Southeast and East 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, Hanoi, 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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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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The View from Asia on U.S. Tariffs and Trade
Amid rising global tensions and shifting U.S. trade strategies, what does America’s tariff-driven diplomacy look like from an Asian vantage point? This article draws on insights from a global trade study tour across Washington D.C. and New York City, attended by our partner Dr. Stewart Nixon from IDEAS Malaysia. In this analysis, Dr. Nixon also went deeper on how pressure-based deals, weakening institutions, and a retreat from international leadership are reshaping America’s economic relationships, particularly with the Asia region.
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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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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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“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.
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"Democracy advocates must stand together"
Tsai Ing-wen, former President of Taiwan, visited the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) in Berlin. She called for stronger cooperation among democracies as tensions with China remain high.
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EU-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement: Blueprint for Resilient Trade
Indonesia and the EU are creating new opportunities for business and sustainability with their free trade agreement. The agreement stands for innovative standards and stable global supply chains.
