Opinions

CPTPP procrastination not an option
29 June 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: It must be said, right from the start, that the debate on the merits and demerits of Thailand's …

Three Point Pathway for Promoting Sustainable Palm Oil Production and Trade
01 July 2021
By Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director of Research Strategy and Innovation: Since its inception for commercial purposes in early 1900s, palm oil has been promoted …

Thailand Must Get its Act Together on US
01 July 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: The Biden administration has made the Thai-US alliance more secure and valuable as demonstrated by the 7th Thai-US …

Can Thailand's vibrant media be self-regulated?
06 July 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Exactly 24 years ago this week, some 40-plus publishers and editors from all over Thailand came together …

Russia is back and it's a little bit better
13 July 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Make no mistake, Russia is back in Southeast Asia, the region where its former empire reigned during …

New US push: Vaccine and Mekong
20 July 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken used the special session with Asean last week to shore up …

Brunei's chairmanship is truly ASEAN
27 July 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: By default, Brunei's Asean chairmanship has brought into the open the bloc's strengths and weaknesses for all …

US Urges ASEAN to Stand up to China
03 August 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made it clear the US would like to see Asean stand …

ASEAN at 54: In need of Some Speed
10 August 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Despite the plethora of criticism, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in its 54th year is …

US-Thai Cobra Gold drills Wither at 40
17 August 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: The 40th iteration of Cobra Gold (CG), which ended last week, was supposed to be the best …

Taliban 2.0: Regional, Global Impacts
24 August 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: The Taliban's victory is still fresh but unintended consequences that can impact the regional and global strategic …

Biden's Fault Lines in SE Asia
31 August 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Vice President Kamala Harris was right in stating that when the history of the 21st century is …

Thailand Plans Cultural Centre in China
07 September 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Sixteen years after the idea was first broached, Thailand is planning to set up its first ever …

Biden's Doctrine and Regional Fallout
14 September 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: It is difficult to imagine the region or the world without US involvement. After the Afghanistan debacle, …

We Must End Torture in All Its Forms
21 September 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: The whole country has been shocked by a video clip of a rogue police officer torturing a …

Thailand's 'Next Normal' Vision at UN
28 September 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: This year the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was quite exceptional because of its jam-packed agenda dealing …

ASEAN Can Live with Quad and Aukus
05 October 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: The current strategic situation is not quite the same as Asean faced in its early days, but …

Dual Task: Save ASEAN, Save Myanmar
12 October 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Never before in the 54-year history of ASEAN had its members encountered such a bitter debate about …

Boosting Human Rights in Thailand
19 October 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Thailand's human rights record will be the subject of global scrutiny on Nov 10. The members of …

ASEAN Leaders Face Off with Big Powers
26 October 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: In Bandar Seri Begawan, whether Asean leaders decide to upgrade China and Australia's dialogue status to comprehensive …