The island of Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century, it...

Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence...

First inhabited by Austronesian people, Taiwan became home to Han immigrants beginning in the late Ming Dynasty (17th century). In...

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds -- and potentially...

A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed...

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following...

The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed...

Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of...

The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the Xiongnu in...

Malaysia’s location has long made it an important cultural, economic, historical, social, and trade link between the islands of Southeast...

Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the...