Showing 1 - 10 of 73
Asean juggles triangular power game
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/04/2024
» A rising China, a trusted Japan, and a declining America are three cogs dictating the global geopolitical landscape in Southeast Asia in the months, if not years, to come. Amidst intensifying geopolitics, Asean is in a position where this could either be a blessing or a curse.
Myanmar crisis: security and humanity
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/03/2024
» The situation inside Myanmar remains fast-changing and unpredictable, leaving the Srettha government having to recalibrate its policies towards our strife-torn neighbour.
Asean now 'really' matters to Australia
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/02/2024
» The Albanese government has repeatedly declared that Asean matters to Australia. In the past, such an assertion often drew a quick response, with "really?" being the most common reply. Today, that is no longer the case. Asean "really" does matter to Australia. However, whether Australia matters to Asean remains to be seen.
Ripe time to boost Thai-Vietnamese ties
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/12/2023
» Thai-Vietnamese ties have come a long way since they were first established in the 12th century. It is high time for both countries to sit down and work together towards a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP).
Parnpree to diplomats: 'Don't give up'
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/11/2023
» 'Do not take no for an answer" could be the new hashtag for all Thai diplomats from now on. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahidha-Nukara instructed his lieutenants not to give up or allow themselves to be turned down too easily when they are pursuing a "proactive economic policy".
The secret new Thai-French relations
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/11/2023
» The photos at the Elysee Palace in Paris said it all. French President Emmanuel Macron posing with Somdet Phra Maha Theerajarn -- the abbot of Wat Pho -- their hands firmly clasped, not only manifested the affinity between Thailand and France, but also their leaders and people, as well as their spiritual inspiration.
Dealing with the crisis in Myanmar
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/09/2023
» Since Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin came to power, the country's profile has been raised regionally and internationally.
Can Thai passports' power get a lift?
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/09/2023
» At the first cabinet meeting last week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced one of the government's priorities -- improving the power of Thai passports. It is a headline goal that will require extraordinary efforts to achieve. Upgrading a national passport to a higher level involves numerous factors -- economic, socio-cultural, and political -- as well as the general optics of the partnership countries. After all, the large number of visitors to a country is not an indicator of how powerful its passport is. A country might be given more visa-free accessibility and be popular for foreign passports, but its own passport's power can still be low.
Asean mapping out a vision for 2045
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 15/08/2023
» Regional experts and scholars have been busy squeezing their brains to draft Asean's vision for the next two decades. They are already halfway there. However, a lot more needs to be done to ensure that the new Asean Community Post 2025 Vision, which will now run up to 2045, will fit the overall aspiration of Asean citizens, who currently number roughly 672 million.
Virtual diplomacy is real in Thailand
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 11/07/2023
» The past several months have been tumultuous times in Thai diplomacy, with virtual diplomacy constantly challenging real-world diplomacy. Several incidents have occurred involving neighbouring countries, friends and allies. They all started off simply as casual online conversations or Instagram posts, then suddenly, they could quickly have turned toxic and evolved into diplomatic squabbling.