[{"_1":2,"_296":-5,"_297":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_294":295},"root",{"_5":6,"_14":15},"fb",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":8},"apiKey","AIzaSyAdxqOaB63feHHqSm_nZCKsSHpSAcxkct8","authDomain","thediplomat.firebaseapp.com","projectId","firebase-thediplomat","appId","ga",true,"routes/$issue",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"slug","2018-07","path","/2018-07","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-LFVFGSD_d9OtqOUS-Xo","title","Thailand's Dangerous Interregnum","description","Welcome to the July 2018 issue of The Diplomat. This month, we ask the question: How healthy are Southeast Asia’s democracies? We explain the history behind Thailand’s political stagnation under military rule, chart Indonesia’s progress 20 years after its New Order collapsed, take a hard look at the withering of political freedom in Cambodia, and see what lessons Japan’s failed experiment with opposition rule has for Malaysia. And, of course, we offer a range of reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.","masthead","

\n Publisher\n Diplomat Media, Inc.
\n 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue
\n Suite 300
\n Washington, DC 20006
\n United States of America\n

\n Publisher\n James Pach\n

\n Editor-in-Chief\n Shannon Tiezzi\n

\n Managing Editor\n Catherine Putz\n

\n Senior Editor\n Ankit Panda
\n Franz-Stefan Gady
\n Prashanth Parameswaran\n

\n Contributing Editors\nPriyanka Borpujari
\nKerry Brown
\nErin Cook
\nRobert Farley
\nAnthony Fensom
\nBonnie Girard
\nLuke Hunt
\nDaniel Hurst
\nUmair Jamal
\nHyunmin Michael Kang
\nTae-jun Kang
\nMercy A. Kuo
\nMong Palatino
\nHarsh V. Pant
\nAkhilesh Pillalamarri
\nPaolo Sorbello
\nSteven Stashwick
\nThisanka Siripala
\nYuki Tatsumi
\nAman Thakker
\nClint Work
\nGrant Wyeth\n

\n Technical & Design\n Stefan Yanku\n

","number",44,"date","July 2018","month",7,"year",2018,"status","rdy","toc",[44,60,68,85,94,119,144,169,193,218,239,256,277],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"LTR","priority",0,"Letter","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":59},"-LFVFHCkr1HahCpB6kmX","lead","

Just how healthy are Southeast Asia’s democracies?

","model","story","preview",1,"Letter From the Editors",{"_24":61,"_46":58,"_26":62,"_49":63},"CVRS","Cover Story",[64],{"_24":65,"_53":66,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":67},"-LFVFHDI77Y1ldCBRBw1","

These are the days when an old system refuses to die and a new system isn't ready to be born.

","Thailand’s Dangerous Interregnum",{"_24":69,"_46":70,"_26":71,"_49":72},"LDS",2,"Leads",[73,77,81],{"_24":74,"_53":75,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":76},"-LFVFHDL1Lcm_eSdqGzw","

Against the odds and despite some setbacks, Indonesia survived its democratic transition and continues to thrive.

","The Mixed Legacies of Indonesia’s Reformasi",{"_24":78,"_53":79,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":80},"-LFVFHDO_kmU4HQ5zWCG","

Anxiety and crackdowns define a battle for legitimacy in Cambodia.

","Cambodia’s Ersatz Election",{"_24":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":84},"-LFVFHDMKdU_q9YQTe5C","

Japan’s 2009 election experience has lessons for Malaysia’s first opposition government.

","Japan’s Lessons for Malaysia",{"_24":86,"_46":87,"_26":88,"_49":89},"INT",3,"Interview",[90],{"_24":91,"_53":92,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":93},"-LFVFHDPwsyOiZsETbMo","

Democracy in Southeast Asia seems to be in decline. How bad is the situation?

","Joshua Kurlantzick",{"_24":95,"_46":96,"_26":97,"_49":98},"CHN",4,"China",[99,103,107,111,115],{"_24":100,"_53":101,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":102},"-LFVFHDR69jyNSbWNHLF","

With Taiwan’s international partners dwindling, the Taipei-Washington bond is more important than ever.

","What an Unofficial Embassy Opening Says About US-Taiwan Relations",{"_24":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":106},"-LFVFHDSVEIV6mYFOWXd","

Behind the extremely glamorous facade lies a problematic movie industry booming in a divided society.

","How a Celebrity’s Revenge Is Roiling the Chinese Movie Industry",{"_24":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":110},"-LFVFHDSVEIV6mYFOWXe","

Digging into the National Supervision Commission. Nicholas Trickett holds an M.A. in Eurasian studies through the European University at St. Petersburg with a focus on energy security and Russian foreign policy. He is a columnist and contributor for the Bear Market Brief, a blog and daily news brief on Russia’s politics and economy, and contributes to other outlets like Global Risk Insights, Oilprice, and Newsbase.

","What’s So Controversial About China’s New Anti-Corruption Body?",{"_24":112,"_53":113,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":114},"-LFVFHDUj0rl6poD7orn","

After months of threats and talks, the U.S. announced tariffs will take effect July 6. China is set to retaliate.

","Here Come the US-China Tariffs",{"_24":116,"_53":117,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":96,"_40":41,"_26":118},"-LFVFHDVc6dPlYaQNF2t","

A peek under the glitz of Russian-Chinese bonhomie.

","Putin on the Ritz in China",{"_24":120,"_46":121,"_26":122,"_49":123},"NEA",5,"Northeast Asia",[124,128,132,136,140],{"_24":125,"_53":126,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":127},"-LFVFHDWVUv7oJj1frd-","

Japan’s main challenge in engaging regionally on North Korea link back to its firm stance on the abduction issue.

","Can Japan Prevent Being Marginalized?",{"_24":129,"_53":130,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":131},"-LFVFHDY1inhu_AsOEtx","

Previous agreements between the U.S. and North Korea made similar points, but with more detail.

","How the U.S.-North Korea Joint Statement Measures Up to History",{"_24":133,"_53":134,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":135},"-LFVFHD_8DNJ284bGeh6","

The influence of South Korea’s national security adviser played a key role in the two recent North Korea summits.

","Chung Eui-yong, the ICAPP and the Korea Summits",{"_24":137,"_53":138,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":139},"-LFVFHDb78mgZa8oN7VX","

Moon has made progress abroad, but questions remain at home.

","Where Does South Korea’s President Go From Here?",{"_24":141,"_53":142,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":96,"_40":41,"_26":143},"-LFVFHDdzRP6aIofeF2n","

Abe has proposed concrete measures to deepen the labor pool of low-skilled foreign workers in a drastic shift in policy.

","Japan Open Doors for More Foreign Workers",{"_24":145,"_46":146,"_26":147,"_49":148},"SOA",6,"South Asia",[149,153,157,161,165],{"_24":150,"_53":151,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":152},"-LFVFHDfKzGq5eZjBSye","

The polls come at a sensitive time for Pakistan’s democratic development.

","Previewing Pakistan’s General Elections",{"_24":154,"_53":155,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":156},"-LFVFHDgEgZ8B9nEZcx7","

Recent exchanges, and the involvement of China and the U.S., hints that this time may be different.

","Are We Finally Seeing a Breakthrough in Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations?",{"_24":158,"_53":159,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":160},"-LFVFHDheibsKokcFxDz","

Bangladesh’s cities are awash with red methamphetamine pills that come in from Myanmar.

","Yaba: The Red Pills and the Rohingya",{"_24":162,"_53":163,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":164},"-LFVFHDjR35OyA5qBOWK","

Behind India’s booming population is another story: declining fertility rates and desperate couples.

","India's Hidden Infertility Struggles",{"_24":166,"_53":167,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":96,"_40":41,"_26":168},"-LFVFHDkQXZaVK0psswF","

As Nepal prepares to leave the least developed country (LDC) category, it needs to manage the impact on its export sector.

","Is Nepal Ready to Become a Developing Country?",{"_24":170,"_46":37,"_26":171,"_49":172},"SEA","Southeast Asia",[173,177,181,185,189],{"_24":174,"_53":175,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":176},"-LFVFHDlGyOezlq7xK56","

The Mahathir government pledged to re-evaluate mega instructure projects.

","What’s Next for the Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail Link?",{"_24":178,"_53":179,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":180},"-LFVFHDmofwlqq8jYxV7","

Independence Day protests denounced Duterte’s foreign and domestic policies.

","The Politics of Independence in the Philippines",{"_24":182,"_53":183,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":184},"-LFVFHDot3gnX8oJU2Og","

Under rising pressure from the military, Mindanao’s armed groups are increasingly turning to IEDs.

","Mindanao’s Insurgencies Take an Explosive Turn",{"_24":186,"_53":187,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":188},"-LFVFHDpNcOOdEMI2Ngi","

The former colonial power continues to retain influence in the Southeast Asian state.

","Don’t Forget France in Laos",{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":96,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-LFVFHDq5iCmxiRS3BAU","

Taur Matan Ruak, rather than Xanana Gusmao, has been appointed the country’s new premier.

","The Importance of Timor-Leste’s New Prime Minister",{"_24":194,"_46":195,"_26":196,"_49":197},"CEA",8,"Central Asia",[198,202,206,210,214],{"_24":199,"_53":200,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":201},"-LFVFHDrbiEBvt9BA-B3","

Or, the Saudization of Tajikistan

","How Iran Lost Tajikistan",{"_24":203,"_53":204,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":205},"-LFVFHDs0hD4FRAjkgrH","

The failure of the Bishkek power plant in January has had domestic fallout, but its bilateral dimension could scorch Beijing too.

","Kyrgyzstan Navigates Domestic Political Firestorm, Hopes to Avoid Burning China",{"_24":207,"_53":208,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":209},"-LFVFHDtLuXwY2s1y6zP","

Astana can’t afford to push Beijing too hard, even on behalf of its own citizens detained in Xinjiang re-education camps.

","Carefully, Kazakhstan Confronts China About Kazakhs in Xinjiang Re-Education Camps",{"_24":211,"_53":212,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":213},"-LFVFHDu6F5xl3yAuoym","

In Central Asia, Chinese companies can score financing from both Beijing and local capitals. But is anyone profiting?

","Chinese Companies’ Central Asian Survival Strategy",{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":96,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-LFVFHDw2YStBplRYSzM","

In a recent Reuters report, a Turkish company claims Ashgabat hasn’t paid up for completed contracts.

","Turkish Company Complains About Turkmenistan's Empty Pockets",{"_24":219,"_46":220,"_26":221,"_49":222},"OCE",9,"Oceania",[223,227,231,235],{"_24":224,"_53":225,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":226},"-LFVFHDxXRjlZLKqahML","

In its second iteration, Canberra’s Indo-Pacific Endeavor underscores Australia’s Pacific responsibilities.

","Australian Ships Tour the South Pacific",{"_24":228,"_53":229,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":230},"-LFVFHDyv-Y48bLKTTZd","

Canberra is simply not looking east. How wise may this bet prove?

","Australia’s Unapologetic Dismissal of Latin America",{"_24":232,"_53":233,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":234},"-LFVFHE-fKOKTsd7ZSIn","

Recently Australia’s Qantas airlines changed the language it uses to refer to Taiwan at Beijing’s request.

","The Qantas Quandary: Is Taiwan in China?",{"_24":236,"_53":237,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":238},"-LFVFHE0w-CUcATyXA42","

Jack Johnson’s 1908 victory — taking the heavyweight championship in a Sydney bout — excited Chinese-Australians.

","Why Was Jack Johnson a Hero to Chinese-Australians in the Early 20th Century?",{"_24":240,"_46":241,"_26":242,"_49":243},"USA",10,"US in Asia",[244,248,252],{"_24":245,"_53":246,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":247},"-LFVFHE1iHt8qVkdep2F","

What did the United States and North Korea accomplish in Singapore?

","Singapore Swing and a Miss",{"_24":249,"_53":250,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":251},"-LFVFHE3Qc3R4ns6aDht","

Much of the Taliban’s armory comes from American equipment given to the Afghan military and police.

","How the US Is Indirectly Arming the Taliban",{"_24":253,"_53":254,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":255},"-LFVFHE3Qc3R4ns6aDhu","

A 2008 agreement allowed Vietnamese who arrived pre-1995 to stay in the U.S. Not anymore.

","Why Is the US Deporting Protected Vietnamese Immigrants?",{"_24":257,"_46":258,"_26":259,"_49":260},"SCR",11,"Security",[261,265,269,273],{"_24":262,"_53":263,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":264},"-LFVFHE7OSMRfVDml2bx","

China’s tank force is shrinking but it is increasingly fielding more advanced platforms.

","China’s Tank Force: An Overview",{"_24":266,"_53":267,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":268},"-LFVFHE9ACwz6ReqhZUm","

President Carter wanted to withdraw U.S. ground troops from the peninsula. The ‘deep state’ disagreed.

","How the ‘Deep State’ Stopped a US President From Withdrawing US Troops From Korea",{"_24":270,"_53":271,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":272},"-LFVFHEAmIl8juU4h4HG","

Ten years later, the four members of the Quad still can’t agree on how to approach China.

","The Quad: Second Verse, Same as the First?",{"_24":274,"_53":275,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":87,"_40":41,"_26":276},"-LFVFHEBtSRYN4sECe8t","

Despite the Indian Army-led, take-no-prisoners Operation All-Out, militancy is surging.

","Kashmir: Killing Militants Won't Kill Militancy",{"_24":278,"_46":279,"_26":280,"_49":281},"ASL",12,"Asia Life",[282,286,290],{"_24":283,"_53":284,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":285},"-LFVFHEDzwLbGal1zitl","

Practicing yoga in India has become a public celebration.

","India’s (Inter)National Yoga Day",{"_24":287,"_53":288,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":289},"-LFVFHEEmpqhlwnay6J3","

Is North Korea going through an online learning revolution?

","Online Learning in North Korea",{"_24":291,"_53":292,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":70,"_40":41,"_26":293},"-LFVFHEFXukzh6WjLazv","

A wildlife hospital on the Gold Coast has seen skyrocketing numbers of koalas suffering from chlamydia.

","Koalaty Koala Care","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]