"Withai said these trench constructions ...constitute a violation of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Thailand and Cambodia. The MOU states that undemarcated areas must be jointly used for patrols, without altering the landscape www.nationthailand.com/news/general...

In this piece I look at recent Thai-China activity following the kidnapping of a Chinese celebrity on the Thai-Myanmar border. The measures are unlikely to arrest the growth of the scam centres. @anubellschool.bsky.social eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/22/c...

The US has never interfered more brazenly and directly in E Europe’s politics than it’s doing now. All the CIA-sponsored ops from the Cold War era are peanuts by comparison—and they were more or less covert or had a front!

In this new article I investigate two research questions: firstly, whether small state hedging can be compatible with alliances, and secondly, what Thailand’s troubled alliance with the United States portends for regional order. @anubellschool.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/eprint/VAYEW...

Joseph Nye - always worth reading. RIP. tnsr.org/2019/11/what...

".....we should be ruthless toward oppressive systems and compassionate toward actual people.” Nice.

Thanks to Natcha Sinkiri ณัชชา สินคีรี and 101 world for translating my article 'Explaining Grey Capital' into Thai. 🙏🙏 www.the101.world/grey-capital...

This is a relief, but only temporary. The charges have not been dropped, so the possibility of up to 15 years in jail still remains. I'm hoping the fact that Paul Chambers did not write the offending text will be enough to get the charges thrown out.

Excellent piece from @liamgammon.bsky.social contemplating an historically unprecedented event - the fall of a rich established democracy into outright authoritarianism. eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/06/t...

Terrible news.

Distressing news. Timing is interesting coming after the US tariffs. Certainly a sign of SE Asia's growing disinterest in freedom of expression. Key takeaway for Thai studies scholars- English is no longer a protection. Thoughts with Paul. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Couldn't help but check if Thailand was a member of the International Criminal Court....unfortunately, no, we won't be seeing MAL bundled onto a plane to the Hague a la another mass murderer.

I sincerely believe that the current administration is not stupid about tariffs, and that they know exactly how chaotic this will be. They also understand that this allows them to dispense extremely valuable favors to businesses--in the U.S. and globally--who will really need them.

Thailand sold electricity produced by Laos hydrogen...back to Laos at a higher price. #ingoodcompany

What role do transnational factors play in the decline of democracy in mainland Southeast Asia? Here I argue that its wrong to look only at China. Instead, we should note that Mekong states and their security forces put regime security ahead of traditional concerns. Article is free to download.

Rule OF law well on the way to becoming rule BY law.

NEW ARTICLE: Surreal to be worrying about SE Asian authoritarianism currently. But it should be understood on its own terms. Open access and part of a forthcoming SI edited by Aim Sinpeng and I on Thailand's 2023 election. @anubellschool.bsky.social dx.doi.org/10.1177/1868...

My review of Thai politics in 2024 and prospects for 2025. @anubellschool.bsky.social eastasiaforum.org/2025/02/11/t...

Much coverage of new agreements between Thailand China re:cracking down on scam centres of eastern Myanmar. Meanwhile, Thai MP Rome says BGF commander and Shwe Koko kingpin Saw Chit Thu has bribed Thai officials who would be exposed were he arrested.

Chilling.

Is Timor-Leste joining ASEAN this year? It really wants to. en.tatoli.tl/2025/01/27/t... 1/6 🧵

"the contrast between the approaches of PAS and Anwar provides a study in strategic communications, including the question of whether political competitors should compete on the same ground, directly rebutting each other, or stake out separate territories and discourses"

Happy Year of the Snake, friends and colleagues.

Doesn’t he care about the difficulties in revising the constitution in order to be able to serve a third term? A: He doesn’t care. He didn’t care about laws, for a very long time, as a business person. So how to defeat these figures is very tricky. asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Pic...

Odd, and may explain why there was so little communication until 'ANU Renew' exploded ... www.afr.com/work-and-car...

On opposing the PAP in Singaporean democracy: "the lack of family support that potential opposition candidates have to deal with "largely stem from witnessing opposition figures land on the receiving end of lawsuits, jail terms and other tools of disempowerment"."

Mount Fuji this morning.

I seem to remember a certain political party promising to break up monopolies....

Richly deserved. We all look up to Marcus' scholarship, and his incredibly dry wit.

Japan maybe behind on EVs but thankfully they don't have the oversize vehicle fetish apparent in Australia.

A. A pretty long way by the looks....

Myanmar: How far will China go to keep junta afloat? My latest with DW Asia about how China is stepping up its involvement in Myanmar Comments Jason Tower, Khin Ohmar @zachabuza.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/myanmar-h...

At my talk this week I’ll make 3 arguments: 1. Democracy decline has been worse in mainland than maritime SE Asia; 2. Transnational factors are part of the problem; 3. China’s not the only transnational factor- Mekong states learn from & support each other, including through transnational repression

The air seems a bit cleaner over here.