TOKYO — Wars — both of the military and trade varieties — elections, natural disasters, corruption scandals, the mushrooming scam center crisis, social unrest and a mixed bag of economic growth.
These are just some of the themes that dominated the news in Southeast Asia in 2025.
Long stretches of the Thai-Cambodian border have been disputed for more than a century. The neighbors’ clashes over it this year, in July and again in Decemberhave shown how precarious relations are and the nationalist forces at work in both countries.
The other regional conflict, Myanmar’s almost five-year civil war, shows no sign of ending, but the regime has still decided to hold a general election over the next few weeks. Opposition groups, ASEAN and many Western states are against it.
Myanmar and Cambodia also made headlines for their numerous scam centers and the efforts, of varying legitimacy, to shut them down. These hotbeds of organized crime appear likely to stay for years to come.
Meanwhile, the region’s economic news was dominated by having to adjust to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffswhich brought angst and uncertainty across the region.
In spite of this, Vietnam’s economy continued to power ahead, in sharp contrast to some of its peers, particularly Thailand.
Political upheaval also rocked Thailand, where elections in February are unlikely to bring stability; the Philippines, where the families of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte battled in midterm polls and then clashed over misappropriated flood-control funds; and Indonesia, where several days of deadly street protests highlighted how President Prabowo Subianto‘s first year in office has been rough going.
Prabowo’s nationalism also came to the fore in his response to floods and landslides that killed more than 1,100 people. He rejected foreign aidmuch to the anger of many victims of the natural disaster.
And in a spot of good news, East Timorcompleted its yearslong odyssey to join ASEAN.
Our most popular stories from Southeast Asia in 2025 included:
- Thailand celebrates first LGBTQ weddings in Southeast Asia
- Philippines’ Duterte arrested on ICC warrant: 5 things to know
- Singapore family office of rich Chinese hit by $55m fraud scandal
- ‘It’s tragic’: Myanmar quake survivors describe slow pace of relief
- Philippine elections deliver surprise backing for ex-President Duterte
- Boycott-hit US brands in Malaysia and Indonesia scramble to reverse losses
- Indonesian markets, government rattled after deadly Jakarta protest
- War movie made by Vietnam’s military a box office blockbuster
- Cambodian military families mourn as nation’s Thai conflict toll exceeds 50
- Vietnam’s new airline aims to make local island as popular as Bali, Phuket
- Malaysian PM Anwar faces critical test in Sabah state election
- In Indonesia’s Aceh, slow flood aid spurs comparisons with 2004 tsunami
Take a look back with our most read stories of the year here.