• OPINION

  Asean centrality in a changing world

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 30/04/2024

  » What is Asean centrality? It can mean different things to different people, but broadly, it can be seen as a regional framework that supports Asean's role as the dominant regional platform to overcome common challenges and engage with external powers.

• OPINION

  Asean now 'really' matters to Australia

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/02/2024

  » The Albanese government has repeatedly declared that Asean matters to Australia. In the past, such an assertion often drew a quick response, with "really?" being the most common reply. Today, that is no longer the case. Asean "really" does matter to Australia. However, whether Australia matters to Asean remains to be seen.

• OPINION

  Lao Asean chair: better comfort level

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 06/02/2024

  » The outgrowth of the latest Asean foreign ministers' retreat in Luang Prabang last week palpably shows a better comfort level between the host and their colleagues. Such a casual atmosphere generated better outcomes without politicising or dragging on contentious issues. Most importantly, Vientiane's diplomatic finesse is highly visible in its third chairmanship in approaching Asean-related issues and challenges: the thinking is less is more with clear-cut priorities. If this trajectory continues, the Lao chair will be lauded.

• OPINION

  Acmecs: The power of working together

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/10/2023

  » Amid great geopolitical realignment and unpredictability, existing and new mini-lateral groups throughout the world have been revitalised or created. Their common objective is a simple one -- finding their own niche to augment their bargaining power for national and regional preservation. Mainland Southeast Asia is no exception. To survive in a multipolar world, every nation, big or small, must be on full alert 24/7.

• 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

  New playbook for Thai diplomacy?

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 12/09/2023

  » The Srettha government has started outlining its policies in parliament. Regarding diplomacy and internal policies, two paragraphs in the middle of the draft speech encapsulate the guiding principle of Thailand's new diplomatic trajectory.

• OPINION

  Asean summit forges fresh strategies

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/09/2023

  » With its theme "Asean Matters: Epicentrum of economic growth", the Indonesian chair has raised the Asean playing field to an unprecedented level, especially as the bloc has to engage with a new geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. That helps explain why Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has to reiterate that Asean needs an extraordinary tactical strategy to face the current global turmoil when he met on Friday with a group of high-level Asean businessmen and investors.

• OPINION

  Lessons from Hun Sen's Cambodia

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

  » If international relations experts and scholars want to study a small state's diplomatic manoeuvres amid the ever-changing geopolitical landscape, they should make Cambodia their case study. With a new prime minister, Hun Manet, now in charge, the question remains: Will he be able to keep up with his father's multipolar politics?

• OPINION

  Asean, Thailand, Myanmar turn page

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 01/08/2023

  » The Suu Kyi-Don meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on July 9 has given hope of "a fresh opening" to the political peace process for Myanmar as well as the implementation of the Asean Five-Point Consensus (5PC). At the upcoming Asean-related summits in early September, the 5PC will be reviewed in full with all the updates and outcomes of a myriad of efforts by the Asean chair and other Asean members to recalibrate the Asean 5PC.

• OPINION

  Asean broadens its geopolitical profile

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 18/07/2023

  » Asean's geopolitical profile has significantly expanded under Indonesia's chairmanship, especially regarding the bloc's external relations with the great powers. Jakarta might be found wanting in its addressing of the Myanmar crisis, but that's understandable given the complexity of the stakeholders involved both on the battlefield and beyond.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next Last