Showing 11 - 17 of 17
RCEP shores up trade, value chains
Oped, Published on 20/11/2020
» Although it is far from the best outcome in trade liberalisation, the finalisation of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) among economies of Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, along with Australia and New Zealand, has highlighted and even salvaged Asean's adverse pandemic year.
US ties with Asia, SE Asia, Thailand
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/11/2020
» Under the leadership of President-elect Joe Biden, the United States' relations with Asia broadly and with Southeast Asia and Thailand in particular are set to undergo a qualitative shift in tone and direction. At issue are to what extent Mr Biden will adopt the foreign policy outlook and orientation of former president Barack Obama in 2008-16 and whether he will retain some or reject most of the Asia policy legacy under the outgoing government of President Donald Trump.
Misguided myopia of asking the rich
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 24/04/2020
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's initiative to seek more cooperation and assistance from Thailand's 20 wealthiest billionaires is understandable. Thailand needs all the help it can get to handle and manage the social and economic ravages of the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. But making an appeal in writing from the top to the country's richest is short-sighted and misguided on many levels. It displays a government at the end of its tether and a leader who is being forced to own up to mismanaging the country for the past six years.
Apirat's vow to reform military misses the mark
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 15/02/2020
» The Feb 8 shooting rampage which claimed 30 lives in Korat is a tragic shock. Yet, there must be a thorough investigation into its root causes and necessary actions must be taken to convert this tragedy into a lesson in order to prevent it happening again.
Underpinnings of a Thai mass shooting
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 14/02/2020
» Thailand's worst apolitical mass shooting on a Buddhist holiday last weekend left a trail of deaths and injuries with one lasting question that will be hard to answer. As the country reels from the shocking tragedy and loss, the Thai government needed to respond by pulling the country together in a healing process, coming to terms with the situation and drawing the right conclusions to prevent this sort of mindless killing from ever taking place again. Instead, the authorities from the prime minister to the army commander-in-chief focused too much on themselves and failed to show sufficient empathy with the people and provide a way forward for Thai society.
Wage hike offers only small relief
News, Editorial, Published on 29/12/2019
» The new minimum daily wage rate, with a few baht increase depending on location, will take effect as of Wednesday in what is dubbed a tiny new year's gift for labourers.
Asean opting out of Rakhine efforts
News, Published on 25/10/2019
» When Asean foreign ministers last met in Bangkok on July 31 and discussed the Rakhine crisis, their conclusions reflected the lowest common denominator of the bloc's membership. Two years after the enforced mass exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya from Myanmar to Bangladesh, Asean is at risk of becoming irrelevant to the search for solutions.