The Kingdom Must Balance China, Us Ties: Academic

[Lite Beer]

The Kingdom must balance China, US ties: academic

Atapoom Ongkulna

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- It is not in the Kingdom's best interest to get cosy with either the United States or China, Associate Professor Prapat Thepchatree, a lecturer in international relations at Thammasat University's Asean Studies Centre, has said.

Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers amid clear signs both are courting the Kingdom, with US President Barack Obama's visit today and tomorrow to be quickly followed by a visit from China's outgoing Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Prapat said Thailand should not declare itself in opposition to either of the two big powers, but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of China. The situation today was different from the Cold War era, he said, and Thailand was a trading partner of both nations, and the US was re-engaging with the region.

Thailand must remain neutral; this was how the Kingdom escaped direct colonialism in the past, even if the Philippines and Singapore appear tilted toward the US, while Burma and Cambodia were close to China, he said.

"It's best not to choose sides," Prapat concluded, adding that China and the US were also interdependent on trade with one another. "We can still play a Janus-faced [role]," he said, referring to the two-faced Roman god.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand must be wary of the competition between the US and China and must try to balance ties with the two powers, especially when it comes to signing bilateral treaties. He urged Thailand to push Asean to take a unified stance toward China and the US.

Meanwhile, the provincial chamber of commerce in Ranong welcomed Obama's visit to Myanmar, where he will travel after leaving Thailand tomorrow, as well as his later visit to Cambodia, saying the president's presence amounted to an endorsement of Myanmar's reforms. This was likely to boost border trade in this southern province bordering Myanmar.

-- The Nation 2012-11-18

[keemapoot]

Thailand, the Switzerland of Asia. "the hills are alive..., with the sound of music..."

[asiawatcher]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

Edited November 17, 2012 by asiawatcher

[Thai at Heart]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of Chin

But still contaoning some weird views of the world.

[Songhua]

Sit on the fence. It runs a line between the two duellists but the chances of getting shot are still only minimal.

[jayboy]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of Chin

But still contaoning some weird views of the world.

Very peculiar example of Japan given as country with balanced relations with both US and China.Japan has very close alliance with the US and extremely bad relationship with China.

[keemapoot]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of Chin

But still contaoning some weird views of the world.

Very peculiar example of Japan given as country with balanced relations with both US and China.Japan has very close alliance with the US and extremely bad relationship with China.

Exactly. You could also argue that Japan became a world economic power because of its alliance with the U.S..

[Markaew]

Yingluck is trying to get Thailand on the world stage and maneuvering in front of the AEC implementation. Thais are only interested in profit. This relationship with the US can only mean someone is making a profit.

[noitom]

Where was all this US/China "deep strategy" thinking before the planned Obama visit? Thais are winging it again. Like they wing everything. Everything relating to rule of law, political strategy, economic strategy, social strategy is always on the wing. Thais have no set position on anything. Self interest, personal agenda, aligning with whoever can line my pockets is the norm. Double crossing, reneging on agreements, "reinterpreting commitments and promises..etc. That's the Thai way.

Nothing said with Mr. Obama on Sunday means anything. Thais will waver and alter anything that was understood. Nothing will actually be understood because Thais will be as vague as possible and totally immersed in looking at the visit as "what can this do for me?" Common newspaper, let's start facing reality and the truth.

[Pib]

The core strategy of Thai foreign engagement has always been and continues to be: "don't get involved...remain within the Thai universe."

[tomross46]

Thailand, the Switzerland of Asia. "the hills are alive..., with the sound of music..."

The hill in Switzerland are alive with the sound of music, but in Thailand the hills are alive with the sound of politicians putting money into secret rooms, or in HongKong.

[zydeco]

'"It's best not to choose sides," Prapat concluded, adding that China and the US were also interdependent on trade with one another. "We can still play a Janus-faced [role]," he said, referring to the two-faced Roman god.'

Simply astounding. What do you say about someone--or a government--that thinks it's a compliment to be considered "two-faced".

[jayboy]

'"It's best not to choose sides," Prapat concluded, adding that China and the US were also interdependent on trade with one another. "We can still play a Janus-faced [role]," he said, referring to the two-faced Roman god.'

Simply astounding. What do you say about someone--or a government--that thinks it's a compliment to be considered "two-faced".

It's not really astounding because its entirely consisistent with Thai/Siamese foreign policy for over two centuries.Perhaps not admirable but realistic and effective.

[phuketjoy]

First this professor is totally wrong this is bull___T USA has been always in thailand for many years they even help US during the vietnam war while china supplied weapons to vietnam, during the japan war USA was base here in thailand, Japan is REALY not in good terms with China specially during these months regarding islands, USA told Thailand to Arrest the biggest weapons dealer in the world in BKK 3 years ago this man was purchasing weapons from china all the time, so i dont understand why they would post such a stupid monkey report like this... this man need to get his facts straight. ciao!

[soomak]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of Chin

But still contaoning some weird views of the world.

Very peculiar example of Japan given as country with balanced relations with both US and China.Japan has very close alliance with the US and extremely bad relationship with China.

Agree, but the reason is probably due to the fact that they are neighbors with China, have fought fiercely in the recent past, and still have territorial disputes.

Thailand doesn't have a border with China or the US, nor has it been occupied by either country, so it should be easy to maintain friendly relations with both countries, as long as they don't start fighting with each other.

[Thai at Heart]

"... Prapat said Thailand needed to find a "soft balance" between the two superpowers."

An intelligent assessment and suggestion at last but not from any politician.

but learn from countries like Japan, which can shake hands with the US without declaring itself an enemy of Chin

But still contaoning some weird views of the world.

Very peculiar example of Japan given as country with balanced relations with both US and China.Japan has very close alliance with the US and extremely bad relationship with China.

Agree, but the reason is probably due to the fact that they are neighbors with China, have fought fiercely in the recent past, and still have territorial disputes.

Thailand doesn't have a border with China or the US, nor has it been occupied by either country, so it should be easy to maintain friendly relations with both countries, as long as they don't start fighting with each other.

Ask most native Chinese what they think of Japan. And i don't rally blame them for feeling that way either.

[TheGhostWithin]

Ask most native Chinese what they think of Japan. And i don't rally blame them for feeling that way either.

he Chinese, like the Thais, are protectionist of their local economy to the fiercest degree, the difference in which the Thais have yet to understand is that the Chinese see foreign assets as ways to extend their tentacles and power across the world too, controlling operation critical assets and infrastructure. The Chinese are attempting to colonise and invade countries now without even firing a single bullet... You thought the Ruskies in Pattaya were bad, wait until the 14K start doing business, the Thais won't even know who to ask for their cut. And if they try.. well.. good luck with that.

At least the Japanese stick to their areas, the Americans to theirs, and Thais can have greater than 50% ownership in many cases whereby they did not front up with more than 51% of the investment (knowledge or capital). Good luck in convincing the Chinese to play by the same rules in your corrupt, rickety derelict system. Choose your friends wisely, and know your enemy before they know you.

[khunken]

Ask most native Chinese what they think of Japan. And i don't rally blame them for feeling that way either.

he Chinese, like the Thais, are protectionist of their local economy to the fiercest degree, the difference in which the Thais have yet to understand is that the Chinese see foreign assets as ways to extend their tentacles and power across the world too, controlling operation critical assets and infrastructure. The Chinese are attempting to colonise and invade countries now without even firing a single bullet... You thought the Ruskies in Pattaya were bad, wait until the 14K start doing business, the Thais won't even know who to ask for their cut. And if they try.. well.. good luck with that.

At least the Japanese stick to their areas, the Americans to theirs, and Thais can have greater than 50% ownership in many cases whereby they did not front up with more than 51% of the investment (knowledge or capital). Good luck in convincing the Chinese to play by the same rules in your corrupt, rickety derelict system. Choose your friends wisely, and know your enemy before they know you.

All of your first paragraph applies more to the US than China. China has no intention of colonising other countries but does look for investments that it needs for the future - exactly the same as the US does. What China doesn't do is invade other countries. Apart from the Academic's silly comment about Japan, he is right in saying that Thailand should be friendly to both the US & China & not take sides (particularly militarily IMO).

[Thai at Heart]

Ask most native Chinese what they think of Japan. And i don't rally blame them for feeling that way either.

he Chinese, like the Thais, are protectionist of their local economy to the fiercest degree, the difference in which the Thais have yet to understand is that the Chinese see foreign assets as ways to extend their tentacles and power across the world too, controlling operation critical assets and infrastructure. The Chinese are attempting to colonise and invade countries now without even firing a single bullet... You thought the Ruskies in Pattaya were bad, wait until the 14K start doing business, the Thais won't even know who to ask for their cut. And if they try.. well.. good luck with that.

At least the Japanese stick to their areas, the Americans to theirs, and Thais can have greater than 50% ownership in many cases whereby they did not front up with more than 51% of the investment (knowledge or capital). Good luck in convincing the Chinese to play by the same rules in your corrupt, rickety derelict system. Choose your friends wisely, and know your enemy before they know you.

I was referring to their views about the Japanese in general.

[rakman]

Ask most native Chinese what they think of Japan. And i don't rally blame them for feeling that way either.

he Chinese, like the Thais, are protectionist of their local economy to the fiercest degree, the difference in which the Thais have yet to understand is that the Chinese see foreign assets as ways to extend their tentacles and power across the world too, controlling operation critical assets and infrastructure. The Chinese are attempting to colonise and invade countries now without even firing a single bullet... You thought the Ruskies in Pattaya were bad, wait until the 14K start doing business, the Thais won't even know who to ask for their cut. And if they try.. well.. good luck with that.

At least the Japanese stick to their areas, the Americans to theirs, and Thais can have greater than 50% ownership in many cases whereby they did not front up with more than 51% of the investment (knowledge or capital). Good luck in convincing the Chinese to play by the same rules in your corrupt, rickety derelict system. Choose your friends wisely, and know your enemy before they know you.

All of your first paragraph applies more to the US than China. China has no intention of colonising other countries but does look for investments that it needs for the future - exactly the same as the US does. What China doesn't do is invade other countries. Apart from the Academic's silly comment about Japan, he is right in saying that Thailand should be friendly to both the US & China & not take sides (particularly militarily IMO).

The Chinese do have a different way of "invading" and "colonizing" another country. Particularly in Africa, China has bought mines and imported Chinese workers and displaced the local workers. Why? The Chinese management can work the Chinese workers harder with stiffer punishments than they could the local workers, without raising attention. The only attention that's been brought up is the loss of jobs of the locals.

Here in the US, 12 million illegal immigrants could be called an invasion by Mexico, particularly when the Mexican government wholeheartedly supports it to take pressure off the Mexican government.

[who]

.

The professor said "It is not in the Kingdom's best interest to get cozy with either the United States or China" He is not quite correct. It IS in the Kingdom's best interest to get cossy with either the United States or China, just not TOO cozy.

.