world.

For travelers who want energy, food, shopping, and culture all in one place, Bangkok remains hard to beat.

🗺️ Hidden Gems Worth Discovering

But here’s the thing.

Not every traveler wants to follow the crowds.

And the 2026 tourism data also highlights a growing interest in hidden destinations — places that offer incredible scenery without the heavy crowds.

Here are three worth considering.

Tumpak Sewu, Indonesia

Located in East Java, Tumpak Sewu Waterfall is often called one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia.

Imagine a curtain of water cascading down a volcanic valley, surrounded by jungle.

It’s rugged, dramatic, and still relatively untouched compared to Bali’s more commercial waterfalls.

Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

If you’ve heard of Ha Long Bay, this is its quieter cousin.

Lan Ha Bay, located near Hai Phong, offers the same emerald waters and towering limestone islands — but with far fewer tourist boats.

Many travelers come here for kayaking through caves, floating villages, and peaceful overnight cruises.

Bua Thong Waterfalls, Thailand

And then there’s Bua Thong Waterfalls, near Chiang Mai.

These are also known as Thailand’s “Sticky Waterfalls.”

Thanks to the limestone surface, visitors can actually walk up the waterfall while water rushes beneath their feet.

It’s a fun, unusual experience — and often completely free to visit.

🌱 A New Travel Trend

Another shift in 2026 is something called regenerative tourism.

Travelers are no longer satisfied with simply being “eco-friendly.”

Instead, they’re looking for ways to actively help nature while traveling.

In Bali, for example, visitors can now join coral reef restoration projects, helping rebuild damaged marine ecosystems.

Meanwhile, many street food markets in Thailand and Vietnam are moving toward plastic-free dining, encouraging travelers to bring reusable utensils and containers.

💰 What It Costs

Of course, travel also comes down to budget.

Here’s a rough idea of daily costs across the region.

For backpackers, around 30 to 50 dollars per day can cover hostel stays, street food, and local transport.

For mid-range travelers, about 80 to 130 dollars per day offers boutique hotels, cafes, and private transport options.

And for those seeking luxury, high-end resorts and private tours can easily reach 250 dollars or more per day.

One helpful tip:

Vietnam remains the most budget-friendly destination, while Bali’s luxury resorts and beach clubs can push budgets higher.

🎙️ The Wrap

So if you’re still planning your Eid Al Fitr getaway, Southeast Asia offers an incredible range of options.

From the world’s number one destination in Bali,
to food adventures in Hanoi,
to the nonstop energy of Bangkok.

And if you prefer something quieter, hidden gems like Tumpak Sewu, Lan Ha Bay, and Bua Thong Waterfalls offer stunning experiences away from the crowds.

The takeaway?

You don’t need to fly halfway across the world for a great holiday.

Some of the best destinations on the planet are right here in Southeast Asia.

I’m Rheza Ardiansyah, and this has been The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast, where we slow down the noise and follow the region’s compass.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter at thesoutheastasiadesk.com,

Subscribe now

and join us again for stories to linger over—one weekend at a time.

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The passing of Vidi Aldiano on 7 March 2026 has triggered a profound wave of grief across Indonesia.

As a powerhouse singer and a magnetic host, Vidi was more than an entertainer; he was known as the “National Best Friend.” His loss reminds us how deeply we bond with stars who choose to be “real” over being “perfect.”

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

Vidi was the ultimate “Social Butterfly.” Even after announcing his kidney cancer, he refused to let the illness define his spirit.

Whether he was undergoing treatment, hosting his “everyone-is-invited” podcasts, or performing on stage, he continued to radiate warmth and positivity.

He didn’t just share his battle; he invited millions into his inner circle, turning a personal struggle into a masterclass in resilience and joy.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

When an icon like this passes, it changes the conversation.

We aren’t just talking about music charts; we’re talking about health, grief, and the fragility of life. It’s a “stop-everything” moment that unites people across borders.

🌏 The Big Picture

There are some story is part of a pattern of “National Shocks” across Southeast Asia in the 2020s—moments where a country stood still for a beloved star:

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia: Vidi Aldiano (7 March 2026) The “Best Friend” of the industry. A celebrated singer and host whose “social butterfly” energy made his long health battle feel like a personal loss to his fans.

  

• 🇵🇭 Philippines: Jaclyn Jose (2 March 2024) The “Industry Mother.” The sudden heart attack of a Cannes-winning legend, the “pillar” connecting every generation of Filipino stars.

  

• 🇹🇭 Thailand: “Beam” Papangkorn (23 March 2022) The “Golden Boy.” A healthy, rising Netflix star who passed away in his sleep at just 25, sending shockwaves through the international Thai drama community.

  

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia: Siti Sarah (9 August 2021) The “Sweetheart.” A tragic loss to COVID-19 complications just days after giving birth. Her passing remains Malaysia’s most significant entertainment “shock” of the decade.

  

🏠Why This Hits Home

• The “Empty Chair” Effect: In the 2020s, celebrities became companions. Whether it was Vidi Aldiano’s (ID) voice in our ears via podcasts, Siti Sarah’s (MY) family life on Instagram, or Beam Papangkorn’s (TH) Netflix rise, we shared their daily space. Their passing doesn’t feel like a headline; it feels like a silent seat at our own dinner table.

• Radical Vulnerability: These stars traded PR masks for raw honesty. From Vidi’s brave cancer journey to Jaclyn Jose’s (PH) industry mentorship, they invited us into their real lives. Like Malaysia’s Siti Sarah, their openness turned fans into a global support system, making their loss deeply personal

  

〰️ The Bottom Line

Southeast Asian fans no longer just “watch” idols; they live alongside them. The legacies of these five stars prove that a celebrity’s greatest power is no longer just talent, but genuine kindness.

We haven’t just lost entertainers; we’ve lost the people who made the digital world feel like a real community.

(ZIL/VBD)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Nipah virus does not follow predictable outbreak patterns. Instead, it emerges where climate stress, ecological disruption, and human activity converge—often at the edges of forests, farms, and growing settlements.

As warming temperatures, deforestation, and agricultural expansion push Pteropus fruit bats—the virus’s natural host—closer to human environments, scientists are increasingly shifting their focus beyond hospitals to the ecological conditions where spillover begins.

Recent outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, alongside warnings from researchers such as those at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, have prompted renewed regional coordination to strengthen early detection systems before infections begin appearing in hospitals.

🕰️ The Origins

Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1998, during a severe encephalitis outbreak among pig farmers in the village of Sungai Nipah, from which the virus takes its name.

The outbreak spread rapidly through pig farms, infecting 265 people and killing 105. Investigations later traced the source to Pteropus fruit bats, which had contaminated pig feed after being displaced by drought and forest fires linked to the 1997–1998 El Niño climate event.

The virus’s emergence revealed a new type of threat: diseases that appear not only through viral mutation, but through the disruption of ecosystems that bring wildlife, livestock, and humans into closer contact.

🧬 What We Know So Far

Zoonotic spillover

Nipah virus spreads through a process known as zoonotic spillover—when pathogens move from animals to humans.

Bats as the natural host

Pteropus fruit bats carry the virus without showing symptoms. When environmental pressures shift their habitats or feeding patterns, contaminated fruit, saliva, or droppings can expose livestock or humans.

Climate pressure on bat populations

Fruit bats are particularly sensitive to extreme heat because of their large bodies and tree-roosting habits. Heatwaves linked to climate change can trigger mass bat die-offs or migrations, pushing colonies closer to human settlements.

Rapid and severe disease progression

Nipah infection often begins with flu-like symptoms but can escalate rapidly to severe respiratory illness and encephalitis, with seizures or coma developing within 24–48 hours in serious cases.

Long-term neurological damage

Even among survivors, roughly one in five patients may suffer lasting neurological complications, including seizures, personality changes, or delayed relapse of the disease.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

Several factors keep the Nipah virus high on the regional public-health agenda:

High fatality rates

Nipah’s case fatality rate ranges between 40% and 75%, making it one of the deadliest known zoonotic viruses.

No vaccine or treatment

There is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment, leaving supportive medical care as the primary response.

Recognized pandemic threat

The World Health Organization lists the Nipah virus among the priority pathogens requiring urgent research and preparedness due to its potential to cause a pandemic.

Regional surveillance efforts

Although no human outbreaks have been confirmed in several Southeast Asian countries, the virus has been detected in bat populations:

• 🇮🇩Indonesia – Nipah antibodies detected in bats in Sulawesi, Central Java, and West Kalimantan.

• 🇰🇭Cambodia – Surveillance has found the virus in local fruit bats.

• 🇹🇭Thailand – Viral circulation confirmed in bat populations, though no human cases have occurred.

• 🇸🇬Singapore – Authorities remain alert due to the risk of imported cases through regional travel.

Together, these signals suggest the virus may be circulating quietly in wildlife across the region.

🔎 Beyond the Headlines

One of the biggest puzzles in Nipah research is why outbreaks behave differently across regions, mainly in 🇮🇳India and 🇧🇩Bangladesh.

Different transmission pathways

The 1998 Malaysian outbreak involved pigs acting as an intermediary host between bats and humans. In 🇮🇳India and 🇧🇩Bangladesh, however, pigs play little role.

Distinct viral strains

Genomic studies show that the Nipah virus exists in multiple strains, with the Malaysian variant genetically distinct from those circulating in Bangladesh and India.

Direct spillover routes

Investigations in Bangladesh have linked outbreaks to raw date palm sap contaminated by bats, while in India, suspected exposures include bat-bitten fruit and environmental contact.

Human-to-human transmission

Unlike 🇲🇾Malaysia’s outbreak, several Indian outbreaks have involved person-to-person transmission, including infections among caregivers and healthcare workers.

Researchers are still trying to determine how viral genetics, cultural practices, population density, and healthcare systems interact to shape these different outbreak patterns.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

Scientists increasingly view Nipah outbreaks as a symptom of environmental disruption rather than as a result of viral evolution.

Malaysia: deforestation and agricultural expansion

Between 2000 and 2012, Malaysia lost roughly 14.4% of its forest cover, pushing fruit bats into orchards and pig farms and creating the conditions for the 1998 outbreak.

Bangladesh: shrinking forests and climate stress

Forest cover declined from about 14% in 1989 to around 7% by 2006, while flooding and environmental pressure pushed bat populations deeper into human settlements.

A reshaped ecological boundary

Although the Nipah virus itself has remained genetically stable, rapid environmental change has blurred the boundaries between wildlife, livestock, and people—creating new pathways for spillover.

In other words, the risk is not just biological. It is ecological.

🧭 Staying Ahead of Spillover

Scientists are increasingly adopting a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.

Regional research partnerships

Institutions such as the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, and the Tata Institute for Genetics & Society are strengthening surveillance networks across Asia.

Environmental early-warning systems

Instead of waiting for hospital cases, researchers are testing wastewater, surface water, soil, air samples, and high-contact surfaces for traces of Nipah virus RNA.

Tracking bat movements

Researchers are also mapping bat roosts and monitoring how populations shift as landscapes change.

“If we combine ecological insight with consistent surveillance, we can anticipate where outbreaks are most likely to occur.”
— Farah Ishtiaq, Tata Institute for Genetics & Society

The goal is simple: detect spillover risks before human infections begin.

🧭 Bottom Line

Nipah virus may still appear rare, but scientists warn that the threat could be under-detected rather than absent.

The virus has already been found in bat populations across several Southeast Asian countries, while research remains limited by the small number of viral samples available.

Although Nipah currently spreads less efficiently between humans than airborne viruses like COVID-19, experts caution that environmental disruption continues to create conditions favorable for spillover.

Preventing the next outbreak may depend not only on hospitals and vaccines, but also on how societies manage forests, wildlife habitats, and the landscapes where humans and animals meet.

Need More Angles?

• Chosun Biz English Korea accelerates Nipah vaccine drive to counter high-fatality pandemic risk

• CSIRO — Australia’s National Science Agency Nipah virus: What we know and how Australian researchers are responding

• Duke-NUS Medical School Early detection and rapid diagnostic platforms critical in responding to potential imported Nipah cases

• Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta Alert Over Potential Nipah Virus Threat

(CCL/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Southeast Asian leaders expressed concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East following the U.S.–Israel attack on Iran.

They have adopted various strategies to help de-escalate tensions and protect ASEAN nationals living in the region.

Most leaders urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from widening and to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue to reach a peaceful solution.

📡 Why It’s On Our Radar

Israel, backed by the U. S., initiated a wave of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday (2/28), targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nuclear facilities, and military sites, particularly ballistic missile infrastructure across the country.

The initial attack occurred during the third round of U.S.–Iran talks, aimed at negotiating Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief in Geneva, Switzerland, mediated by Oman. The negotiations had reportedly made significant progress, and a follow-up meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 2, in Vienna, Austria.

In response, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and swarms of drones targeting Israel and U.S. military and diplomatic assets across the Gulf for self-defense.

🔥 The Objective

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the combat operation against Iran was aimed at eliminating threats to the United States by:

1️⃣ Ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons or long-range ballistic missiles.

2️⃣ Destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile industry.

3️⃣ Weakening the country’s military capabilities.

4️⃣ Encouraging regime change in Iran.

⚔️ On the Ground

Each side deployed its units for both attack and defense:

🇺🇸 United States: Operation Epic Fury

• 🛩️Aircraft: Includes B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.

• 🚢Warships: Include the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Northern Arabian Sea, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, and dozens of destroyer-class warships.

• 🛸Drones: Include LUCAS one-way drones, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and M-142 HIMARS.

• 🚀Others: Include Tomahawk cruise missiles for attack, as well as Patriot and THAAD missile systems for defense.

🇮🇱 Israel: Operation Roaring Lion

• 🛩️ Aircraft: Includes F-35I Adir stealth fighters to penetrate Iranian radar and conduct strikes, as well as F-15I Raam and F-16I Sufa for heavy attacks.

• 🛸 Drones: Include Elbit Hermes 900 drones for surveillance activities.

• 🛡️ Defense Systems: Include Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.

🇮🇷 Iran: Operation True Promise IV

• 🚀 Ballistic Missiles: Short-, medium-, and long-range ballistic missiles used for attacks, including Fateh-110, Fateh-313, Kheibar Shekan, Sejjil, and Khorramshahr.

• 🛸 Drones: Mostly Shahed-136 one-way attack drones.

☠️ The Casualties (As of Mar 11)

All sides, as well as Gulf countries, have experienced some loss of life and damage to infrastructure:

🇮🇷 Iran:

• ⚰️ Death toll: According to Iran’s UN envoy Saeed Iravani and the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 1,332 people have been killed in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, senior officials, and about 300 children.

• 🏬 Civilian Infrastructure: The Iranian Red Crescent reported that the attacks hit civilian infrastructure, damaging at least 7,943 homes, 1,617 commercial sites, 32 health centers, 65 schools, and 13 Red Crescent facilities nationwide, including a girls’ primary school in Minab on February 28.

• 🏭Energy Facilities: Israeli airstrikes on March 7 set Iran’s oil storage and refining facilities near Tehran and the province of Alborz on fire, sending large flames and thick smoke over the capital area.

• 💧Water Desalination Plant: Iran accused the U.S. of attacking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island on March 8, cutting the fresh water supply to more than 30 villages.

• 🎖️Military Facilities: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said strikes since February 28 destroyed Iranian military facilities in Tehran, Konarak, Bandar Abbas, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Zahedan, including IRGC headquarters, as well as missile, naval, and air defense sites.

• ☢️ Nuclear Facilities: CENTCOM also claimed that strikes targeted and destroyed key nuclear-related facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.

🇺🇸 United States:

• ⚰️ Death Toll: U.S. Central Command stated that seven American soldiers had been killed by Iranian attacks as of March 8.

• 🎖️ Military Facilities: Since the war began, more than seven U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman have been targeted, including the AN/TPY-2 radar in Jordan, a key part of the THAAD missile defense system worth about USD 300 million.

• 🏬 Other: Multiple U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait were also reportedly hit by Iranian attacks.

🇮🇱 Israel:

• ⚰️ Death Toll: At least 12 people have been killed since February 28.

• 🏬Civilian Infrastructure: Significant damage has been reported in Tel Aviv following Iranian missile bombardments

• 🏭Energy Facility: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it struck Israel’s oil refinery in Haifa on March 7 and a power plant on March 9.

• 📵Other: The actual number and damage may be higher, but have not been released to the public due to strict media censorship by Israel’s military.

🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇯🇴 Jordan, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇦🇪 UAE, 🇶🇦 Qatar, and 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia:

• ⚰️ Death Toll: Fewer than 50 people have been reported killed in total since the conflict began.

• 🏬Infrastructure: Several infrastructure sites were damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes, including a water desalination plant in Bahrain and a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport on March 8.

• 🏭 Energy Facilities: Drone strikes targeted Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura oil refinery on March 2, Bahrain’s Bapco Energies Al Ma’ameer oil facility on March 9, and an oil storage facility at the Port of Salalah in Oman was hit by a drone strike on March 12.

@globalreports.ig

Global Reports on Instagram: "US and Israeli strikes hit an oil…

⚠️ Why It Matters

The combat activities in the Middle East have prompted Gulf countries to take several decisive actions:

• 🚫Trade restrictions: Iran limited access to the Strait of Hormuz with strict protocols, disrupting global oil and gas trade, including supplies to Southeast Asia.

• ⛔Airspace closure: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Kuwait fully closed their airspace, while Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE kept their airspace partially open with limited flights.

• 📉Energy production: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE cut oil production, while Qatar halted LNG production due to disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

📊 The Impact

The regional conflict and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz are causing several impacts on global energy supply, especially oil:

• The Joint Maritime Information Center reported that the number of cargo and tanker vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by over 95% since the conflict began on February 28.

  • According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for the oil market, as around 25% of global oil trade passes through the strait, with an average of about 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products shipped daily.

• The crude oil price has surged and surpassed USD 100 per barrel for the fourth time in history, after previously occurring during Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in 2022, supply disruptions from 2011–2014, and market shocks during the 2008 financial crisis.

  • Brent crude oil rose by 28% from USD 72 per barrel on February 27 to around USD 93 per barrel at the close of trading on March 11, and even reached USD 119 per barrel on March 9.

  • WTI crude oil increased by 31% from USD 67 per barrel on February 27 to about USD 87 per barrel at the close of trading on March 11, and also peaked at USD 119 per barrel on March 9.

• Several ASEAN Member States are also preparing countermeasures to prevent a potential energy crisis due to fuel shortages.

  • 🇲🇾 Malaysia On March 11, PM Anwar Ibrahim instructed all ministries, government-linked companies, and government-linked investment companies not to hold the Eid Al Fitr open house tradition, and to limit overseas trips to only essential, pre-planned agendas, in order to save the state budget.

  • 🇰🇭 Thailand decided to implement work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for government agencies and state-owned enterprises starting March 10 to reduce energy consumption. It also suspended overseas study and training programs while ensuring public services remain unaffected.

  • 🇵🇭 The Philippines implemented a four-day workweek for certain executive branch offices starting March 9 and urged government agencies to reduce electricity and fuel consumption by up to 20%. However, emergency and public services are not covered by this policy.

  • 🇻🇳 Vietnam also encouraged remote work starting March 10 to reduce travel demand and transportation needs, helping save fuel. At the same time, the government urged citizens to use more electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, public transport, and bicycles for mobility.

🌍 The ASEAN’s Response

ASEAN leaders condemned the attack on Iran, expressed concern over the situation, and urged all sides to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation.

🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇱🇦 Lao PDR, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, and 🇲🇲 Myanmar: urged the U.S. and Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic efforts based on international law and the UN Charter.

“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, cease further hostilities, prioritise immediate de-escalation, and to pursue diplomacy in the interest of safeguarding regional peace and stability.​” MoFA Brunei Darussalam, March 1.

“The Indonesian government, especially President Prabowo Subianto, expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue to restore security and stability in the region. The president is also willing to travel to Tehran to mediate the conflict if both sides agree.” MoFA Indonesia, February 28.

“The Lao PDR calls upon all parties concerned to exercise their utmost restraint, cease all acts of violence, and resolve the ongoing conflict by peaceful means in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and International Law.” MoFA Lao PDR, March 2.

“An immediate and unconditional ceasefire is urgently required to prevent further escalation. The U.S. and Iran are strongly urged to pursue diplomatic action, and the international community needs to respond swiftly without double standard” Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian PM, February 28.

“We are expressing deep concern over recent attacks in the Middle East, Myanmar emphasized that only constructive dialogue and diplomatic efforts, aligned with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, can solve the conflict. The Ministry also urged all parties to respect state sovereignty and territorial integrity.” MoFA Myanmar, March 6.

🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇰🇭 Thailand, and 🇵🇭 the Philippines: Prioritizing the safety of their nationals in the Middle East and preparing to evacuate them from the region.

“The safety of Cambodians living in the region is the top priority. Measures, including evacuation if needed, must be implemented in a timely manner.” Hun Manet, Cambodia PM, March 6.

“The government affirms it will do everything possible to ensure the safety of Thai citizens. If they wish to return home, Thailand is ready to arrange flights to pick them up immediately. At the same time, I urge Thai citizens in the area to strictly follow the embassy’s instructions.” Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai PM, March 1.

“We have not received any reports of Filipino casualties. No Filipinos have died. No Filipinos have been injured. Our compatriots are in a safe place. And they have gone to bomb shelters where they are. And they are moving away from the American bases so that they do not come close to danger.” Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, March 1.

🇸🇬 Singapore: Issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to the Middle East and prioritize their safety.

“Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Israel, Iran, and the Middle East region. Singaporeans currently residing or transiting in the region are advised to take all necessary precautions for their personal safety. This includes staying indoors, proceeding to a safe shelter when alerted, monitoring the news closely, and heeding the local government’s advice.” MoFA Singapore, February 28.

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste: Condemned Iran’s attacks on neighboring Middle Eastern countries, warned that such strikes could endanger civilians in countries not involved in the conflict, and called for an end to the military campaign against Iran.

“We also call for restraint and an end to the military campaign against Iran. The U.S. and Israel attack on a non-nuclear armed country, and the assassination of the Iranian spiritual leader, clearly violate the UN Charter and International Law. There was no clear argument for self-defense, and nor was there any evidence of imminent threat against them.” José Ramos-Horta, Timor-Leste President, March 2.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Instructed relevant ministries to monitor developments in the Middle East conflict, assess its impact on Vietnam’s economic stability, and prepare policy responses to address the situation.

“Please be aware of potential impacts on the country’s macroeconomic stability, particularly inflation, growth, energy security, and logistics due to rising prices, and possible supply chain disruptions, while ensuring the safety of Vietnamese citizens abroad.” Pham Minh Chinh, Vietnam PM, March 4.

🏡 Why This Hits Home

Relations between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) began in March 1986, when the GCC Ministerial Council decided to open an economic dialogue with ASEAN to enhance cooperation between the two blocs.

In line with the plan, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, who also served as the GCC Chairman, established formal relations with ASEAN in 1990.

Both sides strengthened dialogue through ministerial meetings, workshops, and held the first ASEAN–GCC Summit on October 20, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to adopt the ASEAN–GCC Cooperation Framework (2024–2028) to guide cooperation in political-security, economic, and socio-cultural sectors.

As a result, the GCC became ASEAN’s 7th largest trading partner, with total trade reaching USD 130.7 billion in 2023, mainly in oil, gas, energy, and financial services. Moreover, the GCC was ASEAN’s 16th largest source of FDI, valued at USD 390.2 million in the same year.

🧭 Beyond the Headlines

• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was elected as Iran’s next Supreme Leader on March 8.

• This is the second time Israel has attacked Iran during U.S.–Iran nuclear talks. The first occurred in June 2025, triggering a 12-day Israel–Iran war from June 13 to 24 that targeted Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, which ended with a ceasefire mediated by the United States and Qatar.

• A Thai-flagged bulk carrier, Mayuree Naree, traveling from the UAE to India, was hit by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, leaving three crew members missing and forcing the evacuation of 20 others to Oman. At least 12 vessels have been hit around the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.

🔎 Need More Angles?

• ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Framework of Cooperation 2024-2028

• ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Situation in the Middle East

• ASEAN Secretariat Overview of ASEAN-GCC Relations

• BBC Six key lines from Trump’s statement on Iran strikes

• Cambodianess Watch Iran Conflict for Safety and Fuel Risks: PM

• International Energy Agency Strait of Hormuz Factsheet

• Investing.com Brent Oil Futures Historical Data

• Investing.com Crude Oil WTI Futures Historical Data

• Joint Maritime Information Center Update 011 to JMIC Advisory Note: 01-11 March 2026

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Brunei Darussalam’s Statement on Development in The Middle East

• Minister of Foreign Affairs MFA Spokesperson’s Comments on the Situation in the Middle East, 28 February 2026

• PBS News Read Netanyahu’s full statement on Iran attacks

• Precidencia da Republica Press Release – Statement by the President of Timor-Leste On the Escalating War in the Middle East

• Presidential Communication Office President Marcos Says Filipinos Moved to Safe Areas, No Casualties Reported Amid Israel US Iran Attacks

(NGO/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesia has officially banned children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media and digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Roblox. The policy is planned to take effect on 28 March 2026.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, in an official statement on Friday, March 6, 2026, described the move as a necessary intervention in what she called a “digital emergency,” adding that “the government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of algorithm-driven platforms.”

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Indonesia’s decision reflects a broader regional and global shift toward stricter regulation of children’s online activity.

With Australia implementing the world’s first under-16 social media ban in December 2025, countries across Southeast Asia are now racing to develop their own frameworks—but questions persist about enforcement, privacy and whether bans are the most effective solution.

For Indonesia, home to hundreds of millions of internet users and Southeast Asia’s largest digital economy, the policy marks a significant regulatory escalation with implications for platform operators, parents and children across the country.

⚖️ What’s at Stake

• 🛡️ Child Safety vs. Digital Rights: The ban aims to shield children from online harm, but critics argue it may restrict access to information and freedom of expression.

• 🔐 Data Privacy Concerns: Implementing age verification will require collecting sensitive personal data from children. Privacy advocates warn that without robust safeguards, such systems could create new vulnerabilities.

• 📱 Enforcement Realities: Tech-savvy teens may easily bypass restrictions using VPNs or by creating accounts with false ages.

• 🌏 Regional Alignment: Malaysia, The Philippines, and others are also pursuing age restrictions, creating potential momentum for ASEAN-wide coordination—or a fragmented regulatory landscape that complicates compliance for global platforms.

🗺️ The Regional Picture: Southeast Asia’s Push for Online Child Protection

While Indonesia has set a hard deadline, its neighbours are pursuing a mix of bans and “scaffolding” strategies:

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Moving Toward a Ban: Following the Online Safety Act 2025. Malaysia plans to enforce a social media ban for under-16s this year. The government is focusing on systemic risk management, shifting the burden onto platforms to identify “priority harms” like scams and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

• 🇸🇬 Singapore | The “Scaffolding” Approach: Rather than a “zero or one” ban. Singapore is implementing Age Assurance Requirements (effective March 2026). This forces platforms to restrict under-18s from downloading age-inappropriate apps while encouraging “L-plate” learning—guiding teens through digital spaces rather than locking them out.

• 🇹🇭 Thailand | The 14-Year Floor & Usage Caps: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is drafting rules to bar under-14s from personal accounts entirely. For those aged 14–16, Thailand is considering a unique "double-lock": mandatory parental consent via the national e-ID system and strict 2-hour daily usage caps enforced by automatic in-app logouts. Platforms face fines of up to ฿5 million for non-compliance.

• 🇵🇭 The Philippines | Calibrated Regulation: The Senate is currently debating five separate bills with varying age limits (from 12 to 18). Experts here are pushing for an “age-appropriate framework” that acknowledges a 12-year-old’s developmental needs are different from a 16-year-old’s, prioritizing digital literacy over a blanket prohibition.

• The Regional Debate | Protection vs. Privacy: Across Southeast Asia, a central tension has emerged: enforcing these bans requires collecting sensitive personal data (such as passports or biometrics) for age verification. Critics warn this could lead to massive data breaches, potentially trading one digital risk for another.

🌏 The Bigger Picture: A Global Movement

Australia’s world-first under-16 social media ban, which took effect in December 2025, has sparked a wave of similar proposals worldwide.

Platforms face fines of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance, and early implementation has revealed both challenges and public support—two-thirds of Australian voters back the measure.

France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are jointly testing a prototype age verification app. The UK launched a public consultation on a similar ban in early 2026, while Germany’s ruling party has announced support for restrictions.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For parents across Southeast Asia, children's digital safety is an urgent daily concern.

A 2023 UNICEF survey found that roughly half of 510 Indonesian children surveyed had been exposed to sexual images on social media.

In Malaysia, police recorded RM2.7 billion in reported losses from online scams between January and November 2025 alone.

But as one Malaysian parent, Siti Sharifah Sharina Abdullah Sahani, put it: “Banning doesn’t mean full protection. Technology is unavoidable, so it’s better to teach children how to use it safely.”

🔮 The Bottom Line

Indonesia’s social media ban represents a bold intervention in an urgent crisis—but it also raises fundamental questions about how societies should balance protection with participation in an increasingly digital world.

The coming months will reveal whether age-based restrictions can be effectively enforced, what unintended consequences may emerge, and whether Southeast Asian nations can coordinate their approaches to create meaningful protection without fragmenting the digital ecosystem.

As the region watches Australia’s experiment unfold and Malaysia prepares to follow suit, one thing is clear: the era of unfettered digital access for minors is ending. What replaces it remains very much in question.

🔎 Need More Angles

• BBC Indonesia to ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s

• Bernama Online Safety Act 2025 Strengthens Regulatory Oversight Of Digital Platforms

• CNA IN FOCUS: Should social media be banned for teens in Singapore?

• Fortune Australia will start banning kids from social media this week—and Malaysia is getting ready to do the same

• Hey Thailand News Thailand Proposes Blocking Under-14s from Social Media With Usage Limits

• Rappler Social media regulation in PH: Experts push for ‘age-appropriate’ framework for minors

• Tempo English Malaysia Plans to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16, Following Australia

• Tempo English Indonesia Bans Social Media Accounts for Children Under 16

(ELS/QOB)

📌 The Main Takeaway

At the current pace, closing the global legal gap between men and women will take 286 years.

Addressing the issue of gender inequality, Officials acknowledge its structural nature — embedded in the legal system, norms & culture, and economic opportunities. Indonesia’s Government has built a growing framework of policies and institutions alongside the help and collaboration of civil society and international organizations

Across Southeast Asia, the main question shifted from whether gender equality is a priority and commitments to how it can be implemented and enforced into opportunities and empowerment for women

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

• 📅 More than a commemoration: International Women’s Day increasingly serves as a policy checkpoint — a moment to assess whether gender equality commitments are translating into real progress.

• 🌐 Global focus: The world is preparing for the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), which will center on strengthening access to justice for women and girls.

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia’s long game: The issue ties directly to Indonesia Emas 2045, the country’s vision of becoming a high-income, inclusive nation by its centenary.

• 🤝 Beyond symbolism: Gender equality is not a surface-level issue — it requires multi-stakeholder action, shaping women’s access to healthcare, legal protection, and economic opportunity.

⚖️ Structural Barriers to Justice

Being described as “structural barriers,” some of the most persistent gaps include:

• ⚖️ Legal inequality: Globally, women still have about 64% of the legal rights men have.

• 🚨 The consent gap: Around 54% of countries worldwide still lack rape laws based on the principle of consent.

• 💰 Economic disparity: Gender wage gaps remain visible across Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, the gender wage gap stands at about 20.33%.

• 🧾 Beyond case resolution: Survivors are often left without guidance or support after legal cases conclude, leaving many vulnerable to returning to the same circumstances.

• 🏛️ Representation gaps: Indonesia’s electoral framework encourages 30% female representation among legislative candidates, yet women currently hold only about 22% of parliamentary seats.

🩺 Bodily Autonomy and Reproductive Rights

While Indonesia has seen improvement in life expectancy and health insurance coverage, several indicators illustrate both progress and continuing gaps:

• ✂️ Harmful practices: Surveys indicate Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) remains relatively common in Indonesia, reaching up to 46.3%.

• 💊 Family planning gaps: Around 14% of family-planning needs remain unmet, while 20% of individuals cannot achieve their desired family size.

• 🤰 Maternal health: One mother in Indonesia still dies roughly every hour from childbirth-related complications, often worsened by uneven access to health infrastructure and skilled care.

🚺 Gender and Environmental Justice

As climate pressures intensify across Southeast Asia, gender equality is increasingly discussed alongside environmental resilience and protection.

• 🌱 Climate and gender: Climate change does not discriminate by gender, but its impacts are unevenly distributed — increasingly shaping gender policy.

• 🌊 Frontline vulnerability: Women in coastal, rural, and disaster-prone areas often face higher risks of poverty, displacement, and sexual violence in emergency shelters.

• 🛑 Environmental defenders at risk: Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders face growing threats — 2,253 defenders were killed or disappeared globally between 2012 and 2024.

🏛️ The Policy Push and Its Questions

Indonesia has gradually expanded its legal and institutional framework for gender equality. But the key question remains: do these protections translate into everyday safety, opportunity, and justice?

• 📜 Constitutional protections: Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution guarantees equality before the law and protection of human rights.
  ➡️ But how consistently is that protection experienced in practice?

• 💰 Gender-responsive budgeting: Government planning now requires gender considerations before funding allocations are approved.
  ➡️ Yet do policies always translate into resources reaching women on the ground?

• 👶 Policy update: Law No. 4 of 2024 on maternal and child welfare during the first 1,000 days of life proposes expanded maternity and paternity leave, as well as stronger protections for maternal health.
  ➡️ Can these protections meaningfully support families across Indonesia’s diverse regions?

• 👮 Law enforcement reforms: The National Police operate dedicated units handling violence against women and children, while courts have adopted gender-sensitive adjudication guidelines.
  ➡️ But are survivors able to access justice safely and without stigma?

⚠️ What’s at Stake

• 📈 Economic growth & social cohesion: Bridging these gaps is essential for long-term development — ensuring women enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men strengthens both economic growth and social stability.

• 🧠 Human capital: For policymakers, expanding protections and support for women is closely tied to long-term human capital development and national productivity.

• ⚖️ Cost of inaction: Strengthening access to legal aid and justice is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one — unresolved legal issues often escalate into far greater social and financial costs.

🌏 Regional Stakes

Across ASEAN, gender equality is advancing — but unevenly.

• 🎓 Education gains: Girls’ education has improved significantly across much of Southeast Asia.
  🏛️ Leadership gaps: Yet women remain underrepresented in political leadership and high-income sectors.

• ⚖️ Justice gaps: Access to justice for survivors of violence remains inconsistent, often compounded by societal bias and stigma.

• 📊 A regional test: For Southeast Asia, gender equality increasingly intersects with economic competitiveness, demographic change, and long-term social stability.

🧭 The Bigger Picture

Indonesia has expanded its gender policy agenda in recent years, with several core priorities:

• 👩‍⚖️ Gender equality and women’s empowerment

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Strengthening family resilience and well-being

• 🤝 Cross-sector collaboration across government, civil society, and institutions

Yet contradictions remain.

⚠️ Policy–practice gap: Indonesia’s national health insurance does not always automatically cover medical treatment or forensic exams for survivors of violence — exposing the gap between policy commitments and real access to support.

🚨 The Bottom Line

Gender equality rarely moves in a straight line. Across Southeast Asia, legal protections and institutional frameworks have expanded — steps that would have been difficult to imagine just a few decades ago.

But the deeper challenge remains implementation. Progress is visible, yet the road toward equality — like many development goals — remains gradual, uneven, and unfinished.

🧾 Need More Angle?

• OHCHR International Women’s Day 2026

• UN Women No country in the world has reached full legal equality for women and girls

• World Bank Women, Business, and the Law 2026

(DEV/BRZ/QOB)

📌 The Main Takeaway

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the British Council have launched their first collaboration to strengthen English language teaching in Madrasahs, aiming to enhance teachers’ professional capacity and expand students’ global opportunities.

The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2025 and was implemented through an eight-week professional development program, which concluded with an in-person workshop at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jakarta on February 26, 2026.

With 41,833 madrasah teachers across Indonesia, improving teacher competency is seen as a strategic step in responding to the evolving demands of global education.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The initiative is part of a broader diplomatic context.

In January 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the Indonesia–UK Strategic Partnership, where education was identified as a key pillar of cooperation.

Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar noted that the collaboration also supports the ministry’s Asta Protas strategic priorities, particularly in improving the quality of education in religious schools.

In practice, the initiative seeks to equip madrasah teachers with stronger English teaching skills so that students can better access:

🎓 International higher education opportunities
🌏 Global academic networks
📚 Cross-border knowledge exchange

📊 Madrasahs by the Numbers

Indonesia’s madrasah education system represents a significant part of the national learning landscape:

• 🏫 41,833 madrasah teachers nationwide

• 👩‍🏫 Teachers spread across junior secondary (MTs) and senior secondary (MA) Islamic schools

• 🌏 Increasing demand for English proficiency to access global academic networks

Strengthening teacher quality in this sector therefore carries system-wide implications for Indonesia’s education development.

⚠️ Why It Matters

Madrasahs have a distinctive role in Indonesia’s education system.

They combine religious education with modern academic subjects, shaping students’ intellectual and moral foundations simultaneously.

Teachers in these institutions are therefore expected to:

• 🕌 Build strong religious values

• 📖 Deliver modern academic instruction

• 🌐 Prepare students for global engagement

As international academic mobility expands, English proficiency among educators is becoming a critical tool to help students navigate global opportunities.

Improving teacher capacity in this area is therefore closely linked to long-term human capital development.

🔍 What’s Inside the Program

The initiative began with a competency mapping process conducted by the Directorate of Madrasah Teachers and Education Personnel under the Ministry of Religious Affairs together with the British Council.

The mapping assessed:

• 📊 Pedagogical competencies

• 🗣️ English language proficiency among MTs and MA teachers

This assessment informed the design of a pilot Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, delivered through structured online training.

A total of 613 teachers from nearly every province in Indonesia participated in the program.

The data gathered through this program will help inform future policy planning for teacher development.

💡 What Changed in the Classroom

During the eight-week program, teachers began introducing new teaching methods that emphasize student participation and interaction.

Some early changes observed include:

• 👩‍🏫 More student-centered classroom approaches

• 💬 Increased interaction between teachers and students

• 🗣️ Greater teacher confidence in using English

These improvements also contributed to higher student engagement during lessons.

🚀 What to Expect

As a pilot initiative, the current program represents only a small portion of Indonesia’s national teaching workforce.

However, the model provides a foundation for broader expansion in the coming years.

Potential next steps include:

• 📚 Expanding training access to more teachers nationwide

• 🤝 Establishing professional learning communities among madrasah educators

• 🔁 Replicating the CPD model in different regions

The ultimate aim is to create systemic improvements in teaching quality that can be scaled nationally.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

International cooperation in teacher development is becoming an increasingly important tool for strengthening education systems.

Such partnerships enable:

• 📈 Capacity building for educators

• 🌐 Knowledge transfer across countries

• 🎓 Better access to global education networks

For Indonesia, this collaboration reflects a broader effort to modernize education while preserving the unique role of madrasahs within society.

🚨 The Bottom Line

The collaboration between Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and the British Council goes beyond a teacher training program.

It signals a strategic push to strengthen Indonesia’s education system, empower madrasah teachers, and expand students’ pathways to global learning opportunities — while deepening education cooperation within the Indonesia–UK strategic partnership.

(JUN/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Southeast Asia’s iconic landscapes—from Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat 🛕 to Bali’s lush rice terraces 🌾—are no longer just for snapping photos. They are becoming premier endurance tracks.

• What’s happening: A regional marathon boom is transforming traditional sightseeing into active, immersive journeys.

• The shift: Travelers are ditching the tour bus for the starting line, choosing to absorb the region’s rich culture and breathtaking nature step by pounding step. 👟

⚠️ Why It Matters

The soft power playbook, leveled up 📈. Southeast Asia’s legendary hospitality and heritage have always been a massive cultural draw. Now, endurance sports are adding a powerful new dimension to that influence.

• The new audience: 🏃‍♀️ By merging sports with sightseeing, the region is unlocking the global running community—a highly mobile demographic that travels internationally just to race.

• The impact: 🌏 It isn’t just about boosting arrival numbers. Marathons turn casual tourists into deeply engaged participants, cementing a stronger connection with the region.

🕰️ How We Got Here

From sightseeing to sweating. Sports tourism is booming as modern travelers crave visceral experiences over passive observation. Enter the “destination marathon”—where the course itself is the main attraction.

• The regional play: 🗺️ Southeast Asia has aggressively embraced this trend, leveraging its stunning coastlines and cultural heritage to offer more than just a race.

• The result: 👟 Today, athletic challenges double as cultural storytelling, transforming marathon routes into moving tours of history, geography, and local life.

🔍 Why It’s on Our Radar

Southeast Asia’s running events are securing serious international clout. Backed by global athletic certifications, they are drawing a worldwide roster of pros, amateurs, and travel enthusiasts.

• The differentiator: 🏞️ Trading standard urban concrete for heritage, these routes weave through protected ecosystems, traditional villages, and ancient cultural landmarks.

• The real prize: 🏃‍♂️ For runners, the finish line is just a bonus. The race itself serves as a visceral, deeply personal gateway to experiencing the region.

🏃4 Marathons to Run for 2026 in Southeast Asia

🇰🇭 Angkor Empire marathon (Cambodia)

Mark your calendars for August 2, 2026. The 11th edition of this flagship marathon isn’t just a regional favorite—it recently earned a spot on Forbes’ list of the year’s absolute best destination races.

• The route: 🗺️ Runners will weave past nearly 40 ancient temples, anchored by the colossal Angkor Wat—the world’s largest religious monument.

• The experience: 🌳 Trading city asphalt for jungle canopies and rural rice paddies, the course offers an unparalleled, ground-level immersion into rich Khmer heritage.

🇮🇩 Maybank Marathon (Indonesia)

Mark your calendars for August 21-23, 2026. A staple since 2012, the Maybank Marathon (formerly the Bali Marathon) isn’t just a local favorite—backed by World Athletics and AIMS, it stands as one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious athletic draws.

• The route: 🗺️ Runners will navigate the vibrant district of Gianyar, choosing from 10k, 21k, or full 42k distances that wind past local hubs like the Bali United Training Center.

• The experience: 🌴 Trading standard race tracks for traditional village roads, the course seamlessly blends rigorous international racing standards with an on-the-ground immersion into Balinese culture.

🇻🇳 Vietnam Mountain Marathon (Vietnam)

Mark your calendars for September 17–20, 2026. A staple since 2013, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) has cemented its status as one of Asia’s most breathtakingly scenic trail-running events, offering everything from an accessible 10k to a grueling 167k ultra.

• The route: 🗺️ Runners will navigate the dramatic, high-altitude landscapes of Sapa, weaving across mountain ridges, through dense bamboo forests, and past terraced rice valleys dotted with grazing water buffalo.

• The experience: 🌾 Trading paved city roads for wild, extreme elevation, the course offers a rugged, untamed immersion into northern Vietnam, culminating at the iconic Topas Ecolodge with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

🇲🇾 Borneo International Marathon (Malaysia)

Mark your calendars for May 7–10, 2026. A staple since 2008, the Borneo International Marathon has cemented itself as one of East Malaysia’s premier athletic draws. Organized by the Kinabalu Running Club, the event offers everything from a 10k sprint to a full 42k marathon.

• The route: 🗺️ Runners will navigate the vibrant hub of Kota Kinabalu, weaving past scenic waterfront promenades and suburban landscapes with the majestic South China Sea as a backdrop.

• The experience: 🌴 Trading enclosed urban sprawl for sweeping tropical coastlines, the course seamlessly blends a modern city race with a breathtaking immersion into the natural beauty of Sabah.

📱 Where It’s Going

Social media and dedicated sports travel platforms are pouring gasoline on the destination marathon trend.

• The engine: Runners are broadcasting their experiences in real-time, transforming grueling, scenic routes into viral travel inspiration.

• The forecast: This user-generated visibility is cementing Southeast Asia as a premier endurance hub, ensuring these races will dictate how global audiences discover the region for years to come.

📸 The Big Picture

Southeast Asia is proving that sports, tourism, and cultural diplomacy are a winning combination.

• The intersection: By routing races through ancient temples, misty mountains, and rural coastlines, the region elevates athletic events into profound cultural encounters.

• The reality: Participants aren’t just observing from the sidelines; they are actively moving through the landscape, turning marathon routes into living, breathing narratives of Southeast Asia itself.

❤️ Why This Hits Home

A marathon is inherently a journey of personal endurance. But in Southeast Asia, that physical toll is matched by a deep emotional resonance.

• The journey: Every stride carries runners through centuries of history, from ancient spires to vibrant villages.

• The legacy: It is a rare collision of sweat, travel, and cultural discovery—transforming a simple race into a lifelong story participants carry long after the soreness fades.

Need More Angles?

• Borneo International Marathon Alliance Bank Borneo International Marathon • 7-10 May 2026

• Cambodia Events Organizer The​ 11th of Angkor Empire Marathon

• Maybank Marathon Maybank Marathon 2026

• Vietnam Trail Series Vietnam Mountain Marathon

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(FRD/CCL/ARS)