• OPINION

  Transparency essential for reopening

  Oped, Published on 01/10/2021

  » As the reopening of the economy has become imperative, living with the Covid-19 pandemic has become a reality. But the balance between risks and opportunities must be calibrated with transparency and accountability. As Thailand's Covid numbers seem to be more than meets the eye, the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has the responsibility to keep the public squarely informed. While moving on alongside Covid is unavoidable, the public needs to know that Thailand's virtual strategy now is to rely on vaccinations and immunity from catching the virus itself as infections and fatalities will rise.

• OPINION

  Govt's shambolic jabs plan is 'un-Thai'

  Oped, Published on 07/05/2021

  » The government's planned procurement and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines has become a saga that keeps circulating in news headlines. For much of last year, Thailand was lauded worldwide for its ability to contain the Covid-19 virus. But as the coronavirus pandemic increasingly moves from the virus stage to vaccine procurement and mass inoculation, Thailand faces a double whammy with a virus surge and vaccine scarcity. Unless the government changes course quickly, it risks gambling national health and local lives for what looks like a shambolic vaccine strategy.

• OPINION

  Short-sighted Thai vaccine plans

  Oped, Published on 02/04/2021

  » In a rush to reopen its economy and hard-hit tourism industry after more than a year of Covid-19 doldrums, Thailand has come up with misguided priorities in vaccine allocation and distribution. As vaccine rollouts in other countries appear structured and methodical based on objective criteria, Thailand's early approach is decidedly subjective and arbitrary in favour of economic interests over public health risks. Unless this direction is corrected and rebalanced, the risks to public health will mount and could end up undermining the economic recovery.

• OPINION

  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.

• OPINION

  Promotions pose test for Thai lecturers

  Oped, Published on 14/08/2020

  » Thailand is undergoing an unprecedented bottom-up revolt against an entrenched top-down socio-political system. The ongoing youth movement and its campus protests are leading the charge against the shortcomings, flaws and abuses of Thailand's major institutions from the military and police to the judiciary and parliament whose one third in the Senate were chosen by a military junta. Academia is no exception. Although it is supposed to be a bastion of integrity and intellect, research and knowledge, Thai academia suffers from the same top-down hierarchy and stifling power relations that are undermining the country's institutions.

• THAILAND

  Supercars and champagne: Bangkok's rich purr through pandemic

  AFP, Published on 09/08/2020

  » As the coronavirus brought the global economy to its knees, Thai businessman Yod decided to buy himself a 27 million baht treat -- a lime-green Lamborghini.

• OPINION

  Thailand needs Pacific trade treaty

  Oped, Published on 01/05/2020

  » Here we go again. As if nothing has changed over the past two decades, the government of the day has once again botched and bungled Thailand's trade policy by riding roughshod over civil society groups and the public at large. The unceremonious withdrawal of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership from cabinet deliberations earlier this week was regrettable and unnecessary. Because of adverse geopolitical and geo-economic trends on the horizon, Thailand needs to consider joining the CPTPP. But it has to do so the hard way, with public participation, bargaining and negotiations among domestic interest groups to reach a consensus.

• OPINION

  Beware of debt pitfalls from bailout

  Oped, Published on 10/04/2020

  » By all accounts, the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis will bear far-reaching ramifications for Thailand's economy and politics. The Thai economy is projected to contract by around 5% this year, owing to a precipitous collapse in domestic demand, dismal export conditions, and broader supply-chain disruptions amid a sharp global economic downturn. Although currently suppressed by the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and its virus-handling measures, Thailand's simmering political tensions are likely to resurface when a new normal emerges. Under these circumstances, the government's ability to stay clear of hazards and pitfalls in its recently announced 1.9-trillion-baht economic rescue package will be critical in keeping the country together.

• OPINION

  Politicisation of running in Thailand

  News, Published on 17/01/2020

  » Never before has the sport of running become so politicised in Thailand. The recent Wing Lai Lung, "run against dictatorship", as a show of dissent against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken Thai politics into a new frontier. While running has become a popular sporting medium for social causes and business-related outings over the past two decades, its new role as an outlet for political expression is attributable to Thailand's pervasive and entrenching repression. The anti-Prayut run was matched by a pro-Prayut "walk to cheer uncle", as the elderly prime minister is also known by his nickname as "Uncle Tu", highlighting Thailand's longstanding polarisation and portends tension and confrontation that could spell more trouble ahead without some kind of compromise and mutual accommodation.

• OPINION

  Early impact of the US-China showdown

  News, Published on 26/10/2018

  » The talk making the rounds everywhere about a "trade war" between the world's two largest economies began early this year when the United States imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines against cheaper versions from South Korea and China. By midyear, China became the US' principal target in a wider and more intense tit-for-tat tariff spiral. Seen in this light, the trade war between the two giants was always going to be about a broader geopolitical and geoeconomic tussle, much more than just about trade. The early effects of the US-China confrontation are now evident and will manifest more clearly and widely next year and beyond. As some of the US multinationals in China turn elsewhere, Southeast Asia will be poised for short-term gains, although longer-term prospects bear risks.

1 2 Next Last