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Siriporn Tantipanyathep, the Consul General of Thailand in Kolkata, said it was time for both countries to unlock the immense potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and grow together as regional partners. "I expressed my sincere interest in learning more about the islands' development vision, progress, future direction, and aspirations, and how Thailand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can help each other to grow together while unlocking the potential," Tantipanyathep told PTI in an interview. "This is my first visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and I am truly delighted to be here. I have come with great optimism and a strong sense of purpose -- to further strengthen the long-standing friendship with the archipelago, and to explore potential areas for meaningful cooperation," the envoy said. She said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Thailand are already naturally connected by the same sea, historic trade routes, and shared regional opportunities. "We are much clo
A year after Vietnam elevated its relations with Washington to the highest diplomatic level, an internal document shows its military was taking steps to prepare for a possible American "war of aggression" and considered the United States a "belligerent" power, according to a report released on Tuesday. More than just exposing Hanoi's duality in approach toward the US, the document confirms a deep-seated fear of external forces fomenting an uprising against the Communist leadership in a so-called "colour revolution," like the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine, or the 1986 Yellow Revolution in the Philippines. Other internal documents that The 88 Project, a human rights organisation focused on human rights abuses in Vietnam, cited in its analysis point to similar concerns over US motives in Vietnam. "There's a consensus here across the government and across different ministries," said Ben Swanton, co-director of The 88 Project and the report's author. "This isn't just some kind of ...
Southeast Asian foreign ministers gathered Monday in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur for a special meeting to discuss an ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia that escalated into deadly combat two weeks ago. The meeting marked the second time this year that the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, served as a platform to promote de-escalation between its two member states. The new fighting derailed a ceasefire promoted by US President Donald Trump, which ended five days of combat in July. The agreement was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. The ceasefire was formalized with more detail at an October regional summit in Malaysia attended by Trump. The fighting has drawn international concern. The US Department of State on Sunday released a statement calling for Thailand and Cambodia to end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, cease
The death toll in widespread flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in Southeast Asia mounted on Monday with another person reported killed in Vietnam, and five others in Thailand with tens of thousands of people displaced. The total number of confirmed dead in Vietnam is now 91, with 11 others missing as the heavy rain that began a week ago has caused severe flooding and triggered landslides from Quang Tri to Lam Dong provinces, a stretch of 800 kilometers along the country's central region, including the highlands. In Dak Lak, the worst hit province, 63 people were killed, mostly due to drowning. Other fatalities were from Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Danang, Hue and Quang Tri provinces. With roads washed out in many areas, helicopters have been deployed to drop food and aid supplies and to assist in evacuating people. After a break in the rain on the weekend, Pham Thu Huyen was one of many hundreds of residents and visitors who helped clean up debris washed ashore in Nha