Asia - South China Morning Post

In Orwellian totalitarianism, two plus two can equal five. But with American hegemony, things can be A and not A at the same time.

Earlier this month, Washington declared war on the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose very existence, it claims, poses an “intolerable” challenge to America’s sovereignty. But, citing an international maritime law, it also led a coalition of 14 mainly Western countries in issuing a joint statement in support of a 10-year-old South China Sea arbitration ruling...

A running club in Bali’s expatriate hub of Canggu has become the latest flashpoint in an enduring debate over whether Indonesians are being sidelined in parts of their own country.

Indonesian immigration authorities have blacklisted two Dutch nationals linked to Entourage running club after an online outcry over the alleged exclusion of locals from the popular group.

The incident echoes long-standing concerns about discrimination against Indonesians on the resort island.

The furore has also...

The sudden resignation of Bank Indonesia’s governor highlights a dilemma that he and his central bank peers in the region have faced in calibrating interest rates – either tighten policy to defend weakening currencies and contain inflation, or loosen it to support pro-growth mandates – according to analysts.

Perry Warjiyo’s exit has fuelled speculation that he was under pressure to do more to support President Prabowo Subianto’s economic growth agenda.

Warjiyo, who led the Indonesian central...

A major Malaysian blockchain conference has dropped Siew Pui Yi, an influencer previously known for adult content, as the headline DJ for its official after-party after the country’s digital economy agency withdrew support.

The uproar tapped into a familiar cultural fault line in Muslim-majority Malaysia, putting the country’s push to promote itself as a regional technology and crypto hub in tension with conservative scrutiny of sexualised entertainment and provocative imagery.

Malaysia...

The Philippines is targeting to recruit more coders, engineers and cybersecurity specialists into the military, as Manila confronts a battlefield increasingly shaped by software, networks and artificial intelligence.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Saturday ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to expand a programme that allows civilian professionals with specialised skills, such as scientists, engineers, doctors and lawyers, to join the military as commissioned officers...

Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state heads to the polls on Saturday, but a growing portion of its young workers – and their votes – are based elsewhere.

Leaving home was never Ammar Idlan Hassan’s long-term plan, but better pay and stronger career prospects eventually drew the 27-year-old project engineer away from Seremban, the state capital.

He now lives in Gelang Patah, a border town in Johor, from which he commutes to Singapore for work. “The pay is the most obvious reason for the majority of us...

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving several people dead and dozens of others injured or missing after part of a shopping centre and a huge chimney at a paper factory collapsed, officials said. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly lifted.

At least five people, including two who were found without vital signs at the mall late on Tuesday, were confirmed dead, and about 30 others were injured across the Kagoshima prefecture, the Fire and...

India has been spared the worst of Washington’s latest tariff action, but analysts say much work still needs to be done to secure a long-awaited US trade deal despite the lower-than-expected levy.

The Trump administration’s fresh round of tariffs, unveiled last week, targeted 60 economies it accuses of failing to curb imports made with forced labour.

As late as last month, India was being threatened with a 12.5 per cent rate, but ultimately earned a place among the 17 economies – including...

Myanmar’s military-backed parliament approved a law on Tuesday that authorises capital punishment for those who detain or violently coerce victims into working in online scam centres, the speaker said.

The “Anti-Online Scam Bill” was passed after MPs approved changes to a draft bill at a combined meeting of the lower and upper houses Tuesday morning in the capital Naypyidaw, Union Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe said during a live television broadcast.

Lower house MP Aye Chan confirmed to Agence...

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. Indonesia’s plan for a rival to Singapore starts to take shape

Indonesia wants to build a financial centre to rival Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, but analysts say the real work of persuading global investors has barely begun.

2. Japan voters ‘pretty angry’ with PM...