Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Time to tone down Taiwan tensions
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 08/08/2022
» It was a picture-perfect shot, really. That was my thought when I saw US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi standing side by side with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei last Wednesday. But the one-day visit to the self-ruled island by the 82-year-old American politician has created no end of tension, not only for the US and China but also many of their allies across the Asia Pacific region.
Politics and peril for Asian women
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 16/05/2022
» The political landscape in Asia has been very dynamic lately, but it is a disappointment to me personally that events have not been kind to women.
Taiwan feels chill from Ukraine crisis
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 28/02/2022
» Countries across the world are feeling the impact of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as stock markets tumble and oil prices spike. But Taiwan is feeling a particular chill, amid concerns that it eventually could face a similar fate at the hands of China.
Where To Next?
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 10/01/2022
» The world has entered its third year of living with a global pandemic. We have witnessed almost 300 million Covid-19 cases with 5.47 million lives lost, yet the toll might have been much worse but for an almost superhuman global effort to develop effective vaccines in record time.
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Xi-Biden summit a hopeful sign
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 15/11/2021
» As the US and China stake out rival security strategies in the Asia-Pacific region, notably on Taiwan, the world takes heart from comments by Chinese President Xi Jinping that Beijing is ready to manage differences with Washington as the leaders of the two superpowers prepare to meet virtually today, the first since US President Joe Biden took office in January.
US and China should continue talks
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 20/09/2021
» The United States last Wednesday took a major step in challenging China's massive influence in Asia by announcing a plan to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines that could eventually make their way into contested waters claimed by Beijing.
Our thirst for semiconductors
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 29/03/2021
» Taiwan is facing its worst drought in 56 years, an event that is having an unexpected impact on its position as a global semiconductor production hub.
Tech for everyone
Asia focus, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 15/02/2021
» For many people, seeing a lot of old people in a hospital is something expected, even mundane. But for Dr Kanapon Phumratprapin, it was a challenge that he wanted to help solve.
Confident Taiwan moves ahead
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 24/08/2020
» In light of the severe health and economic crises the world is facing today, countries that manage to maintain internal stability will be the ones best positioned to survive and thrive faster than others.