Southeast and East Asia
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. In Southeast and East Asia, we have offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, and Yangon. 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, the Asia Centre, 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-EU Conference
The year of 2022 marks 45 years of partnership between the ASEAN and the EU. Much progress has been made; such as the elevation to a strategic partnership in 2020, and the EU’s recognition of ASEAN´s significance in the EU strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Now, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions in both Europe and Asia, there is an urgency to strengthen the partnership between the two entities even further
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China's influence in Europe
Over the past decade the impact of China's economy has been increasing consequently with far reaching dependencies worldwide. While China has not been using traditional military force to expand its power, we can see clear instances where China uses political and economic coercion to reach its goals. This has led many counties to label China as a “systemic rival”. And that begs the question: What does China’s rise mean for the world?
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Norm Entrepreneurship
A Norm Entrepreneur are "agents of social change" seeking to challenge societal problems to bring about political change. FNF has cooperated with the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism for more than 25 years. This booklet highlights successes and contributions of the Working Group.
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Thailand Decriminalizes Marijuana
The government has removed cannabis from the list of prohibited narcotics in an effort to help the country's struggling economy. However, the legality around the recreation use of marijuana remains entirely murky.
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Four waves of the digital currency and the future money
Since the start of the global financial crisis, the global economy has been influenced by two concurrent trends: Fewer people are using cash in favor of digital forms of payment and digital transactions. Digital forms of payment have been on the rise and the significance of cash as a means of payment has been falling for years – and the conventional financial world is trying to keep up. An in depth analysis will give insight into the future of digital currencies.
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How to be an Entrepreneur in the Next Normal Era
What does it take to be an entrepreneur especially after a COVID-19 pandemic? What kind of mind-set, challenges, and risk can you expect? These are some of the questions that were answered in the FNF Alumni Event “Next Normal Innovators: Navigating Emerging Landscapes in Entrepreneurship”
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How A Large Steel Cooperation is Stepping Up to Tackle the Environmental Crisis
Climate change is becoming more of an immediate and deeply concerning issue. Burning of fossil fuels has irrefutably caused both a release of air pollutant and greenhouse gases. This consequently leads to disastrous climate change. It is time to act, and corporations are stepping up to play a role in building a sustainable and greener future for all.
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Fake Accounts, Bots, and Trolls: How Social Media influences Philippine’s Future
Social Media is being used as a tool to change the way Filipinos are receiving their primary source of news and information, and this is shaping up to have a momentous effect upon the upcoming general elections on the 3rd of May 2022. FNF Southeast and East Asia and Asia Centre presented the “World Press Freedom Day Roundtable Discussions” to highlights the importance of Press Freedom using the 2022 Philippines Presidential Election as a case example.
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Next Normal Innovators: Meet your Speakers
We are hosting the first ever Entrepreneurship Event entitled: Next Normal Innovators: Navigate Emerging Landscapes in Entrepreneurship. This will be held s a 2-day event to discuss emerging trends and will help pitch participants' ideas and guide you in your next steps into the world as aspiring entrepreneurs!
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Smart Mobility is the "Mobility of all, by all, and for all”
A thriving city is a city that moves. There is no question there, but an underlying question arises: is there a way to achieve sustainable growth, to protect the environment, whilst still providing a safe and efficient mode of transport for all? Building upon the Smart City Project that spanned from 2019-2021, our regional partner, Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), embarks on a new project which focuses on smart mobility.
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Innovation for Democracy Café – Conversations on How Technology Can Be a Force for Democracy
20th of April marked the launch of the first Innovation for Democracy Café with Ya-wei Chou being joined by two guests; Ms. Adriana Groh, Project Lead of The New Hanse, and Ms. Hung-wen Tseng, Green Citizens' Action Alliance (GCAA) Deputy Secretary-General. The online webinar discussed “How Can Open Data and Civic Tech Facilitate Initiatives of Civil Society”
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How China lost Central and Eastern Europe
The attention of Central and Eastern Europe is currently focused on the Russian attack on Ukraine. Suddenly, China appears as a distant power. But countries in Central and Eastern Europe have not forgotten China. The People's Republic's recent decision to support Russia's demands to reshape the European security architecture adds to growing concerns in the region about China's intentions.
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Can Democracies Counter China with Sanctions?
Authoritarianism is on the rise around the world. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, democracies around the world have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia that are severely damaging the Russian economy. But this strategy has yet to succeed in halting Russia’s aggression, and it seems even more unlikely to succeed against China. How should democracies respond?
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FNF FactsCollabTH Event to Celebrate International Fact Checking Day
FNF was honoured to be part of an event that continues to internationally pave the way forward in recognizing the importance of fact checking. Frederic Spohr, Head of Thailand and Myanmar for FNF, opened the forum for discussion with a clear message “There is always a necessity to search for facts. Journalist acts as frontline gatekeepers for ensuring that the message is accurate and the public is well-informed”
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New Publications on Regionalism in Southeast Asia
We´re proud to present two new Southeast Asia publications. First, an FNF-Asia Centre cooperation: "Media Freedom in Southeast Asia", which looks at how media freedom is curtailed in the region through repressive laws, prosecution of or attacks on journalists as well as by shutting down Media Outlets.
