• OPINION

  Did China just blink?

  News, Editorial, Published on 21/08/2017

  » The annual mid-year Asean meetings discussed, but then once again set aside, the highly disputatious issue of the South China Sea. This was no surprise. The host of the meetings, the Philippines, has had its own problems settling on a policy towards the regional disputes. Since last year's election of colourful President Rodrigo Duterte, Manila has seemed rudderless on the issue. Despite efforts by several of the 27 countries that took part in the Asean meetings earlier this month, that lack of direction prevailed.

• OPINION

  US discovers SE Asia

  News, Editorial, Published on 24/04/2017

  » One hundred days into the Donald Trump presidency, the United States has realised there is a part of the world it ignored. Vice-President Mike Pence has been in Indonesia, praising its "moderate" Muslims. Mr Trump will attend all three big East Asia summits in November. He also will make official visits to Vietnam and the Philippines. They are the hosts of the summits of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), and East Asia.

• OPINION

  Crowe's soft power gift

  News, Editorial, Published on 18/10/2021

  » The tweeted pictures and messages about Thailand from Hollywood star Russell Crowe come at the right place and time.

• OPINION

  Admit errors, cure the ills

  News, Editorial, Published on 29/06/2019

  » Unlike China's communist dictatorship, which has delivered rapid and sustained high economic growth since 1979, Thailand's authoritarian rule over the past five years has presided over only slow growth in the economy.

• OPINION

  High alert for terrorism

  News, Editorial, Published on 03/05/2016

  » The savage murder last week of a Canadian hostage by self-styled Filipino Islamists was a reminder of the terrorist threat in this region. Authorities have said on several occasions they have not uncovered any case of an active Islamic State network or agent in Thailand. The need for constant alert is clear.

• OPINION

  Fretting over fishy business

  News, Editorial, Published on 09/03/2018

  » The government's decision to import fresh fish from a radioactive-contaminated area in Japan's Fukushima prefecture has raised alarm among consumer groups. Such concerns bring no surprise.

• OPINION

  Asean media under attack

  News, Editorial, Published on 22/01/2018

  » A free press is the key test of whether a nation has true freedom of speech. Across the region, every country is failing the test. In communist Vietnam and all the way to the resurgent army controllers in Myanmar, governments are arresting, imprisoning and strongly intimidating the media.

• OPINION

  Tackling plastic waste

  News, Editorial, Published on 29/01/2018

  » A study of Thai and neighbouring underseas life, published last week, proves beyond doubt that people are killing coral. Specifically, the plastic items that wind up in the area of Thai reefs is literally the death of coral. Ocean currents, sand and rocks bash and cut bags, bottles and trash to tiny bits. The coral, living animals, eat the plastic, choke and die.

• OPINION

  Government must back sea talks

  News, Editorial, Published on 27/02/2017

  » The threat of clashes has increased lately over China's claim it owns the South China Sea. A US navy task force led by the formidable aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is conducting "routine operations" in the area. Both Vietnam and Taiwan have copied China's construction of artificial islands with military facilities. Beijing has continued to fortify its new islands, with buildings believed capable of housing missiles. They would be the first land-based weapons in the Spratly Islands where international flashpoints and tensions increase almost by the day.

• OPINION

  Diplomacy at the summit

  News, Editorial, Published on 17/02/2016

  » Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha left on Sunday and arrives back home tomorrow from California. He is attending the first formal meeting between US and Asean leaders ever held outside the region. President Barack Obama hosted the meeting so he could get across his thoughts on China's actions in the South China Sea and also on the fight against rising terrorist threats in the region. It was such a good idea it should go on the diplomatic calendar.

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