Showing 21 - 28 of 28
Five priorities at the 32nd Asean summit
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/04/2018
» When the Asean leaders converge on the Lion City later this month for their 32nd summit, a myriad of challenges awaits their deliberations formally and informally. Here are five key priorities that they are expected to tackle:
Making sense of Asean's view on Rakhine
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 10/04/2018
» With Singapore as the chair, Asean's every word and move must be meticulously crafted and choreographed. There can't be any loose ends. There is no exception when it comes to the delicate situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State where violent clashes erupted back in October 2016 have forced nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to escape to Bangladesh.
Two Koreas saga: Keep your fingers crossed
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 20/03/2018
» When the two leaders from Korea meet in Panmunjom later next month, new histories of East Asia will be narrated and written. North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un will travel from Pyongyang to the demilitarised zone at Panmunjom. His car will pass the Panmon Gak on the northern side and proceed to cross the DMZ line to the Peace House (Pyeonghwa jib) a few metres away southward. With South Korean President Moon Jae-in waiting there, he will greet his younger counterpart once he arrives with a big smile. Before the two shake hands, Mr Kim will by then have already made history as the first North Korean leader to step foot on South Korea since the war ended in 1953.
Trump can do more for Asean allies
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/01/2018
» When President Donald Trump decided to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) last November, the Asean chair, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was elated. However, roughly 56 hours after his arrival and after his participation in a series of meetings in Manila, the chair shuddered as the No.1 guest decided to leave early without attending the grouping's most exclusive leaders-only strategic forum, the 12th EAS.
Action needed for economic self-sufficiency
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/10/2017
» With the world in flux and full of uncertainty and local conditions that are still a work-in-progress, to be self-sufficient and sustainable is ultimately the best method to cope with unknown challenges.
Neighbourly diplomacy shifts from Laos
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/09/2017
» The twists and turns of Thailand's diplomacy toward its neighbouring countries have recently undergone a metamorphosis. The military's seizure of power from the elected government in May 2014 allowed civilian decision-makers and security officers to reboot ties with the bordering countries. But not all such attempts have been successful.
Rakhine crisis: Lessons from Thailand
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/09/2017
» When Myanmar's commander-in-chief Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing was here last week for a series of top-level meetings with his Thai counterparts, the recent crisis in Rakhine state -- clashes between Myanmar authorities and Rohingya militants -- dominated the discussions both in Khon Kaen and Bangkok.
Tillerson's 5-hour trip to reset Thai-US ties
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 08/08/2017
» When US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson returns to Bangkok Tuesday for a five-hour visit, he will find a bruised but confident ally ready to reset the 185-year-old Thai-US relations. This 300-minute interlude should prove extremely significant in determining the future of Thai-US relations. Lest we forget, his trip precedes a scheduled two-day visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov starting tomorrow.