Cambodia
Economy
China captures Prince Group associate tied to US$24 billion crypto network
The arrest of a senior associate of alleged crime boss Chen Zhi exposes the hidden machinery behind Prince Group’s empire, as China’s widening crackdown pulls back the curtain on a vast Southeast Asian network of scams, gambling and illicit finance.
Caixin Global
10 Apr 2026
Politics
A G2 moment for Southeast Asia?
From online scams to the fragile Thai-Cambodian ceasefire, the US and China face shared challenges in Southeast Asia. Cooperation could secure regional stability — and boost both leaders’ global standing, says ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook.
Lye Liang Fook
23 Jan 2026
Politics
Why alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi was sent to China, not the US
Despite facing criminal charges in the US, Prince Group founder and chairman Chen Zhi was deported to China. His case sheds light on Cambodia’s geopolitical calculations — and why Beijing’s pull outweighed Washington’s claims. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu looks at the implications.
Liu Liu
12 Jan 2026
Economy
How scammers are tarnishing Singapore’s incorruptible image
Singapore’s spotless reputation as a disciplined financial hub faces a reckoning as luxury property, philanthropy, and family offices become tools for global scam syndicates — testing how incorruptible the city-state truly is, says former journalist Goh Choon Kang.
Goh Choon Kang
11 Nov 2025
Politics
ASEAN’s charm offensive wins the room, but can it win the future?
Amid global fractures, the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur stood out for its warmth and wit — from Trump’s dance to Anwar’s deft diplomacy. But beneath the charm offensive lies a deeper test: can civility and consensus keep ASEAN united in a divided world? Academic Ma Haiyun explores the topic.
Ma Haiyun
29 Oct 2025
Politics
Did Trump upstage China in the Cambodia–Thailand truce?
The Cambodia-Thailand truce has highlighted the limits of China’s diplomacy as Beijing’s action proved less incisive than that of the US, despite Washington’s declining influence on its traditional Thai ally. Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia gives his take on the situation.
Emanuele Scimia
01 Aug 2025
Politics
The Cambodia-Thailand truce: What Malaysia, China and the US got right
Together, the three actors of Malaysia/ASEAN, China and the US formed an unusual trilateral alignment that led to the Cambodia-Thailand truce. Their cooperation may now serve as a practical model for managing emerging crises in the global south, says academic Ma Haiyun.
Ma Haiyun
31 Jul 2025
Economy
How BYD became the leading EV brand in Southeast Asia
The Chinese EV company BYD, after overtaking Tesla in selling more EVs in 2024, has ascended to the pole position in global green mobility. How did BYD rise so fast from a budding battery maker? And how did BYD expand its overseas markets? BYD senior specialist Huang Jiayi and US academic Chen Xiangming examine BYD’s success over the past three decades, with a focus on its footprint in Southeast Asia.
Huang Jiayi, Chen Xiangming
14 Jul 2025
Politics
China’s possible role in Cambodia-Thailand border dispute
As relations between Cambodia and Thailand remain tense following a border incident along their disputed border, Cambodian researcher Sokvy Rim weighs up the key factors and considers China as a possible mediator if the situation worsens.
Sokvy Rim
18 Jun 2025
Politics
Is the ‘China-ASEAN+’ model quietly taking shape?
Successive visits by top Chinese leaders to Southeast Asia reflect the region’s importance to China, says ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook, who argues that stronger ties will allow China to burnish its credentials as a reliable partner and counter US influence.
Lye Liang Fook
04 Jun 2025
Politics
Cambodia’s scars: Xi’s visit stirs Khmer Rouge memories
It seems as though everyone has forgotten about Cambodia’s past, from its rich pre-communist history to the bloody Khmer Rouge period, laments conservative Hong Kong commentator Chip Tsao. He tells us why it is important to remember the history of Cambodia.
Chip Tsao
30 Apr 2025