- As the Thai King's health deteriorates, many analysts are concerned about the coming succession. It is certain to be a game changer in Thai politics. Pavin Chachavalpongpun's view on the succession here, and here on how the Crown Prince is cleaning house. CFR's Josh Kurlantzick here and Milton Osbourne on what to read to understand the Thai monarchy.
- An informative UN OCHA fact sheet on the devastation and relief efforts of the Philippines' Typhoon Ruby.
- International Crisis Group released a report looking at Thailand's prospects for stability: a coup ordained?
- The Irrawaddy looked at Thai and Myanmar villagers' fear of Salween dams. Last week I spoke to AFP on how these could be a 'conflict multiplier' for Myanmar's peace process.
- Amnesty International released a report on police torture in the Philippines, noting methods such as waterboarding, electric shock, cigarette burns and rape.
- The Center for American Progress' Brian Harding argued in World Politics Review that the 'Indonesian Navy is largely undeployable'.
- Beijing denied arbitration of its South China Sea dispute with the Philippines this week at the UN tribunal (MFA position paper here).
- Carl Thayer gave us an excellent summary on Southeast Asian naval visits and collaboration on the South China Sea. Meanwhile Andrew Chubb looked at China's 'maritime consciousness'.
- The BBC looked at the thousands of ships that sank along one of the world's busiest ancient shipping routes around Vietnam's Cham Islands.
- An interesting exploration of the 'curse' of China's appetite for Myanmar jade:
Southeast Asia links: Vietnam's ship graveyard, Typhoon Ruby, Myanmar Jade curse and more
Published 9 Dec 2014
Follow @elliotbrennan
You may also be interested in
The rejection of May’s Brexit deal has Daniel Flitton speaking to Philomena Murray to help make sense of the moment.
On Kissinger’s final report card, his handling of India, Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh scores badly.