In the 1990s, McBeth became the "Review's" bureau chief in Jakarta. He chronicled growing tensions between President Suharto and some of Indonesia's top politicians, and increasing social disturbances, including anti-Chinese riots and troubles in West Kalimantan, which preceded Suharto's resignation and the succession of B. J. Habibie in 1998. In a series of articles in the "Review" in 2002, McBeth analysed the investigation into the Bali bombings which killed 202 people.