Karen Lee

Likes cats and Southeast Asia policy. Former @SoutheastAsiaDC @McLartyAssoc. Proud @JETProgram alum! 🇭🇰-🇹🇭-🇺🇸 Views my own.

[State Department Spokesperson 2013-2025 @statedeptspox_a]

Thailand’s Constitutional Court’s ruling to dissolve the Move Forward Party and ban 11 of its leaders from politics is deeply concerning. As a close ally and friend, we urge Thailand to ensure fully inclusive political participation and the freedoms of association and expression.

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

It's official: @GregPoling's favorite child is @SoutheastAsiaDC (sorry @AsiaMTI)! For more program tea and Greg and @elinanoor's thoughts on SEA in 2023, listen to the latest Southeast Asia Radio episode at: https://t.co/Qdf9s3jMue
Thanks @JaphetQuitzon for having me back!

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

I usually enjoy this series by Cut anyways, but I especially loved the Southeast Asia representation in this one! https://t.co/hUrBD96oOf

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Made similar comments he's made in previous English interviews about TH's economic malaise--it's the 2nd largest economy in ASEAN but has the 2nd slowest growth and ranks 8th for English proficiency. 🇻🇳&🇲🇾 are benefitting more from friendshoring and US-CN competition

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Some highlights from @Pita_MFP's remarks at @CarnegieEndow:
-goal of visit is to "reconnect Thailand to the police community in DC"
-rehashed systemic obstacles in TH that prevented MFP from taking power: "what the Thai electorate voted for is not what we have in power today"

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Well, @ArinChin, I guess our blog post is relevant again, just not in the way we expected... https://t.co/2HZ5XsLCvX

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

@SaksithCNA fine print: we won't vote for your PM candidate until/unless you give us the portfolios we want

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

MFP: YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN THE ONE TO DESTROY THE TYRANTS, NOT JOIN THEM
PT: I HATE YOU

[Cod Satrusayang @fishmyman]

ขอเติมนิดนึง

#มันจบแล้วครับนาย #เพื่อไทยการละคร #โหวตนายกรอบ3 #ก้าวไกล #จัดตั้งรัฐบาล2566

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Aaaand the coalition has fallen apart. MFP will NOT be in the ruling government.

[Saksith Saiyasombut | ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ไสยสมบัติ @SaksithCNA]

UPDATE: @MFPThailand sec-gen @Chaithawat_MFP says the party is “sorry for not being able to form a govt by the will of the people,’ after it has split with @PheuThaiParty in the govt formation. He says the MOU they and 6 more parties signed together “is no more”.

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

The toxic response when people mention 4 pillars and my brain just goes "IPEF???"

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

If you're looking to brush up on Pacific Islands news in light of Secs. Blinken and Austin's visits to the region, look no further than the newest episode of #PacificAirwaves from @SoutheastAsiaDC and @AsiaMTI!

[Monica Michiko Sato @_mmsato]

My debut as the new co-host of #PacificAirwaves (and filling in for the huge shoes that @k_xlee left)! In this month's episode, Jared and I talk about Prime Minister Sogavare's trip to China, deep seabed mining negotiations, and many more. https://t.co/gBfQivUrxw

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

@SaksithCNA I read this as the 8-party-alliance has now been canceled and honestly, same thing

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Sadly 1 is very unlikely. 2 would be a better scenario but I'm expecting it to be 3, given the gap in Senators needed.

[Saksith Saiyasombut | ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ไสยสมบัติ @SaksithCNA]

AT A GLANCE: With another Prime Minister vote scheduled this week, the @PheuThaiParty must decide if they want to stick with the coalition it has inherited from @MFPThailand - or ditch the election winner to get enough support in their PM bid. Here are some possible scenarios.

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

This meme is gonna have to be amended 😭

[Jonathan E. Sy 施公奇異 @easy_jonathan]

#Thailand #เลือกตั้ง66 #MilkTeaAlliance
Avenge us, Thailand.
ล้างแค้นเราประเทศไทย!

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Amb. Rosan Roeslani appointed Deputy Minister of SOEs, leaving Washington after almost 2 years. I'm not a IDN expert at all but I don't think this necessarily implies Jokowi doesn't care about the US, just that Amb. Roeslani has a business background
https://t.co/A98hnrOs2v

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Gotta admit, I did not see this option coming

[Saksith Saiyasombut | ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ไสยสมบัติ @SaksithCNA]

#BREAKING: @Pita_MFP ready to step aside and let coalition partner @PheuThaiParty bid for PM if he fails the next PM votes (starting Jul 19) and it’s “really clear @MFPThailand won’t be able to form govt”, he says in a new video. #โหวตนายก

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Or at the very least, maybe this could convince some of the smaller parties to get on board. If all the non-military parties that abstained voted for Pita (without joining the coalition, which some said they would do), that'd be 39 more Lower House votes.

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Hot take: if the vote on July 19 turns out the same way, MFP should consider backing down from 112. Yes, most of Senate is likely just using 112 as an excuse to abstain, but at least that would expose their hypocrisy. And one year of Pita as PM is better than Prawit or Anutin.

[Karen Lee @k_xlee]

Currently this doesn't seem likely to happen because MFP has campaigned this entire time on ideological purity, unlike Pheu Thai. But political unrest is likely to grow the longer there is no government. It's been TWO MONTHS