Showing 1 - 10 of 26
Crunch time for Phumtham
Oped, Editorial, Published on 15/07/2025
» New interior minister, and current acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, is a man who can make tough decisions. His recent record includes the decision to return Uyghurs to China early this year, as demanded by Beijing. Last month, he approved a long-delayed, controversial submarine procurement from China -- a call that even junta leader-cum-prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha shied away from.
Be firm on subs deal
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/05/2025
» After years of tap-dancing around the submarine procurement controversy, the government has finally admitted that it may have to take the submarines it ordered from China despite disagreements over engine options, or risk losing the money it handed over as a down payment for the deal.
High-stakes submarine talks
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/05/2024
» A Chinese delegation is visiting Thailand and will meet the government on Wednesday to negotiate a long-overdue submarine purchase. Then, the Thai government will make the final decision on whether to ditch or take the submarine.
A rice old business
Oped, Editorial, Published on 10/05/2024
» The government's plan to sell old rice that has been kept in warehouses in northeastern Thailand for a decade has stunned the public, with fears growing over the potentially adverse impact on people's health and also the domestic rice market if traders export it.
Reshuffle needs work
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/04/2024
» After seven months of mediocre performance, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is going to reshuffle his cabinet. Yet those who wish to see a total overhaul and the exit of underperforming ministers might be let down. On the face of it, the Srettha 2.0 cabinet will merely reflect internal promotions within the Pheu Thai Party and its power consolidation.
Charm blitz a smokescreen
Oped, Editorial, Published on 19/12/2023
» As the public has been focused on the government's "soft power" push and what it actually means, little attention has been paid to the subtle attempts by the armed forces to woo ministers and lawmakers into giving them what they want.
Military lacks transparency
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/10/2023
» The Srettha government, especially Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, deserves credit for trying to solve the controversial submarine procurement -- something the preceding government utterly failed to do.
Cleaning up the military
News, Editorial, Published on 06/09/2023
» New defence minister Sutin Klungsang has already captured the media's attention due to his clear commitment to military reform.
Defence, not diplomacy
Oped, Editorial, Published on 29/04/2023
» The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) seems to have had a change of heart in relation to its trouble-riddled task of procuring a submarine engine from the Chinese government.
Don’t rush sub deal
Oped, Editorial, Published on 04/02/2023
» As the current government’s term will soon end, it’s bewildering to see how the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is apparently speeding up its decision-making process on whether it will continue with a highly questionable submarine procurement from China.