Photo: US Defense Secretary Austin meets Thai leader to boost ties.  Tassanee Vejpongsa | AP 

 

by Michael Bridge

During a high-level SE Asia trip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Thailand’s prime minister last week.

 

It was part of an effort to strengthen what Austin says is Washington’s “unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships” in the region.

 

This visit was heavily reported across the States including in the Washington Post.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Thailand’s defense minister, also met Austin last month in Washington. 

 

Thailand and the United States are longtime military allies, despite a cooling of relations after the 2014 military coup that brought former army commander Prayuth to power. 

 

Last week’s visit was Austin’s first to Thailand as defense secretary.

 

A U.S. Defense Department statement issued after the meeting said Austin and Prayuth “shared perspectives on regional security issues and discussed opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Thai alliance.”

 

It said Austin declared Washington’s interest in strengthening “interoperability between the U.S. and Thai forces and to support Thailand’s modernization requirements.”

 

 

The two men also discussed prioritizing cooperation in emerging technical areas, such as the cyber and space technology sectors, as well as Thailand’s desire for “enhanced defense industry cooperation,” the statement said.

 

Thai media had widely reported that the Prime Minister was keen to discuss arms procurement with Austin, including the F-35 fighter aircraft, but Austin did not comment specifically on that in remarks to the media.

 

Tensions between the U.S. and China 

 

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been growing in part over Beijing’s claims to Taiwan and much of the South China Sea, and its increasing power and influence in the region.

 

The Philippines have always stated that China has been encroaching on its territory especially building a sizeable military airbase on one of its islands.

 

In a speech Saturday at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore, Austin said China’s “steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan” threatens to undermine the region’s security and prosperity.

 

He said he was proud that Washington’s “unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships has only deepened” in the past year.

 

China’s defense minister, Gen. Wei Fenghe, said at the same conference that the U.S. is trying to turn Southeast Asian countries against Beijing and is seeking to advance its own interests “under the guise of multilateralism.”

 

China over the past decade has been trying to extend its influence in Southeast Asia, both through aid and investment, including its “Belt and Road” infrastructure projects and use of its navy and other maritime resources to press its claims to vast areas of the South China Sea.

 

In a briefing in Bangkok, Austin said a conversation he had in Singapore with his Chinese counterpart was “an important step in our efforts to develop open lines of communication” with Beijing’s defense leaders.

 

“America never ... shies away from honest competition, but we don’t seek conflict, nor do we seek a region that’s split into hostile blocks,” he said, according to a defense department transcript of his remarks.

 

“It was an important opportunity to raise our concerns about the potential for instability in the Taiwan Strait and to underscore our ... long-standing policy toward Taiwan as unwavering and unchanged.”

 

The U.S.-Thai alliance benefits both our nations and supports peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. 

 

The first documented contact between the United States and Thailand was recorded in 1818. The first agreement signed with Thailand was the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

 

Thailand and the United States were also close allies during the Vietnam War, and in 2003, Washington designated Thailand a major non-NATO ally, one of about twenty worldwide.

 

U-Tapao airport was in fact built by the United States to accommodate B-52 bombers for missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

 

Construction began on 15 October 1965 and was completed on 2 June 1966.[ U-Tapao was the primary Southeast Asian airfield for US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, called "Bee-hasip-sawng" (B-52) by the local Thais.

 

Such status past and present mean the U.S. regards Thailand as a strategic partner and facilitates some aspects of military assistance and cooperation. 

 

The annual multinational Cobra Gold military exercise, one of the world’s biggest, is hosted in Thailand in partnership with the United States.

 

Chinese investment

 

Thailand naturally must tread carefully as it also has ties with the Chinese who are investing in infrastructure projects across the country.

 

China's level of FDI into Thailand ranked second in 2020 – with an investment value of US$ 1.048 billion with 164 approved projects.

 

So, expect the Chinese to send over some high-ranking government official soon to make sure their voice is heard too.

 

Meanwhile Thailand has developed close ties with other ASEAN members—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam—whose foreign and economic ministers hold annual meetings.

 

Thailand will also host of APEC 2022, when I am sure the topic of the South China Sea issues will be aired along with other topics including the environment.

 

Assume that both superpowers China and the US will be following proceedings with interest.

 

Thailand has to be seen to be listening to all sides. Not an easy task ahead.

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21

 

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Better the US than China.

Wait and see what happens after China takes Taiwan.  

The USA views Thailand as a strategic geographic location for staging troops and equipment, in the event of war in Asia.

 

Been that way since Vietnam.

 

Pretty sure the US wishes they had other choices due Thailand's poor record on human rights, copyright infringement and many other things, but they do not.

No.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand and the United States are longtime military allies, despite a cooling of relations after the 2014 military coup that brought former army commander Prayuth to power. 

 

They were cool long before that. The 97 SEA economic collapse required conspiracy theories to hide the role of non performing loans, and the Thai class able get them from the banks, which ultimately imploded baht & country. This had to be blamed on someone or something. The US & Soros fit the bill for many of these theories.

 

Stay neutral like the Swiss did in WW2 and we may live a lot longer.

Yes.  Lose sleep.  Stay up all night worrying 

 

fly home, protest.  Make this your life’s mission.

 

you can make a change.    
 

Free speech is overrated.  Camps for Muslims are the future.  Go China!    Lol

2 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

The USA views Thailand as a strategic geographic location for staging troops and equipment, in the event of war in Asia.

 

Been that way since Vietnam.

 

Pretty sure the US wishes they had other choices due Thailand's poor record on human rights, copyright infringement and many other things, but they do not.

What was the famed Nixon comment about a similar Central American situation? "He may be a SOB but he's our SOB!"

I was more interested in the U Tapao history to be honest.

One time in an earlier life, I was one of the crew on a QF Jumbo out of Frankfurt, a storm over DMK forced a diversion and we landed and refueled in U Tapao before flying back to DMK a few hours later. We opened the doors on the windward side of the aircraft with safety straps, and the fragrant sea breeze had the tired pax sigh with delight as one! Back then, Jumbos carried a video/DVD on how to refuel them for the use of untrained ground crews in exactly these situations. It was all visually represented so no language required to understand it. 

As his articles go it was not bad but what was the connection, if any, between the attenion grabbing (slightly) headline and the article itself?

Yes, the 17 billion given to Thailand every year by the USA should mean better treatment for US retirees. Instead, they just stand there with their hand out. “What have you done for me lately”?

3 hours ago, gargamon said:

Better the US than China.

Nah, I'd prefer China ????

3 hours ago, gargamon said:

Better the US than China.

Both is the goal I'd think. At least until the Chinese start marching in.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

US Defense Secretary Austin meets Thai leader to boost ties.

Is that a pun?

Yes, we should. As we should with too strong to any other country and their ideologies.

36 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Nah, I'd prefer China ????

Yes, 45kg Chinese noodle eating woman would certainly be better than an average fast food 90KG American counterpart !

Yes better US than China the problem Thailand leaders have already decided China is Family!  

They are like beggars on a street corner " strengthen " give them no military help beware of the devil in sheep's clothing!  

As soon as China is open again they be lining up to get their booty call ????

1 hour ago, chalawaan said:

What was the famed Nixon comment about a similar Central American situation? "He may be a SOB but he's our SOB!"

I was more interested in the U Tapao history to be honest.

One time in an earlier life, I was one of the crew on a QF Jumbo out of Frankfurt, a storm over DMK forced a diversion and we landed and refueled in U Tapao before flying back to DMK a few hours later. We opened the doors on the windward side of the aircraft with safety straps, and the fragrant sea breeze had the tired pax sigh with delight as one! Back then, Jumbos carried a video/DVD on how to refuel them for the use of untrained ground crews in exactly these situations. It was all visually represented so no language required to understand it. 

Quote concerning Somoza in Nicaragua attributed to before Nixon. Just for the historic record.

Thailand has a history of being at the wrong side of .... history. So, no surprise here ...

6 minutes ago, Henk Langeweg said:

Thailand has a history of being at the wrong side of .... history. So, no surprise here ...

Not sure about that, as they seemed to come out of most situations, unscathed, if comparing to their immediate neighbors, and so many other countries of the world.

 

Most importantly, it's a county that can feed itself, and really has no outside threats.  Not many countries can state that.

 

I think aligning with China is much more favorable than the USA.  All the USA wants to do is make everything more expensive here.

 

Use Thai's airbases if and when starting trouble in the region, which would put a giant target on Thailand's populous around said airbases.

 

China is a win win.

USA is a lose lose.

 

When has the USA ever stuck around once the going got tough.

1 hour ago, thailand49 said:

Yes better US than China the problem Thailand leaders have already decided China is Family!  

They are like beggars on a street corner " strengthen " give them no military help beware of the devil in sheep's clothing!  

As soon as China is open again they be lining up to get their booty call ????

Thailand can't afford new subs. or F35 aircraft if it helps America what are we going to use to fight off the Chinese bad language?

Trade with China, defense with USA, Thailand playing neutral as normal.

Absolutely not. Without the assistance of the US in the 1950's and 1960's, it is possible Thailand would still be a swamp infested, economic backwater of a nation. All the money the US put into infrastructure here really put Thailand on the road, and made the place infinitely more appealing to Japanese manufacturing companies. Of course they had ulterior motives, (and the fight against communism was ridiculous, overly costly and fairly unproductive) but most nations that provide massive assistance always do. 

 

And who would you choose between the US and China? I am not particularly proud of some of the foreign policy adventurism of the past 70 years or so, on the part of the US. But, I trust them more than China. The CCP is positively heinous, and their intentions are foul, aggressive, and increasingly dark. 

 

 

6 hours ago, garyk said:

Wait and see what happens after China takes Taiwan.  

Taiwan doesn't have a grovelling British government to give it away as happened with HK when they were only bound to hand back the New Territories but gave back the Island and Kowloon as well. Pathetic. Taiwan is weii-armed, some say more than very well-armed, and will not be an easy take. Also I suspect the US will back Taiwan all the way. I certainly hope so. I lived and worked in Taiwan for 6 of the best years of my life.

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

Thailand can't afford new subs. or F35 aircraft if it helps America what are we going to use to fight off the Chinese bad language?

Use nothing give them nothing nor sell to them in return for nothing. 

As for China f them that comes from one you know the saying  " sticks and stones"

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Absolutely not. Without the assistance of the US in the 1950's and 1960's, it is possible Thailand would still be a swamp infested, economic backwater of a nation. All the money the US put into infrastructure here really put Thailand on the road, and made the place infinitely more appealing to Japanese manufacturing companies. Of course they had ulterior motives, (and the fight against communism was ridiculous, overly costly and fairly unproductive) but most nations that provide massive assistance always do. 

 

And who would you choose between the US and China? I am not particularly proud of some of the foreign policy adventurism of the past 70 years or so, on the part of the US. But, I trust them more than China. The CCP is positively heinous, and their intentions are foul, aggressive, and increasingly dark. 

 

 

Bravo,  as a Chinese American and I'm far from a Trump type support.  I read stuff in general I take a stab is from other white folks living from the U. S.  Brit's,  Europe writing here as U. S.  Is the devil?  From my history let go a bit further the U. S.  Is less than 3 hundred years old there was a lot happening from countries like England and Europe prior oppressor call it what people want be let that country without sin be the first to cast a stone! 

As for China,  this is the 21 century what happened happened I say get <deleted> over it they had an opportunity to reshape the world instead their Communist old ass thinking take revenge was their goal. There is more ways to screw one over other than military. 

I hear people rave about China makes me laugh clueless while theyes enjoy everything the West had given them! 

USA. the country that made Thailand a hub for prostitution....

Naah they don't stand a chance against China

1 minute ago, sead said:

USA. the country that made Thailand a hub for prostitution....

Naah they don't stand a chance against China

Girls selling themselves in Thailand was an occupation long before the Americans arrived but it is China who can be labelled "the hub" based on the link below, followed by India, so given that, I don't think there should be too much concern regarding American influence here.

 

https://metro.co.uk/2016/01/11/can-you-guess-which-country-spends-the-most-on-prostitutes-5615906/#:~:text=In terms of number of,United States with 1 million.

You could consider Thailand's new found love of the weed to be passive aggressive against China. Will they even let their citizens come to Thailand again?

6 hours ago, flossie35 said:

Vietnam, an unnecessary war as they proved by losing it

The United states did not loose a war in vietnam. It was a battle. They won the war.