Showing 1 - 10 of 10
A year of shocks, but Thailand endures
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 30/12/2025
» The year 2025 is not just your typical annus horribilis. Some may say that an appropriate term to describe the year is "hell on earth," or narok bon din in Thai, when many bad things happen all at once.
Border conflict tests big powers' resolve
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 23/12/2025
» Few would have imagined that the current Thailand-Cambodia conflict could generate such deep strategic anxiety, if not outright uncertainty, across Southeast Asia and beyond. From a Thai perspective, the tensions have revealed something far more consequential than just another bilateral border dispute. It is no longer a tit-for-tat affair.
New Thai-Malaysia economic dynamics
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/02/2023
» Without any diplomatic pleasantries, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha kicked off bilateral talks last week with his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, by stating clearly that Thai-Malaysian ties have not been progressing very well. The opening remarks drew a big smile from Mr Anwar as a sign of appreciation. It immediately set the tone of his two-day visit.
Revitalising Thailand-Malaysia ties
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/01/2023
» 'So close and yet so far" is a popular description of the current state of ties between Thailand and Malaysia. It could have been better in the past, but now both countries can make a difference. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is visiting Thailand next month to advance bilateral ties to another level, but several elements are needed.
Upcoming AMM facing uphill tasks
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/07/2022
» The Asean Foreign Ministerial Meeting (AMM) next week will be a test of its centrality and relevancy as never seen before. The annual meeting has to confront sensitive new and divisive issues that will require the 55-year-old bloc's collective wisdom, commitment and foresight.
Asean can live with Quad and Aukus
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/10/2021
» The current strategic situation is not quite the same as Asean faced in its early days, but there are several similar characteristics. The rivalry between the two then superpowers -- the US and the former Soviet Union -- was visible and rising incrementally and would soon reach its peak. Fuelling the enmity was their ideological differences -- free world versus orthodox communism. Today, the fight is about technological supremacy and governance.
In the South, it takes three to tango
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 13/10/2020
» After a pause brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and unexpected circumstances, some positive signals are coming from the Peace Dialogue Panel, the Thai negotiating team, that the stalled peace process in the country's deep South is moving forward once again. This time, all concerned parties are hoping that dialogue will bridge the divide and forge a common roadmap that will bring an immediate end to the violence and lay firm foundations for peaceful coexistence, greater autonomy and mutual respect for religious beliefs, identities and cultural heritage.
Paradox belies Thailand-Malaysia ties
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 22/10/2019
» This week marks one full year since Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad's much publicised visit to Thailand. During the landmark trip, he said that Malaysia under his leadership would do "whatever was possible" to achieve peace in southern Thailand. His comment gave a strong sense of deja vu to the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that permanent peace and stability at the southern tip was close at hand.
Virachai: Thai diplomat extraordinaire
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/03/2019
» It was in the afternoon of Feb 22 that I met Virachai Plasai, the Thai ambassador to the United States, along with his five staffers for a meeting at the Thai embassy's main conference room in Washington at 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW. I had no idea that he was suffering from Myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of bone-marrow cancer. His face was a bit pale, but he was focused and attentive.
Malaysia's new dynamic in the deep South
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/10/2018
» Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is coming to Thailand later this month to try and tamp down the festering violence in southern Thailand. As his return to power in May has rejuvenated his country's openness and democratisation, he offers a ray of hope to Thailand's future peace and stability.