Thai-U S Pact Will Ensure Enduring U S Presence

[webfact]

THAI-US RELATIONS

Thai-US pact will ensure 'enduring US presence'

The Nation, Agencies

US secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, right, inspects a guard of honour during his official visit to Thailand yesterday as part of a trip to strengthen US relations with Southeast Asian nations. Accompanying him was Thai Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwa

Partnership to address a range of challenges, including modernisation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and the United States yesterday signed a joint statement on defence alliance that requires the Kingdom to support the "enduring presence" of the US in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US, meanwhile, promises to support Thailand's position as a regional leader - including within the Asean and other regional bodies.

The US has moved 60 per cent of its overseas-based troops to the Asia-Pacific and is seeking partners to support its presence in this region. The US is seeking to bolster its presence in the Asia-Pacific as part of US President Barack Obama's "pivot" away from the Middle East to Asia, announced a year ago.

The two countries reaffirmed their close military ties but stopped short of discussing a return of US troops to the Kingdom, which hosted a large US military presence during the Vietnam War.

The document, officially called "2012 Joint Vision Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance: A 21st Century Security Partnership", was signed by Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat and US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who arrived in Thailand yesterday as part of an Asian tour.

The statement mentioned the Thai-US defence alliance over the past five decades, with the Kingdom becoming a major non-Nato ally of the US in 2004.

The alliance, described as "a true 21st century partnership" in the statement, focuses on four areas:

_ Partnership for regional security in Southeast Asia,

_ Supporting stability in the Asia-Pacific and beyond,

_ Bilateral and multilateral inter-operability and readiness, and

_ Relationship building, coordination, and collaboration at all levels.

"Thailand's support of US presence in the region enables the stability that would allow the Asia Pacific to prosper under the principles of open and free commerce, a just international order, fidelity to the rule of law, and open access by all to shared maritime, space, and cyber domains," the statement said.

The statement said the partnership addressed a range of challenges, including responding to natural and man-made disasters, confronting transnational threats, contributing to global peacekeeping, and addressing maritime security issues.

The US also promised to support Thai defence modernisation and training requirements, including through the sale of US defence equipment.

Panetta's Asian tour is said to have been designed to beef up security ties across the region as a counterweight to China's rise.

"President Obama has committed the United States to working more closely with our friends and allies in the region, including our engagement through diplomacy, through trade and through stronger military-to-military relations," Panetta said.

Panetta's visit to Bangkok marks the first face-to-face talks between US and Thai defence ministers since 2008, and comes days before President Barack Obama is due in Southeast Asia for a tour of Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

-- The Nation 2012-11-16

[asiawatcher]

I am sure the intended push for military presence in Asia will be unstoppable however, I also think it could damage ties with China. China can afford to bide its time and the cost of military presence by the US outside of its borders is a very large drag on its economy, even when not waging war on other countries!

[keemapoot]

The US has moved 60 per cent of its overseas-based troops to the Asia-Pacific and is seeking partners to support its presence in this region. The US is seeking to bolster its presence in the Asia-Pacific as part of US President Barack Obama's "pivot" away from the Middle East to Asia, announced a year ago.

It's really simple. Get and stay on board or we'll find someone we love better. Maybe we'll do that anyway but this should be a wake-up call for anyone thinking this ship ain't gonna sail with or without the Thais.

[noitom]

Time to upgrade those investments in bars around soi cowboy, soi nana, and soi 33 and many other sois. Make the proper payoffs, lease space with upstairs rooms, and go modern with drains in the can for hosing down. The military is coming. Boy oh boy these Thais! They are something else. They know how to run the best little ol' house of ill repute in the world. Get the US military signed up, lease some raw space with a pool table and few card tables, kick back and rake off the skim form the expat farang running the joint. Wow, these Thais what an advanced business model! This is the business that Thais know how to run and sell. They know how to really bring it.

[Scott]

One post with oversized font has been deleted. Please use the default font when posting.

[XINLOI]

The US is keeping its ties with the Thai's because everywhere else in Asia, they have been kicked out of the countries they occupied. They need a FOB in case China gets too fiesty and starts trouble. Same with any other country in Asia.

[ericthai]

The US is keeping its ties with the Thai's because everywhere else in Asia, they have been kicked out of the countries they occupied. They need a FOB in case China gets too fiesty and starts trouble. Same with any other country in Asia.

What are you talking about? Can you tell me what country in Asia has kicked out the US? I believe the last base closed was over 20 years ago in the Philippines, which the US closed and was not kicked out. So please let me.

[Scott]

Post using the incorrect name of a politician have been removed.

Political leaders have proper names, use them.

[ttelise]

The US is keeping its ties with the Thai's because everywhere else in Asia, they have been kicked out of the countries they occupied. They need a FOB in case China gets too fiesty and starts trouble. Same with any other country in Asia.

Kicked out of where? Can you name one strategic advantage that this will provide that we don't already have? Presence is political and economic. Strategic in terms of military necessity. I also don't think we are that concerned about China right now. They are more dependent upon US than US is dependent upon them. We can destroy China's entire economy in a matter of weeks without doing anything. We just stop accepting their currency causing it to rapidly appreciate thereby making their exports no longer competitive or affordable price wise.

Edited November 17, 2012 by Scott

[Thai at Heart]

The US is keeping its ties with the Thai's because everywhere else in Asia, they have been kicked out of the countries they occupied. They need a FOB in case China gets too fiesty and starts trouble. Same with any other country in Asia.

Kicked out of where? Can you name one strategic advantage that this will provide that we don't already have? Presence is political and economic. Strategic in terms of military necessity. I also don't think we are that concerned about China right now. They are more dependent upon US than US is dependent upon them. We can destroy China's entire economy in a matter of weeks without doing anything. We just stop accepting their currency causing it to rapidly appreciate thereby making their exports no longer competitive or affordable price wise.

Well destroying the economy has reached the stage of MAD. now that is true soft power.

Edited November 17, 2012 by Scott

[Markaew]

"The US, meanwhile, promises to support Thailand's position as a regional leader - including within the Asean and other regional bodies."

I was wondering before what Thailand's motivation was for such an agreement, but the above quote explains it.

[JeffreyWitty]

The US is keeping its ties with the Thai's because everywhere else in Asia, they have been kicked out of the countries they occupied. They need a FOB in case China gets too fiesty and starts trouble. Same with any other country in Asia.

Clearly you do NOT know what you are talking about.

We have had a continued presence in Japan and South Korea since WW2. Oh, but they dont count as asia to you because they are not in SE asia right?

What I think you mean to say is - in the 80s we were kicked outta the Phillipines. Guess what? We've be ASKED to return! At least one airbase in the PI will be re-opened in a year - becue the Phillipines now realized China is stealing their islands out from under them and they can't do anything about it.

Edited November 18, 2012 by JeffreyWitty