Who is he? Ng Chee Meng is Singapore’s acting minister for education (schools) and senior minister of state at the Ministry of Transport. Prior to taking over these two portfolios on October 1, 2015, which marked his entry into politics,…
By Gregory B. Poling & Nicole Smolinske — Yesterday, Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or Rama IX, died after reigning for 70 years. He was 88 years old and had been in failing health for the past five years, rarely leaving…
In this episode, we explore the transnational security threats in Central Asia. CSIS Transnational Threats Project Director Thomas Sanderson joins to discuss the challenges terrorism, militancy (3:59), trafficking, and organized crime (8:40) present for the communities and governments of Central…
By Richard M. Rossow — On September 28, the Indian Army initiated a military strike against terror camps along the Line of Control in Kashmir. The exact nature of this action, as well as its location, remains vague. But the…
CSIS scholar Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia and director of the China Power Project, testified before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces on “Seapower and Projection Forces in the South China Sea,” on September 21,…
By Amy Searight & Phuong Nguyen — Philippine foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay on September 15 gave a speech at CSIS during his first visit to the United States since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in late June. Yasay, who visited…
CSIS scholar Dr. Amy Searight, senior adviser and director of the Southeast Asia Program, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on “Diplomacy and Security in the South China Sea: After the Tribunal,” on September…
By Conor Cronin — Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has had a reputation for inflammatory and crude remarks since long before voters in the Philippines elevated him to the presidency on May 10. In recent weeks, however, much of that incendiary…
Who is he? Marciano Paynor, Jr. currently serves under Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte as chief protocol officer of Malacañang Palace. He held the same post under former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fidel Ramos. In 2015, Paynor led the National Organizing…
Who is he? U Than Htay most recently served in the Myanmar government as minister of rail transportation in Thein Sein’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government from 2013 until August 2015, when he stepped down for an unsuccessful…
