Nepal found out what Thailand already knew: digital repression is risky When governments block or restrict access to social media, the backlash is often swift.
Such actions rarely amount to mere censorship or content moderation; rather, they form part of a broader arsenal of digital repression.
States now routinely deploy surveillance, disinformation, targeted arrests and disruptions to connectivity to shape the public information sphere and discourse.
But the effectiveness of these measures hinges on the state’s ability to calibrate its actions, particularly in...
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia..../opinion/article/333

Thailand’s youth mental health crisis is fuelled by neglect and legalised weed When two young lives ended in suicide in Thailand earlier this year it cast a spotlight on a swelling mental health crisis among the nation’s youth.
The reasons for these tragedies range from heartbreak to mental health struggles, but together these deaths serve as a warning – evidence of a generation beset by anxiety, loneliness and despair. As traditional support systems falter, many young Thais are seeking solace in substances – alcohol, drugs and, increasingly, cannabis – reflecting a...
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia..../opinion/article/333

The Philippines’ political chameleon: Juan Ponce Enrile’s complicated legacy The death of Juan Ponce Enrile has brought an end to one of the most complicated lives in Philippine politics – a man I covered for decades, whose brilliance, ruthlessness and endless reinventions shaped the country as much as they confounded those who tried to understand him.
A central figure in the Philippines’ modern history, Enrile served as Ferdinand Marcos Snr’s defence minister during martial law, defected during the 1986 People Power revolt, and eventually reclaimed power as Senate...
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia..../opinion/article/333

Reinventing Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s port city transcends its industrial past Few cities have managed to shake off an industrial past as thoroughly as Kaohsiung. Once defined by its shipyards, heavy industry and petrochemicals, Taiwan’s third largest city has undergone a transformation that is nothing short of remarkable.
In the last two decades, Kaohsiung has become a green, services-oriented cultural city. While it lacks the scale, resources and iconic urban attractions of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai, the home of Taiwan’s second busiest airport exudes a...
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia..../opinion/article/333

Self-interest is now the main driver of Britain’s Asia policy A recent government reshuffle has reopened questions about the depth of Britain’s commitment to Asia. The role of minister for the Indo-Pacific is now a part-time job, held by an undersecretary of state who also serves as minister for equalities.
While the change was being announced in September, British naval ships were steaming through the Sea of Japan for joint exercises with Japan and South Korea in a demonstration of the United Kingdom’s ability to project power and influence into Asia.
But...
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia..../opinion/article/333