The Thai regime is reportedly using spyware to extract personal information from the mobile devices of political dissidents. The use of digital intrusion and repression reinforces Thailand’s autocracy in the face of challenges from the political opposition.
Author Archives: blackbox
Southeast Asians’ View of Quad and AUKUS: Some Thaw, But Not Yet Warm
In recent years, the United States has sought to involve its middle-power friends and allies in various regional initiatives to counter a rising China. Southeast Asia continues to have mixed feelings about this.
Thailand’s Vision to Become A Rail Hub: A Long Shot
Thailand has ambitious plans to become a rail hub in mainland Southeast Asia. But successful implementation of the plan is a different thing altogether.
“France’s Third Path” for the Indo-Pacific? Credentials and Challenges
Considering itself part of the Indo-Pacific on the grounds of history and overseas territories, France has released its Indo-Pacific strategy to guide its international action in this region.
Thammanat versus Phalang Pracharat: Who Will Win?
Controversial Thai politician Thammanat Prompow is proving his mettle as an adept political fixer and could well emerge as kingmaker at the next elections.
Polite Wolves: China’s Soft Twitter Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
China’s diplomats have gained fame on Western social media platforms for their strident ‘wolf warrior’ discourse. But the strategy is not applied uniformly across all countries. In fact, they have taken a more polite tone towards Southeast Asian countries.
The Biden Administration and Southeast Asia: One Year in Review
The Biden administration’s engagement with Southeast Asia in 2021 gained momentum in the second half of the year after a slow start. In 2022, the US will be assessed on the value of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a clearer articulation of its Indo-Pacific strategy and the extent to which it demonstrates genuine efforts to upgrade relations with ASEAN.
The CLMV Countries and RCEP: Will They Grasp the Opportunities?
Like all members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam will enjoy preferential access to the expansive region’s markets. As the least developed members, however, they will have to undergo the greatest changes in reforming their tariff and non-tariff policies to meet the requirements of this modern agreement.
China Should Build Trust Where it Matters
The majority of Southeast Asians continue to regard China as the most influential political, strategic and economic power in the region. But wariness of this state of affairs has not gone away.
In Southeast Asia, Regulatory Overreach No Silver Bullet to Internet Woes
In some Southeast Asian countries, governments have effected restrictions to the Internet in the name of curbing disinformation and safeguarding national security. The key question here pertains to who should be ones regulating acceptable behaviour online.