Myanmar convened its first post-coup parliament plenary session in the capital Naypyitaw on March 16. With the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) holding a majority in the parliament, the key agenda was the election of retired general Khin Yi as Speaker and Maung Maung Ohn as the Deputy Speaker of the Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw).
Author: Jonathan Kay
Defence and Politics Correspondent
Indonesia’s President Prabowo to regulate critics he accuses of undermining unity
During the Plenary Cabinet Session on March 13, President Prabowo Subianto slammed observers who “dislike seeing the government’s achievements” and expressed willingness to regulate their criticism.
Thailand’s parliament elects Sophon Saram as House Speaker
On March 15, Thailand’s House of Representatives formally elected its speaker. This parliamentary session was formally convened by the King Rama X on March 14, before MPs cast secret ballots on the following day. Among 497 MPs, 289 supported Sophon Saram, while 80 abstained and five ballots were invalid.
Thai cargo vessel struck in the Strait of Hormuz, three crew missing
A Thai-flagged cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, was hit by projectiles while transiting 11 nautical miles north of Oman on March 11, causing the vessel to catch fire.
Indonesia’s free nutritious meal programme challenged by civil society in court
A civil-led coalition to conduct a judicial review on the Indonesian State Budget Law, particularly concerning the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).
Philippines sets date for Bangsamoro elections as clashes displaced thousands
On March 10, the House of Representatives of the Philippines passed a bill to hold legislative elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the second week of September 2026.
Myanmar’s fuel supply from Iran faces disruption as war ravages Middle East
In violation of international sanctions against Tehran, the Myanmar junta imported gasoline from Iran as many as three times from December 2025 to the initial stage of the war between Iran and the US-Israel on February 28.
Three Indonesian crew members went missing after their tugboat sank in the Strait of Hormuz
Three Indonesian tugboat crew members are missing after their ship sank in the Strait of Hormuz.
Southeast Asia divided in reaction to the Middle East crisis
The US-Israel strikes on Iran, which killed the latter’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his influential aides on February 28, prompted different reactions across Southeast Asia. While geographically distant, Southeast Asian governments stated concerns, expressed with cautious language, economic anxiety, and, in some countries, blunt condemnation.
Philippines confronts alleged Chinese intelligence activity
The Philippines’ National Security Council (NSC) revealed a clandestine Chinese intelligence operations on its territory on March 4.