In quashing one political threat, the country’s conservative establishment may have created an even bigger one. A few months ago, I wrote a column here in the Diplomat predicting that Thailand’s Constitutional Court would end up ordering the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, the largest party in the country’s parliament. After several delays, the court finally… Continue reading How dense are Thailand’s reactionaries?
Since the end of World War II, Japan has largely upheld pacifism. However, this stance seems to be shifting recently, as exemplified by the growing desire among Japanese citizens to amend Article 9, the pacifist clause in Japan’s constitution. This article analyzes why Japanese citizens are re-evaluating their views on Article 9 by examining data… Continue reading Is Japan giving up on pacifism?
Booming foreign tourist arrivals have provided a significant boost to Japan’s economy — and this is being driven by more than just the weak yen. It reflects Japan’s strong competitiveness in attracting global visitors and its ability to diversify its exposure, although there is also the drawback of too much tourism. Japan’s economy is finally… Continue reading What’s behind Japan’s post-pandemic tourism surge?
The Vietnamese Communist Party lost its long-ruling chief earlier this month, and his death could spell trouble for the EU’s cordial relationship with Hanoi. Vietnam’s new leaders, including recently installed President To Lam, have little interest in breaking with Hanoi’s tried-and-tested foreign policy of finding a balance between all powers, analysts say. But their lack of… Continue reading With Nguyen Phu Trong gone, are EU-Vietnam ties at risk?
Thailand’s working-age population could decline by around a fifth by 2050, but things are not as grim as they look. China’s demographics alone – even if you ignore its increasing marginalization from global trade, its dependency on food and energy imports, and President Xi Jinping’s utter gutting of the bureaucracy of anyone who might bring… Continue reading Some reasons not to panic about a Thai demographic collapse
