• OPINION

  First look at new Thai diplomatic tactics

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 10/10/2023

  » In deciphering the 1,288-word Thai foreign policy statement announced last week, it is important to start at the very end. The last paragraph of "Thailand's Challenges: How to Thrive in Rising Geopolitical Uncertainty", put forward by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, was particularly revealing. He said succinctly that Thai diplomatic platforms must complement the government's domestic policies to improve people's standard of living and create job opportunities in order to get the country back in the global economic and political arena with dignity. In addition, it must enable the Thai business sector to grow and prosper domestically and internationally to increase confidence in Thailand.

• OPINION

  Dealing with the crisis in Myanmar

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/09/2023

  » Since Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin came to power, the country's profile has been raised regionally and internationally.

• OPINION

  Which way Pheu Thai-led diplomacy?

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 29/08/2023

  » Without being labelled as an autocratic regime, the diplomatic posture of the incoming government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will be more vigorous and build on existing progress and achievements. Even though the government's official policy has yet to be announced, it is not difficult to outline some of the salient features of Pheu Thai-led foreign policy practices.

• OPINION

  Rebooting South, SE Asian cooperation

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/03/2023

  » Fresh from the success of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation last year, Thailand is currently chairing another immense regional economic bloc promoting holistic and sustainable development and smart connectivity amongst South Asia and Southeast Asia. In the coming decades, if not centuries, these combined regions will together form the centre of the Indo-Pacific.

• OPINION

  Asean sticks to peace agenda in Ukraine

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/02/2023

  » This week marks the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The biggest war in Europe since World War II will continue as nobody knows when, or if ever, Russia or Ukraine will be defeated. Certainly, the US and Europe, or rather Nato are confident that more military hardware support to Kyiv is the only way to bleed Russia dry. Recent rhetoric from the West at the Munich Security Conference last week has already raised the spectre of a long war, perhaps short of a nuclear war. Obviously, that has the potential to drag other European nations into the conflict, which is already a proxy war. Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory to wedge war against Ukraine. Even if the war ends -- it is a big if -- the dire repercussions will continue for generations.

• OPINION

  Thai soft power, or a soft sales job?

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 31/01/2023

  » Last week Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha issued a new soft power policy to promote Thai culture as part of efforts to attract international visitors. Upon close scrutiny, what the government is trying to do is actually raise revenue. In a nutshell, it is a sales pitch, nothing more.

• OPINION

  Thailand revamps Middle East strategy

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 08/02/2022

  » After 32 years of frosty relations, the dramatic normalisation of Thai-Saudi diplomatic relations have far-reaching implications for both countries' diplomatic pathways in the world's most volatile region.

• OPINION

  Boosting human rights in Thailand

  News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/10/2021

  » Thailand's human rights record will be the subject of global scrutiny on Nov 10. The members of the UN Human Rights Council will examine the country's performance during its third universal periodic review (UPR). It will be an extraordinary event for Thailand as it is battling both domestic political turmoil and the coronavirus pandemic, which has allegedly led to numerous unwarranted violations of human rights.

• OPINION

  Thailand tightens information law

  News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 25/05/2021

  » In September 1997 Thailand became the first country in Asean to enact a freedom of information law. The Official Information Act (OIA), as it is known here, became a new benchmark for a free society as well as its openness and transparency. For the first time, the public had the right to access information, especially that previously held by the government.

• OPINION

  Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/01/2021

  » Thailand's future is now at the edge of a precipice due to the recent virus outbreak in Samut Sakhon that has now spread to over 50 out of 77 provinces. The unexpected upsurge has dramatically diminished public confidence that the government will be able to contain the pandemic in a sustainable way. Worst of all, it has also dampened economic activity and overall post-Covid-19 recovery forecasts and plans. At this juncture, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's legacy in terms of his performance during the epidemic is unclear.

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