One unique nation, with 1.3 million people, is strategically located in Southeast Asia. After undergoing one successful presidential election, younger generations in Timor-Leste are excited about the future of the nation. Meanwhile, such a small and young nation has bigger goals, such as being the newly member of ASEAN, strengthening closer ties with China, etc. Despite all these ambitious goals, how come this nation is often being overlooked? How will the newly elected president deal with the ongoing political changes between the US and the China?

Randy Mulyanto currently covers Indonesia and Timor-Leste for media outlets in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Randy was a Taiwan correspondent, following the latest developments out of mainland China and Hong Kong.

Randy has interviewed the Timorese foreign minister on Dili's ties with Beijing, met Chinese economic migrants in Timor-Leste, reported on Timor-Leste's 2022 presidential election, profiled Timorese youths born after the 1999 referendum, and more.