Showing 1 - 10 of 40
Global power play
Oped, Postbag, Published on 01/10/2024
» Re: "China and fulcrum of peace, security", (Opinion, Sept 12).
What to make of the Russian-N Korean alliance
Oped, Yoon Young-kwan, Published on 12/07/2024
» Not content with disturbing the peace in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un. As troubling to China's leaders as it is to Western officials, the deal is shaking up the geopolitics of Northeast Asia and sending reverberations around the world.
The utility of neutrality, now in steep decline
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 02/03/2024
» Neutrality used to be a European thing, but it is now in steep decline. If it were an animal, we'd have to declare it an endangered species.
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.
North Korea's launches still making a splash
Oped, John J Metzler, Published on 27/12/2023
» There they go again again! North Korea's reclusive communist regime ended the year with a provocative intercontinental ballistic launch, flying near Japan and splashing down in the Pacific. The ominous firing of a powerful Hwasong-18 rocket came a month after Pyongyang put a spy satellite into orbit.
Lao PDR is ready for Asean challenges
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/12/2023
» Starting Jan 1, Lao PDR will officially take over the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). This comes at a critical time as uncertainty increases regionally and globally. The growing competition among major powers has already had chilling effects on the region and beyond, never mind the ongoing issues of climate change and supply chain crises. Taking the helm for the third time, Vientiane will have to be proactive due to the urgency of such challenges.
North Korean missile test snubs dialogue
Oped, John J. Metzler, Published on 21/07/2023
» North Korea's unannounced launch of another ballistic missile early this week became a ho-hum event, given the rash but predictable actions by Pyongyang. After all, we have seen this bellicose stunt many times before and thus have become dangerously numb and nearly indifferent to its ultimate threat and consequence.
Putin provides a shot in the arm for Nato
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 12/07/2023
» When Nato held its annual summit in Brussels two years ago, all 31 presidents and prime ministers of the alliance’s member states dutifully showed up, but their hearts weren’t really in it. France’s President Emmanuel Macron had publicly declared Nato “brain-dead” in 2019, and nobody could find a good reason to disagree.
The United Nations mustn't be powerless
Oped, Takatoshi Ito, Published on 04/03/2023
» The first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a good opportunity to reflect on the war's global implications. In addition to untold human misery, Russia's aggression triggered a historic food and energy crisis and caused global inflation to spike, endangering the world's fragile economic recovery from Covid-19. But the war also highlighted the shaky foundations of the international security order that emerged after the end of World War II, sending shockwaves around the world and encouraging countries like Germany and Japan to rearm.
2 coups (failed) and random speculation
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 13/12/2022
» Could there be anything more ridiculous than last week's failed coup attempt in Peru?