Merits, If Any, Of U-Tapao Proposal, Must Be Convincing: Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Merits, if any, of U-Tapao proposal, must be convincing

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The govt is to decide whether the US can use a local air base for scientific purposes; transparency is thus vital to avoid speculation and rumour

The Cabinet will have to ensure transparent discussions and close communications with both the domestic audience and other countries should it decide to allow Washington to use U-Tapao air base as a "climate research" and possible disaster-relief centre. If it does not clarify the decision, Bangkok may be unnecessarily drawn into international tension. This would be no surprise, since there has been much speculation over the merits of - and, perhaps, the real intention behind - the American request.

Washington has said Nasa, the US space agency, would use U-Tapao to conduct one of its most complex and ambitious airborne-science programmes, known as the Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study, or SEAC4RS. But controversy has been stirred because the Thai government has apparently not communicated thoroughly with all interested parties - not only the public and opposition parties but also our neighbours, especially China. After all, it seems that everyone has "security interests" in the region these days.

The US's real intention concerning U-Tapao has been the subject of speculation because there has been a general failure by both countries to communicate to the public the potential benefits of the project. Cabinet members who support the American proposal have failed to convince the Thai people that the idea will have no security implications.

China's reaction to America's renewed activity in the Asia-Pacific region has so far been mostly restricted to informal diplomatic comments. Washington says its intent is genuine and non-threatening. China's official response to that is that it hopes so.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation's editor-in-chief Suthichai Yoon, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister <deleted> Ying seemed to convey that message.

Asked about the US's intention to rebalance its forces in Asia and the Pacific, <deleted> said China has no problem accepting any constructive US activity in the region. She stopped short of saying whether she believed recent US-related developments in Asia are positive as far as China is concerned.

<deleted> Ying was not necessarily reflecting how the Beijing government really feels. She could perhaps be wary of potential diplomatic difficulties with the US. While saying she welcomed a positive or constructive US role in the region, she nevertheless urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) not to become tools of the major powers. The U-Tapao issue has thus created something of a disturbance, leading to cautious and awkward diplomatic pronouncements on both sides.

The Thai Cabinet will hold a crucial meeting today to make a final decision on the US request to use U-Tapao for weather study and possibly disaster relief. Among the key points for discussion is the question of how a US presence at U-Tapao would make China really feel.

Apart from political problems on the Thai side, China is also treading difficult diplomatic waters. And the thorny issue of territorial claims in the South China Sea doesn't help. After the easing of the stand-off at Scarborough Shoal between China and the Philippines in recent weeks, diplomatic tension at the other end of the vast sea has flared again, this time regarding overlapping claims with Vietnam.

When it comes to the South China Sea disputes, regional anxiety shifts from the US to China. On this issue, the Chinese vice minister reiterated that Beijing wants to handle the issues peacefully through direct negotiations with the countries concerned. China and the Asean countries in 2002 signed the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which commits all parties to "exercise self-restraint" when dealing with maritime conflicts and disputes. The overlapping issues in the South China Sea can and should be resolved through discussions and diplomatic channels, on the basis of trust and sincerity.

The South China Sea and U-Tapao are two separate issues at the moment, but if the Thai government fails to adequately explain the merits of the US proposal, it will create further unnecessary speculation and rumour. Let's hope the two issues don't become intertwined in the future.

-- The Nation 2012-06-26

[terryp]

There are NONE..the US war machine is getting ready for WW3

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/06/23/us-reconstructs-former-military-bases-across-asia-pacific/

[LomSak27]

The Nation spells out Team Yellows Fears and Demands

Go Team Yellow !!!

Win Team Yellow!

[Orac]

^

There are NONE..the US war machine is getting ready for WW3

http://news.antiwar....s-asia-pacific/

You can't see the merits in a climate study specifically covering monsoon weather given the flooding problems last year??? IT would be a shame if such valuable research does not go ahead because of the politics of nationalism.

[toenail]

NASA should save their time and forget Thailand for their research and go to another Asian country that would be more "stable" in accepting its research.

[Moruya]

Why is the PTP being so clandestine?

[Unkomoncents]

Transparency would be nice, as usually the Thai government only digs in its heels when it recognizes an opportunity to exercise its legendary venality. The US has stated its position publicly that it will seek another location in SE Asia to base its SEAC4RS operations (I believe Cambodia was mentioned). If the the US's intentions are merely meteorological, then they ought to just get on with it elsewhere. This clearly becoming one of those issues that has become way over-politicized in Thailand and therefore the US can expect a bee's nest of a future for any negotiations.

[chotthee]

Even Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenpanich’s concerns about possible violations of territorial sovereignty.

[somtumlion]

Even Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenpanich’s concerns about possible violations of territorial sovereignty.

Well that settles it - I'm a believer now!!!! narf

[E1717007]

^

There are NONE..the US war machine is getting ready for WW3

http://news.antiwar....s-asia-pacific/

You can't see the merits in a climate study specifically covering monsoon weather given the flooding problems last year??? IT would be a shame if such valuable research does not go ahead because of the politics of nationalism.

The flood happened up north then flowed downward to the south. I wonder why not ChiangRai or Myanmar?

[LomSak27]

Go Team Yellow !!!

Win Team Yellow!

[Joeb]

If a weather plane is such a big issue, as it is supposedly going to be the first step in the US annexing Thailand into their global empire, should they be equally as worried about:

10,000 Chinese teachers, who must be hand picked party members sent here to indoctrinate the children so the country can be assimilated into the greater Chinese empire.

How about the fact that 75% of humanitarian aid coming to Thailand is from Japan so it must be a plot to take back what they had in the 1940's

[retarius]

The statements coming from the most warlike and hypocritical nation on the face of the earth are simply not believable. The US promises all sorts of things and then when you have outlived your usefulness they dump you...look at the Hmong, Osama bin Laden....etc. The US doesn't do anything in anybody's interest except their own. Grow some balls Thailand and reject this farce.

[Orac]

^

There are NONE..the US war machine is getting ready for WW3

http://news.antiwar....s-asia-pacific/

You can't see the merits in a climate study specifically covering monsoon weather given the flooding problems last year??? IT would be a shame if such valuable research does not go ahead because of the politics of nationalism.

The flood happened up north then flowed downward to the south. I wonder why not ChiangRai or Myanmar?

Have you considered a job a science minister as your understanding of floods seems to be on a par with the current incumbent.

The rainfall that generated the floods is carried for some distance before being deposited on land so any study needs to cover a wide area over several countries.

[pattayaronbo]

Do you lke a country USA or EUROPE that invents and innovates things in the world or do you like a country that can only copy stuff from others? That is the bottom line. Yes China will get there but it does make me sick the way they are doing it. What have they done that is really new in the world? Yes a communist govt keeps labor prices so low that they own all the debt in the world and are loaded with money. We will see what happens. They have their problems also..

[Trouble]

I am sure one of the reasons NASA was interested in U Tapao is because of it's location and the fact that it was built with decent runways by the US during the Vietnam war. How difficult is it for Thailand to insure the base is used for the intended scientific purposes proposed? I say the US should just say take it (with the extra jobs and income) or leave it. The US can go elsewhere where they might be wanted.