From swastika flags to Hitler T-shirts: why Nazi symbols are common in Southeast Asia

Nazi iconography ranging from swastika flags to T-shirts showing images of Adolf Hitler are easy to find in Southeast Asian markets. Critics attribute this trend to ignorance about historical facts and a misplaced fascination with the fascist regime. In January 2019, a member of popular Thai band BNK48 wore a T-shirt showing a Nazi flag with a swastika on it during a televised rehearsal. The appearance sparked a huge controversy, with the Israeli embassy expressing “shock and dismay”. There…