Longer-form commentary and opinion pieces across all geographic sections
Amid the uncertainty and delay in its submarine acquisition, the Royal Thai Navy suffered another setback when its slim hopes of procuring a frigate were dashed by lawmakers. A House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the budget rejected the Navy’s proposal to buy the warship, citing budget constraints and a poor procurement plan. Defense
The crisis of high household debt is casting a dark shadow over Thai society: over a million people are on the edge of bankruptcy, some have committed suicide or crimes, and many are suffering from mental breakdowns. The problem of high household debt has been hounding the country since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country
The Move Forward Party has suffered a turbulent three-year ride since it emerged as the reincarnation of the disbanded Future Forward in 2020. Not only was its leader suspended as an MP on charges of illegal media shareholding, but it also failed to form a government despite winning last year’s general election. But all this
In over six months in office, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has earned kudos for his efforts to win back the confidence of international investors, but there’s little else to show for all the travels and meetings. The country’s image was undoubtedly damaged by the 2014 military coup and a military-backed government, and the PM has been working
A government initiative to convert agricultural land reform certificates into title deeds has sparked both hope and concern for millions of Thailand’s poorest people. For farmers, the initiative offers the opportunity to use their land plots for more than just agricultural activities. With title deeds, they can also use their land as collateral to obtain
Thai tourists are excited at the permanent visa-free agreement signed by Thailand and China, which would make travel for citizens of both countries easy, with large-scale implications for tourism. Chairat Trairattanacharatporn, a former chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, sees the arrangement as offering enormous convenience to Thai passport holders when the permanent visa-free
For the first time since the two countries established modern-day diplomatic ties almost 50 years ago, Thai tourists will be allowed visa-free entry to China from March 1. Excitement is growing among Thais eager to visit Chinese destinations without having to apply for visas anymore, according to media reports in both countries. Thailand temporarily waived
Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is yielding no ground in his face-off with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over the central bank’s interest rate policy. Against the backdrop of slowing economic growth, Srettha wants the BOT to lower the interest rate from the current 2.5 per cent per annum, the highest in nearly a
No one will know who will become the 47th president of the United States until November 5 after the votes have been counted. What is clear, however, is the growing anxiety of all countries, big or small, about the prospects for the newly elected leader. At this juncture, it seems certain that the incumbent Joe
Legal amnesty for people charged with political crimes has been a hot potato for the past decade in Thailand. An attempt in 2013 by Yingluck Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai government to pass an amnesty law covering anyone charged in connection with political conflicts led to massive street protests that culminated in a military coup in May
The use of AI deep-fakes in Indonesia, during the run-up to this year’s elections, is ringing alarm bells among advocates for information integrity, as they are being used for political gain. As the world watches the country’s fifth direct presidential elections, since the end of the Suharto era in 1998, it is worth taking a
Cannabis has soared in popularity among Thais since being removed from the narcotics list two years ago and launched into an almost unregulated market. Estimates suggest the number of cannabis users in Thailand has rocketed 10 times to about 10 million – around one in seven people – since it became the first country in
