Showing 91 - 100 of 114
Duterte fails credibility test
News, Editorial, Published on 26/10/2016
» Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has once again caused massive and unnecessary diplomatic upheaval. During a trip to China last week, he announced a new policy to "separate" from the United States, in both military and economic fields, only to soften his stance three days later when he was back in Manila. His remarks, however, left his cabinet, his country, Washington and the region in complete confusion.
Zika inaction is deplorable
News, Editorial, Published on 03/10/2016
» Two weeks after Asean health ministers agreed to step up the sharing of information on the Zika virus, the most informed and credible data about Asean countries is from the other side of the world. Not only are the Public Health Ministry and its counterparts doling out information like it was rationed, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has better, more credible advice. This disconcerting situation is unacceptable.
Law trumps iron fist in fight against drugs
News, Editorial, Published on 02/10/2016
» Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has apparently tried to justify his bloodthirsty approach to dealing with the drug epidemic. On Friday, he likened himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in his bid to exterminate three million drug users and peddlers in the Philippines.
Future for Asean
News, Editorial, Published on 11/08/2016
» Forty-nine years ago this week on Aug 8, five countries signed a declaration in Bangkok, establishing an association aimed at promoting economic cooperation and regional stability.For nearly 25 years after Asean was founded, its membership stood at six countries -- Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Brunei.
Asean fails unity test
News, Editorial, Published on 28/07/2016
» The ominous signs were looming. Supporters hoped that this time it would be different. But in the end, the sceptics were right. Asean would not, could not, come up with a unified position on the recent ruling against China by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the South China Sea.
Asean must step up
News, Editorial, Published on 14/07/2016
» China's reaction to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) over the South China Sea territorial dispute was predictable. Beijing has never recognised the tribunal's jurisdiction to rule on this case and refused to present its claims before it.
South peace suffers blow
News, Editorial, Published on 02/05/2016
» On Friday night, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha unexpectedly brought up the situation in the South during his weekly address to the nation. He was terse and he was blunt. He called the 12-year war "a sad and terrible waste of lives", and in that one sentence criticised attempts over the past year and a half under his regime to renew peace talks with Malaysia-based separatists. Dialogue appears interrupted for the time being.
Duterte must not skirt law
News, Editorial, Published on 13/05/2016
» Congratulations to the people of the Philippines for turning out in full force to vote in yet another successful election -- a crucial part of their country's democratic process.Campaign attention centred on the controversial Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race and the prospects of Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr for the vice-presidency. While both races are crucial, they are only part of a general election where Filipinos also chose members of their Senate and House of Representatives, as well as local government representatives. Monday's poll was the fifth since the People's Power Revolution, spearheaded by Corazon Aquino, toppled president Ferdinand Marcos after the controversial 1986 elections.
Obama must be realistic
News, Editorial, Published on 25/05/2016
» US President Barack Obama is in Asia once again. His 10th trip takes him to Vietnam and, later this week, to Japan. The focus of the US leader is to continue his agonisingly slow "pivot" to Asia of US security policy. There is far more on the agenda than upgrading Vietnam ties. China, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the fight against the Islamic State and Myanmar's halting progress to democracy all are being addressed.
In the dark on army's shadowy powers
News, Editorial, Published on 03/04/2016
» Estimates vary, but two wrongs tend to make things twice as wrong. As bad at the Royal Thai Police have been, and this newspaper has been a strident critic of their myriad failings, the junta’s unilateral decision last week to turn soldiers, sailors and airmen into the nation’s second, shadow police force is extremely troubling.