Showing 1 - 10 of 232
Can alliances with the US be replaced?
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 07/04/2026
» The increasingly loud debate over the future of alliances -- after reports that the US could scale back or even withdraw from Nato -- is nerve-racking. It has caused alarm across Europe and in Southeast Asia, another node of the US alliance network. Even without any official decision, remarks by US President Donald Trump on social media were enough to shake already fragile US alliances. The question now frequently asked by Thai policymakers is: What comes next if alliances weaken?
Some shock therapy or slow healing?
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 02/04/2026
» Do readers prefer shock therapy or slow healing? This is not a health question, but an important economic one.
Rethinking Thailand's visa-free policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 31/03/2026
» Thailand is planning to cut visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days. This long-overdue change reflects growing concern over the effectiveness of immigration surveillance. Moreover, scaling down visa-free stays underscores the seriousness of the Anutin government's efforts to combat scammers, illegal work, and other underground activities that exploit easy visa access to turn Thailand into a base for under-the-table operations.
Women can lead push for growth
Oped, Anisha Chugh, Laura Leonelli Morey & Teresa Zapeta Mendoza, Published on 09/03/2026
» Across the Global South, painful austerity measures such as benefit caps, pay freezes and subsidy cuts have followed donor governments' recent cuts to foreign aid. The policy pivot has had an especially dramatic impact on women -- costing them jobs, services and protections -- and is causing widespread economic hardship in many developing countries.
As chatbots replace care, more teens will pay price
Oped, Hedda van't Land and Vittorio Busato, Published on 06/03/2026
» In youth mental health care, a striking trend has emerged in recent years.
Time for region to double down on green energy
Oped, Lidy Nacpil, Published on 06/03/2026
» The escalating instability in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, forcing Southeast Asian nations into a precarious position. While the region has made significant pledges to transition toward renewables, the threat of interrupted gas supplies and surging LNG prices is creating a dangerous incentive to prioritise immediate energy security over long-term climate goals.
High risk as mercury rises
News, Editorial, Published on 21/02/2026
» On Monday, Thailand will officially enter the hot, or summer, season. The Ministry of Public Health has warned citizens and businesses to prepare for what is expected to be a more severe summer than last year, due to rising global temperatures.
Navigating between global superpowers
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 14/02/2026
» Both China and the US issued new national security policies over the past year. At first glance, they seem to diverge markedly, portending a deep rupture in the world order. Yet, they may also bear some similarities in terms of self-interest and self-advancement. Collateral to that, other countries seeking to forge a middle path may wish to navigate a perspicacious route towards global equilibrium.
Middle powers can do their bit
News, Moreno Bertoldi & Marco Buti, Published on 02/02/2026
» Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the world is increasingly caught between the United States -- an extractive superpower -- and China, a "dependency superpower" whose global influence rests on making other countries reliant on its exports. In the absence of meaningful resistance, both are likely to remain on this course, leaving middle powers to comply with their demands or face retaliation.
Turning ageing into opportunities
Oped, Sutthida Lertrujiwanich, Published on 14/01/2026
» Thailand has grown grey before it has grown rich. The challenge now is how to turn older people into a driving force for the economy instead of letting them slow the country down. Unlocking their potential and meeting their needs may hold the answer.