Showing 1 - 10 of 24
Hun Manet's high-stakes scam pledge
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/03/2026
» With international criticism mounting, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has launched a major effort to repair Cambodia's reputation, promising that all online scam centres in the country will be eliminated by next month.
Cambodia's bluster fails at UN event
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 30/09/2025
» At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Thailand and Cambodia verbally clashed again over their border dispute. What stood out was not just the usual complaints, but the gap between quiet promises made behind closed doors and loud posturing in public.
Time for this unnecessary war to end
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 29/07/2025
» It was a war everyone saw coming. After weeks of provocations and inflammatory rhetoric across the Thai–Cambodian border since May 28, the failure to de-escalate tensions finally erupted into deadly border skirmishes. Despite diplomatic efforts, no fruitful progress was made. As diplomacy faltered, ultra-nationalism made inroads, and rhetoric gave way to border clashes beginning last Thursday.
Myanmar's 'my way' vs Asean norms
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 08/07/2025
» It appeared to be a done deal. During their summit on May 26, Asean leaders agreed to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the regional bloc. Since then, Nay Pyi Taw has raised an unexpected objection, with the junta issuing an official statement that could potentially embarrass Asean and its current chair, Malaysia.
Timor-Leste's membership divides Asean
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 13/05/2025
» Timor-Leste's long-awaited bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is in jeopardy. It has encountered unexpected headwinds -- this time from the Philippines. The sudden diplomatic friction stems from Dili's refusal to extradite Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr, a former Filipino congressman accused of terrorism and multiple murders, back to Manila.
Rebooting the Asean Regional Forum
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 23/07/2024
» When Asean foreign ministers met in Singapore in 1994, they all concurred that dialogue and consultations on political and security issues among major powers and Asean members would be essential in preserving peace and stability in the Asean region. A year later, the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) held its inaugural meeting, which took place in Bangkok and had 18 members, including the Asean 10.
Asean no-nuke treaty in perilous times
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 13/06/2023
» The Thai word, chiew-chiew, which means relax and respond in kind, is a fitting description of Asean's current attitude towards the fiercely strategic competition between the United States and China.
Aussie ties out of the woods, raring to go
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/09/2022
» 'Thais that bind: secret mission ends Aussie's torment," read the front page headline of The Australian on Nov 22, 2020. It was referring to Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, the British-Australian academic arrested in late 2018 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard as she was about to leave Tehran over an espionage charge. She was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in jail in a secret trial.
Asean hardens position on Myanmar
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/08/2022
» The crisis in Myanmar has dominated this year’s Asean annual ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh due to Nay Pyi Taw’s growing intransigence as well as frustration among the bloc’s key members.
Thai 3Rs secret to handling US, China
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/07/2022
» Recent visits by the foreign ministers of China and the US created lots of buzz among the Thai public and diplomatic community regarding the direction of Thai foreign policy. Many questions were raised but no satisfactory answers were given.