Op-Ed: Thai view on the new AUKUS alliance

13 Sept 10:26 Key points summarised by AI

AUKUS is viewed as a destabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific, escalating the arms race and threatening to turn Southeast Asia into a new geopolitical battleground.
Thailand, a US ally with strong China ties, faces a precarious strategic dilemma as AUKUS heightens regional tensions and complicates its vital bilateral relationships.
The alliance undermines ASEAN's long-standing efforts to establish a Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone, with the US's stance on nuclear submarines being a persistent issue.
The US's assertive actions, including AUKUS and the 'Summit for Democracy,' pressure regional nations to align, challenging their desire for autonomy and balanced relations with both major powers.

Uthenthawai students and alumni declare truce with Pathumwan rivals

Yesterday 20:34 Key points summarised by AI

Uthenthawai students and alumni have pledged to cease violent clashes with Pathumwan Institute rivals, coinciding with their campus's reopening after a 90-day closure.
The Minister of Higher Education is mediating the long-running conflict, while the campus closure has significantly disrupted in-person classes and laboratory work for over 1,000 students.
Uthenthawai resists relocation from its current site, citing a historical land grant from King Rama VI, despite Chulalongkorn University's plans to reclaim the land for an educational hub.
Concerns are mounting over the legality of the campus closure, its detrimental impact on uninvolved students, and the potential commercial development of the land, which critics argue contradicts the late King Rama VI's intentions.