Asia
Saigon Sentinel · Section
Coverage of East and Southeast Asia — China, Korea, Japan, ASEAN, and regional issues that affect Vietnamese readers.
- World
Venezuela earthquake becomes a diplomatic test for a government newly recognized by Washington
The death toll jumping from 1,719 to over 4,400 in just weeks reflects not only the scale of the disaster but also exposes a state lacking capacity to respond, now using humanitarian relief as leverage to break through d…
- World
Ten Years After the South China Sea Ruling: Victory in Law, Defeat at Sea — Lessons from a Legal Mechanism Without Enforcement
The 2016 South China Sea ruling achieved absolute legal victory, but ten years later Philippine fishermen are still being chased from Scarborough by water cannons — proof that international law has no enforcement tools w…
- World
Death of Former Qatar Emir and the Legacy of a Rare Model of Power Transition
The death of former Qatar Emir closes a rare chapter in Gulf history: a transfer of power while alive, rather than waiting until death — a precedent that has shaped how the region operates to this day.
- World
Hormuz becomes a test case: Iran demands fees, US responds with airstrikes
U.S. airstrikes on Iran expose a deeper dispute: who has the authority to set the rules over the Strait of Hormuz, and whether military force can replace international maritime law.
- World
US-Iran conflict reignites, Vietnamese Americans worry about gas prices and market volatility
Trump's threats of attacking Iran are not just distant geopolitics — they could affect gas prices, stock markets, and retirement funds of Vietnamese Americans in the coming weeks.
- World
Assassination of Sikh activist sends warning to overseas Vietnamese
The assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada reveals a troubling pattern: using criminal gangs as cover to extend violence toward immigrant communities — something many overseas Vietnamese have worried about but rarely…
- World
Gas tanker fire at Hormuz: First test of a transit fee mechanism amid a power vacuum in Tehran
The gas tanker fire at Hormuz is not random violence but a test of unresolved contradictions over transit toll authority, occurring precisely when Tehran lacks a clearly defined military command structure.
- World
The 82% Domestic Content Threshold and the July 1 Deadline: Why the Vietnamese-American Community Should Pay Attention to the USMCA File
The July 1 deadline for reviewing USMCA will not produce immediate decisions, but the request to raise the automotive domestic content ratio to 82% and pressure from American unions are quietly reshaping the supply chain…
- World
South Korea's chip shock and urgent lessons for Vietnamese-origin investors riding the AI wave
KOSPI plunged nearly 10% in a single session, wiping out tens of billions of dollars from Samsung and SK Hynix. This is not just Seoul's problem — it is a direct warning for Vietnamese-American investors betting on the A…
- World
The Strait of Hormuz and El Niño converge: Southeast Asia faces an unprecedented double storm in modern history
In 1997, when the strongest El Niño of the 20th century struck Southeast Asia, Vietnam lost millions of tons of rice due to prolonged drought in the Mekong Delta.…
- World
Strait of Hormuz Open or Closed: Vietnamese American Community Faces New Oil and Interest Rate Shock
The US-Iran agreement remains uncertain, Israel continues striking Lebanon, and the Strait of Hormuz — the shipping route for 20% of the world's crude oil — remains blockaded. For the Vietnamese American community in the…
- World
Hegseth's 3.5% GDP Defense Spending Demand: The Strategic Trap Washington Is Setting for Itself in Southeast Asia
A single figure has exposed all the contradictions in Washington's Asia strategy: 3.5% GDP. This is the level of defense spending that U.S.…
- World
US Tariffs on 'Forced Labor': When Washington Rearmed Trade Policy with the Oldest Clause in the 1974 Trade Act
In 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) formally began operations with a promise that free trade would naturally lead to labor improvements.…
- World
Thai Anti-Corruption Official Drives Drunk and Kills: When the Gatekeeper Breaks the Gate
Jarong Kroamoh's blood alcohol content at the time of testing was 189 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood — nearly four times the legal threshold allowed in Thailand of 50mg, according to information from Bang Srimue…
- World
From Ashdod to San Diego: The Arrest of the Sumud Flotilla and the Legal Boundaries Israel Is Crossing
The Sumud flotilla seizure is more than a maritime incident; it exposes Washington's inability to protect U.S. citizens from its own allies. The event is now stirring deep-seated memories regarding freedom of movement wi…
- World
North Sumatra runs out of measles vaccine amid outbreak surge: A costly lesson about healthcare system gaps Southeast Asia has yet to patch
The depletion of measles vaccines in North Sumatra is more than a logistical failure; it is a warning sign of crumbling public health trust. This analysis examines how misinformation and supply chain gaps are creating a …
- World
The Strait of Hormuz and ASEAN's survival test: Can the bloc save itself?
As ASEAN leaders discuss a shared fuel reserve to mitigate Middle East instability, deep-seated structural barriers and geopolitical fractures are turning the proposal into a diplomatic promise rather than a functional s…