Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Rethinking Thailand's visa-free policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 31/03/2026
» Thailand is planning to cut visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days. This long-overdue change reflects growing concern over the effectiveness of immigration surveillance. Moreover, scaling down visa-free stays underscores the seriousness of the Anutin government's efforts to combat scammers, illegal work, and other underground activities that exploit easy visa access to turn Thailand into a base for under-the-table operations.
Upcoming Myanmar vote tests Asean
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/08/2025
» Myanmar is heading to the polls from Dec 28 through mid-January 2026. The big question is whether the world community will accept the outcome of the national election.
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, China promote Asian values
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 15/06/2021
» In commemorating the 30th anniversary of Asean-China relations later this year at the summit level, it is expected that China will be represented by Xi Jinping, who has yet to attend an Asean-related summit under his presidency. Of course, this is just a plan for both sides, which still need further discussion to celebrate their "shared future" trajectory. After all, when Asean agrees on the upgrade of China's longstanding strategic partnership to a comprehensive one, there must be a very special li-you (raison d'etre) to do so. And the list is long.
Thailand tightens information law
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 25/05/2021
» In September 1997 Thailand became the first country in Asean to enact a freedom of information law. The Official Information Act (OIA), as it is known here, became a new benchmark for a free society as well as its openness and transparency. For the first time, the public had the right to access information, especially that previously held by the government.
Admit Timor Leste to bloc now or never
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/05/2019
» The Asean founding fathers' dream was to have all Southeast Asian countries under one roof. Timor Leste's (East Timor) dream was to join Asean as soon as possible. Both dreams have yet to be fulfilled. The reason is simple enough: Certain Asean members are not ready to have the world's youngest democracy stand among them.
20-year strategy plan under scrutiny
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/04/2018
» For the first time in its history, Thailand is coming out with a national strategy that directs the country's economic and social development over the next 20 years.
Making Thai passports more powerful
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 16/01/2018
» For a country that welcomed more than 33 million visitors from well over 150 countries last year, it is shocking to find out that Thai passport holders can go to just 73 countries without visas. That is pathetic and unacceptable and well below Singapore and Malaysia whose citizens can visit 176 and 166 countries visa-free respectively.