Dynamic processes of the Southeast (SE) Asia convergent system and its impact on continental deformation and marginal basin formation: Preface

Southeast (SE) Asia is situated at the convergent region between the Eurasian, Philippine Sea, and Indo-Australian plates. The dynamic interplay of these plates has shaped the geological landscape of the region, resulting in a diverse array of tectonic features, including subduction zones, volcanic arcs, marginal basins, and continental deformation. Its unique tectonic setting provides a rare opportunity to investigate the plate convergence processes and their impacts on the Earth's interior dynamics. Understanding the intricate relationships between these processes is crucial for unraveling the tectonic evolution of SE Asia and its role in the global geodynamic framework. This special issue presents a collection of original research papers covering a wide range of topics, including the lithospheric structure and strength of the SE Asia convergent system, magmatic processes and geochemical variations in subduction zones, the formation and evolution of the subduction-derived microplates, the deep genesis of heat flow anomalies, and the crustal structure and magmatism in the South China Sea. These advances have been made possible through multidisciplinary approaches, incorporating techniques such as seismic imaging, gravity analysis, numerical modeling, geochemistry, and geochronology. The findings presented in this special issue provide new insights into the complex tectonic history and geodynamic processes of the Southeast Asia and its surrounding regions.