Showing 1 - 10 of 183
Activists need protection
News, Editorial, Published on 14/05/2019
» Thailand's already battered human rights record has fallen another notch following reports of the mysterious disappearance of three activists accused of lese majeste while in exile in Vietnam.
Asean media under attack
News, Editorial, Published on 22/01/2018
» A free press is the key test of whether a nation has true freedom of speech. Across the region, every country is failing the test. In communist Vietnam and all the way to the resurgent army controllers in Myanmar, governments are arresting, imprisoning and strongly intimidating the media.
US discovers SE Asia
News, Editorial, Published on 24/04/2017
» One hundred days into the Donald Trump presidency, the United States has realised there is a part of the world it ignored. Vice-President Mike Pence has been in Indonesia, praising its "moderate" Muslims. Mr Trump will attend all three big East Asia summits in November. He also will make official visits to Vietnam and the Philippines. They are the hosts of the summits of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), and East Asia.
Government must back sea talks
News, Editorial, Published on 27/02/2017
» The threat of clashes has increased lately over China's claim it owns the South China Sea. A US navy task force led by the formidable aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is conducting "routine operations" in the area. Both Vietnam and Taiwan have copied China's construction of artificial islands with military facilities. Beijing has continued to fortify its new islands, with buildings believed capable of housing missiles. They would be the first land-based weapons in the Spratly Islands where international flashpoints and tensions increase almost by the day.
Cleaning up the kitchen
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/10/2022
» Thailand is not shy about promoting its farm products and national cuisine -- a perhaps over-sized sense of pride that has emboldened the government to position the kingdom as the "kitchen of the world" and enshrine our gastronomic heritage as "soft power".
Crowe's soft power gift
News, Editorial, Published on 18/10/2021
» The tweeted pictures and messages about Thailand from Hollywood star Russell Crowe come at the right place and time.
A Wuhan in the making?
News, Editorial, Published on 21/03/2020
» The Chinese government may have closed down the wet market in Wuhan where the coronavirus is believed to have originated. But in the heart of Bangkok, a "Wuhan in the making" continues to operate as usual at Chatuchak Weekend Market, where trade in wild animals has taken place for years.
Admit errors, cure the ills
News, Editorial, Published on 29/06/2019
» Unlike China's communist dictatorship, which has delivered rapid and sustained high economic growth since 1979, Thailand's authoritarian rule over the past five years has presided over only slow growth in the economy.
Did China just blink?
News, Editorial, Published on 21/08/2017
» The annual mid-year Asean meetings discussed, but then once again set aside, the highly disputatious issue of the South China Sea. This was no surprise. The host of the meetings, the Philippines, has had its own problems settling on a policy towards the regional disputes. Since last year's election of colourful President Rodrigo Duterte, Manila has seemed rudderless on the issue. Despite efforts by several of the 27 countries that took part in the Asean meetings earlier this month, that lack of direction prevailed.
Tackling plastic waste
News, Editorial, Published on 29/01/2018
» A study of Thai and neighbouring underseas life, published last week, proves beyond doubt that people are killing coral. Specifically, the plastic items that wind up in the area of Thai reefs is literally the death of coral. Ocean currents, sand and rocks bash and cut bags, bottles and trash to tiny bits. The coral, living animals, eat the plastic, choke and die.