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Thailand slips deeper into China's embrace
The Straits Times ^ | MAR 7, 2016 | Tan Hui Yee

Posted on 03/07/2016 1:38:49 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki

Thailand's navy wants to buy a submarine - and China's offer looks tempting. It is not only cheaper than the rest, but reportedly includes technology transfer and training. That, in a nutshell, describes the kind of friendship that China extends to the Thai military government now - a relationship smoothed by appealing deals unattached to the political doctrines championed by much of the Western world.

Work on the Sino-Thai railway project that will give the trans-Asian rail network a sea outlet broke ground last December.

Chinese and Thai air forces held their first joint exercise last year, shortly after Thailand received a visit from the vice-chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission.

Yet Thailand's leaning towards China has not been without hiccups. And some analysts see its recent overtures towards Russia as a way of trying to counter-balance the growing Chinese clout within the Kingdom.

"We do not put all our eggs in the same basket," says Dr Kitti Prasirtsuk, who heads the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University. "We like to diversify our ties with major powers."

Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on security matters, insists that Thailand is merely "readjusting" rather than "rebalancing" its position according to its needs, as it has always done.

"The complex engagement for Thailand means that our relationships with China, US, Japan, even with Russia, are mutually beneficial," he says. While Thailand will not accept any foreign military bases on its soil, "exercising, working together, landing and taking off (planes) based on our agreement, using our military bases, are quite welcome", he says.

While Bangkok has kept pace with its official exchanges with Beijing, it has also sent General Prawit and deputy premier Somkid Jatusripitak to Russia last month, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in May.

Not that Bangkok's relations with Moscow are likely to rival its ties with Beijing. China is Thailand's top trade partner and major buyer of Thai rubber. It is also the biggest source of tourists in Asean's second-largest economy.

The Prayut administration is not the only one to have courted China. Thaksin Shinawatra, the self-exiled former prime minister reviled by supporters of this military government, visited China before the United States when he first came to power in 2001 and significantly expanded Sino-Thai trade and defence ties.

Dr Ian Storey from the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute has written about how Beijing, through its support for Thailand during the 1997 financial crisis, and its adroit engagement with each government thrown up by Thailand's political turbulence, demonstrated "to the Thai elite that China was a steadfast friend in times of crisis".

Yet some developments have exposed the challenges of closer Sino-Thai relations. For all the hype over the joint railway project, both sides have a difficult time agreeing on the interest rate on a soft loan China would grant for the work. As at two weeks ago, both sides had yet to finalise their respective shares in the joint venture.

Dr Kitti observes that the "mercantilist" flavour of the Chinese aid offered has surprised the Thai establishment, many of whom are assimilated descendants of former Chinese immigrants. "Even in the elite circles, the conventional perspective is that China is a good guy and a big brother," he says.

Meanwhile, the recent treatment of Chinese refugees and dissidents on Thai soil has also raised awkward questions for the Thai government.

Two Chinese refugees who were offered asylum in Canada were repatriated by Thailand unexpectedly in November. More recently, Gui Minhai, a publisher linked to books critical of Beijing, went missing from his seaside apartment in Pattaya last October, only to resurface in China under police custody.

Dissident Li Xin who vanished on his way from Thailand to Laos in January reappeared in China last month. Chinese exiles who previously found a safe haven in Thailand are now fearful, and tell reporters they are being followed by unidentified individuals.

Dr Panitan denies that Thailand has opened the door for Chinese agents on Thai soil.

"No country would allow that," he says. But the sheer numbers of foreign visitors make it hard for officials to keep close tabs on everyone's whereabouts, he adds.

Nearly 30 million visitors - including about eight million Chinese - entered Thailand last year.

Such denials are not likely to erase doubt as Thailand slips deeper into China's embrace. As recent events have shown, each "readjustment" of bilateral ties comes with its own unique hazards.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: armsbuildup; asean; china; thailand

Hearing that the Thai navy is shopping for a submarine, China has made an offer that is not only cheaper than others', but also reportedly includes technology transfer and training thrown in as well. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

1 posted on 03/07/2016 1:38:49 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

China sucks.


2 posted on 03/07/2016 1:41:13 AM PST by Lazamataz (I'm an Islamophobe??? Well, good. When it comes to Islam, there's plenty to Phobe about.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

This is what eight years of the dangerous & disasterous Obama-Jarrett-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy looks like: Thailand, a nominal U.S. ally, turning towards Red China and Russia. **** the Obama claque, and the horses they rode in on.


3 posted on 03/07/2016 2:19:23 AM PST by twister881
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To: NKP_Vet; Ricebug; wita

ping


4 posted on 03/07/2016 3:10:00 AM PST by null and void (This is "They live", and most people would rather fight you than put on the glasses...)
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To: twister881

Thailand has always been about Thailand. They had the Brits and English invied at the same time. They sided with the Japs until the tide turned. They love to play forces against each other.


5 posted on 03/07/2016 3:14:32 AM PST by mindburglar (When Superman and Batman fight, the only winner is crime.)
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To: alieno nomine; angkor; Brian Allen; bsariwat; Central Scrutiniser; colorado tanker; expat1000; ...

Thai Ping


6 posted on 03/07/2016 3:31:00 AM PST by ASA Vet (Jus Soli + Jus Sanguinis = NBC)
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To: mindburglar

What is the difference between the “Brits” and the “English”? I am interested in your point but I don’t understand what you are trying to convey with that statement.


7 posted on 03/07/2016 4:14:20 AM PST by PTBAA
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Garbage. I would never trust Russian or Chinese tech. Just ask India, it is a fraud. Unless you belong to the SCO, they do not deliver the tech.


8 posted on 03/07/2016 4:48:37 AM PST by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall noshi)
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To: lavaroise

Thailand is probably the only nation in the world that operates Chinese-built warships carrying American missiles. So its not like they haven’t gone for Chinese goods yet. China doesn’t have much issues going with a military government.


9 posted on 03/07/2016 4:52:22 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: twister881

Right.

Throwing away our rightful place as leader of the free world has created a void that China (and Russia) are more than happy to fill.

But the fact is obama, jarret, et.al. (bad as they are), are less culpable than the wet-noodle, rubber stamp Republican Congress and a traitorous media. Including FOX. Without their helping hand, the Executive Branch would easily have been handled.


10 posted on 03/07/2016 5:47:10 AM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: mindburglar

That way they don’t have to fight. The mooslems are a different matter.


11 posted on 03/07/2016 5:48:49 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
"The mooslems are a different matter."

I was thinking about that very thing.... Maybe the Chinese have a "cure" for what ails Thailand....

Sometimes the medicine can be as bad as the disease....

But I'll say this...Europe is going to be taking some real nasty stuff to get rid of the problem they put upon themselves.... The alternative would unacceptable... Death to all of civilization in Europe...

They better take their medicine pretty damned soon or it will be to late...

MHO.... :)

12 posted on 03/07/2016 6:08:41 AM PST by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
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To: PTBAA

Sorry. I meant Brits and French.


13 posted on 03/07/2016 6:52:00 AM PST by mindburglar (When Superman and Batman fight, the only winner is crime.)
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To: MichaelCorleone

Yes, agree with that.


14 posted on 03/07/2016 7:17:50 AM PST by twister881
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To: ASA Vet

Remember that original Siamese/ Mon / Khmer society in the region was subsumed long ago by Dtai (Thai) ethnic minorities moving down from Yunnan China , en masse , to escape , I think , Song Chinese expansionism . They dominated the region within centuries , displacing the original cultures . Their ancestors formed the Ramkhamhaeng dynasty and brought the southern Chinese numeral system . A Cantonese Chinese can understand counting in Thai , to this day , they are that close . Later on , further pure Chinese immigration waves flooded into the Ayuttaya Kingdom eras . The Sino-Siamese became the mercantile class almost entirely . To this day , ALL the top echelons of Thai society are dominated by Sino genes . All the Army generals , all the big businessmen , Sino genes have even penetrated the sphere of royalty .
So this ‘news’ should be no surprise . China Chinese have always exploited the in innate cultural loyalties of their expatriate communities . China also uses these communities as reasons to claim sovereignty in location where groups of Sino ancestors can be found . For instance : Hawaii beware ..... China will now manipulate Thailand into forming a second front bulwark ally in any future confrontations with Vietnam . With whom there is no love lost with the Thai ... Vietnam being the only country in the region with the courage or the resources to independently stand up to Chinese expansion and aggression the South China Sea . Stay tuned


15 posted on 03/07/2016 11:57:41 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
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To: mindburglar

OK, that makes sense. Thanks for the edification.


16 posted on 03/07/2016 12:42:00 PM PST by PTBAA
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