Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Can Yoon heal South Korea?
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/03/2022
» In the run-up to the South Korean presidential election on March 9, most observers were focusing mainly on regional implications the poll might have and the regional agendas that the new leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy would pursue.
We need better leadership
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 19/10/2020
» As the political temperature in Thailand is rising again, with thousands of young people on the streets to voice their displeasure with the government, the country is looking for strong yet sensible leadership. I think all of you agree.
Help with strings attached
Asia focus, Patpon Sabpaitoon, Published on 30/03/2020
» When Europe was on the verge of collapsing after the carnage of World War II, countries in the region were at risk of drifting into the communist orbit of the Soviet Union. To contain the threat, the United States government in 1948 created a recovery programme worth US$12.7 billion -- $128 billion in today's money.
Looking ahead with hope
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 06/01/2020
» First of all, welcome back to work to anyone who is lucky enough to be starting today instead of last week. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year celebration with their friends and families.
Asia's century, China's year
Asia focus, Asia Focus team, Published on 30/12/2019
» Way back when 1999 was winding down, pundits were telling us that the Asian Century was about to dawn. That prediction has not yet been fully realised, but few would disagree that 2019 belonged to China. Over the past 12 months, the top headlines have been about the bruising trade war with America, defiant protests in Hong Kong against Beijing's tightening grip, and the rise of a surveillance state that is herding hundreds of thousands into "re-education" camps on its western fringes. Below, the Asia Focus team looks back on a busy and sometimes troubling 2019.
Tension tourism
Asia focus, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 21/10/2019
» It has been a long, tense journey for people on the Korean Peninsula. Recently, some have come to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel, following summits between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, and between Mr Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Uneasy neighbours
Asia focus, Ken Lohatepanont and Erich Parpart, Published on 12/08/2019
» Whenever North Korea fires missiles across the Korean peninsula and into the sea, condemnation from South Korea and neighbouring Japan is sure to follow. But last Tuesday, when Pyongyang conducted its fourth such test in two weeks -- coinciding with US-South Korean military drills -- scarcely a word was heard from Seoul or Tokyo.
Pyongyang moves the goalposts
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 22/04/2019
» When I asked a senior official from Washington recently about the failure of the second Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam in late February, the response I received was every bit as diplomatic as I had expected.
Keeping the bombs at bay
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 04/03/2019
» Trump-Kim Summit 2.0 began in a climate of optimism, with some people saying a formal end to the Korean War and complete denuclearisation of the North was in sight, but it was not to be. Disappointment quickly turned to alarm when two other nuclear-armed states -- India and Pakistan -- started sparring.
Year of turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 31/12/2018
» Two unpredictable men with weird haircuts and access to nuclear weapons had a friendly chat in Singapore -- and that was just one of the many noteworthy stories of 2018. Elsewhere in Asia, we witnessed some surprising political developments (Malaysia) and not-so-surprising ones (Cambodia), along with what seemed to be a disturbingly high number of natural disasters. Many see the latter as a manifestation of the growing impact of climate change, and it's a debate that is bound to intensify in the year ahead. Below, Asia Focus looks back on the eventful year now ending.