Showing 1 - 10 of 773
Region must not abandon Myanmar
News, Sally Tyler, Published on 16/02/2026
» A particular confluence of events pertaining to Myanmar -- the fifth anniversary of its latest junta, elections early this month widely seen as illegitimate, and the beginning of a case on charges of genocide brought by Gambia at the International Court of Justice -- should have brought increased international scrutiny to the beleaguered nation.
Implications of conservative triumph
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/02/2026
» The incumbent and conservative Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has surprisingly swept Thailand's Feb 8 election with a commanding win. With the previously poll-leading and progressive People's Party (PP) coming in a distant second, Thailand appears headed for a conservative coalition government revolving around BJT and like-minded junior partners. Known for its conservative stance and being pro-status quo, it would not be surprising if the BJT-led coalition government, led by Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul, were not challenged by the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, and other supervisory agencies, which have derailed and dissolved reform-minded winning parties in the past.
EC needs to do better
News, Published on 10/02/2026
» The election on Sunday has finally ended, albeit with mixed reactions. Despite the polling process going relatively smoothly and a clear winner emerging by the end of the day, the ham-fisted actions of the Election Commission (EC) risk bungling the vote-counting process.
Will poll be breakout or more of same?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/02/2026
» As Thais go to the polls this Sunday, the most consequential question is whether Thailand will finally break out of its debilitating cycle of political instability and economic underperformance that has marked the past two decades. The signs and signals suggest otherwise -- at least not yet.
Politics at the border
Oped, Editorial, Published on 06/02/2026
» Amid a fierce election campaign, Bhumjaithai -- once a mid-sized party -- has ridden a wave of nationalism, becoming a force to be reckoned with in Sunday's poll.
Our tariff-era dollar, your problem
Oped, Qiyuan Xu, Published on 04/02/2026
» In 2025, the dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of major currencies, fell by roughly 9.4%. Over the same period, the United States' average effective tariff rate rose by around 14.4 percentage points, from 2.4% to 16.8%, according to the Yale Budget Lab. Taken together, these shifts imply that, in the import trade domain, the US experienced an effective exchange-rate depreciation of around 24%.
Time to legalise
Postbag, Published on 03/02/2026
» Re: "Sex workers get pre-election boost", (BP, Feb 1).
No easy road ahead for PP greenhorns
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 02/02/2026
» The latest opinion polls, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) and Rajabhat University ahead of the general election on Sunday, have put the People's Party (PP) ahead of its rivals and its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as the most favoured prime ministerial candidate among voters.
Is China's economic policy a little too cautious?
News, Published on 31/01/2026
» In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Pairing the powerful and lively horse with the element of fire yields a symbol of intensity, vitality, and forward momentum. But, the wisdom goes, the fire horse must not allow its determination to give way to recklessness. Likewise, the tension between balance and dynamism will define Chinese economic policy in the year ahead.
Philippines' crucial Asean test
Oped, Simon Hutagalung, Published on 21/01/2026
» The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has its own administration. Member states take turns leading the organisation through an annual chairmanship, a system designed to give all members equal opportunities to shape regional priorities.