Richard S. Ehrlich

Dec 4, 2024 | asiatimes.com | Richard S. Ehrlich

China’s joint, three-week anti-terrorism exercise in Pakistan from November 20-December 11 aims to help defend Beijing’s $70 billion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects against deadly anti-Chinese insurgents in Baluchistan province.

Nov 30, 2024 | washingtontimes.com | Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK, Thailand — China’s joint, three-week, anti-terrorism exercise in Pakistan, which kicked off November 20, is a stark illustration of an emerging new strategic reality. While China’s Communist leaders build up the country’s military strength to challenge the global U.S.-established world order and to become the dominant power in East Asia, there are also more mundane reasons to beef up the power of the People’s Liberation Army, such as protecting one’s investment portfolio.

Nov 19, 2024 | asiatimes.com | Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK – As Southeast Asian nations grapple with US President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and trade war threats, the incoming leader’s second tour will put the region’s trade-dependent nations on edge and its authoritarian regimes at ease. “In his first term, he [Trump] did not exhibit interest in the promotion of democracy or human rights,” Kantathi Suphamongkhon, a former Thai foreign minister and trade representative, said in an interview.

Nov 11, 2024 | washingtontimes.com | Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK, Thailand — For traditional allies, international organizations and countries willing to challenge his “America First” foreign policy, the election of Donald Trump for another four years in the White House has already produced some nervous re-positioning and sleepless nights. But the jitters are not universal.

Sep 10, 2024 | washingtontimes.com | Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK, Thailand — As father-daughter dances go, there may be few more awkward in modern political history than the one being choreographed in Bangkok these days. Thailand’s new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, is the daughter of a coup-toppled, convicted, former international fugitive — and former prime minister — Thaksin Shinawatra, 74, who many here believe is seeking to manipulate her new populist, capitalist-friendly coalition government.