Move Forward opposes any plan to allow a US base in Thailand and commits to uphold its sovereignty

[webfact]

Rangsiman Rome tells reporters that efforts by conservative elements or perhaps misinformation operations should stop as he clarifies the Move Forward foreign policy position. He told reporters that while the reports were ‘fake news’ he was opposed to the prosecution of anyone for sharing information like this but simply wished that people behind such efforts would cease in the interests of national unity.

The Move Forward firebrand and key leader of the party, Rangsiman Rome, has firmly denied that the party supports allowing the United States to establish a military base in Thailand. On Wednesday, he pointed to the balanced commitment concerning Thailand’s relationship with key world powers given in its Memorandum of Understanding or programme for government and stated that Move Forward would object to any such move as it is committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty. The controversy comes amid rising tensions between the United States and China with indications that Thailand’s neighbour Cambodia is forging stronger links with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) including, according to US officials, the construction of a Chinese naval base in the Gulf of Thailand.

 

Top Move Forward Party MP-elect Rangsiman Rome has come out to forcefully deny what he suspects are malicious rumours suggesting that the Move Forward Party has an agenda to let the United States establish a military base in Thailand.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

Image caption: Move Forward Party key figure and MP elect Rangsiman Rome ( centre right)

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/05/26/move-forward-rejects-us-military-base-plan/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-05-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[zzaa09]

The right call.

We don't need foreign military facilities here - especially American.

[herfiehandbag]

Can't imagine why the Americans would want a Naval base in Thailand - the Gulf of Thailand is shallow and any base would be easily bottled up. The whole point of their massive aircraft carrier fleet is to remove the need for vulnerable land airbases.

[Dcheech]

54 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

The right call.

We don't need foreign military facilities here - especially American.

'Fake news', put out to gull the credulous. I hope you weren't snared. Likely from the Ultra Royalists that were protesting out front of the US Embassy last week. When you lose the election as badly as royalists, uh er, The Democratic Party of Thailand just did, you have to blame someone or something. The US is good for this purpose. Celestial leader Xi certainly approves this media stunt.  

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling meme has been removed.

[OneMoreFarang]

It's almost as if Americans don't see that they have more than enough problems at home to solve. 

[EVENKEEL]

Vessel repair could be a reason for wanting a base in Thailand. It's not just the USS ships but the USNS ships as well.

[bkk6060]

Ha, yes sure until some conflict starts then they will beg the U.S. and others to help them.

[JimTripper]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Can't imagine why the Americans would want a Naval base in Thailand - the Gulf of Thailand is shallow and any base would be easily bottled up. The whole point of their massive aircraft carrier fleet is to remove the need for vulnerable land airbases.

Land bases are not very vulnerable if they are in a neutral or semi-friendly territory. It would be ships at sea that were vulnerable.

 

That rules out Loas, Cambodia and Burma most likely. Vietnam most likely ruled out as a military base as well.

Edited May 27, 2023 by JimTripper

[h90]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's almost as if Americans don't see that they have more than enough problems at home to solve. 

War is the best way to distract from problems at home....always was....It is not us that messed up the economy and lost your pension funds, these Chinese did it.....

[clokwise]

You all are missing the point of this article, it's all fake news. There was never any indication that the US was planning to build a base. What happened was the US put out a standard statement congratulating MF on their victory - which they have done for decades, everywhere in the world, after an election happens. Indeed, not just the US, but many western countries put out these statements. Nevertheless, certain losing factions in Thailand latched onto the US statement and claimed this was evidence the US was secretly in cahoots with MF. Others starting making claims the MF was going to bring the "woke agenda" over from the US and ruin the lives of all our children. So the US ambassador had to come out in front of the cameras and publicly reiterate their written statement. That just seemed to somehow make things worse, as clearly their public "denial" was perceived as clear evidence there was something sneaky actually going on behind the scenes. Unfortunately, these sore losers are gonna keep stirring up a lot of s4!t and try to hold on to power as long as possible until MF can take over.

[Taboo2]

We know who runs the show here.

[Taboo2]

Historically, if we wanted a base here, we would have set one up for our ships after WW2.  No need for shipyard bases, we will use the airfields when necessary.

[Aviatorhi]

Fake news triggering more fake news triggering rage baiters and america haters on here. People so dumb they don't realize their entire lives are built on the concept of freedom of navigation and sovereign integrity as envisaged post WWII (by that bunch of folks back in the west they hate).

 

Anyway, the USN has no need for a naval base in Thailand, nor would it serve any practical purpose. Subic Bay is plenty good for that. The only thing Thailand would be wise to pursue is a defensive posture in alignment with the West rather than with Xi & Co. From a standpoint of basing - the only "base" which would make sense for Thailand is an ongoing forward deployment of F-35s to Korat to operate jointly with RTAF units stationed there and bridge the RTAF onto the F-35 in 15-20 years.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Aviatorhi

[Tarteso]

Bad news for ladies in Pattaya????

[Scouse123]

Also the problem is as usual Thailand trying to position itself as friends to everyone and loyal to none, as we saw in WW11.

Japan just walked in and took over, never mind this country has never been taken over, ( of course it has)

 

The were Japanese allies...until the Japanese started losing!!!

 

It doesn't work, it's a game the Thais have played for years.

 

The USA does not need land bases in Thailand.

 

I am quite pleased as an ex veteran with the current and needed, cooperation between Australia,  the USA, New Zealand and the UK.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Scouse123

[maxx58]

3 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Also the problem is as usual Thailand trying to position itself as friends to everyone and loyal to none, as we saw in WW11.

Japan just walked in and took over!....until they were losing!!!

 

It doesn't work, it's a game the Thais have played for years.

 

The USA does not need land bases in Thailand.

It's called being pragmatic.

[Scouse123]

Just now, maxx58 said:

It's called being pragmatic.

Or two faced liars!????

[newbee2022]

Please stay on and don't let the Americans enter Thailand as next 51. state.????

[Jingthing]

Is this U.S. even interested in doing that?

If so, news to me.

Philippines is a different kettle of fish. 

[Zapitapi]

4 hours ago, clokwise said:

You all are missing the point of this article, it's all fake news. There was never any indication that the US was planning to build a base. What happened was the US put out a standard statement congratulating MF on their victory - which they have done for decades, everywhere in the world, after an election happens. Indeed, not just the US, but many western countries put out these statements. Nevertheless, certain losing factions in Thailand latched onto the US statement and claimed this was evidence the US was secretly in cahoots with MF. Others starting making claims the MF was going to bring the "woke agenda" over from the US and ruin the lives of all our children. So the US ambassador had to come out in front of the cameras and publicly reiterate their written statement. That just seemed to somehow make things worse, as clearly their public "denial" was perceived as clear evidence there was something sneaky actually going on behind the scenes. Unfortunately, these sore losers are gonna keep stirring up a lot of s4!t and try to hold on to power as long as possible until MF can take over.

i agree that the ambassador did not indicate the building of a base..but it was discuss and looked forward too since about 2018 and earlier.. the MF was also supported indirectly via ngo's with massive cash injections..not hard to research once u know.... link to discussions in 2018 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-plans-to-build-military-service-depot-in-thailand-report

[MrMojoRisin]

Aahhh.

This brings back memories of the 2008 Preah Vihear Temple border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia in the lead up to the coup that bought Abhisit to power. Ultra nationalist stirring up trouble to oust an elected government. Won’t work again.

[SpanishExpat]

Funny that the current dinosaur clowns love to prosecute every minor defamation/ fake news. 
 

now that their time is running out, they start with that on their own. Just shows how bad Thailand needs a democracy lead by Move Forward and a clear cut of all those bullsh** games.

Edited May 27, 2023 by SpanishExpat

[khunjeff]

As long as they're tilting at non-existent windmills, they might as well also announce that they firmly oppose any plan to establish American unicorn breeding farms ????

[apetryxx]

7 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

The right call.

We don't need foreign military facilities here - especially American.

By this, I would suppose that you mean you would prefer the Chinese Communists. They’re already knocking at our door, infesting the South China Sea with their island bases, encroaching on Philippine and Viet Nam sovereignty and now in the Gulf of Thailand. What do you think the high speed rail is all about? Take off your blinders, these autocrats are hell bent on taking over SE Asia and they’re not here to have fun and enjoy our hospitality,

[billd766]

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Please stay on and don't let the Americans enter Thailand as next 51. state.????

Absolutely. 

 

Just let China buy Thailand on the cheap.

[newbee2022]

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

Absolutely. 

 

Just let China buy Thailand on the cheap.

Better than to be a member of warmongers by far????

[chalawaan]

Don't really need a US base here, though the USAF was highly visible in Korat during Cobra Gold. 

Advanced technology means US weapons can strike anywhere on the globe with its existing bases, subs or carrier groups. 

IMO the US should never have left Clark AFB or Subic Bay, so it's fantastic to see them back in Subic at last!

Unfortunately China now has several completed bases within PI territorial waters, and aggressively harass harmless subsistence fisherfolk. 

This is what happens when you give an inch in the region. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by chalawaan

[ignore it]

No Thai bases needed or wanted.

In the event of war between a large, expansionist, nondemocratic, authoritarian Asian nation and a coalition of nations, Vietnam will probably host forward based naval and air resources, if need be, and provide recreational activities for service personnel. Thailand will remain neutral and will continue to benefit from increased mainland Asian luxury condo sales and refugee "tourism".

Edited May 27, 2023 by ignore it
,s

[Celsius]

7 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

The right call.

We don't need foreign military facilities here - especially American.

Perhaps you missed the entire point of the article.