Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Thailand's responses to Board of Peace
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/01/2026
» US President Donald Trump's invitation to Thailand to join the Board of Peace (BOP) has elicited three distinct responses. The first two are succinct and clear in their rationale. The third, however, is more nuanced -- and notable for its ambivalence.
Trump should revisit his tariff schemes
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 08/04/2025
» President Donald Trump's tariff hikes, marking "Liberation Day", hit foes and friends of the US equally. The immediate effect is that Mr Trump has rallied the rest of the world to prepare for a future without US dominance. To put it mildly, they must become less dependent on the US in every possible way -- unless Mr Trump changes his approach.
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.
Can we build back better by Oct 15?
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 22/06/2021
» By Oct 15, Buddha willing, Thailand will be ready to welcome visitors from abroad including domestic travellers. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha bet his political career and reputation on a pledge that Thailand will be back in business once again in four months' time.
Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/01/2021
» Thailand's future is now at the edge of a precipice due to the recent virus outbreak in Samut Sakhon that has now spread to over 50 out of 77 provinces. The unexpected upsurge has dramatically diminished public confidence that the government will be able to contain the pandemic in a sustainable way. Worst of all, it has also dampened economic activity and overall post-Covid-19 recovery forecasts and plans. At this juncture, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's legacy in terms of his performance during the epidemic is unclear.
What might have been at Vegas summit
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/03/2020
» The Asean officials preparing for the March 14 special Asean-US Summit were greatly relieved when the White House announced on Friday that the Las Vegas rendezvous would be postponed due to Covid-19 fears. Indeed, with exactly two weeks to go before the event, the Asean side was still wondering what the "deliverable milestones" of their summit were likely to be.
Projecting power through Asean unity
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 02/07/2019
» It only took a few seconds to change the substance of the discussion between Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Brunei counterpart, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Erywan Yusof, during their bilateral meeting on June 21. The two ministers were talking about ways to reduce the high cost of mobile phone roaming services in Asean to promote people-to-people contact. They were discussing "doing something together, sort-of-thing, to promote a people-centred community", according to a source who was at the meeting, when the host quipped, "Why not have Asean host the World Cup?". The word "yes" was the immediate response from Brunei. The rest is history.
Putting hearts and minds in Thai-US ties
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/07/2018
» The international rescue of 12 boys and their football coach in Chiang Rai earlier this month quickly permeated into the conference room of the Thai-US dialogue in Washington DC last week. The feel-good atmosphere jump-started the much-needed dialogue between the region's oldest allies.
South Korea is wooing Asean and India
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/07/2018
» For the first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea, under the helm of President Moon Jae-in, has effectively been embedded in the regional scheme of things --political/security, economic and social/cultural. The country's previous four presidents -- Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye -- tried to do the same but sadly they repeatedly failed. Every time these leaders wanted to focus on Southeast Asia and South Asia, something happened in the Northeast, the Korean Peninsula in particular, that immediately distracted them. They became mesmerised and forgot the region. There was no consistency whatsoever.
Pyongyang’s threats remain in South Korea
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 10/07/2018
» In summertime, Gangnam district of the South Korean capital is the place to go to observe the country’s dynamism and vibrancy. It is colourful and full of youthful energy. However, when you start casual conversations with youngsters here, immediately a different mood prevails.