Showing 1 - 10 of 202
Today's date with national destiny
Oped, Editorial, Published on 08/02/2026
» Thailand has a double date with destiny today. As the polls open across all 77 provinces, it is imperative for citizens to exercise their right to vote in both the general election and the constitutional referendum.
School bus safety ignored
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/02/2026
» In January alone, there were eight school bus accidents, the Thailand Consumer Council says -- a prominent civic group campaigning for school bus safety. These incidents claimed one life and injured 122 others, yet they were treated as snippet news that drew little public attention.
How China won innovation in lieu of freedom
Oped, Jennifer Lind, Published on 28/11/2025
» A decade ago, China's government unveiled Made in China 2025 -- a bold vision for transforming the country from the world's assembly line into a global innovation leader. The plan was met with considerable scepticism, particularly in the West, where a robust scholarly consensus held that authoritarianism was fundamentally incompatible with innovation. China was light-years behind the global frontier. Barring drastic political change, many observers concluded, China would remain a "copycat nation".
AI as Asia's new growth engine?
Oped, Lee Jong-wha, Published on 27/11/2025
» Two decades after globalisation fuelled a global economic boom, growth has shifted onto a more subdued path, where it is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Beyond the immediate shock of fragmenting trade and investment ties -- a result of rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and China -- lie structural headwinds, including population ageing, stagnant productivity, and the growing costs of inequality and natural disaster. These challenges strike at the heart of Asia's growth model.
Rising heat needs urgent response
Oped, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Published on 24/11/2025
» 2024 was the hottest on record globally. In Asia and the Pacific, Bangladesh was the worst-hit country, with about 33 million people affected by lower crop yields that destabilised food systems, along with extensive school closures and many cases of heatstroke and related diseases. Children, the elderly and low-wage earners in poor and densely populated urban areas suffered the most, as they generally had less access to cooling systems or to water supplies and adequate healthcare. India, too, was badly affected, with around 700 heat-related deaths mostly in informal settlements.
Rethinking finance beyond aid
Oped, Justin Yifu Lin & Yan Wang, Published on 06/11/2025
» Traditional donors have sharply scaled back their aid commitments to developing countries over the past year. Some, like the United States, have virtually eliminated their aid programmes. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), official development assistance (ODA) from member countries declined by 7.1% in 2024, its first annual drop in six years.
China and green progress in Asia
Oped, Chen Ziqi, Published on 31/10/2025
» For the past two decades, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, has been reshaping the Asia-Pacific's approach to growth.
Building a better future together
Oped, Park Yongmin, Published on 28/10/2025
» In just a few days, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, from the Oct 31 to Nov 1. As this year's host, Korea is working its final preparations to welcome delegates from 20 member economies, including Thailand, to ensure a successful and productive outcome.
Brazil, Asean prospering together
Oped, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Published on 24/10/2025
» The partnership between Brazil and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) exemplifies how a future of peace, stability and sustainable growth can be built. With complementary and dynamic economies and a shared vision of a fair and inclusive international order, we demonstrate how dialogue and cooperation within the Global South can bridge distances and generate mutual benefits.
The future Asean Economic Community
Oped, Satvinder Singh, Published on 01/10/2025
» This year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has launched the bloc's new goal -- New Asean 2045: Our Shared Future and its Strategic Plans. Under this, it is worth reflecting on the words of Vincent Van Gogh: Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.