Philip J Cunningham
Media researcher
Philip J Cunningham is a media researcher covering Asian politics. He is the author of Tiananmen Moon.
The unbearable bleakness of government TV news
The outpouring of popular dissent on Wednesday proved to be a flash in the pan; by dawn the next morning, the sit-in at Government House had been disbanded, rank and file protesters were sent packing and the protest leaders were put under arrest.
An unexpectedly successful protest
A new generation of Thai protesters has broken into the open, and while their defiant self-image as the generation that will finally fix things may be naive, they have already left their mark with the unexpectedly successful demonstration at Sanam Luang in the heart of old Bangkok on Sept 19-20.
Time running out on Tokyo Olympics
Japan needs to rethink the Olympics. The most pressing reason to postpone or cancel the 2020 Tokyo summer games is a raging public health crisis of unknown dimensions.
Remembering Tiananmen
It's unlikely much news will be made of the 29th anniversary of the day the tanks stormed into Tiananmen Square.
China proved right over Facebook ban
In retrospect, China did the right thing by saying "no thank you" to Facebook. When gregarious internet evangelists come bearing gifts, it is probably best not to take their wares or let them in the door. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile -- and trample on national sovereignty, too, if profits and power are at stake.
Surin in America
Conversation was full of surprises with the ever-smiling, soft-spoken Surin, who never demanded attention but commanded it with his quiet charisma.
A bellicose roar
All administrations lie, but welcome to the Trump era where rudeness, in-your-face indiscretion and interchangeability of opinion and fact is the new normal.
Trump the listener
He succeeded with the deplorables by connecting with them, and for better or worse, a deeply divided America is on the cusp of change.
Signs of the times
Former Thai foreign ministers, prime ministers, police, generals and scholars alike expressed dismay with the course America seems to be taking.
Grand old man
Gen Saiyud Kerdphol, now 93, reminisces about fighting with the Japanese, how to beat communists and why the military can do coups but can't run a country.
