Thailand-US defense ties heal as China makes gains in Cambodia

Delivery of armored vehicles comes as Washington frets over Beijing's dominance

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

 

File photo//Wikipedia

 

BANGKOK -- Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, Thailand's powerful army chief, is shifting the kingdom's security architecture, and U.S. military equipment is helping to lay the groundwork.

 

A recent announcement that Thailand had taken delivery of the first 10 of more than 100 armored vehicles from America affirmed that the decades-old allies are again warming up to each other, after Thailand's military coup in 2014 chilled the relationship.

 

The thaw began after Thailand held elections in the spring. Before the voting, Bangkok's ruling generals had turned to China as a more sympathetic supplier to a defense force of 335,000 active duty troops.

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Thailand-US-defense-ties-heal-as-China-makes-gains-in-Cambodia

 

-- NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW 2019-09-19

If those reporting in the Nikkei were not already aware, China already "owns" Cambodia.

 

Most of their large businesses are funded by financiers either residing in, or financially backed from Beijing.

Most of the secondary schools considered successful (we would call them international schools) are owned and backed by Chinese, they teach Chinese culture, literature and language. English is not a factor to consider.

The banks mostly push hard for RMB transactions, even though the second dual primary currency of run of the mill Cambodians is the US Dollar.

The Chinese keep the locals in check, paying abysmal salaries in exchange for job stability and safer working conditions than those provided by Cambodian run competitors (a generalization from observations)

 

I would personally love to see ordinary Cambodians share in the success that will hopefully come as global industrial activity fades in China and moves to jurisdictions with lower labor costs, and lets face it - weaker labor protection laws.

 

Most of us already agree and understand that Thailand has to a degree moved its focus from being a historical ally of capitalism (for which it has benefited significantly in terms of increased GDP and living standards), to an ally of those more aligned with its own form of government which has become a centralized command and control structure - not necessarily bad when the economy is in a down turn as it is. This would of course be dependent on ensuring that those making the decisions are the most qualified persons making the decisions for the most noble reasons, being the benefit of the greater good of the people. The constant purchase of military equipment suggests the centralized command and control government either expects internal unrest or external aggression. They have purchased land and sea assets, suggesting they are expecting the activity along both land and shore for which is only shared with Cambodia and Malaysia. The greater focus being on land assets, for which the greater land exposure being to Cambodia.

 

Is Thailand anticipating or observing or does it have reason to believe it will be victim of aggression from Cambodia? We have read nothing in the news, and I do not want to be the one to speculate - simply stacking up facts and figures.

We’ve all seen ChiComs aggressions—Hong Kong, the Spratly Islands, Taiwan, Belt & Road.  With a pumped up Baht, Thailand becomes more vulnerable to Chinese domination.  Let’s hope this never happens to LoS.

1 hour ago, TheGhostWithin said:

Is Thailand anticipating or observing or does it have reason to believe it will be victim of aggression from Cambodia? We have read nothing in the news, and I do not want to be the one to speculate - simply stacking up facts and figures.

Well said.

Interesting, but I've read the Strykers are being stationed in Chachoengsao (just outside of Bkk).

I'll leave it at that.

The vehicle pictured looks like something the US used in Nam.

Just got paywalled by the article  

 

Build the paywall, build the paywall!

10 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

We’ve all seen ChiComs aggressions—Hong Kong, the Spratly Islands, Taiwan, Belt & Road.  With a pumped up Baht, Thailand becomes more vulnerable to Chinese domination.  Let’s hope this never happens to LoS.

Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Spratly Islands are under International law part of China as agreed at the end of WW2. Hong Kong was only leased by Britain. So no aggression there