The Border Guard Force, a large ethnic Karen armed group, has dropped its allegiance to the military government in Myanmar -- possibly to protect its position in Shwe Kokko, the largest of a number of criminal enclaves on the Myanmar side of the Moei River.  
Myanmar Crisis

Karen border force tilts away from Myanmar military regime

Group protecting turf in major crime center along Thai border, says expert

29 March 2024
People attend Bangkok Pride Parade in June 2023. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Gender

Thailand's parliament approves same-sex marriage bill

Landmark proposal in Southeast Asia must be cleared by Senate, court and king

27 March 2024
Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang is tasked with streamlining Thailand's armed forces, which reportedly have about 2,000 generals. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Thailand's civilian defense minister seeks 'gradual' military reform

Sutin stresses compromise as ruling Pheu Thai avoids clash with coalition partners

18 March 2024
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets supporters at Doi Suthep temple, Chiang Mai on March 15. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Politics

Thaksin's Chiang Mai trip shakes faith of hometown loyalists

Former supporters irked by preferential treatment for Shinawatra clan

16 March 2024
Pita Limjaroenrat led the progressive Move Forward Party, now facing dissolution, to a surprise victory in the May 2023 election. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Thai election authority seeks to disband Move Forward Party

Body claims popular opposition party sought to overthrow constitutional monarchy

12 March 2024
A ship transports containers down the Mekong River. Recently installed Cambodian PM Hun Manet said the $1.7 billion China-backed canal project would allow his country to "breathe through our own nose," diverting its goods for export directly to its own coast rather than via the Vietnam-controlled Mekong Delta. (Photo by Jack Brook)
Asia Insight

Cambodia to divert Mekong trade via China-built canal, vexing Vietnam

Planned Phnom Penh-coast link raises alarms amid regional influence tussle

12 March 2024
Bank of Thailand Gov. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, left, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Hiroki Endo)
Comment

Thai government once again in conflict with central bank

Slow policy progress lies behind Srettha's impatience for rate cut

11 March 2024
A senior official from Myanmar attends the ASEAN defense ministers' meeting in Luang Prabang on March 5. (Photo by Kenya Akama)
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN considers including Europe in defense talks to enhance ties

Move comes as China's clout grows, global tensions spill into Southeast Asia

5 March 2024
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, right, in Singapore as her brother and ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra left for Thailand on Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Politics

Thai court acquits ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra in last pending case

Ruling clears hurdle for homecoming from self-exile

4 March 2024
Military personnel stand during Cobra Gold's opening ceremony Feb. 27 at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield in Thailand's Rayong province. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Defense

Thailand, U.S. launch biggest post-COVID Cobra Gold exercises

Drills to last into March and cover domains from sea to space

28 February 2024
The Bongkot gas field in the Gulf of Thailand. (PTTEP)
Energy

Thailand and Cambodia revisit natural gas ambitions in disputed waters

Decades after first agreement, neighbors weigh joint development for energy security

27 February 2024
People walk through a crowded market in Mumbai. India will announce gross domestic product in the October-December quarter on March 1.
Your Week in Asia

Cobra Gold military exercise, South Korean birth rate, India GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

25 February 2024
Police officers inspect burnt out motorcycles at a showroom in Thailand's Pattani province in 2013. Separatists were suspected of setting the fire in a series of arson attacks.
Politics

Thailand military 'spoilers' step on peace prospects in troubled south

Rebels and government sit down for talks on future of bloody ethnic conflict

20 February 2024
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sits in a vehicle after being released on parole on Feb. 18 in Bangkok.
Politics

Former Thai PM Thaksin returns home after hospital discharge

Soft terms of confinement raise questions over possible special treatment

18 February 2024
Food prices at Singapore's popular hawker centers climbed 15% between 2019 and 2023. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Economy

Singapore, Thailand and more hand out cash to ease inflation pain

SE Asia governments focus on public support while critics warn of fiscal strain

17 February 2024
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts to the ruling by Thailand's Constitutional Court ruling on the party's bid to amend a law against insulting the monarchy.
Politics

Thailand's Move Forward shifts focus from royal reform to military

Main opposition party hopes to avoid dissolution after lese-majeste ruling

15 February 2024
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returns from exile at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok on Aug. 22, 2023.
Politics

Thailand's former PM Thaksin granted special parole

New rule on age and illness sets up release from police hospital in coming days

13 February 2024
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hold a signing ceremony at Government House in Bangkok on Feb. 7. (Photo by Hiroki Endo) 
International relations

Thailand and Cambodia agree to talks on disputed, energy-rich waters

PMs Srettha and Manet eye special border economic zones amid rights concerns

7 February 2024
Thai marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise as part of the Cobra Gold 2023 joint military exercises at a military base in Chonburi province.
Defense

Thailand faces bitter battle over downsizing powerful military

Armed forces' top brass maneuver to call shots even after shift to civilian rule

6 February 2024
Thailand's Sihasak Phuangketkeow, now the country's vice foreign minister, attends a meeting in Naypyitaw in this 2014 file photo.
Myanmar Crisis

Thailand to intensify efforts to resolve Myanmar crisis

Vice foreign minister Sihasak sees cross-border aid initiative in place this month

6 February 2024
Move Forward Party lawmakers react at the parliament in Bangkok on July 4. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Thai court rules Move Forward's lese-majeste reform violated constitution

Largest opposition party faces threat of dissolution, leadership ban

31 January 2024
Foreigners attend an annual Muay Thai event in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Thailand takes aim at film censorship, Muay Thai in soft power push

Paetongtarn Shinawatra says movie restrictions to only cover the monarchy

29 January 2024
Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks with Nikkei Asia in Bangkok on Jan. 26. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Thaksin's daughter says Thailand must 'move on' from political division

Paetongtarn stresses PM Srettha is 'the right man' for country at this time

29 January 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and Thailand Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, pose for the camera at the signing ceremony in Bangkok on Jan.28. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand and China agree mutual visa waivers from March 1

Foreign ministers to hold annual consultations amid 'zero-sum' geopolitics

28 January 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, met U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Thailand's capital. (Source photos by Reuters)
US-China tensions

Xi-Biden call at center of China-U.S. talks in Bangkok

Wang and Sullivan also discuss holding dialogue on AI risks in spring

28 January 2024