Where Do We Stand On The World Stage?: Thai Editorial

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EDITORIAL

Where do we stand on the world stage?

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With China and the US as suitors, Thailand has to tread carefully while also determining what its own strategic priorities should be.

Security and military cooperation will be high on the agenda during the upcoming visit by US President Barack Obama to Thailand. Certainly, the US is looking to build on its historical ties with Thailand, especially in these areas.

There has been a slight pause in recent years as Washington devoted much of its resources and energy to the global "war on terrorism" and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the upcoming visit by the US president will be an opportunity for the US to re-engage with Thailand and the region in a more direct and meaningful way.

The two countries' leaders are expected to sign a Joint Vision Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance during Obama's visit. One cannot deny that this is a natural path for allies with a defence pact. Nor can one deny that Washington's refocusing on the Asia-Pacific region is in response to the rise of China, or that, when these two giants compete, it could spell trouble for smaller countries like Thailand.

But this doesn't mean we should turn our back on the idea of engaging both countries. Thailand must continue to walk a fine line when it comes to dealing with both China and the US. Leaning too far into the US orbit will set off alarm bells in Beijing and vice versa. China is expected to be more assertive about where Thailand stands while nations in the region recalibrate their strategic interests.

In this respect Thailand can set conditions as to how far the big powers can go and what they can do in their dealings with us. Our engagement with them doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. If we're smart, things can work in our favour. But we can only do this if we have a strong and united foreign-policy team that can articulate Thailand's strategic interests at the international level.

We cannot do this if our foreign minister is too bogged down in domestic affairs and pleasing the country's de facto leader, fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin is presenting himself as the country's ambassador-at-large and continues to dictate terms and directions for our foreign policy and interests.

This makes Thailand vulnerable. Washington and Beijing know this, and are likely to make use of it for their own gain. Indeed, if Thaksin's political career tells us anything, it is that he cannot distinguish between personal and national interest.

To date no one seems able to articulate a coherent security policy for the country. Who takes overall responsibility - the National Security Council? Political parties have slapped the agency around over the years, looking to put their own men in key positions and thus compromising the integrity of the intelligence community.

Moreover, who in the Cabinet can explain to the Thai public and the world the country's strategic interests in a meaningful way, much less the current threats perceived in the Asia-Pacific region? Currently it seems that most of our leaders can only define security as being limited to hunting down drug dealers and petty criminals and, more importantly to them, their political opponents. From the look of it, the current defence minister is more concerned with ways to discredit the opposition leader than the strategic interests of the nation.

With the chief advisers of Thaksin and his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck, at each other's throats, it still seems that much of Thailand's future rests with Thaksin, who tends to think that what's good for him is good for Thailand.

During Thaksin's time in power, Thailand swung back and forth between China and the US. The then-leader was interested in projecting himself as regional leader. But Washington and Beijing saw through Thaksin's ambition and denied him their coattails to ride on. There is no shortcut to international stardom.

Today, with his sister Yingluck in power, Thailand has come full circle politically. Unfortunately we have yet to figure out what or where our place is in the global scheme of things.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

[BookMan]

We all know Thailand is THE hub of everything

[cloudhopper]

'Unfortunately we have yet to figure out what or where our place is in the global scheme of things.'

Other than being the world's brothel? I doubt that either China or the US really care a rat's ass about Thailand and its cultural hubris.

[Moruya]

In the clown section

[lizardtongue]

But we can only do this if we have a strong and united foreign-policy team that can articulate Thailand's strategic interests at the international level.

Strong and united simply does not exist within the present Gov. Greedy and for myself yes but strong and united !

[coma]

One above Burma and one below Laos.

[Thaddeus]

One above Burma and one below Laos.

And falling.

[FOODLOVER]

Still standing on toilets.

[Songhua]

In the ticket box.

[Payboy]

Soliciting in the dark alley behind the theatre?

[asiawatcher]

At least we all know who is doing the acting in the world theatre...

[timewilltell]

Not sure Thailand is really above Burma anymore. That country is dusting off its shackles and racing forward while Thailand sits in its egotistical bog sinking closer to the bottom of the pond.

[mrtoad]

In Dubai?

[Tatsujin]

who in the Cabinet can explain to the Thai public and the world the country's strategic interests in a meaningful way

They are too busy raking in as much money for themselves as they can to be worried about what the public think. Besides which, it won't matter what the 'public' think anyway, whoever is in power will only do whatever is best for themselves personally in terms of screwing everyone else over and making money.

[Baerboxer]

'Unfortunately we have yet to figure out what or where our place is in the global scheme of things.'

Other than being the world's brothel? I doubt that either China or the US really care a rat's ass about Thailand and its cultural hubris.

Why do people insist on insulting Thailand by constantly refering to it as the world's brothel? Based on what criteria? You think prostitution and sex tourism is unique to Thailand. Many countries are considerably worse - but happy to seed Thailand in the spot light.

[MAJIC]

No 1 at Mowlems!

[Tanaka]

Where does Thailand stand on the world's stage? Oh dear, you did not know? You are not even ON the stage!

[TommoPhysicist]

'Unfortunately we have yet to figure out what or where our place is in the global scheme of things.'

Other than being the world's brothel? I doubt that either China or the US really care a rat's ass about Thailand and its cultural hubris.

Why do people insist on insulting Thailand by constantly refering to it as the world's brothel? Based on what criteria? You think prostitution and sex tourism is unique to Thailand. Many countries are considerably worse - but happy to seed Thailand in the spot light.

Name one country that is 'considerably worse'?

[Bagwan]

Where does Thailand stand on the world's stage? Oh dear, you did not know? You are not even ON the stage!

My thoughts were that they were to be found in the orchestra pit - and each player reading from a different musical score, and playing off key at that.

The overweening conceit reminds me of The Mouse that Roared.

[mikebell]

'Unfortunately we have yet to figure out what or where our place is in the global scheme of things.'

Other than being the world's brothel? I doubt that either China or the US really care a rat's ass about Thailand and its cultural hubris.

Why do people insist on insulting Thailand by constantly refering to it as the world's brothel? Based on what criteria? You think prostitution and sex tourism is unique to Thailand. Many countries are considerably worse - but happy to seed Thailand in the spot light.

Name one country that is 'considerably worse'?

Please name several so I can prepare a short list. Thailand is getting too corrupt.

[antpet]

World Stage ..................... er .. village hall drama, bit part player, walk on, understudy, 3rd spear carrier, extra, superfluous to requirements.

Oh, and I agree; it is without doubt the world's brothel.

A country full of self deceit, pretence and hypocracy.

[hellodolly]

But we can only do this if we have a strong and united foreign-policy team that can articulate Thailand's strategic interests at the international level.

Strong and united simply does not exist within the present Gov. Greedy and for myself yes but strong and united !

Thailand's foreign policy is to fly Yingluck all over the Globe and smile for the press while she tells the world how the red shirts saved democracy in Thailand in 2010.

[Anon999]

World Stage ..................... er .. village hall drama, bit part player, walk on, understudy, 3rd spear carrier, extra, superfluous to requirements.

Oh, and I agree; it is without doubt the world's brothel.

A country full of self deceit, pretence and hypocracy.

As you have been a member of TV since last month you are obviously fully up to speed on all the aspects you feel competent to comment about!

[Tatsujin]

What has membership length or amount of posts made on TV got to do with anything?

[Thai at Heart]

World Stage ..................... er .. village hall drama, bit part player, walk on, understudy, 3rd spear carrier, extra, superfluous to requirements.

Oh, and I agree; it is without doubt the world's brothel.

A country full of self deceit, pretence and hypocracy.

As you have been a member of TV since last month you are obviously fully up to speed on all the aspects you feel competent to comment about!

Since he's only been here a few months he possibly has a more accurate understanding of the international standing of Thailand than some of the more hardened long stayers?

[JeffreyWitty]

Name one country that is 'considerably worse'?

Philippines.

They even export their HOs to other countries.Here in South Korea, they are plentiful. Sure there are Thai folks here, but far more of them in factories than the bars - where the filipinas rule.

They are the HUB of brothels.

[OzMick]

Why do people insist on insulting Thailand by constantly refering to it as the world's brothel? Based on what criteria? You think prostitution and sex tourism is unique to Thailand. Many countries are considerably worse - but happy to seed Thailand in the spot light.

I love the Freudian slip typo. Where can we see you perform?

[OzMick]

Currently I see Thailand as the maid with the huge tits that comes onstage in the final act, wearing a uniform 4 sizes too small, fluffs her 3 word line by saying "Your tea, sir." while setting down a coffee pot, and while doing so bending so far over as to reveal that she forgot her underwear, and then strutting off stage left. At least half the audience are completely distracted from the plot, consumed by lustful thoughts having nothing to do with her acting skills, but their aging eyesight makes it difficult to read the tiny print where her name is listed on the playbill.

[ratcatcher]

Where do we stand on the world stage?

At the box office with a gun, that's where the money is kept.

[soomak]

I think the writer asks this questions from their point of view, not from the world's point of view.

The world doesn't really care about Thailand, it has very little economic or strategic importance, and it is not aggressive towards it's neighbors.

But they are trying to think if it's better to go with the US or with China, or to flirt with both.

Any opinions about that?