Showing 1 - 10 of 26
Political exiles deserve better
News, Editorial, Published on 10/01/2025
» The beginning of 2025 should have provided a fresh start for Thailand. The country began its three-year term as a member of the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Jan 1, and the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government is eyeing related events.
Soft power sells best when not force-fed
Arusa Pisuthipan, Published on 07/08/2023
» South Korea knows how to sell its products. Apart from K-entertainment, the country has also popularised K-merchandise through pop culture. From fried chicken and ramyeon cup noodles to egg drop sandwiches and soju, instant coffee and dietary supplements, we have seen countless products from South Korea in series and movies successfully create a huge customer base in Thailand.
Asean customs transit system a boon
Oped, Satvinder Singh, Published on 07/09/2022
» Over three years ago, Mr Raj, the general manager of City Zone Express (CZE) Malaysia, a regional logistics company with branches in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and China and a fleet of more than 260 vehicles, was proud of his GPS-equipped fleet. It had innovative security gadgets and an anti-hijacking system, and CZE looked destined to become one of the top logistics companies in the region.
Asean must save its biodiversity
Oped, THERESA MUNDITA S LIM, Published on 08/03/2022
» Approximately 20% of the planet's vertebrate and plant species are found only in the Asean region and nowhere else in the world. Home to four biodiversity hotspots and three of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, Asean has extraordinarily high levels of richness of species and endemism.
Cambodia takes to global stage again
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 02/11/2021
» For the next 365 days, every move Cambodia, especially Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, makes or takes will be scrutinised by strategists and political pundits around the world. Phnom Penh will be the new fulcrum in the post-pandemic era to which global leaders can converge and discuss their future, which could further intensify cooperation or tension. After nearly four decades of continuous power, Hun Sen's brinkmanship is well known and most of all, he knows exactly what he wants to say and do. Uniquely, none of the regional leaders knows the region's pulse and global politics as well as Hun Sen.
Opening needs caution with every step
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 18/10/2021
» Living with Covid-19 seems to be the inconvenient reality that several countries have accepted after realising that, unless there is an effective vaccine that can protect us from getting infected, the virus will remain with us and affect our livelihoods for the foreseeable future.
Dual task: Save Asean, save Myanmar
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 12/10/2021
» Never before in the 54-year history of Asean had its members encountered such a bitter debate about the situation in Myanmar as they did last Monday when they unknowingly nearly tore down the founding fathers’ commitment to keep the Asean roof over all countries in Southeast Asia.
Covid-19 and the structural crises of our time
Oped, Lim Mah Hui & Michael Heng Siam-Heng, Published on 07/09/2021
» The Covid-19 pandemic devastating as it is not simply a health crisis. It is the product of an interlocking web of diverse problems that have been building up over time. Given the structural nature of this crisis, even as the embers of the immediate fire of infections and deaths burn out, the fallout from the conflagration will continue, taking different forms in its wake, including the rise of yet another pandemic.
Asean lags behind Myanmar curve
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/08/2021
» The more it tries to catch up on Myanmar's post-coup crisis, the more Asean falls behind. Since Myanmar's military takeover on Feb 1, Asean has spent nearly the first three months getting its act together for a "special summit" and a "five-point consensus" on April 24 and then more than another three months to meekly implement the agreement. In the event, the appointment of Brunei's Second Foreign Minister Erywan bin Mohd Yusof as the Asean envoy to promote dialogue and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar is likely to prove too little, too late for what has been desperately needed on the ground.
Thailand's three Myanmar strategies
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/03/2021
» With the unexpected coup in Myanmar on Feb 1 and the ensuing violent clashes between protesters and security forces over the past six weeks, Thailand is stuck between a rock and hard place. Thailand's foreign and security policy-makers have adopted three strategies in handling one of the most "difficult political incidents" in a neighbouring country.