Did Prayut’s US trip only serve Trump’s trade agenda?

[webfact]

Did Prayut’s US trip only serve Trump’s trade agenda?

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

 

THE MEETING between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and US President Donald Trump appeared to satisfy both governments, with the Thai junta heartened by the welcome by a western superpower while the US encouraged Thailand to take up a range of deals.

 

Thai citizens, however, are split on the visit. Suan Dusit Poll’s result released on Sunday said that more than 70 per cent of people were positive about strengthening ties, but opinions on social media raised concerns that the junta had signed multi-million-dollar deals, including concessions on pork imports to the agriculturally rich Kingdom, to boost its legitimacy. Prayut had prepared protocols for half a year since Trump invited him to visit in an April phone call. The Thai premier started off by paying condolences to victims of recent US hurricanes before addressing cooperation on security and regional issues.

 

Prayut also managed to praise the president’s wife Melania and daughter Ivanka for their support for people with fewer opportunities. Ivanka has been invited to observe highly promoted efforts to combat human trafficking in Thailand.

 

Trump in turn said it was a great honour to host “Prime Minister Prayut of Thailand and Mrs Prayut”, in a reference to Naraporn Chan-o-cha, the prime minister’s wife. “So we have a very strong relationship right now, as of this moment, and it’s getting stronger in the last nine months,” Trump said, reiterating his administration’s benefits-based approach, which places less emphasis on human rights and democratic values than his predecessors.

 

Trump wasted no time in pointing out during the meeting that “we’re going to try and sell a little bit more to you, now make that a little bit better if that’s possible”.

 

The president then went on at length about addressing the damage in hurricane-struck Puerto Rico and in Las Vegas after the mass shooting in the city in his closing remarks. 

 

The two leaders then posed for handshakes with Trump and Melania, dressed in the newest Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2018 dress, standing on narrow red carpet with Prayut and Naraporn incongruously standing next to them on the plain ground.

 

 

The meetings followed an agreement on Thai gas investments in Ohio, a private sector US$6-billion (Bt200-billion) purchase of coal, and discussions about opening Thailand’s pork and turkey markets. While Prayut said he had not discussed new military hardware deals, Thailand proceeded to obtain Harpoon missiles and Black Hawk and Lakota helicopters from the US.

 

Kai Maew drew three-panel cartoons on his Facebook page mocking Prayut for rowing a coconut shell, an oft-used Thai metaphor for people with closed attitudes, carrying the purchases away.

 

“Prayut’s current condition is like he had an appointment with a famous friend. He was so happy before finding out that friend actually wanted to do a direct sale to him,” one comment said.

 

courtesy of Facebook page Kai Maew

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30328476

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-05

[yellowboat]

He did a good job for the Thai elite and his government.  Thailand's crazy tariffs will stay mostly intact.  Pork was a definite concession, but the coal deal was brilliant. 

[alant]

Did Prayut's visit just serve Trumps trade agenda?

Not at all in my mind.

Trump seems to have indicated how well things were going with his government, a government that places less emphasis on human rights and democratic values that previous presidents.

Trump demonstrated his knowledge of democracy in Thailand with his positive approach to elections being possible when circumstances allow. He used the term free and fair under the constitution which means a semi democratic election.

Looks like straight support to me, must have felt good for Prayut.

 

Still as long as the pork goes one way and the shrimps go the other...

[oldgent]

Pra--t the yu should be dropped when i shake someones hand i look them in the eye

looks like a PR stunt to make Prat look good, Trumph looked really interested in the meeting

Mrs P was in no danger of any advances from Donald.

[DrPhibes]

Did I miss something?  Last TV topic on this said there was a purchase commitment of 60,000 tons, coal at about $96USD/tn gives a purchase cost of about $5.7 million USD. 

 

Oh, God, Please, let there be Butterball turkeys coming to LOS!

[chama]

13 hours ago, yellowboat said:

He did a good job for the Thai elite and his government.  Thailand's crazy tariffs will stay mostly intact.  Pork was a definite concession, but the coal deal was brilliant. 

The pork and turkey markets may be open but if Thai wholesalers find better prices from local producers they won't buy the American products. Capitalism at its best. Meanwhile he was able to buy plenty of weaponry that the Kingdom needs desperately (?). Maybe for use in sorting out issues in the south?