Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia
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 …
Cambodia Takes to Global Stage Again
02 November 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: For the next 365 days, every move Cambodia, especially Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, …
Can Glasgow COP 26 Save the Planet? Transforming Climate Fatigue into People Centric Climate Actions
04 November 2021
By Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director of Research Strategy and Innovation, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA): The 26th Session of the Conference …
Thailand's High Stakes for APEC 2022
09 November 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was happy to have a chat and a photo with US President Joe …
Policy on Myanmar must be Prudent
16 November 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Ten months into the crisis in Myanmar, Thailand is still scrambling for a well-balanced policy that would lessen …
Thai Sway on Paris more than Food
23 November 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: It is almost impossible to convince the French that there are other cuisines in the whole wide world …
COP26 and the End of Coal: ASEAN needs a plan
23 November 2021
By Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist: Among the immediate results of COP26 in Glasgow is a strong commitment by at least 23 nations to …
Catching up with the increasing plastic waste: Voluntary initiatives alone are no longer enough
29 November 2021
By Hendro Putra Johannes, Research Associate, and Ayako Mizuno, Programme Manager ,Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA): As a result of rapid …
The Fourth Industrial Revolution Needs more Women and Girls to Drive an Inclusive Post-Pandemic Recovery
30 November 2021
By Dr Giulia Ajmone Marsan and Mr Ravindra Ngo: According to UNESCO data, globally, women are progressing towards parity in higher education (they represent 45-55% …
Govt Backs Information as Public Good
30 November 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: At the recent Unesco General Conference this month, one of the key issues discussed and debated among …
The Economics of COP 26: How to Mobilize the Trillion Dollars to Meet the Net Zero Targets?
30 November 2021
By Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director of Research Strategy and Innovation, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA): The COP 26 has come and …
Thailand-UN at 75: Peace and Security
07 December 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: There are a few things at which Thailand has excelled at the United Nations: Multilateralism, South-South cooperation, …
Japan’s Carbon Neutrality Challenge
09 December 2021
By Prof Jun Arima, Senior Policy Fellow for Energy and Environment: As the world enters the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement, countries are increasingly …
What Does the RCEP Mean for Indonesia?
15 December 2021
By Dr Lili Yan Ing, Lead Advisor on Southeast Asia Region: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will come into effect by 1 January 2022, …
Lauding RCEP: Free Trade for (almost) All
21 December 2021
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: When the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) comes into force on Jan 1, its member countries can …
Indo-Pacific and the Ascent of SE Asia
11 January 2022
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: It is clear that the ongoing debate on the importance of the Indo-Pacific is all about which …
Cambodia's Chair: Trust and Tasks Ahead
18 January 2022
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Cambodia's reputation in regional and international affairs has long preceded Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent trip to …
Regional Governments Key to Tackling Climate Change in Indonesia
18 January 2022
By Ms Citra Endah Nur Setyawati, Research Associate and Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director of Research Strategy and Innovation, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East …
A New Chapter in Japan's Asia Policy
25 January 2022
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Japan's recently announced new economic doctrine towards Asia has two dimensions. The first has Asean at its core. …
Myanmar's Crisis and Emerging Traps
01 February 2022
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: Today is the first anniversary of the Feb 1 seizure of power by the Tatmadaw in Nay …
Thailand Revamps Middle East strategy
08 February 2022
By Mr Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Communications Advisor: After 32 years of frosty relations, the dramatic normalisation of Thai-Saudi diplomatic relations have far-reaching implications for …
