Showing 1 - 10 of 10
There's no happy ending for the Chagos Islands
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 25/10/2024
» If you believe the British government (which you should never do), a new agreement will bring justice for the people of the Chagos Islands, who have lived in exile for more than half a century after the main island, Diego Garcia, was turned into a giant American airbase in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
How Beijing's tactics failed in democratic Asia
Oped, Yoon Young-kwan, Published on 22/03/2023
» Since the dawn of international politics, smaller states have faced the formidable challenge of navigating great-power rivalries. Today, it is the geopolitical contest between the US and China that has compelled countries to balance their competing national interests. Toward which side they gravitate depends on domestic and external circumstances.
In challenging waters, Vietnam to steer Asean
News, Du Nhat Dang, Published on 16/01/2020
» Mention "Asean" these days and public opinion in Vietnam tends to think of the South China Sea disputes. But the country sees its role as Asean Chair in 2020 as one that entails a much wider responsibility -- that of being a bridge among Asean's members, as well as between with Asean and external powers, in uncertain times.
Climate change urgency grows
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 01/07/2019
» Climate change is global in nature but it is having an especially severe impact on Asia. Chennai, one of India's largest cities, has run out of water as the summer heat intensifies. With monsoon rains below average, four lakes in the city of 4.7 million have dried up. Residents don't have enough water to drink, bathe or wash clothes, malls have closed their washrooms and restaurants are not open for customers.
City Hall must mend its ways
News, Editorial, Published on 22/06/2019
» Falling into a manhole. Getting hurt by a construction crane. Suffering floods in the rainy season. These recent incidents are just part of a never-ending series of urban stories which reflect how Bangkok residents risk their safety and compromise their well-being on a daily basis, thanks to negligence and lax law enforcement by City Hall.
Asean eco-issues need more than feel-good talks
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 16/03/2019
» As this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Thailand has recently done impressive work in tackling environmental problems in the region.
Beijing saves Mekong islets
News, Editorial, Published on 12/03/2019
» The revelation that China is backing away from its plans to blow up islands and outcroppings in the Mekong River is welcome news. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he had raised the issue last month during a visit by Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. It is a wise move by Beijing. It comes more than two years after all riverside communities and civil society in four countries had registered strong opposition.
Putin lacks the clout to cut isles deal with Abe
News, Leonid Bershidsky, Published on 24/01/2019
» The window of opportunity for Russia and Japan to officially end World War II with a peace treaty narrowed again after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Moscow on Tuesday failed to end in a breakthrough. There's still time for Mr Abe to secure his legacy, but a lot depends on President Vladimir Putin's increasingly shaky domestic standing.
China-Japan thaw: Good news for Asean
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 30/10/2018
» The new thaw between China and Japan -- the world's No.2 and No.3 economies -- is a good development for Asean. The three-day official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China last week marked a new turning point in their roller-coaster of ties. The much-awaited improvement bodes well for ongoing Asean community-building efforts in all dimensions. The region's progress and stability depend very much on the level of these Asian economic giants' amity and cooperation.
Developing the Mekong
News, Editorial, Published on 10/01/2018
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is in Phnom Penh for the two-day Mekong River summit that begins this morning. The second of its kind, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Summit involves the leaders of all six countries touched by the mighty Mekong. The prime agenda item is what Beijing calls The Five-Year Plan of Action, a Chinese-dictated guideline for "development" of the river. One of the prime minister's most important tasks will be careful monitoring of how this plan impacts Thais.