Asia
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. In Asia, we have offices in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Seoul, and Taipei. We also work in Malaysia. The FNF regional team works with the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Collective of Applied Law and Legal Realism (CALR), a pro bono initiative by AmerBON Advocates, and the ASEAN Prosperity Initiative, which is part of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Should you have questions or suggestions about our work, please contact us. You can also meet our team here.
News
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ASEAN GOES BRICS
Indonesia has joined BRICS as a full member. Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have partner status. What drives ASEAN’s biggest countries towards BRICS?
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Reformist movement suffers setback as conservative-leaning party claims landslide victory
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin's Bhumjaithai Party secured a majority of seats. The progressive People’s Party finished in second place by a surprisingly wide margin.
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Thailand: Hope for change, longing for stability
Political turmoil, weak economic growth and a bloody border conflict are shaping the mood in Thailand ahead of the parliamentary elections on 8 February. The progressive People's Party is ahead in the polls but despite changes to the rules, it remains unclear whether it will actually be able to govern this time around.
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WHO DRIVES THE CONVERSATION?
Who drives political conversations online, and how?
Through in-depth data analysis and network mapping, this report by Supalerk Petpon offers a clear view of who shapes online political discourse, which narratives dominate, and how conversations evolve as Thailand moves toward the 2026 general election. -
Dream Constitution Initiative
This report by Dr. Wasin Punthong captures a year of inclusive dialogue under The Dream Constitution Initiative, bringing together youth and incarcerated individuals to reimagine the constitution for all. It offers rare insights into how marginalised and emerging voices see and envision their dream constitution.
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Myanmar’s Forgotten Democratic Revolution
Five years after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, the country remains trapped in violence and political paralysis. What was once framed as a historic democratic uprising has largely faded from global attention, replaced by a quieter but more durable reality: the consolidation of a modern authoritarian state, sustained by authoritarian alliance, mostly by China, and western democracies’ indifference.
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Geopolitical dynamics favour India–EU trade deal
The EU and India have finalized their Free Trade Agreement. For India, the EU is a key partner in trade, technology, investment, and energy transition. The modest trade deal links value chains, increases connectivity and supports sustainable growth.
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Future-Proofing ASEAN`s Investment Regulation
A new paper “Future-Proofing Investment Regulation Across ASEAN” - commissioned by the Asia Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom - looks at Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines from 2019 to 2025. The study traces how these four countries are trying to manage rising geopolitical and security pressures without abandoning openness or unsettling investor confidence.
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Divided We Fall: ASEAN’s Response to Trump’s Illiberal Trade Agenda
When President Trump’s "Liberation Day" trade policy hit Southeast Asia with tariffs reaching between 32 and 49%, the region’s economic foundation didn't just crack; it splintered. While ASEAN initially projected a rare image of defiance and solidarity, that unity lasted only weeks before the bloc’s two most export-dependent members, Vietnam and Cambodia, were first to break ranks to chase bilateral side deals with Washington.
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ASEAN Peoples Speak!
In 2025, ASEAN peoples demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of rapid global change. Governments, communities, and regional institutions continued to invest in cooperation, innovation, and rights-based development, reinforcing a shared commitment to long-term stability and growth.
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“These elections will not be free and fair”
Myanmar has been under military rule since February 2021. Now the junta is organizing elections, which are widely criticized by international observers. A couple of weeks before the elections, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom interviewed two politicians in Yangon/ Myanmar. Both cherish democracy. One will stand as a candidate in the upcoming elections. They will bring a minimal platform for civilian politics, he believes. The other politician ran in past elections, but will not be a candidate this time. He has no trust in the process. Both remain anonymous, we call them NP and P. Why have they chosen starkly different paths?
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China’s Repression on German Soil
China’s efforts to silence critics far beyond its borders have become a feature of its global reach. A new study commissioned by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom warns that Germany - home to one of Europe’s largest Chinese diaspora communities and a key target of Beijing’s influence – is encountering a range of tactics used to influence or deter critics. The study encourages Germany to consider strengthening its legal frameworks and to enhance coordination among relevant institutions.
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Resolution on the West Philippine Sea
Members of Liberal International (LI) reaffirm their commitment to support the Republic of the Philippines in the protection of its national sovereignty, and declare the hostile and provocative operations of the PRC as detrimental to global peace, security and economic development.
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Defending Democracy and the Global Order: A Resolution of Support for Taiwan’s Resilience and International Participation
As democratic nations and authoritarian states contend for technological dominance in the AI era, we recognize that this is a pivotal juncture in history for democratic life and values across the globe. This coming decade will determine whether democracy can reassert itself as a guiding model of governance, or whether authoritarian systems will set the new world order.
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“Freedom is borderless”
During her visits to the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, Oleksandra Matviichuk, the Ukrainian human rights lawyer and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, delivered a message she believes lies at the heart of her country’s resistance to Russia’s invasion: freedom, she said, belongs to no single nation.
