Opinion: Thailand’s foreign service fails on Ukraine where Singapore’s succeeds

[webfact]

 

By Arun Saronchai

 

Thailand finally released its long anticipated response to the ongoing Ukrainian crisis this week in an address to the plenary at the United Nations. 

Here is what we said to the diplomats gathered at the United Nations General Assembly. 

 

Statement delivered by H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, PR of Thailand before #UNGA76 Plenary Meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on Wednesday 23 February 2022 at 18.03 hrs. pic.twitter.com/w29ut2I9wg

— Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN (@ThailandUN) February 24, 2022

 

We might as well recall our UN ambassador and shut down the diplomatic corps. The fact that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes itself so seriously is a joke propped up by delusions of grandeur.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/38024/opinion-thailands-foreign-service-fails-on-ukraine-where-singapore-succeeds/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-03-01

 

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[JoePai]

The problem is because the majority of the Junta do not know where Ukraine is

[Misterwhisper]

Item .5 seems to have been the main point.

[Geoffggi]

Well done Singapore, I have always considered Singapore as a nanny state but at least it shows they do have scruples which something that cannot be said for Thailand.

[keith101]

Thailand does not want to upset Russia because it desperately needs their tourists to come and spend their useless rub here .

[herfiehandbag]

32 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Item .5 seems to have been the main point.

Not very sincere, isn't it normal to say it three times?

[Cake Monster]

17 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Thailand does not want to upset Russia because it desperately needs their tourists to come and spend their useless rub here .

I think its not so much to do with the Russian Tourists as the Russians that are " Investors " in the Country.

There have been massive amounts of Money ploughed into Thailand by Russian " Business People ", and this a revenue stream that Thailand desperately needs to keep ticking over.

With the present Sanctions Etc against Russian Banks, I am sure these Enterprising Business People will find ways of getting their Money out of their Country and to have it relocated in a Country that does not ask too many questions about its provenance

 

[Misterwhisper]

37 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Not very sincere, isn't it normal to say it three times?

Only if you have class... like Yingluck.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Condemn a country that rolls its tanks to overthrow an elected government? This government?

[mtls2005]

Anyone holding their breath for thai leadership on this issue have probably already passed away.

 

 

 

 

[Karma80]

Thailand is a laundromat for russian money. Now, why on earth would be want to go spoiling that?

The moral compass is calibrated only one way here - money.

[vandeventer]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

The problem is because the majority of the Junta do not know where Ukraine is

That's because it must have been a round map and not a flat map!

[Highend Expat]

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Well done Singapore, I have always considered Singapore as a nanny state but at least it shows they do have scruples which something that cannot be said for Thailand.

Singapore is not what it seems. As a tiny microstate, they have no choice but to do what they did as they could one day be in the receiving end of aggression.

 

If you have ever lived there, though, you will be well aware of their tacit support of virtually everything China is doing. They run China state propaganda in the news, too. 

 

They are not a country based on principle but rather one based on pragmatism. Not terrible but also not nearly what they portray. 

[zzaa09]

This expected and conventional condemnation towards current Russian activities. 

The predictable band wagon jumping is certainly not being observed by everyone. 

Independent and alternative perspectives regarding a truer vision and whataboutisms over world affairs might be offered. 

[Kinnock]

UAE, UK and Thailand are awash with dodgy Russian cash.  UAE and Thailand responses were feeble, UK was stronger.  But the economic fall out for the UK will be severe, and UAE and Thailand will benefit.

 

And India, as the world's largest democracy, should be ashamed. 

 

China's response was as expected, and they will be gauging the economic damage to guide their actions over Taiwan.

 

[soalbundy]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

The problem is because the majority of the Junta do not know where Ukraine is

It is near Britain because it starts with UK

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, Karma80 said:

Thailand is a laundromat for russian money. Now, why on earth would be want to go spoiling that?

The moral compass is calibrated only one way here - money.

Let us not get too saintly about this, the UK/London is also awash with oligarch's money who all have golden passports, yes the UK 'wants' to do something about it but 'it is complicated and will take time" read "we hope this all blows over and we won't have to do anything.

[Enoon]

11 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Let us not get too saintly about this, the UK/London is also awash with oligarch's money who all have golden passports, yes the UK 'wants' to do something about it but 'it is complicated and will take time" read "we hope this all blows over and we won't have to do anything.

UK started doing something on 17th February:

 

UK scraps rich foreign investor visa scheme - BBC News

 

 

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

UK started doing something on 17th February:

 

UK scraps rich foreign investor visa scheme - BBC News

 

 

Yes, and those already with settlements? This was only ever about the money, nobody cared where it came from, now because of the Ukraine it has become an embarrassment and all the ministers now have halos and are full of indignation. Getting at what these oligarchs own is going to be difficult, there will be straw men and front firms, they are wealthy and will have the best lawyers and no doubt influence in government circles. It will be difficult for the newbies for a few years but money has a smell of its own. The corruption in the West isn't so blatant as in Thailand but it is there non the less.

[itsari]

5 hours ago, Karma80 said:

Thailand is a laundromat for russian money. Now, why on earth would be want to go spoiling that?

The moral compass is calibrated only one way here - money.

The UK can be placed in the same boat for being a laundromat for Russian money . Been going on for decades 

[The Hammer2021]

5 hours ago, Karma80 said:

Thailand is a laundromat for russian money. Now, why on earth would be want to go spoiling that?

The moral compass is calibrated only one way here - money.

In the game of Russian money laundering Thailand is a minnow. The UK is the shark and the City of London and its allies are the greatest economic support that Putin and the Kremlin have.

[itsari]

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

UK started doing something on 17th February:

 

UK scraps rich foreign investor visa scheme - BBC News

 

 

UK has been slapping wrists of wealthy Russians well before the 17th of February .

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, Kinnock said:

UAE, UK and Thailand are awash with dodgy Russian cash.  UAE and Thailand responses were feeble, UK was stronger.  But the economic fall out for the UK will be severe, and UAE and Thailand will benefit.

 

And India, as the world's largest democracy, should be ashamed. 

 

China's response was as expected, and they will be gauging the economic damage to guide their actions over Taiwan.

 

Well the Indians probably have read the comments about "four Indians four straws one beer" on this site and decided they should take care of their own interests ????

[The Hammer2021]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/01/could-putin-be-exploring-cryptocurrencies-to-bypass-western-sanctions-russia-ukraine-invasion

[CartagenaWarlock]

America has become the second largest country for tax havens to launder money. Be it Russian money or some other dictators due to South Dakota's privacy laws. 

Can't blame Thailand when world's most powerful country tread on duplicty. 

https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/south-dakota-not-among-states-taking-action-against-russia/article_30c263ae-ea8c-5451-8808-9ea7db411a99.html 

Edited March 1, 2022 by CartagenaWarlock

[Albert Zweistein]

6 hours ago, gearbox said:

Well the Indians probably have read the comments about "four Indians four straws one beer" on this site and decided they should take care of their own interests ????

And bring their own straws...................

[Albert Zweistein]

11 hours ago, Highend Expat said:

Singapore is not what it seems. As a tiny microstate, they have no choice but to do what they did as they could one day be in the receiving end of aggression.

 

If you have ever lived there, though, you will be well aware of their tacit support of virtually everything China is doing. They run China state propaganda in the news, too. 

 

They are not a country based on principle but rather one based on pragmatism. Not terrible but also not nearly what they portray. 

Singapore is a dictatorial ruled place.

[Soikhaonoiken]

17 hours ago, keith101 said:

Thailand does not want to upset Russia because it desperately needs their tourists to come and spend their useless rub here .

Thailand hasn't got the Balls to upset Russia... 

[NanaSomchai]

12 hours ago, Karma80 said:

Thailand is a laundromat for russian money. Now, why on earth would be want to go spoiling that?

The moral compass is calibrated only one way here - money.

Thailand?

 

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