By Lauren Ho Amidst growing conflict and corruption claims, the Philippine vice president and daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte, has been voted to be impeached by the Philippines’ parliament. What began in 2022 as what seemed to be a unified presidential campaign by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Duterte running as the vice-presidential... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean The Philippine president signed two laws this past Friday reaffirming the country’s maritime claims and resource extraction rights in the South China Sea. Amidst China’s growing aggression in the regional, especially towards the Philippines this past year, this marks a crucial moment of emphasizing international rules-based order and law. During a nationally... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean In 2021 the Myanmar army seized power from the civilian-elected government leading to widespread protests and increasing conflict calling for a return to democracy. This began escalating violence between the military and armed guerilla groups made up from the country’s ethnic minorities. The takeover also sparked the beginning of what is known... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Williams Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba raised the idea of an ‘Asian NATO’ to counter Chinese security challenges. Ishiba’s commentary with the Hudson Institute, a U.S. think tank, highlighted Japanese leadership’s increasing defense posture within East Asia. Ishiba stated, “The absence of a collective self-defense system like NATO in Asia means that wars... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as president of Sri Lanka last week in a political upset against an opponent that citizens blamed for failing to alleviate economic suffering. Dissanayake’s campaign focused on support for economic growth and renegotiating a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would help ease economic... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean Last month university students led demonstrations that escalated into mass protests calling for the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s rule. After fifteen years of power, the Prime Minister fled Bangladesh to India. Hasina’s government was accused of human rights abuses, beatings, and utilizing teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition during these protests. A... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean Alice Guo mug shot Alice Guo, former mayor of a town in the Philippines, fled the country in July and failed to cooperate with the Philippine Senate in investigations of her association with Chinese criminal syndicates. This week, police arrested Guo in Indonesia and deported her to Manila on Friday where she... Continue Reading →
Written by Lexi Dean | May 1, 2024 Mohamed Muizzu’s President Mohamed Muizzu’s political party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), won parliamentary elections last week obtaining the majority. The PNC turn results were unexpected beating the previous majority, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Mr. Muizzu campaigned on a “India out” platform that would get rid... Continue Reading →
Written by Lexi Dean | April 22, 2024 Real estate businesswoman, Truong My Lan, was sentenced to death last week over her role in Vietnam’s largest fraud case. Death penalties are not uncommon in Vietnam’s system, but they are rare in financial cases. She was arrested in 2022 after illegally controlling Saigon Joint Stock Commercial... Continue Reading →
Written by Lexi Dean | April 15, 2024 Town of Myawaddy The Karen, Myanmar’s third largest ethnic group, took control of the border town of Myawaddy last week. Myawaddy, with a population of about 200,000, sits across the Moei River from the Thai city of Mae Sot. This town is a crucial trading outpost and... Continue Reading →
The Patterson Journal of International Affairs 