Southeast Asia society · October 2026

Indonesia's forest and land fires are producing transboundary haze that is choking neighbouring countries, though affected states have little legal recourse against the source. The smoke has degraded air quality across parts of Southeast Asia in recent weeks. Regional agreements on haze pollution lack enforcement mechanisms, leaving governments with limited options beyond diplomatic protest. Malaysia is deporting thousands of Myanmar asylum seekers, with questions raised about the legal basis and treatment of those returned. Another Lao activist has disappeared in Thailand, adding to a series of unresolved cases of Lao nationals vanishing after crossing into the country. Thailand's immigration authorities aim to process foreign visitors through immigration counters in 40 seconds using a new app, while the national tourism authority says Chinese tourists remain undeterred by recent floods and baggage delays. The Philippines central bank is preparing for the economic effects of El Niño, and Vietnam health experts are calling for earlier detection of liver diseases.