The ASEAN Frontier

A youth-led media startup covering the stories shaping Southeast Asia through our network of young, local, correspondents

02/09/2026

In Indonesia, recurring forest and land fires across Kalimantan and Riau are once again bringing hazardous haze, school closures, and cross-border disruption. In Malaysia, strong economic growth continues alongside concerns over rising living costs, subsidy reforms, and political fragmentation. Meanwhile, Brunei’s shift toward cashless payments is expanding digital access, but uneven adoption among smaller vendors highlights the challenges of technological transition.

Issue 64 of the Maritime Crescent is now out. Get briefed. Read the full issue here: https://theaseanfrontier.com/p/in-case-of-emergency

31/08/2026

Vietnam is deepening ties with Myanmar as both countries expand cooperation in defense, telecommunications, and trade. In Cambodia, a major parliamentary summit is reinforcing Phnom Penh’s growing role in international diplomacy and multilateral engagement. Meanwhile, Thailand’s outreach to Myanmar is drawing human rights concerns, while severe flooding in Laos highlights the country’s growing vulnerability to climate change.

Issue 64 of the Pacific Corridor is now out. Get briefed. Read the full issue here: https://theaseanfrontier.substack.com/p/suits-bring-partners

[Pubmat by Sophia Santiago]

28/08/2026

We’re opening applications for Vietnam and Thailand Correspondents, as well as Creative & Communications team members, to join our growing youth-led platform covering Southeast Asian affairs, ASEAN, regional geopolitics, foreign policy, politics, and society.

VIETNAM / THAILAND CORRESPONDENTS

We’re looking for young writers, researchers, analysts, and journalists who can bring local perspectives and fresh insights to regional stories.

CREATIVE & COMMUNICATIONS

We’re looking for people with an eye for graphic design, visual storytelling, social media, and digital communications. If you’re proficient in Canva, know your way around content creation, or want to develop your creative portfolio, we’d love to hear from you.

You don’t need years of experience. We’re looking for curious, committed, and creative people who want to grow while helping shape how Southeast Asia is understood.

How to apply:
Send your CV + writing sample/portfolio to [email protected]

28/08/2026

In the Philippines, a proposed US$500 million nationwide submarine cable system is showing how internet connectivity is increasingly tied to national security and infrastructure resilience. In Singapore, closer semiconductor cooperation with India is part of a wider push to diversify supply chains and reduce exposure to global disruptions. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, Gen Z is using social media to question the handling of a fatal traffic accident and raise broader concerns over accountability and political connections.

The latest issue of the Pacific Corridor is now out. Get briefed. Read the full issue here: https://theaseanfrontier.substack.com/p/a-wobbling-worldwide-web

26/08/2026

Brunei, renewed efforts to address transboundary haze are raising questions over whether ASEAN cooperation can go beyond repeated commitments and address the economic incentives behind forest fires. In Indonesia, growing content restrictions and automated political messaging are putting pressure on digital rights and freedom of expression. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s DAP has chosen to remain in Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government while pushing for institutional reforms and faster action on its agenda.

The latest issue of the Maritime Crescent is now out. Get briefed. https://theaseanfrontier.com/p/terms-and-conditions-apply

24/08/2026

In Laos, a proposed shift to a 6+3+3 school structure is raising questions over whether reform can close persistent gaps between urban and rural students. In Myanmar, monsoon floods have displaced thousands as the junta restricts volunteer rescue efforts and controls the delivery of aid. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, graduating from LDC status could put 11% of employment at risk, particularly among informal and low-skilled workers. In Thailand, rising energy costs are weighing on household spending as the economy records the slowest growth among major Southeast Asian economies.

Issue 63 of the Pacific Corridor is now out. Get briefed. Read the full issue here: https://theaseanfrontier.com/p/laos-rethinks-its-school-system

[Pubmat by Sophia Santiago]

23/08/2026

In this Frontier Analysis, Mehmet Enes Beşer examines what Türkiye’s new ASEAN Dialogue Partner status means for the future of ASEAN–Türkiye relations.

The analysis argues that greater diplomatic access must translate into measurable results, calling for a focused delivery agenda across trade, disaster management, supply chains, and regional cooperation. With ASEAN-Türkiye ties entering a new phase, the question is no longer about expanding the partnership, but whether both sides can deliver on it.

Get briefed. Read the full analysis here: theaseanfrontier.com

21/08/2026

In Vietnam, the development of a major resort city at the foot of the historic Hải Vân Pass is raising questions over deforestation, cultural heritage, and the environmental cost of economic growth. In Singapore, the government is looking beyond financial incentives to workplace culture as it tackles a record-low total fertility rate and the rising costs of starting a family. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the planned implementation of the 15% Global Minimum Tax could reshape tax incentives for multinational enterprises, testing the balance between attracting foreign investment and strengthening government revenues.

Issue 62 of the Pacific Corridor is now out. Get briefed.

Read the full issue: https://theaseanfrontier.com/p/the-gambles-of-governments

[Pubmat by Wan Aidi]

19/08/2026

In Indonesia, a naval drill with China east of Taiwan has raised questions over Jakarta’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy and its role in the Indo-Pacific. In Malaysia, the return of regional haze amid stronger El Niño conditions is reviving concerns over transboundary pollution, public health, and ASEAN’s environmental cooperation. Meanwhile, in Brunei, rising synthetic drug seizures across East and Southeast Asia are putting ASEAN’s regional drug control framework under renewed scrutiny.

Issue 62 of the Maritime Crescent is now out. Get briefed.

Read the full issue: https://theaseanfrontier.com/p/losing-the-horizon

17/08/2026

In Laos, a widening cybercrime crackdown has seen more than 5,000 arrests in 2026, but questions remain over the financiers and property owners behind scam networks. In Myanmar, Thailand’s engagement with Min Aung Hlaing is raising questions over ASEAN centrality and the bloc’s response to the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Thailand is fast-tracking trade negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union as Bangkok pursues economic diversification and strategic autonomy. In Cambodia, industrial expansion has created more than 90,000 jobs in the first half of 2026, even as global economic uncertainty continues to weigh on investment.

Issue 62 of The Fine Print is now out. Get briefed.

Read the full issue: https://theaseanfrontier.substack.com/p/the-fine-print