Author: Chalong Tantasatityanon

When the U.S. and Philippine militaries concluded their largest-ever joint military exercises on May 8, they cemented a surprisingly robust security alliance that is crucial to containing China—both in the South China Sea and beyond. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has re-embraced its historic security ties with the United States. Washington has been happy to increase arms transfers and make new infrastructure promises that bring the Philippine government in Manila closer to Washington and its regional allies, including Tokyo. It’s a stark contrast with Marcos Jr.’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who favored closer ties with Beijing and in 2020…

SINGAPORE – The Chinese embassy in Singapore on March 18 asked its citizens in the Republic to “stay away” from gambling, adding that cross-border gambling violates Chinese laws. The embassy, in a statement on its official WeChat account, “solemnly reminded” Chinese citizens in Singapore to steer clear of gambling, which is strictly prohibited by law in China. “Even if overseas casinos are opened legally, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country and face the risk of punitive actions,” said the embassy, warning that embassies may not be able to provide consular protection for…

WASHINGTON — A new campaign for Myanmar led by the son of imprisoned democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Kim Aris, is using tattoos as a publicity tool to raise humanitarian aid for the millions displaced following the 2021 military coup. People in Myanmar’s diaspora are getting tattoos of a Burmese water dragon as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing resistance movement inside Myanmar. And they are sharing pictures and videos of their tattoos and the associated live fundraising events on social media to create a buzz around the symbolic tattoo, and drive participants to its GoFundMe page. A military…

As international efforts to crack down on bogus carbon credits intensify, the Thai government ought to reconsider its highly problematic forest carbon offset projects which grant corporations control over community forests. Under the Paris Agreement, Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2065. To achieve these goals, the government plans to increase green areas to 55 per cent of the country and to use terrestrial and mangrove forests to generate carbon credits to offset carbon emissions. Thailand’s Voluntary Emission Reduction Programme (T-VER) was established in 2014 and many large Thai companies, including those in the fossil fuel industry,…

In brief The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has recently released a new Notification on Measures to Protect the Rights of Telecommunications Service Users Related to Personal Data, Rights to Privacy, and Liberty to Communicate through Telecommunications (“Telecommunications Data Protection Notification“). This Telecommunications Data Protection Notification repealed and replaced the existing NTC (National Telecommunications Commission, now the NBTC) notification on data protection, which had been applicable to telecommunications business operators since 2006. While the new Telecommunications Data Protection Notification has been updated and revised to align with the Personal Data Protection Act, B.E. 2562 (2019) (PDPA), the notification contains…

Vietnam will continue to employ its “four nos” defense policy as it seeks to be independent, self-reliant and multilateral in international partnership. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a government meeting on international partnership Wednesday that the four nos are no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases or using Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations. These principles were listed in Vietnam’s Defense White Book in 2019. Vietnam has been a good friend, a dependable partner, and an active and responsible member…

Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Luong Quoc Huy has highlighted great potential for the two countries to boost their cooperation, especially in economy and trade, during a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (August 4). Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Luong Quoc Huy has highlighted great potential for the two countries to boost their cooperation, especially in economy and trade, during a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (August 4). According to the diplomat, the Vietnam-Iran…

Demand for gold in Vietnam shrank 9% in the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year, according to the World Gold Council’s latest report. Demand for gold in Vietnam shrank 9% in the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year, according to the World Gold Council’s latest report. Vietnamese purchased 12.7 tonnes of gold in Q2, down 1.3 tonnes year-on-year. Vietnam’s economy experienced a sluggish growth in the first two quarters of this year, affecting local market sentiment and jewelry demand. Local demand for gold bars and coins dropped by 5% year-on-year from 9.6 tonnes in…

Elite Bangladeshi forces arrested a ringleader of a Myanmar separatist group on Friday from the southeastern Cox’s Bazar refugee camp. Hafez Nur Mohammad, camp resident and commander of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), was captured by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in an overnight operation, the unit’s Legal and Media Wing Director Khandaker Al Moin announced. The RAB, which conducted the operation and apprehended the man, stated that the force continued its efforts in remote forests to detain other members of the group. The ARSA has allegedly been responsible for leading criminal activities, kidnappings, and killings, according to police.…

Those in charge of Myanmar’s scam centres don’t want the world to see what’s going on inside. Phones are confiscated upon arrival and work devices are wiped before anyone leaves, as scam bosses go to great lengths to hide their crimes. Jane and Max, two Filipinos forced to work for one of the criminal outfits along Myanmar’s border with Thailand, were made to wait an additional 10 days before their eventual release in early July to allow their wounds to heal. “They held us because of our bruises,” Jane said, showing scars on her back and shoulders. “They didn’t want anyone to…