Bhavan Jaipragas

Bhavan is Asia Correspondent for the Post, covering breaking news, politics, diplomacy, trade and Southeast Asian macroeconomic trends. His work for the Post's Asia desk also focuses on the region's multifaceted interactions with the United States and China. A Singapore native, Bhavan previously worked for Agence France-Presse.

The uncertainty over the election date prompted small demonstrations in Bangkok this month. Photo: EPA

Southeast Asia

Thailand sets March 24 as date of first election since Shinawatra coup

23 Jan 2019 - 10:15pm 2

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino in 2015. Photo: Reuters

Geopolitics

Aquino slams SCS resource-sharing deal with Beijing

23 Jan 2019 - 4:30am 16

A woman shows her inked thumb after voting in Cotabato City. Photo: AFP

Politics

Bangsamoro autonomy vote proves peaceful, apart from a grenade

22 Jan 2019 - 1:19am 3

Thai election: can Shinawatras keep it in the family, again?

Politics

Thai election: can Shinawatras keep it in the family, again?

20 Jan 2019 - 1:30pm 1

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: EPA

Southeast Asia

Malaysia, Israel trade barbs over Paralympics

19 Jan 2019 - 9:12am 3

Tan Cheng Bock. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

New political party to contest Singapore election

18 Jan 2019 - 8:58pm 17

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad forged strong ties during a Beijing summit last year that remain today, according to Malaysia’s trade minister Darell Leiking. Photo: Xinhua

Geopolitics

Xi, Mahathir have ‘special understanding’: Malaysia’s trade minister

18 Jan 2019 - 10:50am 3

Malaysia won’t be pressured into CPTPP: trade minister Darell Leiking

Politics

Malaysia won’t be pressured into CPTPP: trade minister

17 Jan 2019 - 8:33pm 5

Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry on Malaysia's moving economy

SCMP Originals

Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry on Malaysia's moving economy

18 Jan 2019 - 10:33am

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: EPA

Explained

What’s behind the Malaysia-Singapore dispute?

16 Jan 2019 - 11:06am 7

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has blamed the island state’s larger neighbour, Malaysia, for a “downward spiral” in ties between the countries. Photo: AFP

Politics

Rift with Malaysia unlikely to be resolved soon: Singapore minister

14 Jan 2019 - 10:07pm 11

China’s arrest of Kovrig, Spavor sends chill through US academics

Geopolitics

China’s arrest of Kovrig, Spavor sends chill through US academics

11 Jan 2019 - 6:26pm 45

There have been whispers from within the government that Anwar fears 93-year-old Mahathir has no plans to hand power to him. Photo: AP

Politics

Will Anwar actually succeed Mahathir as Malaysia’s next PM?

9 Jan 2019 - 10:51pm 8

Singapore and Malaysia are normally quite friendly with one another. Photo: Reuters

Southeast Asia

Malaysia and Singapore’s New Year’s resolution? A relationship reset

8 Jan 2019 - 9:33pm 4

Singapore-Malaysia tensions put Lion City’s lawyers to the test

Geopolitics

Singapore-Malaysia tensions put Lion City’s lawyers to the test

7 Jan 2019 - 10:45pm 4

Sultan Muhammad V. Photo: AFP

Politics

The sultans who would be king in Malaysia’s Game of Thrones

7 Jan 2019 - 10:54pm

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Bloomberg

Southeast Asia

State lawyers threaten truce between Singapore PM Lee and siblings

7 Jan 2019 - 10:45pm 17

Singapore’s leader Lee Hsien Loong is eyeing an early election. Photo: AFP

Politics

Will Singapore go to the polls in 2019? Watch the Budget to find out

7 Jan 2019 - 12:25pm 14

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: EPA

Southeast Asia

Cross borders as Malaysia and Singapore continue dispute

14 Jan 2019 - 11:48am 20

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Bloomberg

Southeast Asia

Singapore PM sues critic for sharing article suggesting 1MDB ties

5 Dec 2018 - 12:48pm 15

Malaysia’s Mahathir – a Singapore hawk? Photo: EPA

Geopolitics

Malaysia and Singapore at odds over air and sea boundaries

14 Jan 2019 - 11:47am 50

The tiny island with a big role in US plans for the South China Sea

Geopolitics

The tiny island with a big role in US plans for the South China Sea

4 Dec 2018 - 2:37am 64

Singapore leader-in-waiting Heng Swee Keat. Photo: AP

Politics

Singapore’s next leader Heng Swee Keat: beyond the media’s love affair

28 Nov 2018 - 9:39pm 14

Is this Singapore’s next PM? Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is poised to succeed Lee Hsien Loong

Politics

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat poised to be Singapore’s next PM

22 Nov 2018 - 11:27pm 59

US Vice-President Mike Pence. Photo: AFP

Geopolitics

Trump’s absence at summits brought substance of policy into focus

19 Nov 2018 - 9:21pm 33

Apec summit ends without agreement as US and China’s deep divisions over trade emerge

Diplomacy

Apec summit ends without agreement following US-China clashes

20 Nov 2018 - 5:51am 116

US Vice-President Mike Pence and Chinese President Xi Jinping were equally critical in their speeches at the Apec summit on Saturday in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Photo: AP/AFP

Diplomacy

Gloves off as Xi Jinping, Mike Pence exchange barbs at Apec summit

20 Nov 2018 - 5:45am 263

Pence warns Asia-Pacific not to trade sovereignty for investment in veiled swipe at Beijing

Diplomacy

Don't trade sovereignty for cash, Pence says in swipe at China

17 Nov 2018 - 10:55pm 55

Australian PM slams rising protectionism in pitch to expand landmark Asia-Pacific trade pact

Australasia

Australian PM hits protectionism in pitch for expanded trade bloc

17 Nov 2018 - 11:45am 10

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad makes his keynote speech for the CEO Summit of the Apec summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

Malaysia’s Mahathir hails free trade amid Brexit, trade war disruption

17 Nov 2018 - 11:45am 7

US Vice-President Mike Pence speaks during a press conference in Singapore on Friday. Photo: AFP

Geopolitics

Can America’s answer to China’s belt and road make an impact at Apec?

16 Nov 2018 - 11:51pm 37

Apec’s date with Papua New Guinea: who are you calling irrelevant?

Politics

Apec’s date with Papua New Guinea: who are you calling irrelevant?

16 Nov 2018 - 11:33am 4

Mike Pence to unveil rival to ‘dangerous’ Belt and Road Initiative at Apec summit

Geopolitics

Pence to unveil rival to ‘dangerous’ Belt and Road Initiative at Apec meet

15 Nov 2018 - 7:59pm 80

In show to Trump, Asia talks of free trade. So far, it’s all still talk

Economics

In show to Trump, Asia talks of free trade. So far, it’s all still talk

15 Nov 2018 - 4:48pm 12

File photo of Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s prime minister. Photo: Bloomberg

Southeast Asia

Formula 4G: Singapore’s Lee injects new blood into ruling party in ‘major transition’

12 Nov 2018 - 11:40am 5

Hit film Crazy Rich Asians was a soft power win for Singapore.

Politics

Soft power win for Singapore with Asean, harder times ahead

11 Nov 2018 - 1:00pm 14

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been tipped as the man to revitalise a sluggish Asean. Photo: AFP

Geopolitics

Asean’s torn over China-US struggle. Will Mahathir lead the way?

10 Nov 2018 - 8:31am 56

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s former foreign secretary. Photo: Bloomberg

Geopolitics

China must reassure its neighbours, former Indian diplomat says

9 Nov 2018 - 11:06pm 11

US midterms result: good for Democrats, bad for Asia, says vocal critic of Donald Trump

Southeast Asia

US midterms result: good for Democrats, bad for Asia

11 Jan 2019 - 6:23pm 80

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: AP

Southeast Asia

Don’t mock Asean’s divisions on US v China, EU’s no better: Lee

11 Jan 2019 - 6:22pm 28

Wang Qishan, China’s vice-president, speaks during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg

Diplomacy

Singapore forum calls for calm heads amid escalating US-China conflict

7 Nov 2018 - 3:05am 3

Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: Bloomberg

Southeast Asia

Anwar’s hard line on Goldman Sachs, ‘complicit’ in 1MDB scandal

6 Nov 2018 - 10:26pm 12

Henry Kissinger: China, US must reveal red lines to avoid conflict

Diplomacy

Kissinger: China, US must reveal red lines to avoid conflict

6 Nov 2018 - 9:42pm 19

How tight fisted will Malaysia’s finance minister Lim Guan Eng be in the country’s first budget under a new administration? Photo: Nora Tam

Economics

Spending cuts likely in Mahathir government’s first budget

1 Nov 2018 - 9:58pm 2

White elephant seen in Papua New Guinea: it’s the Apec summit

Economics

White elephant seen in Papua New Guinea: it’s the Apec summit

12 Nov 2018 - 11:56am 3

Prabu Pathmanathan, who has been executed by Singapore. Photo: Twitter

Geopolitics

Malaysian calls fall on deaf ears as Singapore executes drug trafficker

26 Oct 2018 - 8:56pm 36

French economist Thomas Piketty. Photo: Edward Wong

Economics

Trade war? More like class war, says star economist Thomas Piketty

26 Oct 2018 - 1:23pm 33