An idyllic island in the Gulf of Thailand has recently become a subject of contention between nationalists in Thailand and Cambodia, derailing negotiations over the joint exploitation of offshore gas reserves. Koh Kood (or Koh Kut) is a popular holiday hotspot for foreign tourists to Thailand, attracting hundreds of thousandsContinue Reading
Purchasing more U.S. arms would be an obvious way of reducing the trade surplus with the U.S., but Thai leaders may not be ready for uncomfortable discussions over Thailand’s alignment. Source linkContinue Reading
A court in Thailand yesterday denied a request for bail for a prominent American academic accused of violating Thailand’s harsh royal defamation law. Prof. Paul Chambers, a lecturer in political science at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, a city in northern Thailand, was formally charged when he presented himself to policeContinue Reading
Each month, ACLED’s Asia Pacific Team collects information on the dates, actors, locations, fatalities, and types of all reported political violence and protest events in the region. Details below on significant developments in March 2025 in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Korea and Thailand. Bangladesh: Militant activity heightensContinue Reading
A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for a prominent American academic on charges of insulting the monarchy, a crime that carries a punishment of up to 15 years in prison. Paul Chambers, a lecturer in political science at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, a city in northern Thailand, toldContinue Reading
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, especially Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, are navigating the complexities of expanding petrochemical, plastic, and plastic waste recycling industries amidst criticism for being main contributors to marine plastics while suffering from pollution caused by waste imports. These developing economies must navigate the dualityContinue Reading
Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to respond to the sweeping tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing hopes for bilateral negotiations but also expressing their desire to reduce their reliance on the U.S. market. Yesterday, Asia woke to the spectacle of Trump, sitting in the Rose Garden of theContinue Reading
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 provoked global outrage and isolated the country from many of the world’s most important global markets and institutions. Three years later, Russia remains estranged from the West but is far from lonely. Outside of its near abroad, partnership with Moscow is less encumberedContinue Reading
Authorities in Thailand are investigating the construction of a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed during last week’s earthquake, killing at least 13 people. The 30-floor structure in Chatuchak district, which was being built for Thailand’s State Audit Office by a Chinese company and a Thai construction firm, collapsed into a heapContinue Reading
'Devastated': Relatives await news from Bangkok building collapse Source linkContinue Reading
