US celebrates 200 years of friendship with Thailand in Songkran message

By The Nation

 

 

With the entire nation under partial lockdown and night-time curfew, Songkran this year is bound to be a very muted affair.

 

However, despite festivities being put off in line with the government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, the US Embassy has still issued a statement wishing the people of Thailand the best in the new year.

 

“Our countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years. Our friendship and decades-long health partnership has given us the resilience to address this global health crisis caused by Covid-19,” read the statement from Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US Department of State.

 

In the statement issued on April 9, Ortagus also referred to 40 years of partnership Thailand has had with the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – a partnership that has helped with innovative advances that has “prepared both our nations to combat the current pandemic”. 

 

“This collaboration is but one piece of our broad partnership and alliance that includes cooperation on security, law enforcement, business and trade, education and many other areas,” the statement said.  

 

“As we begin our third century of friendship, we affirm our commitment to the US-Thai alliance as we work together to bring about shared prosperity and well-being to our people and the Indo-Pacific region.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30385750

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-10

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14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Our countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years.

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

How many POW suffered and died here....

Very thankful for US Embassy in Bangkok.  They approved my wife’s B-2 Visa, and help us in many other ways.  And let’s face it: no expat should live in a foreign country without home country embassy/consulate to back them up and keep them informed.

Bla bla

 

Bla bla bla

 

I have not be able to verify this from multiple sources, but I have been told Thailand offered the US foreign aid in the late 1860's after the the US civil war. They offered to give the US elephants as the south was rebuilding. The US did not accept the aid.

Has anyone else heard of this?

4 hours ago, loong said:

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

Yes. "Our countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years."

 

Apart from the bit where Thailand declared war on the USA because Japan sent a platoon of infantry to stand on the Thai/Cambodian border and look all menacing and stuff. Thailand felt a bit threatened so... voila!

 

Fair weather friends. Who needs them? Some things don't change. When a country and a population are disliked and distrusted, there's usually a reason or two. Nothing happens by chance.

 

Still, could have been worse. The animal of Thailand could have been the hippopotamus. Not a nice image...

Edited April 11, 20206 yr by ParkerN

3 hours ago, Hippos said:

 

 

deleted, editor is broken. Again.

Edited April 11, 20206 yr by ParkerN

3 hours ago, Hippos said:

How many POW suffered and died here....

Lots, spend an hour or so at the RBL cemetary in Kanchaburi. Instructive.

3 hours ago, loong said:

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

A declaration made under-duress, at a point when the Allies said they could not assist Thailand against Japan's aggression (were busy elsewhere), and which was not accepted by the USA.  Active Thai resistance to Japan also comes into that discussion.

 

More recently, there was the US military-support, which helped prevent a communist takeover in the 1970s, in combination with the "hearts and minds" victory by a Great king (a key-element absent in Vietnam). 

3 hours ago, loong said:

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

B29s and Thai Ki43s did get pretty up close and personal ???? 

3 hours ago, loong said:

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

Hey, Thailand also declared war against France without needing pressure from Japan!  Even won that war!  

-You have to admire their initiative in taking advantage of the situation!

 

4 hours ago, loong said:

Amazing that the friendship held strong when Thailand declared war on the United States!

Technicality with that declaration being refused to be delivered in Washington, DC. Thus the US will take a different approach after the war in not treating the Kingdom of Thailand as an enemy combatant (war declaration delivered to our British Cousins will be reflected in how they wanted Thailand treated post-WW II).

58 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

A declaration made under-duress, at a point when the Allies said they could not assist Thailand against Japan's aggression (were busy elsewhere), and which was not accepted by the USA.  Active Thai resistance to Japan also comes into that discussion.

 

More recently, there was the US military-support, which helped prevent a communist takeover in the 1970s, in combination with the "hearts and minds" victory by a Great king (a key-element absent in Vietnam). 

Ah yes, that old Chestnut. It was however delivered in London and the Thais were recognised as Axis forces and as the enemy. 

 

I find this "they weren't really the enemy" nonsense peddled by some Americans as very distasteful, not to mention disrespectful to the 8000 or more Thais that died building the Death Railway and the thousands more that died fighting as part of the Seri Thai free Thai movement.

 

Don't forget the US military, financial and political backing of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after the Cambodian Genocide either.

 

Hollywood history tends only to cherry pick the good parts of Uncle Sam's colonialism. 

 

 

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Our countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years.

 

Very optimistic the lady;
the first diplomatic exchanges between the two countries date from 1833, so much less than 200 years ago.

 

and as a member rightly points out a little higher, during the 2nd world war, Thailand was Japan's ally therefore in the axis of evil.

7 hours ago, Hippos said:

How many POW suffered and died here....

Many later went to "heaven" there too! 

3 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

 

Very optimistic the lady;
the first diplomatic exchanges between the two countries date from 1833, so much less than 200 years ago.

 

and as a member rightly points out a little higher, during the 2nd world war, Thailand was Japan's ally therefore in the axis of evil.

You are incorrect. Taken from the U.S. Embassy website: 

The United States and Thailand established relations in 1818 and signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1833, formalising diplomatic relations. The Treaty of 1833 was the United States' first treaty with a country in Asia, making Thailand truly our oldest friend in the region. We invite you to learn more about the long ...

 

20 minutes ago, SinCityGr8One said:

and signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1833, formalising diplomatic relations. The Treaty of 1833 was the United States' first treaty

This is exactly what I wrote in a different way; where is my incorrection?

5 hours ago, Yadon Toploy said:

Ah yes, that old Chestnut. It was however delivered in London and the Thais were recognised as Axis forces and as the enemy. 

 

I find this "they weren't really the enemy" nonsense peddled by some Americans as very distasteful, not to mention disrespectful to the 8000 or more Thais that died building the Death Railway and the thousands more that died fighting as part of the Seri Thai free Thai movement.

 

Don't forget the US military, financial and political backing of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after the Cambodian Genocide either.

 

Hollywood history tends only to cherry pick the good parts of Uncle Sam's colonialism. 

 

 

Hollywood has been sublimely been changing history for years, even to this Day they do it,

Pity Thailand does not Celebrate Britain for stopping France colonising Thailand 

Edited April 11, 20206 yr by Thongkorn

7 hours ago, Yadon Toploy said:

Don't forget the US military, financial and political backing of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after the Cambodian Genocide either.

 

Hollywood history tends only to cherry pick the good parts of Uncle Sam's colonialism. 

Indeed. Yet one more of Uncle Sam's predeliction for fouling most things up. The only conflict they really won (that wasn't won in their own minds but nowhere else), was against Grenada, and that was British anyway. Luckily. Maggie was just as untrustworthy as Ronnie so she didn't really mind very much. Anything for a friend.

 

Rumour has it that even the Q herself thought Maggie was just atrocious. Rightly..

 

 

2 hours ago, Thongkorn said:

Hollywood has been sublimely been changing history for years, even to this Day they do it,

Pity Thailand does not Celebrate Britain for stopping France colonising Thailand 

Save the honour of colonising TL for the Chinese.

 

History repeating.

 

 

I love America, despite all her faults.  So many detractors here—that’s OK.  We can disagree.

The US is so grateful for Thailand allowing the US to have the largest CIA station in SE Asia here.

7 hours ago, Yadon Toploy said:

Ah yes, that old Chestnut. It was however delivered in London and the Thais were recognised as Axis forces and as the enemy. 

 

I find this "they weren't really the enemy" nonsense peddled by some Americans as very distasteful, not to mention disrespectful to the 8000 or more Thais that died building the Death Railway and the thousands more that died fighting as part of the Seri Thai free Thai movement.

 

Don't forget the US military, financial and political backing of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after the Cambodian Genocide either.

 

Hollywood history tends only to cherry pick the good parts of Uncle Sam's colonialism.

I am not a fan of colonialism - then or by newer schemes - and I did mention the Thai resistance. 

 

It is important - both with the USA, Thailand, or China today - to differerentiate between "the people" and whatver govt is in power, and what they may be doing which "the people" don't even know about. 

 

A perfect example, is late support for Pol Pot as a wedge against the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia, which served as buffer against the Vietnamese on a portion of the Thai border.  I'd bet 99% Americans still have no idea about that.

9 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Technicality with that declaration being refused to be delivered in Washington, DC. Thus the US will take a different approach after the war in not treating the Kingdom of Thailand as an enemy combatant (war declaration delivered to our British Cousins will be reflected in how they wanted Thailand treated post-WW II).

 

Treating Thailand differently after the war was nothing to do with the delivery of declaration of war being blocked, but very much the USA having an eye the the main chance of maintaining a foothold in SE Asia, somewhere they did not previously have a foothold. Britain was less interested, the Easy India Company having passed it's prime and belonging to a bygone age. Besides, assisting Thailand was not affordable, and the war reparations sought by the UK was subject to a compensation deal with the USA.

 

They USA had an eye to self-interest. Some things don't change, they're still the same. Still trying to exert influence stemming from being the self-proclaimed 'shining city on a hill', (as ridiculous as that seems these days - they can't even avoid being confused about their religion). No matter - it was good enough for selling to the peasants in the 3rd world, who were largely animists and therefore spiritually inferior anyway. Like taking candy from kids

 

Edited April 11, 20206 yr by ParkerN

200 years? How many illegal governments is that?

On 4/10/2020 at 12:14 PM, snoop1130 said:

“As we begin our third century of friendship, we affirm our commitment to the US-Thai alliance as we work together to bring about shared prosperity and well-being to our people and the Indo-Pacific region” said Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US Department of State

Accepting the fruit basket, Ambassador Thani Thongphakdi warmly echoed the sentiments and thanked the dirty farang.

 

 

Edited April 12, 20206 yr by donnacha

11 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

The US is so grateful for Thailand allowing the US to have the largest CIA station in SE Asia here.

That's right, but if we start digging we will venture into quicksand; for example not far  from Ban Dung in the province of Udon Thani.
I think it would be good to stay there.

20 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

This is exactly what I wrote in a different way; where is my incorrection?

The incorrection is your stating relationship was started in 1833 for Commerce. Diplomatic Relations were established in 1818. There is a huge difference in establishing Diplomatic ties and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. That is like comparing pineapples and coconuts. The year of 1818 is correct. Thailand and America has had Diplomatic Ties for 202 years. 

1 hour ago, SinCityGr8One said:

Thailand and America has had Diplomatic Ties for 202 years. 

minus the 5 years of the 2nd world war when Thailand was the ally of Japan, it's only been 197 years .

How long are you going to play on words?