Finland’s Leaders Call For NATO Membership ‘Without Delay’

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13 May 2022, 12:00

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto makes a point during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Photo: Frank Augstein / Pool via AP

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s leaders said Thursday they’re in favor of rapidly applying for NATO membership, paving the way for a historic expansion of the alliance that could deal a serious blow to Russia as its military struggles with its war in Ukraine.

The annoucement by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin means that Finland is all but certain to join the Western military alliance, though a few steps remain before the application process can begin. Neighboring Sweden is expected to decide on seeking NATO membership in coming days.

“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement.

“Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay,” they said. “We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”

Russia reacted to the development with a warning. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Finland joining NATO would “inflict serious damage to Russian-Finnish relations as well as stability and security in Northern Europe.”

“Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps of military-technical and other characteristics in order to counter the emerging threats to its national security,” the ministry said.

“History will determine why Finland needed to turn its territory into a bulwark of military face-off with Russia while losing independence in making its own decisions,” it added.

Before the ministry issued its statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Finland’s decision wouldn’t help stability and security in Europe. Peskov said Russia’s response would depend on NATO’s moves to expand its infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Finland has the longest border with Russia out of all the European Union’s 27 members.

Previously, the Kremlin had warned of “military and political repercussions” if Sweden and Finland decided to become a NATO member. Should they seek to join the alliance, there would be an interim period lasting from when the applications are submitted until ratification by lawmakers in all 30 existing member nations.

In NATO member Estonia, which also borders Russia, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted that “history being made by our northern neighbors.” She pledged to support “a rapid accession process” for Finland into NATO.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted that Finland’s announcement gave an “important message.”

Finland’s announcement came a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited both Finland and Sweden to sign a military cooperation agreement.

The U.K. pledged Wednesday to come to the aid of Sweden and Finland if the two Nordic nations came under attack.

During a joint news conference with Johnson in Helsinki this week, Niinisto said Moscow could only blame itself should his nation of 5.5 million people become a NATO member.

“You (Russia) caused this. Look in the mirror,” the Finnish head of state said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Niinisto tweeted that he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Finland’s firm support for Ukraine and the country’s intention to join NATO. Niinisto said Zelenskyy “expressed his full support for it.”

In 2017, Sweden and Finland joined the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, which is designed to be more flexible and respond more quickly than the larger NATO alliance. The force uses NATO standards and doctrine so it can operate in conjunction with the alliance, the United Nations or other multinational coalitions.

Fully operational since 2018, the force has held a number of exercises both independently and in cooperation with NATO.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to reconsider their traditions of military nonalignment and to contemplate joining NATO itself. Public opinion in the two countries quickly started to shift toward favoring membership, first in Finland and a bit later in Sweden, after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The latest opinion poll conducted by Finnish public broadcaster YLE showed earlier this week that 76% of Finns are in favor of joining NATO, a big change from earlier years when only 20-30% of respondents favored such military alignment.

Speaking to European Union lawmakers Thursday as Niinisto and Marin made their announcement, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that Russia’s unpredictable behavior was a serious concern for Finland. He cited Moscow’s readiness to wage “high-risk operations” that could lead to many casualties, including among Russians.

Should Finland become a NATO member, it would represent the biggest change in the Nordic country’s defense and security policy since World War II, when it fought against the Soviet Union.

During the Cold War, Finland stayed away from NATO to avoid provoking the Soviet Union, instead opting to remain a neutral buffer between the East and the West while maintaining good relations with Moscow and also with the United States.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the military alliance would welcome Finland and Sweden — both of which have strong, modern militaries — with open arms and that he expects the accession process to be speedy and smooth.

NATO officials say the Nordic duo’s accession process could be done “in a couple of weeks.” The most time consuming part of the procedure – ratification of the country’s protocol by the existing NATO members – could be completed in less time than the four or so months it took West Germany, Turkey and Greece to join in the 1950s, when there were only 12 members to ratify their applications.

“These are not normal times,” one NATO official said this week, discussing the possible applications of Finland and Sweden. The official was briefing reporters about the accession process on condition that he not be named as no application has been made by the two countries.

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Story: Jari Tanner. Lorne Cook in Brussels, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

CPF shows 16% growth in Q1 sales revenue on cost-pushed price adjustments and normalized pork market in Vietnam

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Contributor

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13 May 2022, 09:39

Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl. (CP Foods) reported Bt138,887 million sales revenue in the first quarter of 2022, showing a 16% increase from the same period last year. While the operations in Thailand raised sale revenue by 13%, the overseas businesses witnessed an 18% increase.

CP Foods reported Bt2,842 million net profits in the quarter, a decrease by 59% from the corresponding period last year. The lower net profits were attributable chiefly to pork prices in Vietnam and China which stayed relatively lower from last year when the ASF outbreak caused shortages. Exacerbating the situation was a jump in the prices of raw materials for animal feed production.

Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of CP Foods, said that CP Foods have faced grave business challenges throughout the past few years. Firstly, the COVID-19 outbreak that dampened consumer purchasing power worldwide and forced alterations in business models. Secondly, the Russo-Ukrainian War has introduced new challenges and uncertainties on foreign exchange rates, energy prices and the prices of raw materials for animal feed manufacturing which have spiked since late last year. These factors have raised the Company’s operating cost.

CP Foods has closely monitored the situation and adjusted business models accordingly to changes in consumer behaviours. It has also given importance to production management and operational efficiency, to keep the operating cost at a competitive level.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Prasit expected an improvement in the overall financial performance in 2022, compared to last year, thanks to continued improvement in food demand and easing of the COVID-19 infection rates which led Thailand and several other countries to gradually relax travel restrictions. Meanwhile, meat prices are heading up due to shortages in some countries while the export volume of chicken from Thailand has increased.

Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy™ expands to close to 100 hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific

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Contributor

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12 May 2022, 13:36

Purpose-led program collaborates with creative arts initiative PARDICOLOR to reimagine travel posters as part of expansion

HONG KONG, 11 May 2022 – Marriott International today announced the expansion of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy™, a program that offers meaningful travel across Asia Pacific. The program now spans close to 100 hotels across the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in Asia-Pacific and offers guests the opportunity to forge first-hand connections with local communities and the environment during their stay.

With more hotels and resorts offering the Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy program, Marriott is set to deliver richer and wider choices of meaningful experiences that promote both cultural understanding and positive, sustainable change. As part of the expansion, Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with PARDICOLOR, an environmental creative arts initiative by conservation organization Wildlife Asia to reinterpret traditional travel posters with a purposeful twist.

According to the 2022 American Express Travel Global Survey, people are more intentional about where they spend their money, and impact travel is resonating across all demographics. Travelers are placing increasing importance on making a positive impact on the destinations they visit. Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy will offer curated experiences that focus on three key pillars: Environmental Protection to support the resiliency of the natural environment due to environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change; Community Engagement to support local communities through cultural education or volunteerism; and Marine Conservation to restore and preserve marine ecosystems and species.

“We are absolutely delighted to expand Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy to allow travelers even more ways to connect with local communities on a deeper level,” said Bart Buiring, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Marriott International Asia Pacific. “The pandemic has brought about an enhanced sense of purpose and travelers are increasingly looking for different and more meaningful ways to travel. Our expansion of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy is well-positioned to allow guests to reimagine travel from a pure leisure experience to one that can positively impact the places they visit.”

Each experience connects guests with local experts and NGOs at the destinations they visit, while promoting and deepening cultural understanding. Experiences range from planting mangrove seeds in the forests of Langkawi to restore the wetland, to joining a temple preservation in India to mitigate the destructive effects of sandstorms on its façade, to caring for fish species in Qiandao Lake in China to help improve water quality.

As part of the collaboration with PARDICOLOR, artist Joséphine Billeter has created travel art that depict the concept of holidaying while doing good. PARDICOLOR is an environmental creative arts initiative that supports local artists to raise environmental and social awareness across Southeast Asia, aligning with Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy’s goal to allow guests the opportunity to create a positive impact while traveling.

The creative designs follow the program’s three experience pillars and will be seen across selected participating hotels in the form of digital displays, welcome and thank you emails, alongside digital post cards for downloads.

The expansion builds on last year’s pilot with 15 hotels across the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in the region, reaffirming Marriott International’s commitment to doing good in the communities where it operates. Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy is guided by the company’s sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction.

To learn more, please visit https://marriottbonvoyasia.com/goodtravel.

Arnon: Monarchy Reform Movement Still on Track Despite No Street Protests

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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12 May 2022, 13:00

Civil rights lawyer and activist Arnon Nampa at an anti-government rally on Aug. 10, 2020.

BANGKOK — Co-leader of the monarchy reform movement Arnon Nampa is out on bail for the second time. He faces multiple lese majeste charges, around thirty lese majeste cases, so many that Arnon said he does not know the exact number. That could see him return to prison for a very long time if found guilty.

Arnon answered a few questions filed by Khaosod English’s Pravit Rojanaphruk about the current state of the movement and his future.

How is your life different now that it is the second time that you were released on bail after spending months in prison? You posted on Facebook saying you may have to return to prison again. Why?

We are more composed this time. Through the time in prison, we thought more about how to continue the struggle, so we do not feel much while both inside and outside prison. I said I may be back [in prison] again [later this month] because that is the timeframe of the bail conditions [to be reconsidered by the court]. We also assessed the [political] situations and think it will get more intense starting May.

So, we think that if the political situation is ripe, the state may try to incarcerate so we cannot make a move or lead protests and make demands. This situation today is not like that. The struggles and demands have progressed and widened. Anyone could come out to act without leadership. Nevertheless, I do not think that is how the government sees it. They believe someone must be leading and that is our jinx.

What happened to the massive protests on the streets? Why do we not see it anymore?

I do not think the protesters have disappeared, but these days are not active on the streets. COVID-19 was a crucial reason. People are not ready to be [back] on the streets. However, if you look at the political sentiments on social media, at the demands and fund raising from the masses, we are still many.

Pro-democracy protesters raise a three-finger salute, a symbol of resistance, during a rally at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Thailand on Sept. 20, 2020. Photo: Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP

I think it is growing gradually. Asked if the massive protests will return or not, I think when the situation reaches the point where people will have to take to the streets they will. People are waiting for the final countdown when the situation is ripe.

Where is the current stage of the struggle for monarchy reform? Is it still on course?

The next stage is we are trying to propose a draft bill to be considered by the parliament. Right now, there is a signature hunt to call for the abolition of the lese majeste law. Asked where we are now, I think we can push the legal [reform] side but we still have to also continue to explain our stance to the public. We will try to widen the debate about our struggles. I think we have opened up this space to a certain level already.

The past year saw some young activists moving towards becoming republicans. Why? What would you like to convey to those in power?

It is difficult to answer because there is a limit [imposed by the lese majeste] law, so we cannot say everything. You asked whether some have now subscribed to such ideology or not, the answer is yes to a certain level, but the number is not large to the point where there is a critical implication.

Activists from Thalu Wang movement stage a street poll asking if people agree with the government allowing the King to exercise power as he pleased on April 19, 2022. Photo: iLaw

Asked what direction it will take; I think we still adhere to monarchy reforms under a democratic system. We hope those in power will listen to the voices of the youths who are making moves. We are serious and sincere in presenting and talking about the problems as well as discussing the solutions and want big people [or seniors] to be open minded and talk to us.

What is your future in case you do not end up serving a long sentence? Will you continue your profession as an attorney of law? Are you going to enter politics?

I have no plan to enter politics. Being an attorney of law is something I will continue to do but will also engage in other works to sustain myself… I will lead a normal life but will meet younger generations more frequently in order to exchange opinions and how to work together.

You are currently out on bail. Do you consider your life outside prison free?

It is apparent that being outside prison is freer. We can do many things. At least we can meet people and fully access the news. What is most important is being outside prison, we can seek evidence and meet witnesses to prepare to fight the charges. We are facing multiple charges, and this is what we can do.

Arnon at Wat Chiang Man in Chiang Mai province on May 4, 2022. Photo: Arnon Nampa / Facebook

You recently urged the main opposition Pheu Thai Party to push for monarchy reform. Do you think they will ever take it up? Why do you think the Pheu Thai Party still has no such policy when many of its supporters want to see the monarchy reformed?

As someone working with the [monarchy reform] movement we must try to sell our goods. What I meant is selling your views and aspirations to all political parties, so all parties adopt it as their party policy and forge social structure through the parliament. I admit that we have been unable to sell our dreams to all political parties, no matter what the reason is. But I think we must keep trying in order to find a peaceful solution for society.

If our proposals are not adopted by parties as their policy and demands are left to the streets, it will be very risky. Do not forget that our society has a rather unflattering history in [the state] dealing with street protests, particularly protests that are sensitive like demands for monarchy reforms.

Nevertheless, I think all pro-democracy political parties need the votes from the new generation. I think if we have enough time to explain, then it’s possible that the said political party will definitely buy our ideas. This is something we have to keep working hard on.

Choose a High-quality Aluminium Manufacturer in Thailand

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Contributor

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12 May 2022, 09:30

You should always choose the highest quality aluminium manufacturer you can in Thailand. This is especially true when the products are door and window frames.

With the building boom in Thailand still continuing, developers are faced with many options in their suppliers. From wall and roof products to concrete additives and new paint sealers, the world of building materials and suppliers seems to grow every time a new project breaks ground.

But developers need to be extra vigilant about the products they use in the homes and condos they build. Even the smallest piece of inferior hardware can cause substantial and expensive damage to a project.

Establishing a Reputation

That’s why developers who have years of experience have a list of suppliers they trust above all others to supply them with quality products that perform their job well and last for years.

These suppliers have established a reputation for quality that ensures they’re chosen to supply some of the largest real estate projects in Thailand. Architects and developers need to be sure that the specifications given by a supplier are the exact same specification as the product they supply to the project. If they differ substantially, they can throw the whole project into jeopardy.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a building material that’s not up to spec can threaten the structural integrity of the entire project. That’s why having a name that represents quality is so important in the construction industry. Having building materials supplied by manufacturers with a solid reputation in the industry makes it easier for the developer to sleep at night.

They can rest assured that each material will perform the way it’s supposed to without fail. And a building constructed of name-brand materials is safer and more valuable than one built with bargain-basement materials.

Goldstar Represents Quality

Goldstar Metal is a quality name in Thailand for the extruded aluminium window and door frames they offer. Window and door frames represent the barrier between a homeowner and the outdoor elements. They need to be strong and fit within their frames without leaking.

With more and more prefab construction taking place in the industry, any doors or windows that are out of spec can cost the developer time and money to have replaced. The more prefab work being done on a project, the more the problems of out-of-spec window and door frames are multiplied.

That’s why a reputation and name such as Goldstar Metal is so valuable to a developer with such a large project at stake. Goldstar is the leading manufacturer and distributor of extruded aluminium in Thailand. They’re known by every architect, developer, and contractor in the country as a high-quality supplier that can be trusted to deliver the right products every time.

For your next construction project, contact Goldstar Metal for your extruded aluminium needs. You’ll be rewarded with quality products that will make your project more valuable to buyers.

Ukrainians Make Gains in East, Hold On at Mariupol Mill

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Associated Press

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11 May 2022, 12:30

A Ukrainian serviceman inspects a site after an airstrike by Russian forces in Bahmut, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline operator said Wednesday it would stop Russian shipments through a key hub in the east of the country, while its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Kyiv’s military had made small gains, pushing Russian forces out of four villages near Kharkiv.

The pipeline operator said Russian shipments through its Novopskov hub, in an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, would be cut beginning Wednesday. It said the hub handles about a third of Russian gas passing through Ukraine to Western Europe. Russia’s state-owned natural gas giant Gazprom put the figure at about a quarter.

The operator said it was stopping the flow because of interference from “occupying forces,” including the apparent siphoning of gas. Russia could reroute shipments through Sudzha, a main hub in a northern part of the country controlled by Ukraine, it said. But Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said that would be “technologically impossible.”

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that the military was gradually pushing Russian troops away from Kharkiv, while Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced what appeared to be increasing confidence — and expanded goals, suggesting Ukraine could go beyond just forcing Russia back to areas it held before the invasion began 11 weeks ago.

Kuleba told the Financial Times that Ukraine initially believed victory would be the withdrawal of Russian troops to positions they occupied before the Feb. 24 invasion. But the focus shifted to the eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas after Russian forces failed to take Kyiv early in the war.

“Now if we are strong enough on the military front, and we win the battle for Donbas, which will be crucial for the following dynamics of the war, of course the victory for us in this war will be the liberation of the rest of our territories,” Kuleba said.

Kuleba’s statement seemed to reflect political ambitions more than battlefield realities: Russian forces have made advances in the Donbas and control more of it than they did before the war began. But it highlights how Ukraine has stymied a larger, better-armed Russian military, surprising many who had anticipated a much quicker end to the conflict.

An example has been Ukraine’s ability to prevent easy victories is in Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters holed up at a steel plant have denied Russia full control of the city. The regiment defending the plant said Russian warplanes continued bombarding it, striking 34 times in 24 hours.

In recent days, the United Nations and the Red Cross organized a rescue of what some officials said were the last civilians trapped at the plant. But two officials said Tuesday that about 100 were believed to still be in the complex’s underground tunnels. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said those who remain are people “that the Russians have not selected” for evacuation.

Kyrylenko and Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor, did not say how they knew civilians were still in the complex — a warren of tunnels and bunkers spread over 11 square kilometers (4 square miles). Others said their statements were impossible to confirm.

Fighters with the Azov regiment released photos, which could not be independently verified, of their wounded comrades inside the plant, including some with amputated limbs. They said the wounded were living in unsanitary conditions “with open wounds bandaged with non-sterile remnants of bandages, without the necessary medication and even food.”

In its statement on Telegram, the regiment appealed to the U.N and Red Cross to evacuate the wounded servicemen to Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Ukraine said Tuesday that Russian forces fired seven missiles at Odesa a day earlier, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse in the country’s largest port. One person was killed and five wounded, the military said.

Images showed a burning building and debris — including a tennis shoe — in a heap of destruction in the city on the Black Sea.

One general has suggested Moscow’s aims include cutting Ukraine’s maritime access to both the Black and Azov seas. That would also give Russia a corridor linking it to both the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014, and Transnistria, a pro-Moscow region of Moldova.

Even if Russia fails to sever Ukraine from its coast — and it appears to lack the forces to do so — continuing missile strikes on Odesa reflect its strategic importance. The Russian military has repeatedly targeted its airport, claiming it destroyed several batches of Western weapons.

Odesa is also a major gateway for grain shipments, and the Russian blockade threatens global food supplies. It’s also a cultural jewel, dear to Ukrainians and Russians alike. Targeting it carries symbolic significance.

Hitting Odesa might oblige Kyiv to shift forces to the southwest, drawing them away from the eastern front in the Donbas, where Ukrainian forces are fighting near Kharkiv to push the Russians back across the border.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian military’s general staff said its forces drove the Russians out of four villages to the northeast of Kharkiv. The city and its surroundings have been under sustained Russian attack since the early in the war. In recent weeks, grisly pictures testified to the horrors of those battles, with charred and mangled bodies strewn in one street.

The bodies of 44 civilians were found in the rubble of a five-story building that collapsed in March in Izyum, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kharkiv, Oleh Synehubov, head of the regional administration, said Tuesday.

Russian aircraft twice launched unguided missiles Tuesday at the Sumy area northeast of Kharkiv, according to the Ukrainian border guard service. The region’s governor said the missiles hit several residential buildings, but no one was killed. Russian mortars hit the Chernihiv region, along the Ukrainian border with Belarus, but there was no word on casualties.

Zelenskyy used his nightly address to pay tribute to Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of an independent Ukraine, who died Tuesday at 88.

Kravchuk showed courage and knew how to get the country to listen to him, he said.

That was particularly important in “crisis moments, when the future of the whole country may depend on the courage of one man,” said Zelenskyy, whose own communication skills and decision to remain in Kyiv when it came under Russian attack helped make him a strong wartime leader.

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Story: Elena Becatoros and Jon Gambrell. Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Kelvin Chan in London and AP’s worldwide staff contributed.

Marcos Presidency Complicates US Efforts to Counter China

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Associated Press

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11 May 2022, 12:00

FILE - Presidential hopeful, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator, gestures as he greets the crowd during a campaign rally in Quezon City, Philippines on April 13, 2022. Photo: Aaron Favila / AP File

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s apparent landslide victory in the Philippine presidential election is raising immediate concerns about a further erosion of democracy in Asia and could complicate American efforts to blunt growing Chinese influence and power in the Pacific.

Marcos, the namesake son of longtime dictator Ferdinand Marcos, captured more than double the votes of his closest challenger in Monday’s election, according to the unofficial results.

If the results stand, he will take office at the end of June for a six-year term with Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, as his vice president.

Duterte — who leaves office with a 67% approval rating — nurtured closer ties with China and Russia, while at times railing against the United States.

He walked back on many of his threats against Washington, however, including a move to abrogate a defense pact, and the luster of China’s promise of infrastructure investment has dulled, with much failing to materialize.

Whether the recent trend in relations with the U.S. will continue has a lot to do with how President Joe Biden’s administration responds to the return of a Marcos to power in the Philippines, said Manila-based political scientist Andrea Chloe Wong, a former researcher in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

“On the one hand you have Biden regarding the geostrategic interests in the Philippines, and on the other hand he has to balance promoting American democratic ideals and human rights,” she said.

“If he chooses to do that, he might have to isolate the Marcos administration, so this will definitely be a delicate balancing act for the Philippines, and Marcos’ approach to the U.S. will highly depend on how Biden will engage with him.”

His election comes at a time when the U.S. has been increasingly focused on the region, embarking on a strategy unveiled in February to considerably broaden U.S. engagement by strengthening a web of security alliances and partnerships, with an emphasis on addressing China’s growing influence and ambitions.

Thousands of American and Filipino forces recently wrapped up one of their largest combat exercises in years, which showcased U.S. firepower in the northern Philippines near its sea border with Taiwan.

Marcos has been short on specifics about foreign policy, but in interviews he said he wanted to pursue closer ties with China, including possibly setting aside a 2016 ruling by a tribunal in The Hague that invalidated almost all of China’s historical claims to the South China Sea.

A previous Philippines administration brought the case to the tribunal, but China has refused to recognize the ruling and Marcos said it won’t help settle disputes with Beijing, “so that option is not available to us.”

Allowing the U.S. to play a role in trying to settle territorial spats with China will be a “recipe for disaster,” Marcos said in an interview with DZRH radio in January. He said Duterte’s policy of diplomatic engagement with China is “really our only option.”

Marcos has also said he would maintain his nation’s alliance with the U.S., but the relationship is complicated by American backing of the administrations that took power after his father was deposed, and a 2011 U.S. District Court ruling in Hawaii finding him and his mother in contempt of an order to furnish information on assets in connection with a 1995 human rights class action suit against Marcos Sr.

The court fined them $353.6 million, which has never been paid and could complicate any potential travel to the U.S.

The United States has a long history with the Philippines, which was an American colony for most of the early 20th century before gaining independence in 1946.

Its location between the South China Sea and western Pacific is strategically important. And while the U.S. closed its last military bases on the Philippines in 1992, a 1951 collective defense treaty guarantees U.S. support if the Philippines is attacked.

The U.S. noted their shared history in its remarks on the election. “We look forward to renewing our special partnership and to working with the next administration on key human rights and regional priorities,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

Even though the Biden administration may have preferred to work with Marcos’ leading opponent, Leni Robredo, the “U.S.-Philippines alliance is vital to both nations’ security and prosperity, especially in the new era of competition with China,” said Gregory B. Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“Unlike Leni, with her coherent platform for good governance and development at home and standing up to China abroad, Marcos is a policy cipher,” Poling said in a research note. “He has avoided presidential debates, shunned interviews, and has been silent on most issues.”

Marcos has been clear, however, that he would like to try again to improve ties with Beijing, Poling said.

“But when it comes to foreign policy, Marcos will not have the same space for maneuver that Duterte did,” he said. “The Philippines tried an outstretched hand and China bit it. That is why the Duterte government has reembraced the U.S. alliance and gotten tougher on Beijing over the last two years.”

Marcos Sr. was ousted in 1986 after millions of people took to the streets, forcing an end to his corrupt dictatorship and a return to democracy. But the election of Duterte as president in 2016 brought a return to a strongman-type leader, which voters have now doubled-down on with Marcos Jr.

Domestically, Marcos, who goes by his childhood nickname “Bongbong,” is widely expected to pick up where Duterte left off, stifling a free press and cracking down on dissent with less of the outgoing leader’s crude and brash style, while ending attempts to recover some of the billions of dollars his father pilfered from the state coffers.

But a return to the hard-line rule of his father, who declared martial law for much of his rule, is not likely, said Julio Teehankee, a political science professor at Manila’s De La Salle University.

“He does not have the courage or the brilliance, or even the ruthlessness to become a dictator, so I think what we will see is a form of authoritarian-lite or Marcos-lite,” Teehankee said.

The new Marcos government will not mean the end of Philippine democracy, Poling said, “though it may accelerate its decay.”

“The country’s democratic institutions have already been battered by six years of the Duterte presidency and the rise of online disinformation, alongside the decades-long corrosives of oligarchy, graft, and poor governance,” he said.

“The United States would be better served by engagement rather than criticism of the democratic headwinds buffeting the Philippines.”

Marcos’ approach at home could have a spillover effect in other countries in the region, where democratic freedoms are being increasingly eroded in many places and the Philippines had been seen as a positive influence, Wong said.

“This will have an impact on Philippine foreign policy when it comes to promoting its democratic values, freedoms and human rights, particularly in Southeast Asia,” she said. “The Philippines is regarded as a bastion of democracy in the region, with a strong civil society and a noisy media, and with Bongbong Marcos as president, we will have less credibility.”

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Story: David Rising and Jim Gomez. Rising reported from Bangkok.

Siam Piwat and Thai Airways synergizes, connecting the world of travel with business ecosystem pand over-the-top privileges

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Contributor

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10 May 2022, 14:19

Siam Piwat and Thai Airways join forces to leverage premium business ecosystem. Thai Airways services and products are now on offer at ONESIAM SuperApp platform and on-ground at ONESIAM retail properties – the ‘Luxury Lifestyle Destination.’
Travel now linked with customer journey, an experience at anytime anywhere – the solutions that caters to lifestyle of ONESIAM and Thai Airways customers. Exclusive privileges are on offer year-round.

Siam Piwat Co., Ltd, a leading property and retail developer – the owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery and a joint-venture partner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok further strengthens its premium business ecosystem and reinforce its ‘Luxury Lifestyle Destination’ positioning. Siam Piwat join forces with Thai Airways International PCL, Thailand’s national airline that offers standout service with Thai identity, connecting Thailand to the world, to form a business synergy, in line with Siam Piwat’s ‘Collaboration to Win’ strategy. Under this vision statement, the two leading organizations now works in tune to amplify the business ecosystem for a sustainable shared success. Now Thai Airways services and products are available on ONESIAM SuperApp platform and on-ground at ONESIAM retail properties. In addition, exclusive privileges will be on offer year-round.

Mr. Panthep Nilasinthop, Chief Customer Officer of Siam Piwat, said “Siam Piwat focuses on strengthening our world class and premium business ecosystem. We create and deliver new experiences both in the actual and the virtual world. Our goal is to be customers’ top-of-mind for local and international shoppers. Over a period of time, we have successfully built a strong partnership network that incorporates leading business alliances in Thailand and internationally, as part of our ‘Collaboration to Win’ strategy. The synergy spans over businesses in more than 13 industries that together join force to further strengthen this successful ecosystem that present limitless opportunities.

As a ‘Luxury Lifestyle Destination,’ every ONESIAM platform and retail premises will offer our target shoppers the right products and services that caters to their needs. Based on our collected data of consumer behaviors, especially on the close look on their lifestyle, we have found that our customers are keen travelers and always have a trip or more planned. The collaboration between Siam Piwat and Thai Airways is formed to bring the best of both business leaders to customers. In addition, the collaboration syncs both companies’ customer databases which allows an even better customer journey that shoppers can experience anytime, anywhere at ONESIAM SuperApp.

Content features photos and stories of tourism attractions around the world stimulating travel demands and enhancing personal experiences.
Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) offers special privileges through ONESIAM SuperApp for members who receive ONESIAM membership status together with 150 VIZ Coins (10,000 entitlements) to use for online shopping and at shops in the department store (terms and conditions apply). Many more discounts from branded stores will be offered throughout the year.
THAI Shop will provide a variety of THAI products through ONESIAM SuperApp where customers may conveniently surf and go online shopping.

In addition, customers will find it even more convenient to purchase air tickets online via ONESIAM SuperApp. The service will soon be available.

Mr. Kittiphong Sansomboon, THAI Director of Customer & Marketing Department said “The collaboration between THAI and Siam Piwat will offer our ROP members with privileged experiences through creative innovations. The special services and marketing promotion under this campaign are a part of THAI ROP Exclusive Offers project that focuses on partnership with business alliances to enhance air travel experiences at every contact point of our customers’ journey. In addition to this campaign, ROP members shall earn further privileges in upcoming offers under the project.”

The multi-faceted collaboration between Siam Piwat and Thai Airways is a synergy of two business leaders that bring limitless opportunities. The two parties together create and deliver top-level experiences to customers of both companies. This is an ideal Co-Creation that paves ways to new opportunities and new growth engine, opens doors to more business opportunities and leverages the level of competitiveness in the industry. The exchange of knowledge and know how effectively supports business growth, the expansion of existing customers and reaching to new customers.

Marcos Jr. Won Philippine Presidency, Unofficial Count Shows

By

Associated Press

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10 May 2022, 12:30

Supporters flash signs as they arrive at the headquarters of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. in Mandaluyong, Philippines late Monday, May 9, 2022. Photo: Aaron Favila / AP

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The namesake son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos appeared to have been elected Philippine president by a landslide in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” pro-democracy revolt that booted his father into global infamy.

Marcos Jr. had more than 30.8 million votes in the unofficial results with more than 97% of the votes tabulated as of Tuesday afternoon. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, a champion of human rights and reforms, had 14.7 million votes in Monday’s election, and boxing great Manny Pacquiao appeared to have the third highest total with 3.5 million.

His running mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of the outgoing leader and mayor of southern Davao city, had a formidable lead in the vice-presidential race, which is separate from the presidential race.

The alliance of the scions of two authoritarian leaders combined the voting power of their families’ political strongholds in the north and south but compounded worries of human rights activists.

Dozens of anti-Marcos protesters rallied at the Commission on Elections, blaming the agency for the breakdown of vote-counting machines and other issues that prevented people from casting their votes. Elections officials said the impact of the malfunctioning machines was minimal.

A group of activists, who suffered under the dictatorship said it was enraged by Marcos’s apparent victory and would oppose it.

“A possible win based on a campaign built on blatant lies, historical distortions and mass deception is tantamount to cheating your way to victory,” said the group Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law, or CARMMA. “This is not acceptable.”

Etta Rosales, a former Commission on Human Rights chairwoman, who was twice arrested and tortured under martial law in the 1970s, said Marcos Jr.’s apparent victory drove her to tears but would not stop her from continuing efforts to hold the Marcoses to account.

“I’m just one among the many who were tortured; others were killed, I was raped. We suffered under the Marcos regime in the fight for justice and freedom and this happens,” Rosales said.

Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte avoided volatile issues during their campaign and steadfastly stuck instead to a battle cry of national unity, even though their fathers’ presidencies opened some of the most turbulent divisions in the country’s history.

Marcos Jr. has not claimed victory but thanked his supporters in a late-night “address to the nation” video, where he urged them to stay vigilant until the vote count is completed.

“If we’ll be fortunate, I’ll expect that your help will not wane, your trust will not wane because we have a lot of things to do in the times ahead,” he said.

Robredo has not conceded defeat but acknowledged the massive Marcos Jr. lead in the unofficial count. She told her supporters the fight for reforms and democracy won’t end with the elections.

“The voice of the people is getting clearer and clearer,” she said. “In the name of the Philippines, which I know you also love so dearly, we should hear this voice because in the end, we only have this one nation to share.”

She asked her supporters to continue to stand up: “Press for the truth. It took long for the structure of lies to be erected. We have the time and opportunity now to fight and dismantle this.”

The election winner will take office on June 30 for a single, six-year term as leader of a Southeast Asian nation hit hard by two years of COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns and long-troubled by crushing poverty, gaping inequalities, Muslim and communist insurgencies and deep political divisions.

The next president will also likely face demands to prosecute outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte for thousands of killings during his anti-drug crackdown — deaths already under investigation by the International Criminal Court.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch called for the apparent election winner Marcos Jr. to improve the human rights situation in the Philippines.

“He should declare an end to the ‘war on drugs’ that has resulted in the extrajudicial killing of thousands of Filipinos, and order the impartial investigation and appropriate prosecution of officials responsible for these unlawful killings,” said Phil Robertson, the group’s deputy director for Asia.

Marcos Jr., a 64-year-old former provincial governor, congressman and senator, held a wide lead in pre-election surveys. Robredo had tapped into shock and outrage over the prospect of a Marcos recapturing the seat of power and harnessed a network of campaign volunteers to underpin her candidacy.

After his ouster by the largely peaceful 1986 uprising, the elder Marcos died in 1989 while in exile in Hawaii without admitting any wrongdoing, including accusations that he, his family and cronies amassed an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion while he was in power. A Hawaii court later found him liable for human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to compensate more than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit against him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

His widow, Imelda Marcos, and their children were allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991 and worked on a stunning political comeback, helped by a well-funded social media campaign to refurbish the family name.

Marcos Jr. has defended the legacy of his father and steadfastly refused to acknowledge and apologize for the massive human rights violations and plunder under his father’s strongman rule.

Officials said Monday’s election was relatively peaceful despite pockets of violence in the country’s volatile south that killed at least six people in the country’s volatile south. Thousands of police and military personnel were deployed to secure election precincts, especially in rural regions with a history of violent political rivalries.

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Story: Jim Gomez.

Opinion: Promoting Thai Food as Soft Power Anyone?

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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10 May 2022, 12:00

2019-10-24-11h30m40s483 — PM Prayuth Chan-ocha cooks pad thai at an event showcasing Thai street food on Dec. 24, 2019.

What is the Thai national dish? Last Thursday, the opposition Pheu Thai Party called for the government to promote pad thai as Thailand’s soft power. This inadvertently led to a debate on social media whether pad that deserves to be the unofficial national dish of Thailand. Pad kra pao, or chicken or other meat stir-fried with holy basil were mentioned by many netizens as the real national dish.

I will not get into this highly contentious topic because I do not think Thailand needs to have one single national dish. Our rich culinary heritage means there are many Thai dishes worthy to be enjoyed and promoted around the world. Pad thai is definitely already well-known internationally, so are tom yum goong, som tum, massaman and more.

The same can be said about Japanese or French food, for example, you would not be able to pin down one dish as a national dish, there are just a variety of thoroughly enjoyable dishes worthy of appreciation around the globe.

So here I am not going to get into the pointless debate but start by saying that some Thai dishes are already well-known in cosmopolitan cities around the globe but the government (and all of us Thais) can do more to promote them.

Hear me on what can and should be done.

1. The government should set up a semi-governmental organization, whose main task is to promote Thai food abroad and ensure Thai food excellence at home. This body could be called the “Council for Thai Food Excellence” and the budget could be allocated from the Ministry of Culture. It will need to work closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Foreign Ministry, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture.

Half of the council members should be filled mostly with non-bureaucrats, but culinary experts and celebrity chefs tasked with finding strategies to improve and promote Thai food in Thailand and abroad. Without this dedicated body, there will be nobody to play a permanent host to uplift Thai food in a coordinated fashion.

I am well aware that many Thais and non-Thais are already promoting Thai food abroad by opening restaurants, food trucks, and more and the task of the government, through this council, is to find way to support those who offer authentic and quality Thai food by, for example, giving them a stamp of approval through certificate of Thai food excellence.

2. We need an annual national food competition to improve the taste, quality, and nutrition of famous Thai dishes. Why not start with a national pad thai or pad kra pao competition with some substantial award and recognition. The same should be done with rice, fermented fish sauce or nam pla, and even popular fruits such as mango, durian and more.

3. Time to support local alcoholic beverages like rice wine, craft beer, and even wine and more. Two giant breweries have maintained a control over the vast majority of the Thai alcohol beverage market for too long and it is appalling that when dining at a Thai restaurant abroad, your Thai alcoholic beverage is a choice between Singha or Chang.

4. Quality and basic ingredients will do more to improve Thai food. Rice, for example, needs to be better promoted at the upper end of the market, quality jasmine rice and others should be promoted as geographically indicated. There are currently 18 types of Thai rice recognized with geographical indications, but the government should do more to promote it both locally and abroad.

It’s a shame that most Thai restaurants do not even offer quality Thai rice and most well-to-do Thais do not care about these unique variety of Thai rice. Time to raise the profile and promote quality rice, as well as fruits, so farmers can earn more. We can keep on competing with Vietnam or Indonesia in lower-end rice price.

5. Pay attention to new ingredients and fusion Thai cuisine. Has anyone noticed that that too-scary pink salmon is invading many local Thai dishes as an ingredient for Thai food? Larb salmon or yum pla salmon, or varieties of salmon spicy salad are now quite common in Bangkok and beyond and again, the council could fine tune and host a competition in hope of raising both its taste, quality and profile abroad.

I mean, it is easy for those in the West or East Asia to appreciate them since salmon is not alien to their taste buds and easy to obtain. At a recent working lunch hosted by Swedish Ambassador Jon Åström Gröndahl, food was outsourced from Thai restaurant Blue Elephant, and tom saab salmon, a traditional northeastern style spicy soup with salmon and fresh herbs was served.

6. The TAT and the council, as well as the Foreign Ministry, can promote a single annual dish abroad, to widen the range of foreigner’s knowledge and appreciation of these dishes.

7. The list can go on but basically, we need a competent host and organization specifically geared toward improving and promoting Thai food, not once in a blue moon extravaganza where taxpayers’ money is wasted. Thai food is already part of many foreigners’ diets, now we need to widen their knowledge, to let them know that there’s more to the few dishes already well known, and that it’s good for their stomach and health as well.

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