Michael Vatikiotis
@jagowriter
Armed conflict mediator and writer with 40 years experience in Asia. Author of "Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern SE Asia" All tweets personal views.
I was honoured at the @JaipurLitFest to present my latest book #LivesBetweenTheLines in conversation with @DalrympleWill - the full session can be watched here. fb.watch/iMHFLHZ0Im/?mi…
Excellent look at the military reality in #Myanmar asiatimes.com/2025/06/siege-…
This is literally superpower suicide. These are some of the most talented public servants doing critical work. Champagne corks are popping in Beijing and Moscow after they already emptied the wine cellars celebrating the end of USAID.
HAPPENING NOW!! Moving scene - tears, hugs, and cheers - inside the State Dept HQ tonight, as diplomats gathered in the lobby to clap out their laid off colleague, some of which have served for decades 👇🏻
From peace to pauses: How ceasefires took over international diplomacy thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025/0…
Agree. An emergency ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting is called for to arrange urgent de-escalation between Thailand and Cambodia. As soon as next week.
Time to call for an ASEAN emergency meeting!
For those in London next Tuesday 29th July - I am speaking about Levantine culture past and present.
After “conducting and inquiry” the IDF has said the Catholic Church in Gaza was “accidentally hit due to an unintentional deviation of munitions”. aje.io/2ewa76?update=…
The Daily Express is the most right-wing mainstream newspaper in Britain. It now has a better position on Gaza than the Labour government.
“If Trump’s current hostility to alliances continues and the administration keeps insulting, belittling, and even economically harming its long-standing partners, the United States is going to find the world an increasingly unfriendly place.” foreignaffairs.com/north-america/…
The churches start to play an important role in defending basic humanity. Took a while.
Catholics and Orthodox join together in Gaza
Good to see Indonesia, the world’s largest majority Muslim country condemn attacks on the Catholic Church in Gaza. #Indonesianway
Indonesia condemns the attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, which resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives (17/07). #IndonesianWay
Teh new post-liberal order of aid and development: The spy, private equity baron and ghost of a Trump donor: The revolving door behind a Gaza mercenary firm | Middle East Eye middleeasteye.net/news/war-gaza-…
Slowly and surely, the world is starting to work around the United States. nytimes.com/2025/07/13/bus…
China will join this meeting in Bogota of mainly Global South States to consider concrete measures against Israel. middleeasteye.net/news/spain-and…
Bangkok should also ban fossil fuel motorcycles from the city centre.
Fossil-fueled motorcycles will be banned from Hanoi’s inner districts starting in July 2026, according to a new government directive. I’d say it’s time to switch to electric motorbikes now 👏
Raises the question whether the US plans to further erode strategic ambiguity over Taiwan. And then what China will do.
SCOOP Pentagon is pressing Australia & Japan to make clear what role they would play if US and China go to war over Taiwan. Latest move by BridgeColby @USDPColby creating concern among IndoPacific allies. on.ft.com/4lWar5f
A remarkable act of peace at a time of escalating conflict everywhere. aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/11…
Japan's first National Security Advisor Yachi Shotaro told Nikkei that Japanese people must change their mindset and move on from the asymmetric Japan-U.S. alliance toward a more autonomous state in which Japan can make its own decisions. nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…
Palestinians should have the freedom to choose - to stay as well!
JUST IN: TRUMP IS ASKED ABOUT PALESTINIAN RELOCATION PLAN HE CEDES TO THE U.S PRESIDENT NETANYAHU Reporter: “Is your Palestinian relocation plan still on the table? Is there a plan….” Trump: “Bibi, why don't I let you answer that question.”
The destruction of Palestine is breaking the world | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian theguardian.com/us-news/ng-int…
Russia’s ‘anti-woke’ visa lures those fearing a moral decline in the West washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/…
