Southeast and East Asia
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. In Southeast and East Asia, we have offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, and Yangon. We also work in Malaysia. The FNF regional team works with the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the Working group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, the Asia Centre, and the ASEAN Prosperity Initiative, which is part of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Should you have questions or suggestions about our work, please contact us. You can also meet our team here.
News
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Pride Month Special Panelist Discussions
In Myanmar, LGBTQI+ individuals endure severe discrimination, including insults from teachers, ostracism from their families, and public ridicule. The civil war has exacerbated these challenges, further diminishing safe spaces. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Myanmar (FNF) has run the 'Open Mic' program for 3 years. The platform provided LGBTQI+ individuals and others to share their experiences and receive psychological support. We invite you to join our Pride Month campaign by sharing our social media stories of ‘Open Mic.’ Each post will feature a captivating still image and a link to our inspiring video on YouTube.
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Top of the Table – The 100 Key Figures in the China Scene from the Foundations
Anna Marti, Head of FNF Taiwan and the Global Innovation Hub, has been featured in Table.Media, the largest independent start-up for quality journalism in Germany. Table.Media's professional briefings serve as an essential information resource for key figures in politics, business, administration, associations, science, education, NGOs, and society.
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A Global Battle of Narratives: China’s Media Influence in Thailand
As the battle for influence intensifies globally, China's strategic maneuvers in Thailand's media landscape have become increasingly pronounced. This paper delves into the intricate web of narratives, examining how China's media infiltration affects democratic discourse and freedom of expression in Thailand.
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Why Taiwan is the Most Progressive Place for LGBTQ Rights in Asia
Taiwan is a vibrant democracy of 24 million people that Beijing claims as its own, despite never having controlled it. Its LGBTQ rights are among the most advanced in Asia, which is the opposite of Beijing's stance.
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FNF, USTW Watch: Building Trust, Confidence Against Autocracy Essential for Democracies
In a year marked by record number of elections around the globe, strengthening trust among democratic allies is vital to maintaining democratic systems. On May 16, the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Global Innovation Hub and the US Taiwan Watch (USTW) hosted their first joint event. The event highlighted the key to strengthen trust between Taiwan and its international allies, offering strategic suggestions for future administrations of Taiwan, US and Europe.
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Does the World Still Need the West?
Does the World Still Need the West? This was the main question at the Geopolitical Talk which took place on May 20, 2024, at Seoul Youth Center Mapo in Seoul, South Korea. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Korea collaborated with Play Seed School, Seoul Youth Center Mapo and the South-North Korea Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association, to organize a discussion on current global issues and consequences.
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Democracy and AI - How technological progress can strengthen our democracy
The discourse surrounding AI is often dominated by extreme positions: either threat scenarios are exaggerated or the benefits are overemphasized. It is time to look for a new narrative that is neither uncritically positive nor overly pessimistic. In the report ‘Democracy and AI - how technological progress can strengthen democracy’, 30 global examples of the successful use of AI to strengthen democracy are analyzed and serve as a basis for assessing the potential.