Living in hiding and facing the threat of arrest or death — these are the realities of some Southeast Asian journalists after the U.S withdrew support for independent media.

Photo Credit: Bave Pictures / Pexels

Despite expectations that Beijing would expand its influence after USAID’s withdrawal, China has shown little interest in taking over U.S.-funded programs, leaving a development divide across Southeast and South Asia.

Photo Credit: Chainwit / CC BY-SA