Thailand To Clear Air On Flood Crisis At APEC Summit

[webfact]

APEC

Thailand to clear air on flood crisis at Apec Summit

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Thailand sees a golden chance to create understanding about the current flooding situation at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit this weekend.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Export Promotion Department of the Commerce Ministry, said yesterday that the government hoped to boost foreign investor confidence by explaining to the international arena that the country has clear plans to restore growth after the severe floods. The inundation has not totally destroyed trade and manufacturing, but only parts of some industries.

Leaders from the 21 economies across Asia and the Pacific will gather in Honolulu from tomorrow to Sunday to discuss various economic matters. However, because of the crisis at home, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has cancelled her attendance at the summit and is dispatching Deputy PM Kittiratt Na-Ranong in her place.

The Apec Summit will showcase the progress of talks on the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

According to the report of the Thai Trade Representative in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will announce that Japan will join the TPP negotiations during the Apec leaders' meeting on Saturday.

Japan became highly concerned over its competitiveness against TPP members in penetrating the US market, he said.

The report shows that Japan's gross domestic product will increase by 0.54 per cent or 2.7 trillion yen (Bt1 trillion) in 10 years if it joins the TPP. However, if it does not join, it could lose 1.53 per cent in global trading and 800,000 jobs.

The Japanese Forestry and Fishery Department has objected to the plan to become a member of the TPP, saying it could cause losses in the agricultural sector and a loss of food self-sufficiency by allowing more food imports.

The United States is already negotiating with eight prospective TPP members - Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The US has trade agreements with several of these nations and is interested in reducing tariffs with other countries. If those countries and Japan succeed in their TPP negotiations, Thailand could be left behind and lose competitiveness in terms of accessing the US market, Nuntawan said.

The department has reported that Thailand's trade with Apec countries expanded in the first nine months of this year. Exports from Thailand to Apec economies rose 26 per cent to US$124.14 billion (Bt3.81 trillion), while imports increased 27 per cent to $118.82 billion.

-- The Nation 2011-11-10

[webfact]

Clinton to visit Thailand, Philippines next week

WASHINGTON, November 10, 2011 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who leaves Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, will also visit Thailand and the Philippines before attending an Asian summit in Bali, her office said.

Clinton travels to Manila on November 15 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and join a ceremony launching the Partnership for Growth with the Philippines, the State Department said.

The following day, she travels to Bangkok "to underscore our strong alliance with Thailand and US support for Thailand's recovery efforts following severe flooding," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

The worst floods to hit Thailand in decades have killed 527 people nationwide and are expected to plague Bangkok for several more weeks.

Clinton will also meet senior officials in the Thai capital to discuss regional issues ahead of the East Asia Summit in Bali.

This week she will be in Honolulu, Hawaii for the APEC forum, where on Thursday she is scheduled to deliver a speech hailing America's enduring ties to Pacific Rim nations.

US President Barack Obama and his top diplomat will seek to prove Washington's mettle as an Asian power as they welcome 20 Pacific leaders at APEC, hoping that a sweeping trade pact will bind together the fast-growing region and breathe life into moribund global trade talks.

Obama and Clinton will head the following week to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for the East Asia Summit -- a meeting with many of the same leaders, but one where some Asian nations had earlier wanted to exclude the United States.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-10

[webfact]

Premier Yingluck's cancellation of Apec trip is a missed opportunity

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

It was not a good idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to cancel her plans to attend the world class Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Hawaii this weekend, as she is effectively losing a chance to put Thailand in its rightful place at the international forum.

Yingluck's reasoning is that the country needs her to head operations to solve the current flood disaster in Bangkok and the suburbs.

The Prime Minister informed Apec leaders days ago that she would not join the meeting in Honolulu due to the disaster at home.

Of course, leaders of countries in Asia and the Pacific are aware of and understand the situation in Thailand, where many provinces have been inundated for months. Hundreds of people have died and millions of others are displaced. Several of the country's economic centres are under water.

However, leaving home for a few days would not result in any change to the situation. With or without the Prime Minister at home, the water is not going to go away.

At Apec, if she were to go, Yingluck would have the chance to meet world leaders from 20 other economies across Asia and the Pacific. They would discuss various economic matters, notably the crisis in the United States.

Indeed, Yingluck told reporters a few weeks ago when water was approaching Bangkok that she wanted to use the Apec forum to explain her plan to rehabilitate the country and restore the damaged economy.

The US will likely propose its interesting and debatable ideas for a green growth economy during the Apec summit. It would be timely if the Thai leader were to participate and share her visions of an environment friendly economic model now that the country is suffering a natural disaster.

Yingluck said she would dispatch her deputy and commerce minister Kittirat Na Ranong to represent Thailand in the Apec summit.

Kittirat is no stranger to international meetings but this is not his forum. It is for the leader to show ideas and visions in economic cooperation.

Beside her bilateral visit to some neighbouring countries when she first took office, Yingluck has not yet attended any international forum.

The flooding at home, which started even before she assumed office in July, has forced the first female Prime Minister of Thailand to cancel many foreign trips including her introductory missions to Malaysia, Singapore and China last month.

Yingluck will have another chance to meet some world leaders including US President Barack Obama at the Asean summit in Bali next week, which also includes meetings of the US-Asean summit and East Asia Summit - unless she cancels that trip too.

-- The Nation 2011-11-10

[petedk]

I often wondered how she would cope at meetings with International leaders.

Now I am beginning to get an idea. Send someone else because she is too busy.

Edited November 10, 2011 by petedk

[charmonman]

I often wondered how she would cope at meetings with International leaders.

Now I am beginning to get an idea. Send someone else because she is too busy.

Well, she refused to debate Abhisit during the election campaign because she was too busy. I have nothing against the woman. She was convinced by her big brother to take on a position for which she has few qualifications. I think she is trying to do her best but next time her selfish big brother asks her to do him a favour she should tell him to go shove it!

Edited November 10, 2011 by charmonman

[whybother]

It was not a good idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to cancel her plans to attend the world class Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Hawaii this weekend, as she is effectively losing a chance to put Thailand in its rightful place at the international forum.

In reality, it would make no difference if Yingluck went to the summit or not. She shouldn't be missed for a couple of days here. She should have deputies that can take over her role with the flood management - something which she shouldn't be doing anyway. At the summit, she would meet a few more leaders, but the discussions that go on in the background can be done with out her.

Politically, she loses if she goes and loses if she stays. If she went, people would say "how can she leave in this time of need". If she stays, people would say "She missed an important opportunity". They would both be right.

[flemmie]

Clinton visiting now???

Is this opportune, she'll make sure that the center of town will be chaos again like the last time, perhaps not such a brilliant move now with the floods.

[noitom]

This article doesn't say much about its headline, but it's great that they are going to "clear the air" about how well they've handled things and prepared the population for health and medical treatment, sanitation clean up, and then recovery. First things first. Clear the air, and convince them that Thailand is capable and understands its priorities. Clear the air and demonstrate how Suvarnibhumi won't flood and if it does, it won't be as bad as its closing by a political group for two weeks in November and December 2008. Clear the air and convince them that Thailand can prevent post flood civil unrest accelerating into demonstrations, disruptions, and chaos. Let's hope that Kittirat Na-Ranong clears the air and doesn't just go there to blow more hot air at the members and pal around for drinks with the Japanese for a few days.

[lannarebirth]

It was not a good idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to cancel her plans to attend the world class Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Hawaii this weekend, as she is effectively losing a chance to put Thailand in its rightful place at the international forum.

In reality, it would make no difference if Yingluck went to the summit or not. She shouldn't be missed for a couple of days here. She should have deputies that can take over her role with the flood management - something which she shouldn't be doing anyway. At the summit, she would meet a few more leaders, but the discussions that go on in the background can be done with out her.

Politically, she loses if she goes and loses if she stays. If she went, people would say "how can she leave in this time of need". If she stays, people would say "She missed an important opportunity". They would both be right.

I'm not sure what the right political choice would be, but if I were advising her, I'd tell her the right personal choice would be to give it a pass. APEC is not the same as meeting with Hun Sen or the Burmese generals. She'd become a bigger laughing-stock than she already is.

APEC Member Countries

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

Canada

Chile

China

Hong Kong, China

Indonesia

Japan

Korea, Republic of

Malaysia

Mexico

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Peru

Philippines

Russian Federation

Singapore

Taiwan - Chinese Taipei

Thailand

United States of America

Vietnam

Edited November 10, 2011 by lannarebirth

[WhizBang]

Thailand to clear air on flood crisis at Apec Summit

So, they are going to lie through their teeth then.  Floods?  What floods?  Just a little bit of runoff, nothing to worry about.  All is well in the land of scams smiles.

[silverhawk_usa]

It was not a good idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to cancel her plans to attend the world class Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Hawaii this weekend, as she is effectively losing a chance to put Thailand in its rightful place at the international forum.

In reality, it would make no difference if Yingluck went to the summit or not. She shouldn't be missed for a couple of days here. She should have deputies that can take over her role with the flood management - something which she shouldn't be doing anyway. At the summit, she would meet a few more leaders, but the discussions that go on in the background can be done with out her.

Politically, she loses if she goes and loses if she stays. If she went, people would say "how can she leave in this time of need". If she stays, people would say "She missed an important opportunity". They would both be right.

+1, a no win situation, she will be criticized no matter what she does.

[kkerry]

Just in case the Prime Minister changes her mind at the last minute and decides to go, I have prepared this draft for The Nation to run. ..

Premier Yingluck's Apec trip is a missed opportunity to demonstrate support for flood ravaged Thais

It is not a good idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to attend the world class Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Hawaii this weekend, as she is effectively losing a chance to reinforce to the Thai people and the world the severity of the floods.

Yingluck's reasoning is that the country does not need her to head operations to solve the current flood disaster in Bangkok and the suburbs.

Of course, leaders of countries in Asia and the Pacific are aware of and understand the situation in Thailand, where many provinces have been inundated for months. Hundreds of people have died and millions of others are displaced. Several of the country's economic centres are under water.

However, leaving home for a few days would not result in any change to the situation. With or without the Prime Minister at home, the water is not going to go away.

At Apec Yingluck will have the chance to meet world leaders from 20 other economies across Asia and the Pacific. They would discuss various economic matters, notably the crisis in the United States.

Indeed, Yingluck told reporters a few weeks ago when water was approaching Bangkok that she wanted to use the Apec forum to explain her plan to rehabilitate the country and restore the damaged economy but not going would have reinforced to the Apec nations the severity of the situation facing millions of Thai people.

The US will likely propose its interesting and debatable ideas for a green growth economy during the Apec summit. This new and inexperienced Thai leader sharing her visions of an environment friendly economic model now that the country is suffering a natural disaster would have scant impact.

Yingluck could have dispatched her deputy and commerce minister Kittirat Na Ranong to represent Thailand in the Apec summit.

Beside her bilateral visit to some neighbouring countries when she first took office, Yingluck has not yet attended any international forum.The flooding at home, which started even before she assumed office in July, has forced the first female Prime Minister of Thailand to cancel many foreign trips including her introductory missions to Malaysia, Singapore and China last month so missing one more would have made little difference, especially with Thailand facing its most serious natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

Yingluck will have another chance to meet some world leaders including US President Barack Obama at the Asean summit in Bali next week, which also includes meetings of the US-Asean summit and East Asia Summit.

Edited November 12, 2011 by kkerry

[bigbamboo]

No doubt Khun Yingluck cancelled her Apec trip with the best of intentions but this is an important conference and so surely the flooding situation could be left to her equally able appointed deputies for a few days?

[animatic]

Damage control Road Show, to stop the hemorrhaging of FACE to the rest of Asia, and the panicing reactions of trading partners.

Edited November 12, 2011 by animatic

[lujanit]

Thailand to clear air on flood crisis at Apec Summit

I know there would be a lot of happier people if the Government/BMA cleared the water instead.

[rogerdee123]

Thailand to clear air on flood crisis at Apec Summit

So, they are going to lie through their teeth then.  Floods?  What floods?  Just a little bit of runoff, nothing to worry about.  All is well in the land of scams smiles.

I think she will take some special EM Bubble Balls that will be released in the air

[scorecard]

No doubt Khun Yingluck cancelled her Apec trip with the best of intentions but this is an important conference and so surely the flooding situation could be left to her equally able appointed deputies for a few days?

On the other hand she could leave the APEC talking to the (related well balanced foreign minister. And no doubt he could find an angle to get mileage for his absentee cousin. Perhaps a request for a visa where that's currently difficult.

[Buchholz]

No doubt Khun Yingluck cancelled her Apec trip with the best of intentions but this is an important conference and so surely the flooding situation could be left to her equally able appointed deputies for a few days?

On the other hand she could leave the APEC talking to the (related well balanced foreign minister. And no doubt he could find an angle to get mileage for his absentee cousin. Perhaps a request for a visa where that's currently difficult.

If she leaves it to her cousin, the Foreign Minister Surapong, the "talking" will be through the interpreter he uses because he says he's forgotten the English he supposedly used when he obtained his university degree in the USA.

.

[Buchholz]

Much focus of the various regional natural calamities has been a high-profile aspect of the APEC summit.

Hard not to notice that Canada, Chile, and New Zealand all made their donated financial assistance directly to the Thai Red Cross and not to the government for dispersal.

.

[jimbeam1]

I often wondered how she would cope at meetings with International leaders.

Now I am beginning to get an idea. Send someone else because she is too busy.

Exactly. A good chance to clear the air. Where? Missed. Mai-bpen-rai.

She really should save herself any more embarrassment and politics to the politicians they are use to it?

God knows what Hilary Clinton will make of her. Me thinks she should be to busy, when she requests a meet?

jb1