• OPINION

  Don't rule out war over Taiwan

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 14/01/2019

  » Last week was a busy one for China. Headlines took note of fresh harassment of Taiwan, reports of possibly illegal gold mining by Chinese firms in Ghana, and of separatists threatening to attack Belt and Road projects in Pakistan and Malaysia.

• OPINION

  Smoked out? Not yet

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 19/11/2018

  » No one disputes that cigarettes can kill. Each year smoking accounts for 7 million deaths worldwide -- that's seven times more than those attributable to the world's deadliest animal, the mosquito.

• OPINION

  A restaurant with a soul

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 08/10/2018

  » Back in the glory days of Patpong in the 1970s and 1980s, before the night market arrived, Mizu's Kitchen was one of the hottest places in Patpong Soi 1 in Bangkok.

• OPINION

  Dark enough for you?

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 20/08/2018

  » 'Dark tourism" is an interesting concept that did not come to my attention until I watched a Netflix series recently. Few countries actively promote offbeat or slightly dangerous pursuits but it's a niche with potential, if managed carefully -- even if it's hard to explain to your insurer.

• OPINION

  America the unwelcoming

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 28/05/2018

  » If you saw the recent Asia Power Index complied by the Lowy Institute, you may have been surprised to see the United States ranked above China as the pre-eminent power in Asia in 2018. One major factor giving America the edge was "cultural influence".

• OPINION

  Eyes open in Bangladesh

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 07/05/2018

  » In many ways, my trip last month to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka and to the world's biggest refugee camp at Kutupalong was a life- and perspective-changing experience.

• OPINION

  Lese majeste law and reality

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 26/03/2018

  » The lese majeste law in Thailand is a sensitive subject that most people prefer to avoid talking about. Under Article 112 of the criminal code, anyone can file a lese majeste complaint against anyone else and the police are obligated to investigate every single complaint. The courts can sentence anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent" to jail terms of between three and 15 years.

• OPINION

  Pyongyang's charm offensive

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 19/02/2018

  » A budget of US$2.6 million to ensure red-carpet treatment for North Koreans at the Winter Olympics is just one sign of South Korea's eagerness to revive dialogue with its dangerous neighbour. The North appears equally keen, based on the high-profile visit to Pyeongchang by Kim Yo-jong, the Supreme Leader's sister and Pyongyang's PR queen.

• OPINION

  Enjoy the calm while it lasts

  Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 23/10/2017

  » China's economy slowed marginally from 6.9% growth in the first half to 6.8% in the third quarter but is still on course to beat Beijing's full-year target of 6.5%. It was the sort of good news Communist Party bigshots were waiting to hear, coming a day after President Xi Jinping's stirring three-hour speech to their twice-a-decade congress.

• OPINION

  Wake-up call for Don Mueang

  News, Erich Parpart, Published on 09/08/2017

  » The numbers of international arrivals to Thailand speak for themselves. So why was the Immigration Bureau not to know that its counters at Don Mueang International Airport would be clogged by arriving passengers last Saturday, and why wasn't it prepared?

First Previous 1 2 3 Next Last