Philip Wen

Regional Correspondent

Philip is regional correspondent at The Straits Times, covering South-east Asia, from his base in Bangkok. He has previously worked as a foreign correspondent in China and India for The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Latest articles

Washington’s loss doesn’t automatically translate into Beijing’s gain

Casting great-power competition as a simple seesaw – where Washington’s loss is automatically Beijing’s gain – also risks being overly simplistic.

Toxic tide: Myanmar’s rare earth mining surge hurting livelihoods along Thailand’s Kok River

pwchiangrai - Fisherman Siam Kaewdam is among the local villagers found by university researchers to have higher-than-normal arsenic levels in his body.
ST PHOTO: PHILIP WEN

After border clashes with Thailand, Cambodia’s economic time bomb ticks louder

Mr Sim Srong surveys the damage of his shop in Samraong district, near the Thai border in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. His shop was damaged during the outbreak of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand.

Thailand is wracked by floods and quakes. But what’s holding it back is far harder to tackle

A drone view shows people walking in a flooded area in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, Thailand, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Roylee Suriyaworakul TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The real winner behind Myanmar’s junta-held elections could be China

pwmyanmar - The bustling jade market in Mandalay is widely considered as the world's largest. Mandalay is a trading hub along Myanmar's main economic corridor with China. (Pic taken Jan 12) CREDIT: PHILIP WEN

‘I saw even the mountains shake’: Fear lingers in Cambodian town after Thai strikes on alleged scam sites

Empty streets in O’Smach town in Oddar Meanchey province near Cambodia’s border with Thailand.

Why Cambodia gave up alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi to China

Alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi was arrested in Cambodia on Jan 6 and extradited to China the following day.

China steps out of diplomatic shadows to take credit for efforts on Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire

This handout photo taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on December 29, 2025 shows China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) looking as Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn (L), who is also the country's Foreign Minister, shakes hands with Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow (R) during a meeting in China's Yunnan province. (Photo by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) / Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) " - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Cambodia, Thailand have agreed terms on new ceasefire. Will it hold?

People look at a damaged bridge after Thailand carried out air strikes in an area between Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces on Dec 20.

Cambodia and Thailand to hold ceasefire talks on Dec 24

(From left) Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Laos Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro,Brunei Second Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 22.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.