• OPINION

  Rohingya riddle

  News, Postbag, Published on 12/09/2018

  » Re: "ICC's leap in the dark", (Editorial, Sept 10).

• OPINION

  Asean-US to meet amid great challenges

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/04/2022

  » After more than six months of negotiations, the US and Asean have finally agreed that their leaders will meet in Washington DC on May 12-13. This kind of tussle could have been avoided had there been better coordination from the US side.

• OPINION

  Asean is still alive and kicking (softly)

  News, Published on 17/11/2020

  » Despite the condescending views and criticism levied on Asean's defects and the relevancy of its small members, barring well-to-do Singapore and Brunei, the grouping has emerged from the just-completed 37th summit with a bigger profile and international role. The signing of the Asean-led, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest free-trade pact, was just one manifestation.

• OPINION

  Asean issues "extraordinary" bulletin

  News, Published on 15/09/2020

  » Asean has further consolidated and displayed its true self amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the most holistic of ways. The empirical evidence can be found in the 12,390-word Joint Communique. The 99-paragraph document requires a careful study as it is rather "extraordinary", as a senior Thai Asean official put it, in both substance and length. The communique this year encompasses elements and ingredients that will make Asean more cohesive and responsive in facing current and future challenges. Truth be told, Asean under Vietnam's chair took a painstakingly long time debating the wording, with lots of agreements and disagreements over the content. Since the communique was released late by one day, rumours ran amok that it might not come out at all, repeating the 2012 debacle.

• OPINION

  Multilateralism the key for Pakistan, Thailand

  News, Published on 26/08/2020

  » Pakistan and Thailand have traditionally relied on multilateralism in the conduct of foreign policy. Abiding faith in the value of multilateralism drives our commitment to regional and international cooperation. With other like-minded friends, our two countries collaborate at the United Nations and a host of regional and cross-regional organisations to advance our shared objectives of peace and development.

• OPINION

  Asean unity in the age of coronavirus

  News, Published on 30/06/2020

  » The opening ceremony of the 36th Asean Summit in Hanoi last Friday, attended by a roomful of local and foreign dignitaries, was a definite "ooh-aah" moment for Vietnam, which has been successful in mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was brimming with confidence as he gave his opening remarks, which were transmitted via teleconference to his nine Asean colleagues, some of whose countries are still in partial lockdowns.

• OPINION

  Vietnam's dual foreign policy strategy

  News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 07/01/2020

  » Finally, Vietnam has fulfilled its long-held dream of becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2020-2021) at the same time as the country chairs 10-member Asean. These dual strategies have high diplomatic value in propelling Vietnam to become a leading member in the future Indo-Pacific scheme of things.

• OPINION

  A sneak peek at the 35th Asean summit

  News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 29/10/2019

  » Next week, the sprawling IMPACT Muang Thong Thani complex will be temporarily transformed into an international arena for talks between the world's greatest movers-and-shakers.

• OPINION

  Eight challenges Asean must overcome

  Surakiart Sathirathai, Published on 08/08/2015

  » Exactly 48 years ago, the foreign ministers of the five Founding Members of Asean gathered here in Lamtaen, Bang Saen to chart a new course for this region.

• OPINION

  India overcomes leadership limitations

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 07/03/2023

  » If anything, the outcome of the G20 foreign ministerial meeting was a good barometer of the true nature of India's potential as a global power. On its own turf, it still was not able to garner support from all the G20 members to agree on the joint ministerial statement last week. The host was very disappointed, given its recent success at the Bali summit last November. The harsh reality serves as a reminder of the prevailing geopolitical rivalry, which is getting worse by the day. Just a few months ago, India was hailed as a hero for playing a very important role in assisting the G20 host, Indonesia, to broker the G20 leaders' statement -- once described as an impossible task. Since then, New Delhi has been very proud of its political clout.

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