Asia Program

Covering every corner of the world's most populous region, the CSIS Asia Team provides insightful analysis and develops innovative policy solutions for the Asian century

CSIS plays an important role in shaping the foreign policy debate on Asia. Our Asia team provides in-depth policy analysis and insights on the drivers of economic, political, and security dynamics in China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

The Asia team also maintains digital platforms for policy analysis such as Beyond Parallel, examining and bringing transparency to the possibility of Korean unification; the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), our interactive source for information, analysis and policy exchange on maritime security issues in the region; China Power, which unpacks the complexity of China’s rise through data visualization and analysis; and podcasts such as The Impossible State, The Asia Chessboard, ChinaPower, and Southeast Asia Radio.

The Asia team also seeks to define the contours of U.S. strategy in Asia by conducting collaborative research projects such as Mapping the Future of U.S. China Policy and organizes multiple events including the annual Asia Forecast conference, where panels of CSIS experts predict regional developments in the coming year. 

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The Latest on Southeast Asia: Myanmar Election Aftermath

Myanmar state media on January 30 reported that, as expected, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) ran away with the regime’s carefully choreographed elections.

Blog Post by Gregory B. Poling and Lauren Mai — February 5, 2026

The Latest on Southeast Asia: The 2nd Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire

Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a new ceasefire on December 27 after weeks of deadly border clashes. The latest round of the conflict that began in July displaced more than 500,000 citizens on both sides of the border and killed at least 100 people. 

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon and Gregory B. Poling — January 8, 2026

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Thailand-Cambodia Tensions Continue

Thailand on November 10 suspended  the tenuous Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire agreement signed in July and reinforced during the ASEAN Summit in October. Authorities recommended the “indefinite suspension” of the ceasefire after a Thai soldier was seriously injured in a landmine explosion on the contested border.

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon and Gregory B. Poling — November 21, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Hegseth’s Charm Offensive

U.S. president Donald Trump’s visit to Malaysia during the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit late last month signaled U.S. attention to a region wary of Washington’s intentions. Trade was the focus during the president’s trip but a few days later security took center stage as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived in Malaysia for the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+). 

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon and Gregory B. Poling — November 6, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Regional Natural Disaster Updates

Three powerful typhoons battered the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and southern China from late September through early October while a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Philippines’ Cebu province.

Blog Post by Lauren Mai and Gregory B. Poling — October 9, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Min Aung Hlaing’s Charm Offensive

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing made a working visit to China from August 30 to September 6. His high-profile trip yielded two bilateral meetings with President Xi and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi—part of ongoing attempts to boost his regime’s international legitimacy and sidestep diplomatic isolation.

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon and Gregory B. Poling — September 11, 2025

Inaugural Manila Strategy Forum

The Southeast Asia Program is pleased to present the inaugural Manila Strategy Forum, bringing together leading experts from the Philippines and the United States to discuss some of our most pressing regional and global challenges.

Event — September 9, 2025