Showing 31 - 40 of 158
Vietnam's 'bamboo' foreign policy clout
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 25/04/2023
» Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian country at this critical moment to be facing a major challenge as it attempts to juggle the three great powers -- China, Russia, and the US -- simultaneously. It is as if Hanoi is keeping a dagger, a bomb, and a gun in perpetual mid-air flight to ensure the tripartite relations will not crash along the way. It is bamboo diplomacy Vietnamese style, at its very best in keeping these extraordinary allies and friends at bay. In recent years, the bamboo policy description has been widely used due to the country's distinctive diplomacy.
Thai diplomacy has come full circle
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 18/04/2023
» After eight arduous years, Thai diplomacy has come full circle. With 26 days to go before the next general election on May 14, the international community is wondering whether there will be any change in the country's overall diplomatic outlook. Since the dark days leading up to the intervention in May 2014, Thailand has undertaken an extraordinary journey given the state in which the country was caught with its deteriorated standing in the global community. Critics varied in their assessments of Thai foreign policy under deep stress. Indeed, the long winding diplomatic road revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of strenuous efforts to protect national interests amid the competition of the great powers and in tackling the unavoidable ripple effects caused by an increasingly polarised world.
Cambodia and the rise of a small power
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 11/04/2023
» For Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, timing is everything. Therefore, it was not surprising that the world's longest-serving leader signalled recently that he would step down from politics. Unbelievable, right? He used to say he would remain in power until he was 90. If it had not come directly from him, nobody would have believed a word. His carefully calibrated decision comes at a critical time due to current domestic and external conditions and their likely long-term repercussions.
What will Asean be like come 2045?
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 04/04/2023
» It is now official: the Asean Community's Post 2025 vision will be extended by another ten years from 2035 to 2045. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn revealed the 20-year vision in Bangkok last week, much to the surprise of diplomats and the local audience. The decision was taken at the 7th meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Asean Community's Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) in March 19-20 in Belitung, Indonesia.
Sino-Russia ties: A Thai perspective
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/03/2023
» Watching Sino-Russia relations from Beijing gives off a different feeling altogether.
Dialogue: A step in the right direction
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/03/2023
» There were more divergences than convergences in views that emerged from the Track 1.5 Dialogue held between Asean members and dialogue partners, including representatives from Myanmar, in Bangkok on March 13.
Rebooting South, SE Asian cooperation
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/03/2023
» Fresh from the success of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation last year, Thailand is currently chairing another immense regional economic bloc promoting holistic and sustainable development and smart connectivity amongst South Asia and Southeast Asia. In the coming decades, if not centuries, these combined regions will together form the centre of the Indo-Pacific.
Give peace a chance in Ukraine war
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/02/2023
» China's 12-point proposal for peace in Ukraine should be given serious consideration as it encompasses all the necessary elements that could achieve a ceasefire leading to eventual peace. Obviously, it is still a tall order. At this juncture, the talk of war continues with vigour, especially among the US allies and Nato. Judging from their reactions in the past several days, they still view the plan with suspicion, and it will take some time before the Chinese ideas gain traction among policymakers worldwide.
Asean sticks to peace agenda in Ukraine
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/02/2023
» This week marks the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The biggest war in Europe since World War II will continue as nobody knows when, or if ever, Russia or Ukraine will be defeated. Certainly, the US and Europe, or rather Nato are confident that more military hardware support to Kyiv is the only way to bleed Russia dry. Recent rhetoric from the West at the Munich Security Conference last week has already raised the spectre of a long war, perhaps short of a nuclear war. Obviously, that has the potential to drag other European nations into the conflict, which is already a proxy war. Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory to wedge war against Ukraine. Even if the war ends -- it is a big if -- the dire repercussions will continue for generations.
Asean and Myanmar: The next moves
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 07/02/2023
» Last week, the new Asean chair, Indonesia, convened the first two important meetings -- the Asean Coordinating Council and Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat -- to discuss and follow up on ongoing and emerging issues that have to do with the relevancy of Asean and its centrality.